Tuesday, November 3, 2009

More then you can imagine

So much to say...where to start. Well...God in all his mercy has once again amazed me with his love and faithfulness. His blessing upon this family far exceeds anything I could have even thought to hope for. To share my testimony in a nutshell...Sept 29, 2008 My husband lost his job. He was just one of many in the housing industry feeling the pinch of the downed market. We at the time were in the process of buying our first home. Needless to say that had to be dropped and hope was deferred once again. Seemingly a pattern in our lives. The house we were buying was to include some furniture so we gave away our sofa the day before we found out that we lost our job. I would have to say that though Hope deferred was becoming a familiar pattern in our lives so much had changed and we had grown so much in our spiritual walk that what had changed was our response to this unfortunate news. Gods sovereignty and his hand on our lives was so sure and undeniable that we simply praised Him. We literally turned up the worship music and danced and praised in our empty living room. Without getting into great detail a beautiful woman of the lord showed up at my door the same day with a very generous gift. it was extremely humbling to accept but I knew that the Lord was showing me that He was providing and that He would continue to do so...And He did. The out pouring of support was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen or experienced. I felt so loved and provided for during that time. What had historically been the worst three months of my life year after year was set up to follow in that same pattern but did not at all. This year was different and different has continued to be what has followed. Old patterns have been broken and a new season has followed. Hope deferred has ceased and great hope has been she abroad in our lives and promises of God have been delivered upon in impossible circumstances. We remained in the hands of the Lord and enjoyed His perfect provision through October November and December. Every need was met we had nothing to lack. January 1st Mark started his new job. We knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was the right job even though in the natural it didn't look like it paying half what he was making before. Even though I knew that God had taken care of us all of those months I struggled with the reality that He would continue to do so now that we had taken this job. I knew He would but my flesh struggled with it. Each month one way or another our lack was met with perfect provision. The enemy did have his hand at mixing things up at strategic moments. We had our greatest financial crisis during War Cry. Our churches power packed youth camp that we heavily invested intercession for the Holy spirit to move in power in the lives of this generation of harvesters. I was devastated at the mess that I had made of our checking account over a miscommunication. Though I felt responsible and undeserving The Lord had it completely covered and it was resolved within days.
Upon returning from camp I felt directed to start looking or a house. This made no sense in the natural because we had only been at our new job for 7 months, had no savings and now had a major snafoo on our checking account. I did and the path it led us, put an offer in and was accepted August 11th. Held our breath during the financing process and finally exhaled September 4th when we closed on the house! Less then a year after Mark lost his job and we lost our "first house" We are now home owners and so eternally grateful it worked out this way. We love this house and where it is located so much more then where we had chosen last year. What we had chosen was Gods will in our lives and to praise Him in and for all circumstances trusting He was in control and knowing His promises. We are not only delighted and amazed that under our circumstance God would bless us so in in such supernatural proportions we continue to reap the blessings as my husband got a promotion on the same day we closed on the house and started his new position November 1st with a significant pay raise and even greater potential. We were also blessed with all new flooring and a brand new kitchen in our new house making it more wonderful then I ever could have hope or imagined would ever be mine. I stood in my house with its 1974 carpet and was delighted it was ours and a friend said to me...Be prepared to be blessed beyond your expectations and was she ever right.
This marks a change in our lives...Hope deferred no more! No more stolen promises. Our lives have been transformed by the love of Christ and we know for whom we live. There is no me in the equation. Our lives are about Him and His kingdom. We are no longer about what we want but what He wants. I pray that as you grasp the reality that this life we lead is not meant to be led by us but by Him and as we give it over to Him and diligently seek Him our that He will be found by us in the most amazing and fulfilling ways. So take your eyes off your circumstance and set them upon the one who made you. He will never leave you or forsake you and He will always Love you more then you can imagine.

Monday, May 25, 2009

It has been quite some time since I have blogged. It seems that all of my efforts were going to direct ministry. For whatever reason today I feel strongly led to write again. I was thinking about all that has happened and I was thinking about how the Lord speaks in seasons. We have come from a season of provision to a season of thanks giving...and I am not talking turkey. The reality of joyfulness, praise and thanks to God for all things and in all things is something that I know God wants me to live in right now. It is not just something that I will visit for a season but something that will transform me and how I live, how I look at others and How I commune with my heavenly father. The way this message was first brought to me in a new and profound way was through the teaching of Ben Goodman last year. I recognized the truth of what he was saying and a seed was planted. It wasn't long after that we lost our only source of income due to the "economic downturn" I have talked about this in greater detail in the past but for today's purposes I wont go deeply into that but to say... we made a choice that God was in the midst of the circumstances and we had to Thank Him for all that was taking place. The way He provided for our every need over the following three months was nothing short of miraculous. It was the most difficult three months October, November and December. We should have been a wreck but we weren't and it was truly all God. That peace that passes understanding. We got a job finally at the end of December to start January first. It was for a fraction of what we were making before but it was for a Christian owned and operated company. To us that was priceless and we knew God was just as capable to meet our needs then ad He was before. If is funny to me how I struggled that somehow we were going to have to do it now. The reality is that nothing had changed we were still in Gods hands and we still needed to trust Him and know our needs would be met. In a time when the cost of living is going up and up and up. Our cost of living went down. We found a Lovely house to rent for far less then we were paying before. and near people that we love and are enjoying being near. Thank you Lord. Our auto insurance was dropped by almost $100 a month. There were so many ways that our costs went down that all I can say is "Thank you Lord". In thanking Him when things were difficult I can now thank Him that they are better. I know soon I will be thanking Him because they are Great!
Very sad news just came to some friends of ours. They were filled with great joy and hope and expectation to soon be adopting a baby. The birth mother gave birth and changed her mind. I said OK Lord this isn't even my tragedy and I am having a hard time finding praise for this situation. Even when it is hard He wants us to praise Him. The only way we can do this is by knowing Him. If you know Him you can trust Him. If you trust Him you can praise Him. So I said thank you Lord that you know each person involved here and you know what is best for them. You know how to work in this situation and You are the only one who can provide comfort and healing. Thank You that You want good things for Your children and You will not withhold any good thing. Suddenly I knew that there was a reason for this. even in the pain I knew and had terrific peace that God was in the middle of it all. Even what the enemy may have meant for bad God will work out for the good. Just believe. Praise Him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ever hope for. This is true and good and worthy of our praise.