Move In!

We have been looking to move to a new city, where our new church is for some time now.   We know that God has told us to go there; but we have hit some road blocks in getting there.  Our biggest problem has been selling our home and finding a new one in the place God is telling us to go.  It has been so frustrating to know that we need to go; but not knowing how to do it!  

But when we step out of the way, God can do something amazing.

God wants us to be obedient!

In September, God told me to go get boxes.  I felt that He wanted me to start packing; because He was going to move us.  I got to a point that if I wasn't going to get them then I would be disobeying Him.  So, I turned my car around and went to pick them up.  As I threw the boxes in the back of the van I thought, "This is nuts.  We don't have a place to move to and we have not sold our house.  I have lost my mind...yup...lost it."

Three Wednesday's ago, at our new church, I went to choir.  A dear friend of ours stopped me and told us about some townhouses they use to live in and that we should check them out.  How could I have ever known that small conversation would start a chain reaction of miracles? 

The next day, John and I ho-hummed about checking into them. We finally decided that it wouldn't hurt to call to see if they even had anything we were looking for.  When praying for a home I felt God wanted me to pray very specifically for our next house, bedrooms, bathrooms, basement, everything.  I felt that was crazy too.  The lady at the townhouses told us that they had a four bedroom available.  She said that it was odd to have one open and no waiting list.  Apparently, there is always a waiting list for the four bedrooms.  On Monday, John went and got the paperwork.  

I then asked some ladies to partner with me in prayer, over the next several days, regarding the sell of our home and a new one.  Here is what I asked them Tuesday, Oct 2nd...
"Would you all take some time this week in your prayer time and pray for us. We really feel strongly that we need to move to our new city soon. Would you ask God to give us wisdom and release us from our house here. We need either a miracle in our house selling or some one to rent. Our house is what is holding us back from moving forward. It is time to move forward. You all are dear sisters and I know that you will lift us up in prayer. I know that you have been already. I just wanted to give you specifics on how to pray."

The next day, Wednesday, we went and looked at the townhouse together as a family.  It was perfect.  We loved it and decided it would be just right for us.  But we left depressed; because we could not afford rent and a mortgage.  We needed to hear from the Lord.  We needed to know if we were about to make the stupidest decision of our lives or take a leap of faith.  I was really hoping we were not making a stupid choice.  We needed God to speak to us A.S.A.P!

We were about to hear loud and clear what God wanted us to do as we walked into our new church that evening.  We each went to our different Wednesday classes.  And each person in my family talked to God about our situation.  My nine year old asked her class to pray for the sale of our home and to find a new one.  My 12 year old prayed about it in youth group and felt we should move to the townhouse...Could have been God or it could have been her own room.  She tells us it was God.  LOL  My hubby felt as someone prayed with him that we would be in the townhouse by Christmas.  

And then there is what God spoke to me in choir....

My choir has over 100 people in it.  It is like mini church in a big church.  I love, love, love it!  I stand way over on the side in the alto section towards the back.  We typically have praise and worship, short devotion by Pastor Leon, and then we practice.  We had just finished an awesome time of worship and I was putting my music together and looking at it while Pastor Leon was sharing what God had placed on his heart.  Yeah, I wasn't paying attention (sorry Pastor Leon) until he said something that captured my undivided attention.  

He said, "Some of you have some giants in your life that you are facing right now."

In my head I thought, "Yup Pastor Leon, my house is a really big giant, it is not selling."  

Pastor Leon the said, "God wants to remove that giant in your life.  In fact, He promises He will remove those giants for you."

"Ok, Pastor Leon I hear you, but God isn't removing my giant.  I don't understand why.  I know that He wants us to move here.  But we can't because of our house, our giant.  I can't make my house sell.  What can I do?" I said to myself

He then followed my question with this, "There is a condition on us for God to remove our giants from the land.

"Bring it Pastor Leon, I'm ready.  Tell me what it is I need to do!  I will do it...Lay it out there brother. I am ready."

"You need to go in and OCCUPY!  You need to MOVE in!"

"What!  Are you crazy?  Are you kidding me, Lord?  Am I hearing this right?  Is Pastor Leon hearing my thoughts?  Yes, I think I might be going crazy.  You are telling me to move in?!  Seriously!"

Pastor Leon said, "God has placed His desires in your heart.  You need to be obedient and move in!"

"MOVE IN!"

"MOVE IN!"

Yeah, I think he said it three times.  Finally, I told the Lord...."Okay Lord, I hear you loud and clear. We will take the leap of faith and MOVE IN!"  I hope Pastor Leon is really listening to the Holy Spirit; because this could be really bad.  Hahahahahahaha  I decided I better not tell him what we were about to do. I'm a pastor myself, I know that he might talk this insane lady out of it. LOL

(just in case you were wondering....yes I really thought those things and I talk to God like that all the time.)

On the ride home, our family decided that God was trying to tell us to move and we needed to be obedient.  It's crazy...but we will be obedient.  

Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged!’ Deut. 1:21 nlt

God wants us to listen

I think it was Friday that I was shopping at the local grocery store here and I was in a hurry to get home.  I was pushing my cart through the bakery and saw someone from our old church, we call her grandma.  I had to make a decision, do I talk to her or do I keep walking.  She hasn't seen me yet.  Has that ever happened to you?  I'll be honest there have been times that I have kept walking.  But Thank God, I listened to the Holy Spirit and stopped my stupid busy life to make time for someone.  

We chatted and then she said, "I sold my house, and I am looking for one in town."

"Grandma, you know we are selling our house?"

We chatted some more a determined our house was out of her price range.  The last thing I said to her was, "God has a home for you and a buyer for us."

I stood in my kitchen later that day and felt that God wanted our house to go to Grandma.  "Lord, if you can figure out how we can break even and she can afford it.  She can have it.  In fact Lord, I want her to have it. Work it out Lord, work it out."

We got our moving truck and my husband called Grandma's daughter to talk about the house and see if there was anything we could do.  

Last Wednesday, Granny sat our kitchen table and signed the purchase agreement.  God provided for both of us.   Our home will become Grandma's home in November.  God is so cool.

God wants to provide

God took care of releasing our home and He provided us the townhouse to rent. 

Last Friday, we signed the lease to our new home.  We left with the keys in our hands and the lady's there scratching their heads saying, "We have never seen anything like this, there is always a waiting list.  It was like it was meant for your family."  

We move in this Friday into the land that God promised us. 

Yup, God takes care of his children!  I have no doubts about that!

Here we are standing in front of our new home. 
Shorty did like it even though his face says otherwise.

Anyone want to help us move?  LOL  Not kidding!

GET JOY!