The Adventures of Getting Out of Debt: Lynn and I were married in December of 1979. Six months into our marriage we came to realize the bondage of debt. We had spent all our money dating, and had borrowed the money to pay for our wedding. While it was worth it, we discovered how our debt was controlling our decisions and clouding our convictions on issues related to serving the Lord. At one point we even started to drop off our giving to our local church! We were young and unwise about our spending habits. We would do things like purchase not one, but two, 55 gallon aquariums because we could not have regular pets in the apartment. Then we would realize there was not enough money to by the fish! So we “stocked” our little fish farm with the fish we caught from the creek. (Amazing how colorful some of those bluegill get in fresh clear water!) At one point we even brought home a couple of catfish from a pond that was drying up. They grew to where they could hardly turn around in the tank! Note that as stupid as our parents knew we were, they never lectured us nor tried to pressure us. When Lynn and I participated in a Karate tournament in Oklahoma City, Lynn’s father was so frustrated with our financial irresponsibility that he almost chewed me out over it – but before he could get wound up, he checked himself and walked away. I have always admired him for that self-control - - it forced me to reevaluate priorities rather than becoming defensive! Realizing the situation we were in and seeing it only getting worse in the future, Lynn and I became fearful that our debt could lead us away from our walk with the Lord! We attended a short program on Biblical finances and came to an understanding that the Lord was convicting us to get out of debt. We were already struggling to pay the bills but made the commitment to eliminate everything and anything that was not an absolute necessity. Then we started doubling as many bill payments as possible. As each bill was paid off, we switched to double down on others. Eventually we became ‘debt-free’ with the exception of our recurring utility bills. It was like the weight of the world had been lifted off our shoulders! But this is only the context for a couple items Lynn and I have always shared with others about the Lord’s provision in times of need. During this early season of our lives, we were determined to make it on our own and not ask for help from our parents. So we had to learn to do without. On many occasions we lived for days at a time on buttered crackers, or peanut butter. (To this day I still have little to no desire for popcorn – we ate a lifetime’s worth in less than a year.) On one occasion we walked a couple of miles and passing by a fast food restaurant Lynn asked the manager for an onion. At the apartment we had some flour and cooking oil. So on to the next fast food business, where we asked for ketchup packages. That night I learned to eat onion rings for the first time. (My close friends can tell you how narrow my pallet is.) At this point I was still working at my first job out of high school. It was a grain elevator is St. Louis City (right off the north side of interstate 40). During the harvest seasons we worked non-stop for 14-16+ hours a day. But the rest of the year was relatively slow and I had opportunity to call home during the day quite often. On one particular day… The alarm went off and I slid out of bed only to realize it really was time to wake myself and drive to work - hungry. After praying with Lynn, I was reaching for the door and she stopped me to ask, “What are we going to do for food today?”. Her question stopped me in my tracks. We ate the last few slices of bread for dinner the night before. Having cut ourselves too short we had nothing at all to eat. To make things worse, the bank account was empty and my next paycheck was three days away. “The Lord will provide.” This was the only thing I could think to answer her with. And as I walked to the truck, I prayed, “Dear Lord, help us to find food until I get a paycheck Thursday afternoon, and help the truck to not run out of gas while you’re at it.” (It is such a blessing to be able to look back and see how the Lord has helped you to grow in your faith and trust. It is an even bigger blessing to see how He works in your wife’s life to help her to grow stronger in her faith also! Married folks are not usually at the same spot in their spiritual walk, and the Lord has to help both of you in different ways.) Around lunch time, as the other guys were eating, I went to the telephone and called Lynn to encourage her. (sorry, no cell phones) When she answered the phone, she was all cheery and downright giddy. I asked her what she was so happy about and she answered by asking me, “Guess what we are having for dinner tonight?”. I had absolutely no idea. So Lynn gleefully announced that we were having “fried catfish!” I didnt know if she was joking or if she had flipped her lid, but I was dumbfounded by the story she related before I had to get back to work. As I drove home that afternoon, I just could not imagine what my young bride had done. Fried catfish? She had never cooked anything like this before and I was more than just a bit apprehensive! A part of me didnt even believe it. Surely she was just joking to lighten the mood. I was totally unprepared for what I would experience next! Parking the truck, I started walking to the door. About half way there I started to smell the absolute sweetest aroma a hungry man can encounter. As I opened the door I was awestruck by the smell and sight of a huge platter of perfectly prepared fried catfish, and a pile of ketchup packages! One look at the aquariums and it was confirmed – Lynn ain’t nuts, it’s just that the Lord really does answer prayers! For months we had given no real thought to how big those catfish had been growing. We just kept feeding them all the bugs and Purina Catfish chow they wanted. (It was funny to see how they had to angle themselves in order to turn around to face the other direction once in a while.) But on this day they got another idea. As I had left for work, praying for the Lord to provide us food for the next three days, He started answering our prayer. Lynn always loves to tell how she kept hearing a strange sound and finally realized it was the fish! For some reason, on this one and only morning, these catfish decided to start jumping out of the water! But right above them was the second aquarium. So every time they jumped, they would smack their heads onto the bottom of the other aquarium. Lynn talks about how she just stared at them in disbelief, trying to figure out what was going on. Eventually they literally knocked themselves out and turned belly up! It was at that moment that Lynn says she instantly realized, “Dinner!” Praising the Lord, she had to squeeze them through the opening between the two aquariums. Calling a few friends to ask how to butcher a catfish, and more calls to find out how to cook it, she gutted and butchered her very first catfishes. (sorry – no internet) We had just enough to eat bountifully for three days! As Lynn would say, “Glory to God!” BTW: Getting out of debt was the first major step the Lord used to help prepare our hearts for going into the ministry of Missouri Family Network! (more stories for another time) The early years of our marriage were very tough at times, but the Lord always used the more difficult days to grow our faith and teach us more about His Grace and Love! God is Good – ALL the Time! (Even Today!) So, when we Find Lynn Messer, I am definitely planning to serve her a huge dinner of fried catfish! And, YES, you will be invited to join with us in the celebration!
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 03:11:52 +0000
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