Another opportunity

Jessica and I have had so many great stories of things that God has provided for us when we needed them. Don't get me wrong, we have plenty of resources to pay for things, but we learned from Randy Alcorn's, "The Treasure Principle" that great test of needing something is asking the Lord to provide it for you. If He does, then you have a great story about God's faithfulness. If not, then you can question whether you need it.

"But wait!" you might wonder. Isn't that kind of weird to have the money to buy something and then ask God to give it to you when He has already provided the money? Not at all -- you now have more money to give to Kingdom purposes! Invite Jessica and I over for hot chocolate sometime and we'll regale you with stories about things we've received from God's hand -- tables, furniture, portable dvd player, carS, clothing, and so much more.

So when Jessica and I were together at church last Sunday and a woman came up and introduced us to her husband as the woman (Jessica) who taught her about praying for God to provide things BEFORE going out and purchasing them, and Jessica's husband (no real title) it didn't really surprise me.

I can recall the Spirit talking to me and pointing out the irony of her statement because I knew that I had just made a fairly (for us) major purchase of a new digital camera (without much prayer).

We used to have a very serviceable camera that was handled by someone under the age of 18 in our family and accidentally dropped at Whit's End soda shoppe. Thanks to some handiness by a Denver friend, the camera was fixed and up and running again good as new. It made it through most of our time in Memphis, but recently started acting up again (especially while in DC). We felt that since we're hoping to go to the Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest and see friends while driving home, we should have a camera.

So, being the head of my prayerful wife, I immediately did what came naturally to me.

I researched. I scoured the ads for the best deals and checked online specials and coupon codes as well as local camera store options. Then, after much looking and miles of driving, I (having hardly prayed) purchased a camera (including one free all-in-one printer that was part of a great deal). However, when I got it home, I was shocked to learn that my meticulous research had failed to alert me to the GLARING problem that the camera was a different memory format than the cards we currently have (nobody ever introduces us as "Jessica -- the lady who prays about purchases before making them, and her equally amazing husband John -- the fantastic researcher").

Realizing my error, I did the obvious. I went to another store and bought a second camera. So I now have two cameras in my midst and Jessica isn't sure we should have either. I put on my best face and try to explain that #2 really is great. The only problem is that cameras and our family don't always take to one another (we've had several meet untimely demises). I realized that if we bought a camera from a local Memphis store we might have a harder time with the warranty if something happened.

With that in mind, I went to a local store that we also have in Tri-Cities and purchased a third camera (identical to #2). The good news about that purchase is that the Discover Card Fraud Network proved their worthiness when they called our home in Richland to check on several "out of character" purchases at electronic stores. That was heartening.

Along with the camera, I purchased the extended service agreement (often I skip these, but with our history with cameras...). I then took the first two cameras back and we came to feel that our new camera (a slick little Nikon) was a good deal. Perhaps not given by the Lord, but a good find, nonetheless.

Until today when it was dropped and now has a cute little screen that says, "Lens error" when you try to turn it 0n.

So I started looking at the paperwork for our warranty and I realized that we may have to send it off to Nikon for them to look at it before they might send us a new one. If so, that means we have no camera to take on our trip home.

Which means I get a second chance! Pretty cool. I'll try to remember to let you know how it turns out.