"When God says 'no', it is not necessarily a rejection, but a protection."
Last week, we terminated the contract on the house that we were going to purchase in High Springs. We had hoped to close on November 2nd and then move up, settle-in, have a wonderful family holiday of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and then begin the work on the new church after the first of the year.
But God had different plans...a protection.
After we learned that the closing had been delayed by 30 days, we were informed that the property was going through some 'issues'. A probate court to begin with, and then a Federal tax lien. Needless to say, we agonized at the decision to terminate the contract, but we did. Our plans, hopes, and dreams of this new place vanished in one phone call...then my pastor gave me the quote.
I clung to that quote while we traveled the 4 1/2 hours to search for a 'new' house. Our 3 options quickly turned to 1 option. As we drove onto the property on our last option, my heart and breathe were taken away at the beautiful 5 acres that lay in front of us! (Not to mention the white-tail deer that jumped from a thicket on the property!)
Then we entered the house...YIKES!!!...a 1990 mobile home...foreclosed...owned by the bank...and desperately needing a major overhaul! But when you look passed the mold, falling-in ceiling, and rotting floors, missing appliances and water heater, we could see the future and what this place will mean to us! (Of course, when you are basically paying a price that is basically just the value of the property...the house starts to look beautiful!) The bank accepted our offer and we are scheduled to close on December 2.
We are excited at what the Lord is doing for us. The man who trained me in the ministry...the late Dr. Jim Brown, put me to working in construction while I trained in the ministry. He said, "Learn all you can! You never know where God will call you and what you will need to know. Like construction!" (Although, I haven't figured out quite yet why he put me at taking care of his cows!)
I will be doing the work myself and I figure it will take me 2 1/2 weeks, working day and night. But I am excited...our family is excited! Our monthly mortgage will be about $200 less than what it would have been at the other place! And we can see a beautiful oasis in the midst of the hard work that lay ahead in starting a new church plant.
Pictures will follow soon!!! (But please...don't panic at the condition of the house!)
