Already

It’s Veterans Day. I get a call from a local food service provider, Halsey Foods. They ask if we are available to come pick up donations. That’s really a God story in and of itself. It happened shortly after we started at House of the Harvest. We were still in the process of trying to figure things out. One of our biggest concerns was being able to provide meat. It was rare that we could have something to give out of the freezers, maybe once or twice a month. I had really been asking God for opportunities for us to have meat on a regular basis. 

A couple of Saturday mornings later, I am  at House of the Harvest, when this random guy walks up to me from the front parking lot. “Are you Adam?” 

He tells me his name and then begins to tell me why he is here. He was just driving through the area and saw all the commotion. In his words, “There are people everywhere. I just wondered what was going on.” So he stopped what he was doing. Parked his truck and walked over. Just to see. Someone in the parking lot asked if they could help him, then directed him toward me. 

We talk for several minutes. I tell him what is going on, show him around. He is in disbelief. He’s a manager at Halsey Food Service. He tells me, “I am going to help you out.” I smile and tell him how much I appreciate it and he is on his way. I don't really think much more about it. Everyone desires to help on some level, but a lot of the time it doesn’t go past the initial conversation. 

Monday morning he calls me...early. Asks what time I can be there. Ever since that meeting, we get a call at least once a month. We drive over and pick up a load of donations that typically fills the inside of my truck, the bed of my truck, and a 16 foot trailer. Sometimes we even need a second truck, as was the case on Veteran’s Day 2019. Thankful for my friend, Scott Waite, who came alongside to help. And thankful to God who provides, puts the pieces in place, and connects the right people to bring it all together. 

We loaded those two trucks and trailer, and started to make the twenty minute drive out to HOH. Before we even got out of the parking lot at Halsey Food Service in Madison, rain drops started falling on my windshield. It wasn’t bad, but it was coming soon. I was carrying almost two thousand dollars worth of food. 

I’ve been in this position before. Quite a few times actually. I sat in the parking lot at Publix in Harvest one morning to pick up bread when it was raining pretty hard. My mind was directed toward Elijah, James 5. He prayed that it would not rain and it did not rain for over three years. I prayed in that parking lot that morning. The rain stopped long enough for me to get the bread delivered so I could get to work on time. God has a sense of humor too. As soon as I put the bread inside, the rain unleashed on me going back to the truck. I didn’t mind. It was like Him saying, “I just wanted to make sure you knew that was Me.” I laughed. 

I notice the rain drops this Veteran’s Day and I start to ask again. “Father, I really need…” At this point, my thoughts are completely interrupted. This isn’t a James 5 moment. No, this is a Sermon on the Mount moment. This is a Matthew 6 moment. He interrupts, “I know what you need My son. You don't have to ask. When are you going to learn I know what you need long before you ask, and it’s already been given.”

I smile. And laugh...again. I’m a slow learner. “Well, if it’s any consolation, I didn’t bring my raincoat.”

Sure enough...it didn’t rain on us before that trailer was unloaded. We got it all inside. And even had our doubts as to whether or not we would have enough fridge and freezer space. After Scott, Lisa Parvin, and I unboxed a few things, it all fit, with no room to spare. We had to get pretty creative. But that happens every time we pick up Halsey. Somehow, there is always just enough room. I think He enjoys watching us scramble and work to get it all put away. It’s like putting together a puzzle. But it always fits. He must already know that too. 

And today, He already knows what you need too. I don't know how long you have been waiting for it. I don’t know how many times you have asked for it, or how many more times you will. But I do know, just as sure as I know anything, that He knows already. He promises us that. 

He knows you. He hears you. And He makes a way for you. Whatever you need...He knows...already.

”…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:8