The Charltons

God truly is the God Who provides. We have a few testimonies to share with you all of the Lord's provision for our family!

 

• A week after moving to Fredericksburg, I went to the bank to deposit a check from one of my last Violin lessons in Hampton and took a look at our balance. It was approx $150 above what we needed to cover our mortgage, which had not yet drafted out. We were just starting out into this missionary thing, so my mind started to race - would I have to send Melody and the kids back to Hampton with me commuting back and forth, or would I have to try and borrow money to take care of expenses, or did I misunderstand the signs and the season and come into full-time ministry too soon, etc. I went back to the base (what we call our campus) to eat lunch, thinking "food will make me feel better"... About 15 minutes after I got back to the base, Melody called me and said that we received a letter in the mail, at the house we were staying at for the month. I was thinking, "who knows we're here and would send us something?" It was a letter from family, and a check for $300 for "profit share" following a business transaction.
   

• On Saturday, 09/13/14, my Mom and my brothers Mark and Steven came up to visit. They brought our mail from Hampton with them and we skimmed through it, but it wasn't until the following Tuesday or Wednesday that we actually looked at a letter from the storage company where I had the small unit with some cheap, broken instruments and other partable items. The letter stated that the unit auctioned for $950, and after assessing the past due amount and a lien against the unit we would receive the difference from the auction: $625.10!
   

• My realtor contacted me the following week saying that a buyer was interested in our house and that they would purchase it with cash, along with all of the furniture in our house. Long story short, after three weeks and some investigation it came to light that the provided documentation was forged and the offer was a scam, and that there was no real money to back up the offer. We had already begun to move the financial wheels towards closing a sale and finalizing our move to Fredericksburg, so this backed us into a corner that we didn't know how to get out of. Truth be told, the situation was so peculiar we were mostly scratching our heads at the whole ordeal, wondering what had just happened to us. In addition, our tenure at the house we were staying in was coming to an end, and we didn't know where to go. It turns out that in the months previous to all of this Melody had booked us a week in Shenendoah at one of those "come listen to our sales pitch and stay in our facilities" offers, thinking we would never actually go. It was booked for the week we had to be out of where we were staying, and we had forgotten all about it! God had arranged a place for us to stay and rest and reflect on the entire debacle months before it even happened! Well, while at the "Adventure House" (as my boys still call it), like before our minds began to race to figure out a solution to our predicament. After several long conversations with the leadership at the Furnace, they told me that their current Events Director was transitioning out and that  they had a conference coming up in less than 3 weeks. They then asked me if I would temporarily take up the position till they figured out a long term solution, and that this arrangment came with a stipend for the event. Turns out, they have allowed me to take on this position in a more permanent capacity, so with each event we do (about 3-4 a year) I will have some income generated from the work administrating these events. Again, God provides!

 

So, where does that bring us? Our house is still sitting on the market (after several price drops). The arts academy I have started with the Furnace is progressing, but slowly and little-by-little. We have found somewhere for our family to live - a true miracle and blessing! - but the space won't accomodate our family whenever the Lord adds more arrows to our quiver (no, Melody's not pregnant right now). The reality appears to be mixed with good and not-so-good. The wheels are turning, slowly but surely, and God is working in our lives in ways we did not expect, but things are unsure.  However, throughout everything Melody and I have never felt any anxiety, worry, or fear, which is the true reality, the greatest provision to which we testify. 

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:6-7

 

God does not give fear. He doesn't give anxiety. He doesn't give worry. We have seen the goodness of the Lord amongst us here, and we are truly tasting and seeing it in ways and places we were either unaware of or afraid to search out. In all things - through all things - He is good simply because He is good. It is inseparable from who He is - immutable, faithful, reliable.
We are brimming with things to share, but we wanted this update to come first.  We hope that you've been encouraged, and that we've given you ways to pray more specifically for us at this stage in our journey. Open heavens of blessings on you all!

 

- Mike