Have you ever had to look at the day and wonder:
How will I ever survive this day?
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Here are some of the deepest trials we have faced and God's faithfulness to His promises and to His children (us).
1.
We faced every parents ultimate nightmare. Our teenage daughter vanished. She reappeared a month later with people and life circumstances we were very worried about. God promised us, "Raise up a child in the way she should go and when she is old she will not turn away from it."He was faithful to watch over her and bring her to safety; and to know that no matter what mistakes we make in life, we are loved just as we are; all of us.
2.When there were lay-offs and we were unemployed for so long our house had to be sold for what we owed instead of what we hoped for: God opened the door and moved us to a new state, a new job, a new church, new Christian friends, and taught us to depend on Him instead of ourselves, friends and money.
He brought us to read the Word of God for the first time and to find His promises. He brought us life-long Christian friendships with our most precious and trusted friends and prayer partners.3.When we were told to we needed to move out of the house we were renting, (one year after loosing our home and having no savings left), and that we needed to move out at the end of that month, for they were building a subdivision - the next day my husband lost his job. (His boss gave his new wife my husband's job)- leaving us wondering who would rent to unemployed people with with a dog, a pet skunk, 2 kids and no savings. The reality that we could end up on the streets was an overwhelming fear for us as we sought the Lord to
save us. We knew we were helpless to protect ourselves or even our children.
We prayed and three days later God brought a wonderful Christian couple into our lives. They called us to ask if we would consider living on their 58 acre farm they had just bought. They wanted us to be caretakers of their two homes on the property, and live there for free, and use it for ministry. It included a spring fed lake called 'Mirror Lake'. I always felt that was from God's promises that 'right now we see darkly as in a mirror. One day we will see face to face'. It was a very healing and refining place. He was true to His promise that He will supply all our needs, abundantly more than we can think or ask. We lived there two years.4.Our son passed away nine years ago. We were shocked and devastated: He had the possibility of a terminal illness. We knew that when we adopted him at three days old.
At the time of his death, he was showing signs of this illness beginning to assault him, though he never knew he had it. We never told him.
We believed our son should live to live and pursue life and God. He did. We did not want him living a life where he was waiting to see if he was going to die or seeking what was wrong with himself, instead of what was right. We wanted him seeking all that God had for him to do and what was wonderful about his life. He was a creative, kind, joyful young man.
Shortly after Scott turned 19 we found the need to run a huge battery of tests on him for he was six foot six and weighed only 136 pounds. Shortly after the tests were run, he took his life in fear of what was to come.
God says "Those who fear do not yet know how loved they are." My son is with the Lord. If not, we are saved by works, not grace. Scott loved the Lord with all His heart, but God spared Him from the suffering that was to come. Isaiah 57:1 says, "What man does not yet understand is that I take those who are righteous before me, early, to spare them from suffering."
He allowed Scott's fears and confusion to take his life. Scott would have suffered for years before passing away. Instead God spared him from suffering at the young age of 19. God is so kind in all that He does for His children.
5. After the death of our son we wanted to move away from our beautiful farm and Mirror Lake. It was time to go forward. The little place of healing and hope held too many wonderful and painful memories to stay.
My little family gathered and we prayed together one night.
"Lord, what do you want us to do?
Do we spend the money we have in savings now?
Do we save it and work as missionaries?
Do we buy a home?
Do we invest the money?
If so Lord we believe you will provide a home that costs less than what we have saved." (a meager amount that should have only purchased a small 'you fix it up house somewhere').
He gave me these thoughts, "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He MAKES me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the quiet waters. He restores my soul. Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me. I will set a table before you in the presence of your enemies." "If you are attacked, it is not my doing."
We left it to the Lord to reveal His will.
Next day a realtor we had worked with us as we considered our options, called to say that, "Last night I felt like driving around in the country to see if there was anything new, not in the listing books yet. As I drove by they put out the sign." We went that day and put a bid on it.
It was abundantly more than we could think or ask again.
It was not a run down you fix it up mess either.
It was a beautiful 10 acre farm with a barn, a small, beautiful home and very nice outbuildings, costing less money than we had in savings. We even had $10,000 left after we paid cash and praised the Lord.
He has used this place beautifully for a ministry to families and to heal hurting and our broken hearts over the past 9 years
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Our House The beautiful old Barn The Chicken house
*The Woodshed picture above was taken right after the ice storm last winter that left us with no power for a week. This was taken early early in the morning, right after my husband went out to check on the animals inside.
Our driveway.
God is so faithful to hide us under his wings and to quiet the storms of life, if only we learn to listen we will find the beauty of His will and great is His love for His children.
6. When my husband changed jobs for a promotion a couple of years ago, two weeks later his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer (half way across the country). Being the only child of an only child, required all of my husband efforts - costing him his new job and the reality that we once again were unemployed (for 8 months this time).
He gave us precious Christian friends who watched over us. Even though we fed two needy families in this time, our pantry remained overflowing. We can't out-give God.
"In this world you will have tribulations. But do not fear. I have overcome the world. I will never leave you or forsake you."
During his Father's last 6 months my husband didn't have job. But, he did have what was more important.
Time with his Dad.
Only God could have made my husband have and take that much time.
By God's grace and promises "You and all your household will be saved." His father, Bill was saved two weeks before he passed away.
What did we do during this trying time?
We watched as the Lord taught us to trust Him more and more.
Was it easy?
No.
But the Lord Comforts us with the comforts we will comfort others with.
Iron sharpens Iron.
That is why I wanted to share with you some of God's recent wonders in our lives, though there is much much more.
*We have an amazing heavenly Father who cares about even the littlest details of our character and lives.
He gave me this life verse.
It is beautiful to me.
May it bless you too.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Lean not on your own understanding
Acknowledge Him in all your ways
And He will direct your steps."
May we never forget,
Philippians 4:13
"I can do everything through God who strengthens me."
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