Empty Pantry, Husband out of work, & 4 Hungry Children

God is our helper

My husband had just been laid off of work August 1998. It was not obvious how long we would be without money for food. My cooking job for four growing children has been taken seriously and it brought me anxiety as I watched the supplies dwindle. I knew I could not go grocery shopping. We had to make the house payment and pay other bills but nothing was left over for food. I set the table and when we knelt around it, I poured out my heart to God. I told the kids to get on their knees because we were really serious about this prayer. I told God that He promised when we faithfully return our tithes and offerings and commit our lives in service to Him, He promised to open the windows of heaven, and pour out so much there would not be room for it all. I told Him there was a lot of room in my cupboards and pantry. Then I said AMEN. The children looked at me in amazement. One said, "Mama, you pray like that and watch out, the kitchen will be really full by night time. You won't be able to get inside!"

Immediately there was a knock on the front door. The neighbor complained that their garden was making too many green beans. They had eaten so many, they were getting tired of them, did we want some? Five gallon buckets were filled and brought home.

 No sooner had I gotten them into the kitchen than I heard a car in the driveway. Someone had seen our home for sale sign and came up to look. They kept staring at me like they knew me. I had changed my hair style as I felt embarrassed due to the series of JOB trials we had gone through. I did not want any of my patients to recognize me. They had all been told good bye and that I was starting work on an Indian reservation in Utah. They did not know that the Indian hospital financially collapsed and broke their promise to me after I had sold my practice. The lady in the car asked what I did. Then since I admitted only to being a mom, she said, "You are Dr. Rose and I have wanted to find you and thank you for all you did for me." She proceeded to explain and then tell me she was now a church member. She thanked me over and over. She saw I and my husband were troubled about something. I mentioned we were being tested. She smiled a cheery good bye.

I told my other neighbor I would take her up on the offer of free canning jars for I had some garden items to can. While I was over getting free jars, things were happening at my home. The patient returned from the Gresham Dorcas food bank with many boxes of food. There was not even room for my feet to enter the kitchen. I piled onto the table and organized the items of cans, fresh foods, and garden produce and took pictures to remember how God had provided.

This pantry now looked like my momma had taught me to prepare for winter. As a little girl, I helped can fruit for use during winter. Every year I try to get that work done for my family. By spring time, the jars are all empty and we start over. It also helps on the food budget

God was not through. Every week we were given nice good things by different people.  My sister Julie gave me such a variety of vegetables from her garden, I arranged them in this rainbow formation for a picture. This continued for several months till we had a resolution of our financial problem. By doing this for me, God reassured me that He knew how moms  and dads feel about providing enough for their growing children. Providing food is not the only anxiety. Training them correctly is an endless thankless task. I have been on my knees so many times asking for help. I have not been down this road before. There are many different personalities entrusted to my care. They are unique and need unique instruction. I am not perfect and am probably passing on my imperfections.

Promises for Help

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

None that trust Him shall be desolate. Psalms 34:22

He will hear the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer. Ps. 102:17

Bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure. Is. 33:16

"He sympathizes with every MOTHER in her struggle to provide her children food." Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings 112

Don't be discouraged, don't be upset, expect God to act. For I know that I will again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all that He will do. He is my help, He is my God. Ps. 41:11 Living Bible

My God shall supply all your needs. Phil. 4:19 According to His limited budget? No, according to HIS riches. The supply is limitless, my friend. Only we limit HIM.

"God stands back of every promise He has made." 8T 23

God promises that your work will provide for your needs. Ps. 128:2

Here is a promise to comfort when creditors are screaming and you can do nothing to pay: "The wrath of men shall praise thee, the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." Ps. 76:10 Do not be afraid, God will put restraining orders on them.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. Is. 26:3

He who has given his life to God in ministry to His children is linked with Him who has all the resources of the universe at His command. His life is bound up by the golden chain of immutable promises with the life of God. The Lord will not fail him in the hour of suffering and need.  And in the hour of final need, the merciful shall obtain mercy. TMB 24  Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings  by Ellen White

Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young. 

Psalms 37:23 The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 
37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand. 
37:25 I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 
37:26 [He is] ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed [is] blessed. 

Mothers Prayers

Special Promises for Mothers

Mothers to Seek Divine Aid.--Did mothers but realize the importance of their mission, they would be much in secret prayer, presenting their children to Jesus, imploring His blessing upon them, and pleading for wisdom to discharge aright their sacred duties. Let the mother improve every opportunity to mold and fashion the disposition and habits of her children. Let her watch carefully the development of character, repressing traits that are too prominent, encouraging those that are deficient. Let her make her own life a pure and noble example to her precious charge. {AH 265.4}
The mother should enter upon her work with courage and energy, relying constantly upon divine aid in all her 
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efforts. She should never rest satisfied until she sees in her children a gradual elevation of character, until they have a higher object in life than merely to seek their own pleasure. {AH 265.5}
It is impossible to estimate the power of a praying mother's influence. She acknowledges God in all her ways. She takes her children before the throne of grace and presents them to Jesus, pleading for His blessing upon them. The influence of those prayers is to those children as "a wellspring of life." These prayers, offered in faith, are the support and strength of the Christian mother. To neglect the duty of praying with our children is to lose one of the greatest blessings within our reach, one of the greatest helps amid the perplexities, cares, and burdens of our lifework. {AH 266.1}
The power of a mother's prayers cannot be too highly estimated. She who kneels beside her son and daughter through the vicissitudes of childhood, through the perils of youth, will never know till the judgment the influence of her prayers upon the life of her children. If she is connected by faith with the Son of God, the mother's tender hand may hold back her son from the power of temptation, may restrain her daughter from indulging in sin. When passion is warring for the mastery, the power of love, the restraining, earnest, determined influence of the mother, may balance the soul on the side of right. {AH 266.2}

...and the Spirit of God, like a dove of burnished gold, encircled the form of the Saviour; and a voice came from heaven which said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." {CG 525.3}
What significance does this have for you? It says that heaven is open to your prayers. It says that you are accepted in the Beloved. The gates are open for every mother who would lay her burden at the Saviour's feet. It says that Christ has encircled the race with His human arm, and with His divine arm He has grasped the throne of the Infinite and united man with God, and earth with heaven. {CG 525.4}
The prayers of Christian mothers are not disregarded by the Father of all, who sent His Son to the earth to ransom a people for Himself. He will not turn away your petitions and leave you and yours to the buffetings of Satan in the great day of final conflict. It is for you to work with simplicity and faithfulness, and God will establish the work of your hands. {CG 526.1} Child Guidance  by Ellen White

This is an encouraging lesson to mothers for all time. After they have done the best they can do for the good of their children, they may bring them to Jesus. Even the babes in the mother's arms are precious in His sight. And as the mother's heart yearns for the help she knows she cannot give, the grace she cannot bestow, and she casts herself and children into the merciful arms of Christ, He will receive and bless them; He will give peace, hope, and happiness to mother and children. This is a precious privilege which Jesus has granted to all mothers. {AH 274.1} Adventist Home

Christian mothers prayers will bear fruit

The influence of a praying, God-fearing mother will last through eternity. She may die, but her work will endure. {4T 500.1} Vol 4 of Testimonies to the Church by Ellen White

How Sweet the Consciousness of a Divine Friend.-- Your compassionate Redeemer is watching you with love and sympathy, ready to hear your prayers and to render you the assistance which you need. He knows the burdens of every mother's heart and is her best friend in every emergency. His everlasting arms support the God-fearing, faithful mother. When upon earth, He had a mother that struggled with poverty, having many anxious cares and perplexities, and He sympathizes with every Christian mother in her cares and anxieties. That Saviour who took a long journey for the purpose of relieving the anxious heart of a woman whose daughter was possessed by an evil spirit will hear the mother's prayers and will bless her children. {AH 204.1} Adventist Home

In every grief and every need He will give comfort and help.--DA 512 (1898).{DG 66.5} Desire of Ages by Ellen White