DRIBS AND DRABS
Dribs and Drabs. What does that mean? According to dictionary.com: “bits and pieces, negligible amounts, as in There's not much left, just some dribs and drabs of samples. The noun drib is thought to be a shortening of driblet , for "drop" or "tiny quantity." I
suppose it depends on what you are talking about that comes in ‘dribs and
drabs.’ Some things that would come in
dribs and drabs would be business if it dribbled in all day. We moved out of a house one time in dribs and
drabs - a little at a time here and there.
Dribs and drabs of leftovers – yummy - especially dessert!
We’ve been praying for
a huge financial miracle. I mean a BIG one!
Constant looming deadlines for things due had us blinded and stressed about
what God could do. We had an amount of
money in our minds and knew we had to have it, nothing less. We were also seeking
God’s plan for the mission work we felt led to, but God was silent. We felt
like He had abandoned us. No answers
were forthcoming. What was He up too? We begged Him to tell us. What did He
want from us? Why are we back in this classroom learning this same lesson
again?
A small amount of the
needed funds came in and we were grateful. We really were…..or were we? I began
to realize I was doing more complaining about our lack (because my idea of what
we needed hadn’t happened) than I was praising Him for what He had brought to us. Ok, attitude adjustment needed! The Scripture talks about a sacrifice of
praise. (Psalm 50:14, Hosea 14:2, Hebrews 13:5 NLT) I needed to do more than just say a small “thank
you.” I needed to REALLY thank Him, and
He was asking me to trust Him with the dribs and drabs. “But Father,” I argued again, “we need this
and this and this. This is due. That is due.
How will we ever pay it and on top of that get Steve to Haiti
“TRUST ME!” He said to me.
“Ok, Father, I’ll
trust You. But please, can You send more
than just dribs and drabs?”
Somehow things
were getting paid. We weren’t going
hungry. Even the dogs were getting fed,
but still I felt so stressed - constantly begging God to relieve this
stress. I kept hearing in my head that
its sin to not trust Him. I had the
verse that says worrying can’t add anything going through my head, but somehow
I couldn’t let it go. (Luke 12:25,26 NIV) There were even certain days that I
couldn’t help but resent the dribs and drabs.
I begged Him to sell off a few more of those cattle on a thousand hills.
(Psalm 50:10-12 NIV) Once again I heard Him say to me, “When are you going to
just let it go and realize I’ve got this? I just want you to learn to trust me
in the dribs and drabs before I can trust YOU with the big picture.”
Really, this is
the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE. What is wrong
with me that I can’t see that He does care more for me than the birds and
flowers and He takes care of them? He
has taken care of me for all of my years.
(Never mind how many) He has done
some pretty awesome things too. So as I
thought I hated dribs and drabs I was going to learn to trust in them! I read more of His Word. I talked to Him instead of sitting and
worrying.
My “AHA” moment
came one weekend when I knew of no way anything would come in. I knew no way. Get that?
I, ME, knew no way. Well, I can’t
see the whole picture can I? I knew of two
things that needed to be paid by Monday.
Every door we knocked on seemed shut tight. We were once again in a place in our lives
where God demanded our attention and trust.
Dribs and drabs came in that weekend from two unexpected sources. Ok, I’m grateful. I really am but we are a
few dollars short. WAIT! I added wrong. We have $10 more than we need. Really?
We have enough? Wow, what relief! At least for a few days anyway.
Here we go again
- another deadline. This time I knew that
no way, no how was there anywhere for it to come from. We both were working the course God put
before us, but it just wasn’t bringing the results we needed. Yet somehow I
didn’t feel as stressed. I knew somehow
God was going to make it all work out, and He did. He provided more dribs and drabs from some very,
VERY unexpected sources; and again, just enough.
Now as another
deadline approaches I feel excitement to see where God is going to bring the financial
assistance from. I still find myself
feeling stressed a little but then I just go pick up His Word. Has He taken care of yet again another due
date? What do you think? I think I’m learning to love dribs and drabs! We’ve let the ministry in Haiti
I LOVE dribs and
drabs!!
