Wednesday, June 2, 2010

All Things Are In His Hands - Part 3

As I was saying in the last post, God showed up. When there was nothing left for us to do but pray and ask for help, that is what we did.

We were broken but accepting of our fate. We would soon be looking for a place to live and what that would look like was elusive.

God had a different plan.... within a weeks time the three house payment were caught up on our old house to keep it from foreclosure and the child support we were behind on was paid in full. Unbeknownst to us, our brothers and sisters in Christ had caught wind of our situation.

We hadn't really shared openly with anyone about what we were facing. I had shared some of the story with my Tuesday morning women's group and had been asking for prayer. Many at our church knew Dave had struggled with finding a job but no one really knew the severity of our financial situation. Until that Sunday morning.....

As we left church that morning, a friend from my Tuesday morning group stopped me. "Next week right?" she asked me. It must have been my perplexed look that gave away I didn't get what she was asking about. "The closing on the house, it's next week, right?" I shook my head as tears welled up in my eyes. No words would come out, they were stuck in my throat. I knew if I tried to speak, my only sound would be guttural sobs. So I quickly left the building and headed to the car.

Discouraged and feeling like no one really cared, Dave and I left church. Looking at each other we decided if we were going to lose everything, who cared if we were frugal or not. So we decided to go out and eat. That would at least console us. Who cared at this point....

Sitting in the restaurant, in walks two couples from church. One couple included my friend that had questioned me that morning. "Next week right?"...... There she was, walking in the restaurant, Gods tool for the day.

Next thing you know, both couples are at our table asking to talk and pray with us. We shared honestly where we were at and what we were facing. It was a gut wrenching admission of honesty. They prayed with us and God showed us through them that He cared.

Good news travels fast but bad news.... travels even faster. Before you know it people.... God's people began to rally around us. The following week we went from ruin to caught up. Not just a small little amount came our way through a number of ways but a big amount. We needed a God sized miracle, a ten thousand dollar miracle. By the weeks end that miracle was complete.

What I had thought was TO BIG to overcome, God changed in a week. Proving to me that NOTHING is to big for God.

The following month, the people renting our old house agreed to move out by the first of April. We would move back and if needed we would give the house in Pleasant Hill back to the bank. It had been on the market for over a year with no buyers in sight. We had negotiated a lower payment on that house for the months of January, February and March. Coming up, April 15 we would owe all the rest.

It looked like we had saved the old house, we could move into it in April but the house in Pleasant Hill would go back to the bank. But God wasn't through....

Miraculously, after months had turned into years, right when we needed it, an offer on the house came.

Today, I as I write I sit in my little house in Lees Summit. The dream house is gone, sold to a young couple starting their family. Come to find out, the dream house wasn't really all I dreamed it would be. It was beautiful, don't get me wrong. But the peace I feel now and the love God has shown through all this was well worth it all. I lost nothing of real value. Instead I gained a transformation of the heart and a renewed faith. I'd do it all again to see God show up like He has. On second thought..... I'll just stay here until God moves me somewhere else. I've found that where ever He wants me is always the best place to be.

As of now, there is still no permanent work for Dave. We are living on faith and a prayer. But I'm beginning to wonder if that's just what God intended for us all along. Maybe we are to learn how to live each day in faith by prayer. Maybe it's just that simple..... maybe we just make it harder than it has to be.

3 comments:

Raku Sculpture And More said...

Hi Sherri, I just finished reading your blog. I had no idea you guys were in such an awful situation. Unfortunately, John & I can relate. We lost our house in GA and had to move in with my parents for a couple of months. We just got our own apartment about a month ago. Both of us are looking for any kind of work. I have struggled with the same anger it sounds like you did. We have been married 30 years and now don't own a home. I do thank God for my parents being in the position to help us out. My heart is broken having to leave Nicole & Charlie in GA. She's struggling as well and I worry about them everyday. I know God tells us not to worry but that's easier said than done. I think we have found a church here in NM finally. I miss having a church "family" who loves us and has the same values and love for God. If I'm honest, we really have not had that since 2004. I just want to say thanks for your honesty in your blog. God bless you & your family. Love, Chris

Asia said...

Our God is a comforter and a provider. He loves you.

Art said...

I really enjoy your writing. I can feel the real love of God. Thank you for taking the time to put your heart into words so that we may all share your blessing. I too feel the need to express God's love via writing and have created a website dedicated to those who are lost and persecuted. The site www.scriptureseeds.org is growing and we have been able to reach people in more than 103 countries! Come take a look and let me know what you think of the site.

God tests us all. If we truly have faith in Jesus the tests make us stronger and more focused on what is important. I am happy to see that you are passing the test. God is blessing you with His love, you are blessing Him with your words.
Thanks, Art