Praise Report: Shilah is showered with blessings!

I just wanted to take some time and share a few things with you. Trust me, there is much more where this came from. My blessings go way back. However, here recently, the Lord has truly been working in our lives and I am so thankful to Him.

I will start with last Sunday. My husband and I came to church and realized that we hadn't brought the check book, and he whispers to me that all he has is $5 cash for the offering. I have been praying a lot about tithing and discussing it with him. It's not something we have actually done yet, but a little birdy (my pastor's wife) told me that God blesses even the desire to give so.... Desire in hand we put our $5 bill in the envelope and placed in in the basket.

Now this is significant because I had gotten a call from my union around the 3rd or 4th. I was informed that there was a mistake in the amount of the deduction from our checks and that I should compare last month with this month. That should be the difference.

I did and it was about $13. I thought okay no big deal, right? Then on Tuesday last week I checked my email to find a notification from the State of Washington (my employer) that I have an auto-payment being deposited for $56!!!! It was very much a work of God that we did receive back 10 fold. I shared this with my husband and now he is beginning to see how this faith in finances works.

Secondly, during our prayer meetings, we were praying for our leaders in government. I have prayed specifically for Christine Gregoire, our Governor here in Washington. She approved massive cuts to the caregiver's programs and medicaid due to budget shortfalls. It was supposed to be any where from 6% to 18% cuts to home caregivers and nursing home funding. Which for me, that meant losing 27 hours a month. There were eliminations of hospice care for the dying, dental care for adults over 21, vision, etc....

The Union has been fighting in court and took it to the 9th circuit court of appeals.
Since the beginning of this corporate prayer, I have received automated updates by phone from the union every Sunday night. Every week we are regaining something. Last week it was the hospice and dental care. Then, last night, I got another automated call. It stated that they were in court Friday and the injunction was granted. We are to work our regularly scheduled hours!!!!

I don't know why I am always in awe of God's works when he answers prayer because I KNOW He does. I have learned and been reminded of things I have learned as a child, since coming back to church. I know that the Lord is blessing my family. He HAS changed the way I am seeing things from using my "right now" eyes to using my "eternal" eyes. We are blessed so much. God has moved mountains of obstacles from our path as a family. At first it was something as small as the ability to get up early enough for church on Sunday morning to now, the ability to change the decision
of the Governor of the State of Washington!!! Amen!!!! Praise God!!!

Finally, I have also been praying for my family and that they be delivered from alcohol. I was speaking with my Aunt on Saturday and she told me that my Dad has stopped drinking and that He has started going back to church with his wife. The church was about to just cancel their praise and worship team as they had lost some of their musicians. Well, my Father plays base guitar and harmonica and another man just joined their church as well and he plays the drums!!!! God is Good all the time and all the time God is good.

I just wanted to take another moment to share my love for my new church family. I am so excited to be able to join with you all in praising God and re-learning how amazing it is to fall in love with my Heavenly Father again. My cup runneth over!!!!

God bless you all as He has me!
Shilah Jackson

Shilah Jackson is married to Michael Jackson. (yes I know ;) They have 5 beautiful children. She loves loves loves to sing!!! Shilah sings like most people breathe! Her favorite passage scripture is Psalms 23. She loves her Lord and Savior with all her heart. She is so excited about knowing Him and knowing who she is in Him.