Ken Lovelace Ministries


The Abraham Journey (& the Generous Game) by Lygia Lovelace A few months ago, I felt drawn to a particular study on Abraham. At that time, I was heavily teaching a class on the books of Kings and the Chronicles, so I felt that it was unusual that God would also call me to study another large portion of His Word. However, I began doubling up my time, and working through the study. At about the same time, Ken mentioned feeling led to study Abraham more deeply. “Hmmm….You’re up to something, aren’t You?” I asked the Lord. Immediately I turned up my senses, and asked God for wisdom as I studied. During one morning’s quiet time, after the first few chapters of my study, I got a sinking feeling. I definitively shut my Bible. “God, you’re calling us to a life of uncertainty, aren’t You… That’s what You’re doing? Oh, please God, isn’t there any other way? I mean, if we leave our present situation and move on to the unknown, that requires…well…TRUST! You know I’m not good at that FAITH stuff.” Then, a great inspiration flashed through my mind! Ha! I smiled victoriously. “OK, Lord, since I’m the wife, I get to be Sarai, right? I don’t make the decisions. So, if you are indeed calling us to an ‘Abraham journey’, then that’s my husband’s decision, not mine! I won’t say a word about this…and I’m SURE Ken won’t come to the same conclusion as I have through these verses…” Satisfied, I put away my worries, and my Bible study. I suppose you can guess what happened next. My husband indeed got the same message from God. So, the next morning, during my quiet time, I considered putting away that Abraham study for good. Before I even opened my Bible, I had a talk with the Father. “God, listen, if we become unemployed, that’s irresponsible, isn’t it? We have 10 kids…have you forgotten that? Shouldn’t we wait and keep our job until you give us another one? What will my mother say? I certainly don’t want to worry her! Everyone will think we’ve lost our minds! Some won’t understand, and might even become angry or resentful. You don’t want us to lose our friends, do you? After all, we need friends!” Argument after argument followed as I reminded God why we shouldn’t take an Abraham journey. I wondered…did Sarai have these same doubts? What must her family and friends have thought? “Well…Father…SARAI didn’t have 10 kids! Abraham had prospered before she had a baby!” I smiled at that new thought as I confidently opened my Bible and the Abraham study. But again, the same message came to me. I knew, without a doubt, what God was calling us to do. So did my husband…my precious “Abraham.” Several weeks later, God led us to resign one of the greatest churches I’ve ever been a part of. We said good-bye to a church that had some of our best friends there—people we thought we’d be with for a very long time. Because of sick babies, I couldn’t even attend the farewell services. If it weren’t for the assurance in our hearts—God’s assurance--we would have crumbled. Thus began our life, unemployed, and soon, with no income, no medical insurance, no earthly security…only raw dependence on God. In the weeks that followed, the enemy filled my mind with fear and worries, especially in the middle of the night. During my quiet times, in the mornings, I was so full of requests for our own well-being, I couldn’t even concentrate on a Holy God, the God of the universe, who deserves my undivided attention—my praise and worship. I couldn’t even intercede for others, except the Lovelace’s! I knew that this was not God’s will for my thought life or for my prayer life. So I began a journal of fear verses. Every time I became afraid or worried or concerned, I went to the Word. I pictured myself as a newborn baby, crying to be fed every few hours, with only the tender, loving nourishment of its provider bringing satisfaction. I wrote and wrote and wrote these verses—going to the Word every few hours, longing for the nourishment of the Father, the Provider. I put them all over the house, so that when Satan attacked, I would be like young David. I pictured myself facing Satan, as David faced Goliath. Every time Satan came at me with a reason to fear or worry, I would reach into my bag of stones, and pull out a fear verse and fling it at the enemy as I spoke it out loud and told Satan to flee… I marveled at how God strengthened me in the battle. Satan finally decided to leave me alone in this area! Oh, occasionally he would come at me again with those fears and worries, but to no avail—I had learned to reach for that bag of stones. I also marveled at my husband--my “Abraham”—who was walking in complete faith and trust. Over and over God provided. Just when we thought we would do without, God gave. People brought food to our door—some completely unaware of our situation. Anonymous and random money came in the mail. Churches we didn’t even know gave to us. We became so overwhelmed by His goodness! Finally, one day we said, “OK, God, you are AMAZING! You are TRULY the great Provider! We know your Word says that we can’t outgive You, but we’re going to try! Every time someone gives us something, we’re going to give, too! So, the game was on. I could fill page after page of how the Lovelace’s have played the generous game with God and how He has always won! But here are a few examples… Some friends came into town that we hadn’t seen in a long time. We decided to go on an outing together, and I began packing lunches for the kids…we didn’t have much to pack, but I was determined. I smiled at God, and called my friend. “Since you are staying in a hotel, let me fix lunches for all of you!” I took her order over the phone and laughing to myself I packed up most of what we had. We had a wonderful day of friendship and fun—just what we needed (another gift from God!) As my friend was pulling away, she handed me $100.00. “Here,” she said, “I feel like you’re supposed to have this.” Then she drove away. God—scored another point…Lovelace’s—O. A few days later, we scraped enough money together to make a deposit. I took what we had, and handed it to the bank teller. She counted the money, then said, “Ma’am, do you want to deposit this extra money, or do you want it back?” I asked her to repeat herself several times, even arguing with her about the amount of money I had given her. Then, I thought I could see God smiling… “Oh, you know what? You’re probably right!” I told the sweet teller. “I’ll just take that money back. Thank you!” I put the extra money carefully into my purse. The next day was Sunday, so, smiling, I dropped it into the offering plate. My son leaned over and said in disbelief, “You have that much? Where’d you get that? Are you giving away ALL of it?” “Oh, yeah!” I whispered. The game was on! God—OK, a lot of points…Lovelace’s—1? Maybe?? The next day, my husband went to see a friend on a completely different matter. He came home with our 15 passenger van so packed with food that we couldn’t even get all of it into our kitchen. God—more points than ever….Lovelace’s—in the negative! “OK, God,” we laughed. “You win! But we still want to play!” We have had so much fun being generous! It’s hilarious giving! It has changed our lifestyle forever. To this day, Ken has applied for many, many jobs, and although we’ve had a few odd jobs along the way that God has used to help sustain us, we are still waiting on our location—that Abraham destination that God has planned. We know it’s there. And we are privileged to wait on Him, as we keep looking. And every day we are seeking--to stay in the center of God’s will in every area of our lives. And God is still providing! It has truly been an amazing journey. Yes, there have been doubts and fears, growing pains, and tears, and even some lost relationships along the way. But we wouldn’t trade this Abraham journey for all the earthly security money can buy. We’ll let you know when we finally get there. “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, Your very great reward.” Genesis 15:1

The Abraham Journey
(& the Generous Game)
by Lygia Lovelace

A few months ago, I felt drawn to a particular study on Abraham. At that time, I was heavily teaching a class on the books of Kings and the Chronicles, so I felt that it was unusual that God would also call me to study another large portion of His Word. However, I began doubling up my time, and working through the study.

At about the same time, Ken mentioned feeling led to study Abraham more deeply.

“Hmmm….You’re up to something, aren’t You?” I asked the Lord. Immediately I turned up my senses, and asked God for wisdom as I studied.

During one morning’s quiet time, after the first few chapters of my study, I got a sinking feeling. I definitively shut my Bible.

“God, you’re calling us to a life of uncertainty, aren’t You… That’s what You’re doing? Oh, please God, isn’t there any other way? I mean, if we leave our present situation and move on to the unknown, that requires…well…TRUST! You know I’m not good at that FAITH stuff.”

Then, a great inspiration flashed through my mind!

Ha!

I smiled victoriously.

“OK, Lord, since I’m the wife, I get to be Sarai, right? I don’t make the decisions. So, if you are indeed calling us to an ‘Abraham journey’, then that’s my husband’s decision, not mine! I won’t say a word about this…and I’m SURE Ken won’t come to the same conclusion as I have through these verses…”

Satisfied, I put away my worries, and my Bible study.

I suppose you can guess what happened next. My husband indeed got the same message from God.

So, the next morning, during my quiet time, I considered putting away that Abraham study for good. Before I even opened my Bible, I had a talk with the Father.

“God, listen, if we become unemployed, that’s irresponsible, isn’t it?

We have 10 kids…have you forgotten that?

Shouldn’t we wait and keep our job until you give us another one?

What will my mother say? I certainly don’t want to worry her!

Everyone will think we’ve lost our minds! Some won’t understand, and might even become angry or resentful. You don’t want us to lose our friends, do you? After all, we need friends!”

Argument after argument followed as I reminded God why we shouldn’t take an Abraham journey. I wondered…did Sarai have these same doubts? What must her family and friends have thought?

“Well…Father…SARAI didn’t have 10 kids! Abraham had prospered before she had a baby!”

I smiled at that new thought as I confidently opened my Bible and the Abraham study.

But again, the same message came to me. I knew, without a doubt, what God was calling us to do. So did my husband…my precious “Abraham.”

Several weeks later, God led us to resign one of the greatest churches I’ve ever been a part of. We said good-bye to a church that had some of our best friends there—people we thought we’d be with for a very long time. Because of sick babies, I couldn’t even attend the farewell services. If it weren’t for the assurance in our hearts—God’s assurance--we would have crumbled.

Thus began our life, unemployed, and soon, with no income, no medical insurance, no earthly security…only raw dependence on God.

In the weeks that followed, the enemy filled my mind with fear and worries, especially in the middle of the night. During my quiet times, in the mornings, I was so full of requests for our own well-being, I couldn’t even concentrate on a Holy God, the God of the universe, who deserves my undivided attention—my praise and worship. I couldn’t even intercede for others, except the Lovelace’s! I knew that this was not God’s will for my thought life or for my prayer life.

So I began a journal of fear verses. Every time I became afraid or worried or concerned, I went to the Word. I pictured myself as a newborn baby, crying to be fed every few hours, with only the tender, loving nourishment of its provider bringing satisfaction. I wrote and wrote and wrote these verses—going to the Word every few hours, longing for the nourishment of the Father, the Provider.

I put them all over the house, so that when Satan attacked, I would be like young David. I pictured myself facing Satan, as David faced Goliath. Every time Satan came at me with a reason to fear or worry, I would reach into my bag of stones, and pull out a fear verse and fling it at the enemy as I spoke it out loud and told Satan to flee…

I marveled at how God strengthened me in the battle. Satan finally decided to leave me alone in this area! Oh, occasionally he would come at me again with those fears and worries, but to no avail—I had learned to reach for that bag of stones. I also marveled at my husband--my “Abraham”—who was walking in complete faith and trust.

Over and over God provided. Just when we thought we would do without, God gave. People brought food to our door—some completely unaware of our situation. Anonymous and random money came in the mail. Churches we didn’t even know gave to us. We became so overwhelmed by His goodness!

Finally, one day we said, “OK, God, you are AMAZING! You are TRULY the great Provider! We know your Word says that we can’t outgive You, but we’re going to try! Every time someone gives us something, we’re going to give, too!

So, the game was on.

I could fill page after page of how the Lovelace’s have played the generous game with God and how He has always won! But here are a few examples…

Some friends came into town that we hadn’t seen in a long time. We decided to go on an outing together, and I began packing lunches for the kids…we didn’t have much to pack, but I was determined.

I smiled at God, and called my friend.

“Since you are staying in a hotel, let me fix lunches for all of you!” I took her order over the phone and laughing to myself I packed up most of what we had.

We had a wonderful day of friendship and fun—just what we needed (another gift from God!) As my friend was pulling away, she handed me $100.00.

“Here,” she said, “I feel like you’re supposed to have this.”

Then she drove away.

God—scored another point…Lovelace’s—O.

A few days later, we scraped enough money together to make a deposit. I took what we had, and handed it to the bank teller. She counted the money, then said,

“Ma’am, do you want to deposit this extra money, or do you want it back?”

I asked her to repeat herself several times, even arguing with her about the amount of money I had given her. Then, I thought I could see God smiling…

“Oh, you know what? You’re probably right!” I told the sweet teller. “I’ll just take that money back. Thank you!”

I put the extra money carefully into my purse. The next day was Sunday, so, smiling, I dropped it into the offering plate.

My son leaned over and said in disbelief, “You have that much? Where’d you get that? Are you giving away ALL of it?”

“Oh, yeah!” I whispered. The game was on!

God—OK, a lot of points…Lovelace’s—1? Maybe??

The next day, my husband went to see a friend on a completely different matter. He came home with our 15 passenger van so packed with food that we couldn’t even get all of it into our kitchen.

God—more points than ever….Lovelace’s—in the negative!

“OK, God,” we laughed. “You win! But we still want to play!”

We have had so much fun being generous! It’s hilarious giving! It has changed our lifestyle forever.

To this day, Ken has applied for many, many jobs, and although we’ve had a few odd jobs along the way that God has used to help sustain us, we are still waiting on our location—that Abraham destination that God has planned. We know it’s there. And we are privileged to wait on Him, as we keep looking.

And every day we are seeking--to stay in the center of God’s will in every area of our lives.

And God is still providing! It has truly been an amazing journey.

Yes, there have been doubts and fears, growing pains, and tears, and even some lost relationships along the way.

But we wouldn’t trade this Abraham journey for all the earthly security money can buy.

We’ll let you know when we finally get there.

“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield,
Your very great reward.” Genesis 15:1