Blessed.

Every December I like to look back in my journal and review the goals I set for the year. 2007 goal achievement wasn't stellar but I can see some definite improvements in specific areas and some other areas that still need a lot more work.

Take for example: "Exercise 3 days a week." Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!! Does carrying laundry up and down the stairs to the washer and dryer in the basement count? I'm sure you can guess into which category that one falls.

Then there was "Email my mom weekly." Yea, right. That didn't happen either. But we have been talking on the phone about once a week. I consider that a success when I redefine my goal as increasing and maintaining regular communication with my mom.

My journal reminded me of another specific goal and an accompanying prayer. January 29, 2007: "I believe You [God] are able to provide the $17,500 to pay off the home equity loan...Please provide the money to pay off this loan by the end of the year." I should say, Joel and I set the goal, then I privately prayed the prayer.

We committed ourselves to paying off our home equity loan as quickly as possible. And then I forgot all about my prayer and the part about believing God for December 31.

I didn't forget about the loan. Believe me, denying myself that non-budgeted dinner at On the Border could only occur by keeping a greater goal in mind. Paying off that loan has been on my mind a lot this year. But somewhere along the way I decided it would be o.k. if the payoff didn't occur by the last day of 2007. I stopped fervently praying for it. And I stopped looking for ways God would provide.

But God. Don't you just love the sound of those two words?! But God didn't forget. He is faithful even when we are faithless.

Throughout this year God has provided the money to pay off our loan. First, the federal government refunded almost all of our taxes. Next, Joel received a fantastic raise. Then we cashed in a whole life insurance policy.

And last but not least, we sold a stock, or rather, God had our stock sold for us. We didn't even realize we had it until earlier this year. In fact, it's just been sitting there waiting for us to decide what to do with it. A few weeks ago the company was bought out or merged or something. Anyway. Our shares were bought back (I guess). And they sent us a big ole check. A big ole check that pays off the remaining balance on our equity loan!!!

Isn't God faithful?! In case you missed those numbers, God paid off a $17,500 loan balance for us in 12 months. Believe me when I say He did it. When I prayed that prayer in January there was no earthly way to see it paid off in 12 months. No earthly way.

But God could see the Heavenly Way. Aren't you glad He remembers the prayers we pray and then answers them even when we have forgotten?! What an amazing God I serve!

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10.