Bottle Return Blessings – Part II

“God will lavish you with good things…” Deuteronomy 28:12 (The Message)

Last time we were together, I talked about how God used our son getting sick, a few bottles and a stranger to bless our shopping trip.  Today I want to finish talking about the rest of the blessings He provided.

We walked into the store armed with our $14.10 bottle returns, other coupons, and Mperks and started shopping.  This particular week shopping felt different than most weeks do.  I always know God is with me, but that particular Friday it was as though God was walking up and down the aisles right beside me.  Almost every item we needed to buy (or I wanted to bless my husband or kids with) was Buy One Get One Free or on sale and I had a coupon to add to the savings I was already receiving.  Every time I saw that and placed the item in my cart, I said a quick prayer of thanks and moved onto the next item on my list.

I wasn’t sure how the final result would be, but I was trusting God and enjoying the “adventure” He was taking me on.  While I’m no coupon diva or professional like you see on Extreme Couponing, checking out usually takes me quite a while.  My total before the savings made me cringe slightly…it was more than I had hoped.  However, by the time I had used all the savings God had provided for us, we had saved over $50 from what the total said, over $65 completely. Our grocery bill was the lowest it had been in years…and it was a full shopping trip.  When I got home, I was able to fill up our fridge, freezer and cupboards with the food we needed and even a few things we “wanted” but weren’t necessities.  And…the $12 VISA rebate I had received in the mail?  Still in my pocket, waiting for our next grocery trip or maybe will be used to pay for something else we need in the future.

I’m not sure but I think God used the day of the bottle returns to teach me something far more important. That night I had a dream which left me feeling melancholy when I woke up.  It was a dream about an experience that happened to me years ago, one I don’t think about very often. I talked to God during my quiet time the next day and wondered why I was dreaming about that now?  Then I waited silently and God whispered this in return.

“Just as I orchestrated all the events yesterday to line up so that you would be in the right place at the right time and could receive the blessing of the $14 bottle returns, I have been orchestrating your days throughout your life to line up so you would be in the right place at the right time to receive the other blessings I’ve wanted to give you as well.”

That dream He allowed me to have reminded me how blessed I am to be married to the man God gave me.  It reminded me that the man my parents prayed about for me all throughout my childhood was being raised into a godly man while I was being raised as the princess God designed. It reminded me that while Bill could have married anyone he wanted, he waited for me to share his life with.  It reminded me that I am so blessed to be loved by a man who loves God first, then me, then his kids and finally everyone else. While neither of us is perfect, he is definitely perfect for my personality and that is such a blessing, directly from God.

It took the blessing of bottle returns and a melancholy dream to show me just how intimately God is involved in the details of my life.

Whatever you are going through in life, my friends, remember that God wants to direct your path as well.  If you keep your eyes open, He might show you how much He loves guiding your details too.

© Cheri Swalwell 2015