I re-learned a very important lesson today. God CANNOT be outgiven. I'll make this short so the idea really sinks in to whoever reads it. Including me in the future. This past few months as Matt has been unemployed, we have become lax on giving to the church AKA- giving to God knowing he'll provide if we tell Him- take this money as an example that we trust You. I have been lax about filling out the budget form that I made for our family during our years of debt reduction, prosperity and giving like crazy to God. For three or four years- Matt and I were in a giving race with God. We would give and He would give more. So we would give more and then He gave more- it was certainly alot of fun. But then, in April when Matt lost his job, I forgot about the race that we were in. I forgot that we and God were competing. In fact, I am not sure how many times we have given in the last 6 months. It could be 0, could be one, maybe two. Honeslty- not sure.

Then, this past week- it hit me- what are we doing? God was so generous to us "before the brook dried up", why are we not giving now to see if he'll start the giving competition back up? So, last week after realizing that we do not have enough money to live off of when I am on maternity leave, do not have enough to pay our health insurance, do not have a day care plan/ job plan for Matt for when my maternity leave is over- I wrote a check for $100 and dropped in the offering basket. We did our traditional high-5 that we used to do in our "giving days" after a pastor at church said we should always celebrate the competition we are in and faith that we are exercising.

Today- 5 days later, during my work's gift exchange called "make it or bake it" my gift was from a coworker and friend- she made me and us a snowman of diapers. Layer upon layer of diapers- since I am a mom- I know it to be worth far more than we gave to God at church. He was arranged in clear plastic bags with a scarf and ribbons and everything. Diapers in sizes 1,2,3 and 4.

Tremendous. God knows that diapers are a huge expense and that we are worried about how we will afford them over the next few months. So- the instant that we remembered that He is probably waiting on us to get the giving exchange going again- He gave back through my friend Aliah in 5 days. He expanded what we stretched to give right away!!! What a God! To know that He can have everything- He does have everything- He made all of this that is seen by the eyes of everyone- but what He wants most is my love and obedience and for me to test His giving skills. I can't believe it! How silly to ever forget!

Thank you Lord- thank you for putting it on my heart that I need not take a break from the giving game with You- You are too excited to do it with me!