Hey everyone, well so far I have recieved some help with great resources, links to some foundations that help people pay for some past due medical bills, and also was directed to a great networking/support resource for cystic fibrosis.

         I just wanted to encourage you to keep trying. Whatever it is that you are going through, nothing has gone unseen by the Lord, and He will always make a way for you, even if it seems there is no way.

        God bless you and I just wanted to encourage you not to give up. This world is full of caring and generous people. Money helps fix many situations I know (we need it too) but just remember that this world is temporary, and so is the situation you are in...even if it feels like it's been going on for years, and you haven't had a brake. Just keep praying and know that He is hearing your prayers. His timing it perfect, He is not slow or uncaring...and everything good in your life, truely that is good in your life, it is from the Lord. Don't forget that.

         If you ever are frusterated, and just want someone to pray with you, I am here.

         If you haven't checked out Nathan's web site yet, please take a minute and do that.  www.contrerashome.us Thank you very much, God bless you. 

 " Do not re-live yesterday,    since everyday is a new day"

I see a lot of needs and wants but are there any success stories that individuals can share with others who may be feeling down or as if there isn't any hope in sight?

I am a single dad with 2 kids ages 8 and 11. I have recently been divorced and have custody of both kids wich is great. I have been laid off from work and have moved my kids and I into my parents house. My home has been forclosed on due to financial strains throughout the divorce proceedings. We are trying to get back on our feet. I have started taking the kids to church every week and we are very gratetfull for the people and the help we have met there, and I think it is great that the kids have taken to it as well. I am a very pridefull person and I don't like to ask for help, but I am also learning that at times we all need a little help from time to time. I have some things I need help to take care of so my kids and I can move forward with our lives. I have taken on about 1500 dollars in medical bills that my health insurance did not cover and I also have some utility bills that total up to 550 dollars. Not to mention 1500 dollars for an attorney.

I have to admit that it seems a bit ridiculous for me to ask for help here as I don,t believe I know anyone who reads this web site. I have prayed and prayed about what to do to get things caught up and I stumbled across this web page about some people in the same or similar situation as myself. I would greatly appreciate any help or advice that would be encouraging or helpfull.

Thankyou and God bless.

It had to be one of the coldest day of the year in January, my lights were being shut off as well as my gas. I think I asked every family member I could find and they all said no or something like get a real job. My family did not believe in helping one another ,the only bragged about what each had and what it cost etc......A neighbor of mines called me over her house for some coffee, mind you I did not know her very well but as we sat in her kitchen I started to cried and she reached over to me and asked me what was happening in my life to be so sad. I told her the exact story I told you. My neighbor hugged me and told me that since she was a senior citizen that are money was limited. So she sent me home feleling as bad as when I came to visit. That night I cried myself to sleep and in the morning I had the worst headache I ever had.I mopped around the house all that day. I did not anwer my phone at all fearing the bill collectors. Suddenly it sounded as though someone was laying on my door bell because who ever it was did not let up off of it until i came to see who it was. My next door neighbor came to my house with some other people who had donated money to pay my light and gas and some money for food because there was going to be a snow storm and they were sure that the money would come in handy.This happened in Jan. of 2008, and I have in many way donated my time to those elderly neighbors. Oh I still owe the same utility companies and I am still at the same poor paying job, but for one month god had sent me a piece of blessing that has inspired me to try to help myself the best way I could. 

A while ago I wrote about being in need of monies for bills, rent, and other things and I felt sorry for myself because I had no resources to help dig my family and myself out of the mess I got us into. Today the problems haven't disappear but I am handling them in a different way. I completed another associated degree for Health Information and for now I haven't moved to find a job in this feild but I tell you that I am not sitting at home doing nothing, I found a temp agency that allows me to try my hat at many things. Somethings are old, for instance I was a direct care counselor for many years, so I found an agency that allows me to work in that feild as much as i want and then there's the Medical assistant aspect of my life that is fairly new and the same agency allows me to do my thing as much as I like, so I am doing something and little by little I am holding my head up a little higher because i decide that I can only do what I can, pay what I can because I am not going to beg for help form family members, strangers, or friends anymore because I will work out my problems the best way I can. So to those who e-mail me thank you and god bless.

“THE BEST TIME TO ASK”

 IN EVERYTHING WE DO, THERE IS ALWAYS A “BEST TIME” TO DO IT.   IN THE STATE WHERE I LIVE, THERE IS NOW A “TAX FREE WEEKEND” TO SHOP FOR SCHOOL CLOTHES.  YOU CAN SHOP AND HIT THE SALES RACKS ANYTIME YOU CHOOSE DURING THE SUMMER, BUT BY FAR, THE BEST TIME TO SHOP FOR CLOTHES IS ON “TAX FREE WEEKEND”!  NOT ONLY DO YOU GET THE ADVANTAGE OF SALES BUT THE ADDED BENEFIT OF “NO” TAXES!

 VACATIONING ON FLORIDA’S SANDY BEACHES CAN BE GREAT AT ALMOST ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.  THE ONLY PROBLEM IS, IF YOU GO DURING HURRICANE SEASON, YOU’LL BE SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN THE BEACH.  THE “BEST TIME” TO VACATION IN FLORIDA, IS IN EARLY SPRING WHILE THE WATERS ARE STILL COOL.

 MY CHILDREN KNEW THEY COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON ME TAKING THEM SOMEWHERE THEY NEEDED TO GO, HOWEVER IT WAS SO MUCH “BETTER” IF THEY ASKED ME WHEN I WASN’T RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROJECT.  THEN THERE WAS NO RUSH IN GOING OR COMING.

 WOULD YOU BELIEVE PRAYER IS LIKE THAT?  DON’T GET ME WRONG, THE PRAYER LINES ARE ALWAYS OPEN DAY OR NIGHT TO GOD AND HE WILL HEAR AND ANSWER RIGHT WHEN YOU NEED HIM, HOWEVER,  WHEN YOU DO NEED SOMETHING FROM GOD, THERE IS A “BEST TIME” TO ASK.

 WE READ IN 1KINGS 3, THE STORY OF SOLOMON WHERE GOD GRANTED HIM A REQUEST ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT HE ASKED.  IN FACT, GOD EVEN ASKED SOLOMON WHAT “HE” COULD DO FOR HIM!  SOMEHOW THE “TIME WAS BEST” FOR RECEIVING AN ANSWER.  IN VERSE 3 THE BIBLE TELLS US SOLOMON WAS ONE WHO SACRIFICED REGULARLY TO GOD.  IN VERSE 4, HE HAD GONE TO GIBEON , AS WAS HIS CUSTOM, TO SACRIFICE.  YOU SEE, SACRIFICING OPENS THE DOOR TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD.  GOD IS AT THE DOOR READY TO EXCEPT A SACRIFICE AND WHAT BETTER TIME TO ASK THAN WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED?  THERE IS A SMALL CAT THAT HANGS AROUND OUR HOUSE.  HE LIKES TO VISIT MY CATS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR.  IF HE WANTED TO COME IN THE HOUSE, THE PERFECT TIME WOULD BE WHEN WE OPENED THE DOOR COMING OR GOING.

 IN 1SAMUEL, HANNAH’S HEART CRY WAS FOR A SON.  IF WE READ VERSE 1:3, WE SEE THAT IT WAS THE CUSTOM FOR HANNAH TO ACCOMPANY HER HUSBAND TO SHILOH EACH YEAR TO SACRIFICE TO GOD.  IT WAS AT SHILOH, THAT HANNAH’S CRY UNTO THE LORD WAS HEARD AND ANSWERED.  SOON AFTER SHE RETURNED HOME, SHE CONCEIVED.

 BEFORE ESTHER ENTERED THE KING’S CHAMBER SEEKING DELIVERANCE FOR HER PEOPLE, SHE FASTED AND PRAYED.  SHE DIDN’T HAVE TO SACRIFICE AN ANIMAL.  HER FOOD WAS SACRIFICED ALONG WITH HER TIME AND GOD ANSWERED HER PRAYER.

 JESUS TELLS US IN MATTHEW 5:23-24, WHEN WE BRING OUR GIFT TO THE ALTAR AND REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE OUGHT AGAINST OUR BROTHER, WE NEED TO LEAVE OUR GIFT AT THE ALTAR AND GO MAKE IT RIGHT WITH THAT BROTHER THEN RETURN TO GIVE OUR GIFT.  GOD EXPECTS A SACRIFICE OF SELF WILL AND HARBORED ANGER TO RELEASE THE BLESSINGS OF ANSWERED PRAYER. 

ONE MORNING BEFORE PRAYER, I WAS IMPRESSED TO CALL SOMEONE AND ENCOURAGE THEM. THIS PERSON WAS GOING THROUGH SOME REAL TRAUMA AND WAS USUALLY NEGATIVE IN EVERYTHING. I DIDN’T REALLY WANT TO MAKE THE CALL, HOWEVER GOD WOULDN’T  LEAVE ME ALONE ABOUT IT AND I FINALLY CALLED HER.  I’M SO GLAD I DID.  IT REALLY PICKED HER UP AND AFTER I PRAYED FOR HER, SHE TOLD ME HOW MUCH BETTER SHE FELT.  AS I STARTED TO PRAY I HEARD THE LORD SAY “I RECEIVE YOUR SACRIFICE, IT WAS PLEASING TO ME, WHAT IS YOUR REQUEST?”  THERE WAS AN URGENT NEED IN OUR FAMILY THAT MORNING AND BEFORE MID AFTERNOON EVEN GOT A START, IT WAS ANSWERED.

I REALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT DAY, WE CAN GO TO GOD ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT FOR OUR NEEDS BUT THE “BEST TIME” TO RECEIVE IS WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR GOD TO RECEIVE OUR SACRIFICE.  PRAISE, THANKSGIVING, MONEY, TIME OR POSSESSIONS ARE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICES TO GOD AND IT’S WHEN WE GIVE THESE, THAT’S ALWAYS “THE BEST TIME TO ASK”!

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This is an area where you can give encouragement or just to share your stories of how you used your resources to help with financial situations, either by changing your career or enhancing your job or going back to school.