It's been a while friends…LISTEN, TRUST & FAITH
We last met in March, 2014. What an amazing year it was. We were so excited to have begun planting deeper roots here in Oklahoma. Maddee began digging deeper into the love of volleyball. Maylee began practicing on her new found love in playing the guitar. Bryan found himself in a place of extreme joy as a pastor. Myself, well I found myself in a time of seeking while continuing to learn the new area in Oklahoma.
Before I jump in, I want you to know some history. After going into full time ministry in 2012, we experienced several set backs in terms of trying to sell our home back in Arkansas after moving 18 hours away. Our journey began in Florida first when we found ourselves bouncing in strangers homes for 7 months who became our life savers. Feeling stable in a new state, with no address, and new job for Bryan wasn't entirely easy with two teenage daughters especially. Finally, God sold our home and we found a rental until our next big move came months later. This time, to Oklahoma. We were able to immediately move into a rental when we arrived. The years lease was near and making a decision to rent again or the possibility of a miracle to buy again. After the moves, let's just say the well was dry. Buying was looking pretty bleak if not impossible. It's funny how a tiny mustard seed of faith is what the Bible clearly says is all it takes.
After much prayer, I expressed to B in May, 2014 that we would be buying a new home. Now, you can only imagine what the face on this man looked like. He simply heard me, took a long deep breathe, and chose to continue to stare at the road while sitting at a stop light. The only thing he could mustered up was, "are we now?"
I explained to him that I knew the situation at hand with our finances being what they were. We had spent a while managing our 2 giant moves across 3 states in 2 years at the time. I knew that the chances were next to nothing even though our credit was next to perfect. The down payment plus closing cost alone put us out of the running for even the most optimistic person around! This I knew, but I had something in mind when saying it. Was it that I miraculously ran into 20k? Was it that someone just handed me this gift? Nope. What had taken place was simple to me. Faith. Trust.
Discernment, through the Holy Spirit, had spoken to me telling me that we would find a new place near completion and be able to purchase it. That MONEY, wasn't going to be the issue.
After allowing Bryan to give me each and every scenario known to humans as to how this would not be possible at this time, ON PAPER, I began to pray through this possibility. Bryan continued to pray with me specifically for God to show us exactly the road to follow for this miracle to happen.
One afternoon, after filling out questions to numerous local realtor websites and looking for the right fit, it all came down to one day. I had filled out some simple info as to what I was looking for in a home. It then sent me to 3 local realtors that would be getting in touch with me. I never heard from anyone until a week later. What a twist that conversation was.
Basically, I spoke to this realtor and was completely honest with her in telling her about the miracle that would have to take place in order to get our home. She then tells me that we would see if we would qualify for this amazing loan that is specific to buyers with excellent credit and no money down. I thought, ok God. This is crazy. Is this too good to be true?
I immediately went to B's work to tell him the crazy possibilities and in his love for me, he listened. He also had "that look" on him again. He entertained me with the idea of going ahead and calling the broker as she mentioned for a pre approval and so he did. Continuing to pray through this, we got a call 40 minutes later saying that we needed to go find a home. We're approved. Zero money down. We will walk away with a check from the state for refunding our cost just to run the paperwork through the bank. WHAT the WHAT????
Come to find out, this realtor went to our church. The home to which I found, well the builder goes to our church along with his building manager who later revealed to us that she had been praying specifically for her new clients and finding them a home. It was the easiest arrangement in buying a home that we had ever experienced. We've bought several homes. Nothing came so easy. I was truly waiting for the brakes to throw us through the windshield yet God literally carried us through every step of the way.
Is this about how to buy a home? No. Is this about how to know the right people to get what you want? No. It's about prayer, God, trusting, faith, listening, being advised by your closest mentors, believing, persistence, working together, praying together, and taking risk that honors God each step of the way. (I mostly did this even during the mess ups along the journey of completing the house)
We not only found a home but we found a home that was nearly completed and it just needed my personal touches.
So, do NOT allow satan to rob your dreams or your hopes. He will for sure continue to try until you buy into his lies. Trust your Savior. Have faith that He is for us not against us. Take risk when you have Christ as your leader. Look crazy to the world! Keep dreaming!!!!!
Much Love for you! Now, I'm going to go enjoy my home that we have enjoyed for four months now. Be BLESSED and receive each day as a blessing!
Romans 15:13
"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the holy spirit."
John 10:10
"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."
<MEL>
