Avoiding Satan’s Traps by E. Davenport January 6, 2010

There may be people who may read this; who knowingly or unknowingly may be looking to see if this is a critical piece. That is not the nature of this writing. It’s simply about a personal experience that clearly shaped my walk with God.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

When I was younger and not walking close with God; I had an enlightening experience. It was what my friend Rose calls a “defining moment.”

I always had two or three jobs even when I had a good job. We had moved into a new house and the financial needs became more demanding. I needed to be able to work at home and still earn extra monies. It so happened that an opportunity arose that allowed me to make money and a lot of it writing meaningful greetings cards and I leaped at the challenge.

BACKGROUND

I had written poetry for many years; all of my life in fact. When we were newly married in the middle of the night; something would wake me up and whisper poetry in my ears and I would jump up and write it down. When I became convinced that it could wait til morning, I would later find that it couldn’t, it would be long forgotten. All I knew was that it was beautiful. So I ended up with a huge stack of poetry in a bin from these nightly writings. My husband and I even thought of putting a computer in the bedroom for my nightly writings but we decided against it.

THINGS HAPPEN TO BELIEVERS

I knew the Lord as a little child. I am very thankful. I know that this doesn’t happen to everyone. God is love. I knew this as a child, but something happens to believers as we live in this world. I became sensitive to all of the unbelief that surrounded me in the wrong way. In my poems, Gods’ name would just pop up. Or Jesus name would just pop up. I really couldn’t explain it but they would be in the writings and nothing else would go there. I could be writing on anything, any subject and God’s name, His hand was always in it.

I GOT THIS JOB OFFER

I heard about a place that paid for your poetry if they could convert it into Greeting cards. I began to do some research and wrote a stack of materials. I went to the business and met the owner. I literally spent the entire afternoon there. I don’t recall her name and honestly I wouldn’t say it if I did. The lady paid me extremely well and promised me that she would give me a byline on the back of the Greeting Cards that were published. She then gave me a very large assignment. I was so excited.

THEN THE BOOM FELL…

This is a true story. As I was leaving she said: “One small thing. You mention God in your poetry, can you just leave that out? I usually don’t accept writings with Gods’ name in it but you didn’t have it in there a lot; but can you just do it less?”
She explained that she was an atheist. Now I had never met an atheist before. I couldn’t even understand how someone could have that mindset. I was shocked. I remember thinking how I couldn’t tell by looking at her. That was the most alarming thing.

MY RESPONSE…
I went numb. Those “visions of sugarplums” danced right out of my head. I just said the expected good-byes. For some reason I had parked a very long ways from the business. The walk back to my car was way too long. I was overcome with great sadness. I knew in my spirit that I could never return. I could not compromise my faith.

LOOKING BACK

I am very proud, because I wasn’t walking close with God then. There comes a time when we will all face DEFINING MOMENTS; what will you do then? What choice will you make?

Prayer (Giving Your Last) Word For The Day! by Elaine Davenport Monday, October 5, 2009

In everything I have pointed out to you [by example] that, by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive. Acts 20: 35

I was planning to take a trip down to Texas for a Faith Conference.  I had saved up my monies.  I had done all of the right things.  I had p\aid my plane fare months beforehand.  I had put aside my spending money and hotel fees.  Everything was just perfect.  Then I got a book in the mail from  a ministry in Russia.

They were asking for monies.  I’m going to be honest.  I said:  “I didn’t ask for them to send me this book.”  I decided not to even read it though I was curious.  It was a hardcover book.  One of my pet peeves was I hated for people to “presume” anything about me and my money.

I had a real tight budget at the time…I thought.  I was overcome with fear.  I wanted to obey, but giving up my only money seemed like such a stupid thing.  Would I do that for God?  It was a test for me.

After much prayer, I became full of peace.  It was all God’s idea; I could trust Him.

As I meditated in the Word of God over the next few days, I realized that I needed to send this ministry some money.  So, I asked God how much in my prayers.  Pretty soon, I kept hearing $500.00.

WHAT?  That was the exact amount I had saved for my trip though I was planning to add more.  My trip was just a little over 30 days away.  I began to pray…I said:  “Lord, if You want me to sow $500.00 into this ministry…you’re going to have to send it.

I’m not going to lie…it did not come.

I began to thank God for choosing me to be an example.  No one would know but me and God.  I contined to pray and meditate in the bible.  I confessed the Word over myself.  Love began to manifest in my spirit.  All of a sudden I had great compassion for what God would do in Russia.  I followed the Holy Spirit and I sowed the seed.     That was right around the time that I started this site.  One turned into two and now nine sites later, I still follow God’s plan.  I never dreamed it would be this big.  Never.

I went to the bank, got the money out.  I told no one.  I sent it to Russia.

As soon as I sent it…weird stuff began to happen.  All of my monies came and more besides.  I had enough to cover myself and another friend for the trip.  It was the most phenomenal trip and my friends threw me a surprise Birthday party and gave me more money while on the trip.  I had never had a birthday party in my life before that!  That was the year of my greatest Overflow all because I obeyed.