We had the summer to look for a house in Houston. Morgan, Rachel, Rebekah and I planned to spend the summer looking. We would pour over the Houston Post, Green Sheet, and other area papers, driving from subdivision to subdivision looking for something available and in our price range. We were on a limited income, I was a stay at home mother and Daryl was the soul support of our family.We spent most of the summer praying and looking for ‘the’ house for us. We would load up in the car, with newspapers in hand, bow our heads and pray asking God to showing us the way. It seemed we spent hours looking and praying; but nothing.
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -August came and we had 2 weeks to find a house, pack and move. Trey, my brother was getting married the 12th of the month and I very much wanted to go. My baby brother Bruce also came for a visit that first week of August and we rode back with him to Amarillo for Trey’s wedding.
These questions continued to plague my mind….. 'How could I go to a wedding when I was supposed to find a house to move into?' 'Hadn’t I practiced Matthew 7:7 “Seek and ye shall find; knock and the door shall be opened unto you.” I had looked, I had knocked, but the door still wasn’t opened. I had to stretch my faith, this was a test!
The kids and I went to the wedding in Amarillo. We arrived back in Houston on Monday, by bus. We had to be packed and moved on Saturday. Tuesday morning the kids and I got up, scanned the papers, said our prayers and got in the car and were off to look for a home. Time had almost run out.
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -After much looking and little success we stopped at a friend’s home for refreshment and encouragement. I told her of my plight; looking, praying, searching but nothing turned up. She pulled out her daily paper, The Houston Chronicle and looked and there was a “3 bedroom, 2 bath, double car garage” for rent, 425.00 a month. I called the number and agreed to meet with the owner in 30 minutes.
Thirty minutes later I pulled into the drive and visited with the lady from California. She had placed the ad in the paper, flown in from California that morning, met with the lawyers and signed the necessary papers to buy the house and needed to rent the house that day, she was returning to California the next morning.
The house was perfect! The rent was perfect! The size was perfect! It was the answer to all our prayers we had offered! It was from God! Only He could have worked out everything so perfectly. All that summer we had questioned, where, how, when. And the entire time His response had been, “Wait for Me; be strong take heart and wait for Me.” Psalm 27:14
Isaiah 40:31
“Those who ‘wait’ on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
10 comments:
I love the lessons God teaches me--especially when they are so obvious.
Thanks Monalea.
Peace
Neva
PS. Treys anniversary in on my birthday. --it is a great day! :)
I wish I could be as patient as you were in this story...I have never been a patient person, I want it at that very moment...But you have taught me that God will provide for me when He is ready to do so...You have given me strength over these precious years that I have gotten to know you more and more...Please don't stop with the encouraging words that you provide for me and keep praying for me and my children every day...We NEED it...by the way lets shoot Superman...Now do you know who I am...Love ya, Me
That's neat the way God worked it out for you!
I never know when I'm supposed to take charge or when I'm supposed to turn it over to God to work it out. How do you decide?
Woohoo! I love it when God works things out like that ... at least when I stop controlling and let Him do His thing. (o;
NB -- in my personal experience, sometimes you don't do it right, you don't let go of control and turn it over to God, until finally you are too worn out or too busy to keep control, so God steps in and shows you His way. BUT, I think your question is a good one, and I'd like to hear others' wisdom. I think you probably could know the answer to that, but I don't.
Neva, funny but it isn't until after the trial is over that it becomes obvious.
Anonymous, thanks for the clue, I couldn't figure it out. Your words continue to humble me. I'm glad you are beginning to see God. He is everywhere and has all the answers. It took me 4-ever to learn to wait. I love you 2-3-6
nb, it took me lots of pain and trials to realize God isn't in my life ever once in a while, but every moment. If I'm making the bed, loading the dishwasher, brushing my teeth, or buying groceries He's there with all the love, comfort and answers. I ask Him for help when I'm shopping, before a hair cut (I've had several bad ones before I learned to ask), I ask Him about everything. Sometimes when I'm not sure what God wants me to do I ask for Him to throw the door wide open, or just open my eyes wide so that I can see. I give Him praise for every plus in my life. In the bad there is always good, because He turns the bad into good, Romans 8:28. "And every good and perfect gift come down from Him," James 1:16-17. I hope this makes sense. I have so much in my heart and sometimes it is hard to get it on paper. Hang in there and read, read, read you Bible. James, Mark, and John are great books to start in. 1 Chapter a day is a good start. God will help you understand His Word.
Lisa, giving up control is hard, until you really understand what an awesome God we have!
Monalea, you made perfect sense.I just don't think about consulting God on the little stuff. (Maybe that's why the little stuff turns into big stuff, huh?) But I do have enough life experience now to realize that a lot of good comes out of the bad.
Lisa, I definitely agree. Sometimes you just have to hit a brick wall before you finally get it and let God take over. Just wish I could learn not to hit the brick walls first.
Hiya!! You know, this story reminds me of my parents when we first moved to Jal... They looked forever, and found a few things, but nothing they felt right about, and finally the perfect house appeared, and we're here, and everything's great!!
i would have to say that if it wasn't for you i wouldn't be right here in this very spot. everything that has ever happened in my life is because of God and His wonderful side-kick, YOU! thank you for all the strength that you give me and the life that you have shown me. God knows how to make a wonderful relationships and He blessed me with the best one anyone could ever have, He blessed me with YOU! thank you again for all that you do! please stay out of the hospital and get better! i love you mom,
your AIM girl
The Other Weeza, I'm so glad you comment on my blog. I love you!
Bekah, Wow, I've thought about 'God's sidekick' and thank you for the compliment. I guess everyone is God's sidekick. I love the concept.
I lived this one with you and it was a tense time, but my we had fun driving around looking at those houses. I love you and miss you!
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