At that time there was a ton of doubt that hubby and I both had in the longevity of the company he worked for. That combined with me staying home with our girlie really scared us...one income and if it went away what would we do? We scoured our budget for things to cut, but we (thankfully) did not have a car payment, credit card payments, excessive spending...but, there was that pesky mortgage! So we put the house on the market...and struggled with not really wanting to leave our home...weren't we doing the "responsible" thing by getting rid of that debt/mortgage in light of his unknown job situation? After a month on the market I started to question myself about my faith in God...where was it now? Wasn't I trying to control everything and at the same time worrying about everything? My judgment was so clouded by wanting to control the situation that I rationalized wiping out our savings to sell the house (we weren't trying to short sell, we were just going to bring money to the table and walk away from the house with nothing).
I knew from other situations in my life that when I fully trusted God He worked everything out.
About a month and half after the house was on the market my hubby's company tanked, as we feared, and even more unanswered questions about the future of a job for him came flooding in. Hubby reminded me that we would just have to trust in God and wait to see what would happen. So, we pulled the house off the market deciding that if we were going to trust Him we were all the way going to trust Him with everything.
So 1 year, 9 months later we are still in the house, he does, praise God, still have a job, but everything is not perfect. Our home is still worth less than what we owe. Hubby's pay is not the same as it was before either. We have been blessed with savings, which we are using each month to make up a shortfall in our budget due to the change in hubby's pay. He has a chance of getting a bonus of sorts, based on performance, one time a year, that we are praying will pay back our savings we are using. I have thought before...should I go back to work? I have prayed for God to provide us direction, I have wanted to home school girlie since before she was born! We are still blessed with no credit card debt or car payments. We give each week at church, I know it is not much, but we do what we can knowing how much they will accomplish for Him with every dollar they receive. We are thankful that we have been able to make our budget each month with His blessings and will go in the direction He points us in when he says it's time to go. We are living by faith, trusting in Him each day that He will provide for us. It is an amazing feeling to not worry daily or toil trying to control everything!
Today's sermon from Pastor Rickey spoke right to my heart...Holy Ground: God Always...
Pastor shared some things that are always true about him...like eating chocolate when it is available and having dessert before dinner if that's possible...ME TOO! There are also some things that are always true about God...thank you!
1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Genesis 12:1-5 (NIV)
1. God always calls me to live by faith.
The Lord had said to Abram, ""Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go...Genesis 12:1 (NIV)
Pastor mentioned that we tend to rely on others' voices or our own voice instead of the voice of God. Trying to sell our house to control our situation and future at that time was not God's will, we were not listening to Him, trusting in Him. I also believe that I will know when and if God wants me to go back to work, until then I am trusting in Him that I am where He wants me to be, regardless of what others' opinions may be.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
2. God always assumes responsibility for guiding my steps.
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1
If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV)
Pastor shared that He will guide your steps, but if you don't know what your next steps are to be stay where you are to avoid making a foolish mistake. We are staying in our house until we know it is really time to leave...we almost did make a foolish mistake by selling for a loss and wiping out our savings to do so.
3. God always keeps His promises.
I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2
God's timing is perfect...it's not as fast as I would always like it to be...but it is perfect. I continue to pray to Him, trusting His timing, because I know He has been faithful to me in the past and will be always!
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)
4. God always asks me to pass on His blessings.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:3
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Pastor reminded us what Jesus' life was here: preaching, teaching, healing. God wants us to be a blessing funnel...use our time, talents, resources to bless others. I pray that my posts will be a blessing to you.
5. God Always rewards everyone who says yes!
So Abram left, as the LORD had told him...Genesis 12:4
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. Hebrews 11:8-9
Action Steps of Faith
1. Trust God with your future.
Let go of your worries!
2. Bless others now with what you have.
Use your talents, time, resources!
3. Say yes to Jesus today.
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV)
What worry can you give to God today? Are you trusting in Him to guide your steps? What talents are you using to bless others?
In Him,
That is a great post. We are one of the few that don't owe more than it is worth. We bought our house at a steal deal 5 years ago. But the market is still soft around here, thank goodness we are not planning on selling.
ReplyDeleteWe are still renting because the homes in our area are so expensive. My husband makes much more money than I do and if he lost his job we wouldn't be able to afford a mortgage on just my salary alone. I loved this post. Very inspiring and I know God will be with your family every step of the way.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing and best wishes.
xoxo,
Bonnie