“And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked and behold behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.  And Abraham called the name of that place YHWH Yireh: as it is said to this day, in the mount of YHWH is shall be seen.”  YHWH Yireh - The LORD provides; He provided a sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin in the form of Jesus, His Son.  If He never provided another thing for us, could we say it was not enough?  Of course not.  So how can we cease to be amazed when our Father provides for us in so many additional ways?  We have watched in amazement as the LORD supplied our needs and much more over the past months.  At the beginning of this year, our Board voted to pay us a base or minimum salary each month and then voted on an additional amount that would be paid if the money came in and deferred if it didn't.  For the first time since the Board of Raven Ministries voted to make Ron an employee in February 2003, we received our full salary this past July and were only $500 short of it in August.  And, He also gave us enough during July and August to pay back our medical account which Raven borrowed from to pay our base salary in May and June.  With the economy being so hard hit, this income can only be attributed to God.  Praise His glorious Name!  September turned out a little differently in that Raven was more than $1,500 short in paying our base salary and our mileage.  Nonetheless, Praise His glorious Name!  We are not dependent on people or the economy; we are in the hands of our gracious and loving Father.

At the beginning of summer we felt impressed to give a love offering to a pastor couple in Phoenix, Arizona who are facing several faith-testing issues in their lives: a serious health problem, lack of a job and income, and waiting on God to reveal the ministry opportunity He has for them.  Isn't it just like our God to use this same couple to provide for us.  The story is so incredible and has the fingerprints of our Father all over it; so we wanted you to hear it and be encouraged by it too.  Following is an excerpt from the letter sent with their donation to Raven.

"Dear Ron & Luan, I (wife) got a totally unexpected bonus at work - another way the LORD has used to help us meet (husband's) medical expenses!  We walked to the mail box the other night discussing which ministries we would like to send a special gift to.  We have so appreciated Raven Ministries, not just because it has blessed us, but because of the many ways you support and encourage people in ministry.  So we put you at the top of our list.  By the time we got to the mailbox the decision had been finalized.  Then imagine our surprise when we opened our box and found your card and check!!  So, we are not 'returning' the gift you sent - we need and appreciate it.  But please accept our gift as a stamp of approval from the LORD on all you are doing."

Can you imagine that!  Our Father doesn’t just supply our needs, He takes pleasure in doing it in ways that surprise, encourage and delight us.  We are grateful for each of you also for your support in so many ways that have enabled us to serve the servants of the Most High God.