I received this e-mail from my mom just now, and was amazed to hear the full story for the first time on all that the Lord has done in my family's lives the last few weeks! I wanted to post this here, as I think it just goes to show (so perfectly!) the Lord's sovereign hand in my family's lives... His gracious provision, and faithful leading to "a place which you do not know". I think that is so neat to see Him work that way, and I was greatly encouraged to hear what my mom had to say of this and wanted all who read this to receive the same blessing, and to see that He has been, and IS, and will continue to be ALL that He has said He will be. Amen.Standing Amazed, Yet Again,RebekahDearest Friends!
It is with the greatest of delight that I write to you again from our new residence in Louisiana! So much has happened so quickly that I haven't had much opportunity to keep you informed, but having said that, God has worked in such incredible ways that I simply must share it with you so you, too can rejoice and give Him all the praise and glory due to Him alone!
I last wrote on Monday, January 9th. On Wednesday the 11th, I met with the elder who is also my real estate agent and the two men who oversee our financial support. The purpose of the meeting was to consider the real estate market and my financial position. I knew going into the meeting that these factors would not paint a pretty picture. Also, by this time I was aware that if the sale of the house continued as proposed, I had 16 days to pack and move ... somewhere. The outcome of the meeting was that the housing market in the Lake Charles area was terrific ... if you were selling, with houses selling sometimes within 12 hours of being listed. Houses much smaller than ours and needing much more attention were selling for FAR more than I would get for our house in Beaumont. This was the primary purpose of the meeting - to determine how we might best respond to this set of circumstances. As we talked, it became clear that regardless of the housing market and my finances, my family would need a place to live in about two weeks and I would most likely not find a house to purchase in that time frame (and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to make that sort of decision that quickly). Renting became the next topic for discussion and Steve explained that the rental market was even more difficult. The conclusion of the meeting was that we were all trusting in God alone to provide, knowing that the circumstances looked bleak from our perspective.
And that last phrase is where the beauty in all this lies! Our perspective. Isn't it wonderful to serve a God like ours who isn't limited to our perspective?! How comforting to trust in One who knows and sees and controls all things! "The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world and those who dwell in it." (
Psalm 24:1) These dear brothers in the Lord left that meeting with their various "assignments" ... I think my assignment was to trust God! The next morning I received a call from one of these men telling me that I would be moving out of my home in 8 days. He asked me to simply go home and pack up and sell the house and he would take care of everything else if I could just trust him to do that. Could I trust him to do that???? I still have to chuckle at that ... of COURSE, I could do that!!! Just about 24 hours later I was informed that I had temporary housing provided by a family in the church, should there be no rental property available by our move-out date. Also, storage was provided since it seemed likely that wherever we ended up, there would not be enough space for much of our belongings. The church graciously allowed me to "store" my piano on the platform. And the most exciting part, in an unrelated phone call, my real estate
elder (!) learned of a 3BR/2Bath apartment that would likely become vacant in about a week. As it turned out, we moved out of our home in Beaumont on Friday the 20th, spent the night in the home of our pastor and his wife (again ... what hospitality they have shown to us!) and on Saturday the 21st we moved into our duplex!
Just so you will know how much our Father loves to take care of the details, I don't want to forget to mention that the former occupant of this duplex is a brother in Christ (though I don't know him) who interceded (as I understand it) on our behalf with the landlord. He moved out just before noon and we moved in right at noon. The deposits were waived and the remainder of January's rent was taken care of in some fashion unknown to me, but not to my Provider! Isn't He wonderful?! So, for those of you who prayed with me for that very clear direction ... I think this qualifies as a powerful response from our Father, the Giver of all good gifts. "Ask, and it will be given to you; ...If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" (
Matthew 7:7a,
11) "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." (
James 1:17) THANK YOU for praying with us and for us. I trust that you are as thrilled to see how God continues to show His faithful ... and CREATIVE! provision as we are. Thank you for allowing me to be obedient to
1 Chronicles 16:8-12 and
Psalm 105:1-5 "Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth...."
That last phrase about remembering what He has done reminds me. I mentioned in the last update Daniel's sweet response of excitement to see what God was going to do. Well, the next day found him coming to my bedroom and closing the door to speak to me. His eyes looked a little teary as he asked me, "Mom, what are we going to do if we can't find a place to live?" I had to smile as I asked him how old he was. He said, "Ten." I asked him how many times in his 10 years he had been homeless. He answered, "None." I told him that in my 46 years of life I had never been homeless either and I thought we could continue to trust God to provide shelter for us. He thought about that and then said, "I know ..., but what if we can't find a place to live?" I smiled again and reminded him that we had been in this position before where things looked impossible (from our human perspective) but God had always worked in His own way to provide, usually more than what we had even desired. He pondered that one and then asked, "Yes..., but what if we can't find a place to live?"
So I sat down and retold the stories of our move to Sugar Land when no one would rent to a family with FOUR children ... until God provided a house. Then of our move to Dallas when World Impact just couldn't seem to get the house purchased and God provided housing in Kansas. Then when it was time to move back to Dallas and the house wasn't inhabitable how God provided housing with a dear widow and then later a couple. Then when we left World Impact and I was facing surgery and 6 weeks of recovery we couldn't find even a one bedroom apartment to rent among the Hispanic people and God provided a guest house for 4 of the 6 weeks of recovery with a family who have become such dear friends in the Lord ... and even that 4 weeks stretched into 6, so that there was no need to move during my recuperation! Then when we moved to Edinburg to attend language school, we couldn't find ANYONE who would rent to a family with SIX children!! But God - in His timing - (read at the very last moment!) - provided again a house that was above and beyond what we had even desired. Then when Ron was dying in the hospital and we had no home at all, God provided THREE houses for us so that upon his death, I simply left the hospital and walked into a fully furnished 3 BR home! When that provision ended, we once again found ourselves in a place where finding someone to rent to a family with SIX children seemed impossible. Ah, but "...nothing will be impossible with God!" (
Luke 1:37) God provided a wonderful home that was more than adequate for our needs. Let's see ... that amounts to about eight times when God provided shelter for us when each time there was no way that we could see and even our most intense efforts at providing shelter were thwarted.
I remember sitting in the big house in Dallas writing in my journal that I considered it a privilege to be facing surgery, a move to who knew where, a change in ministry etc. because I knew I would have an opportunity to see God at work up close. I am thankful for the privilege of experiencing all the above situations because it is through them that I truly was able to rest in the knowledge that He most surely would provide for our housing need this time too. I know that Daniel will not forget this either, and I am thrilled when I consider how God might use these experiences in the lives of these dear children He has loaned to me! I pray that we will not be like the Israelites who did not remember His abundant kindnesses and quickly forgot His works. (
Psalm 106:7b,
13a)
So praise Him with us for His goodness, His faithfulness, His provision and care! Then get out your pencil and erase (yes, once more) our contact information. I would encourage you to enter this new information in pencil as well, since I don't think we will remain here! (smile)
I forgot to mention that Rebekah is staying in the Beaumont/Liberty area with both sets of grandparents for now as she has work obligations. I would appreciate your prayers for her future plans as we trust Him to provide more direction there.
Rachel has transferred to McNeese State University in Lake Charles. The incredible blessing here is that when she transferred to their Honors College program, she received financial aid that not only paid for her tuition, books, and meals but also for most of her housing, which is a blessing since we do not have a car for her to drive and her living on campus will save me much time and expense in transporting her to and from campus. This blessing is also evident in that with her living on campus, the reduction in the size of our household will better accommodate our duplex. God is so GOOD!
As always, I thank you for your prayers on our behalf. I am privileged to pray for you as well, as you keep me informed of your family and needs. "O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together." (
Psalm 34:3)
"How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts!
My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
The bird also has found a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
My King and my God.
How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
They are ever praising You."
Psalm 84:1-4
Praising my Savior, all the day long,
Bonnie
