The Story of Rosemarie Glenn
PART 2
I started to guard my heart against an encroaching anger, bitterness, and self-pity as I crashed rock-bottom. I chose to spend long hours with God reading the Bible, praising and worshipping Him despite myself. I prayed, “Lord, You are my ultimate Source; my only Source. I will not run to any man for help except You. You are my Provider. You said in Your Word that You will not put me to shame.”
I resolved to hold on to God. I made mistakes, yes, but I knew that that didn’t spell the end to His provision, goodness, and grace in my life.
Falling on Hard Times
During my season of financial loss, I was spring cleaning my house. It was as if a dual experience happened to me—while my house was being cleaned, I too was being “cleaned” by the Lord. The house I was living in was one I rented in the Philippines. I certainly could have bought this house since I had bought other properties when I had the money, but I simply had not. Now, not only was I penniless, but I was also falling behind on three months’ worth of rent. My landlord sent me an eviction notice. I decided to stay in the house, believing that God would provide for my needs. Also, to be honest, I did not have money to pay the movers as I contemplated where I should transfer.
While doing my house cleaning, my attention kept veering toward a particular desk in the house. I would feel a constant nudge to check the main drawer of that desk. I’d reason to myself, “But it doesn’t need fixing!” I ignored the nudge even if it was rather persistent. Finally, I decided to check the drawer, thinking that maybe there were things inside that I needed to discard.
When I inspected the whole drawer, I realized that something was stuck on the inner right side. It felt like an envelope. I opened it. Inside was a moldy wad of money. It didn’t total a huge amount; in fact, it was just enough to buy my necessities. Still, I felt like a sudden millionaire. I was literally jumping for joy!
When Obedience Is Painful
I took Php 2,000 out of that bundle for my necessities. However, at a church service I attended that week, there was a challenge to give our best. And I knew deep down that “my best” was the money I had from that drawer. I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit. “You have something to give.”
“No, I don’t,” I argued.
“Give it all,” He prodded.
“But that’s all I have, Lord!” I persisted in arguing.
God brought to mind the principle of obedience; that obedience is the only key to unlock something that God wanted to bless me with– something I could step into, if I obeyed. This was confirmed by one of the principles I had learned on finances from the author, Mike Murdock. There were principles he wrote and spoke about, like When you let go of what is in your hand, then God lets go of what is in His.1 This also entered my head: How do I see the money in my hand: is it a harvest or a seed? If the seed can multiply, then I should sow it.2 I knew that what I had in my hand was a seed that could eventually be a harvest.
I struggled with the decision, but I finally surrendered to God. I found myself crying. “Okay, Lord! This is painful!” I placed my hand in the offering basket and released my money. I had no more money.¬
What was going to happen to me?
Next week, we conclude with PART 3 of Rosemarie’s story. Don’t miss it!
1 Murdock, Mike. 3 Most Important Things in Your Life. Texas: The Wisdom Center, 1997.
2 —. 31 Reasons Why People Do Not Receive Their Financial Harvest. Texas: The Wisdom Center, 1997.
Rosemarie Glenn
Rosemarie is resting in who she is in God. She is currently in the United States, happily married, and with a growing family in the Philippines. She is passionate about leaving a legacy on wellness and has been building her business in the field of natural living both in the Philippines and in the U.S. She has been getting a lot of precious experiences from God regarding the handling of finances.
Janina Marie Rivera is the author of the book, A Night Bird Sings of Blindness and Fear and has co-authored the devotional, Dawns, published by OMF Literature. She is a contributing poet in the books Joyful Light and Whitmanthology: on Loss and Grief by Various Authors. She is the Editor-in-Chief of One Voice Magazine.
