Evicted Opportunity

About a week ago our cliftonite neighbors were evicted. It took two years for us to befriend them enough to say hi as we passed by and all of a sudden the landlord kicked them out. Almost instantly there was a for sale sign in the window. Lindsey saw the sign and the owner as she walked the dogs and told me to go talk to him. Begrudgingly I did. The guy who owns it turns out to be a home church pastor at NKU and got his start through some Navigators sharing their discipleship vision with him. Needless to say we hit it off right away. He showed me the house, told me stories of how he bought the home and lived there for 12 years. The house has good bones, but needs a cosmetic makeover. He said the house would go for $120k, but he'd give it to me for $80k!

The house has a great set up and would allow Lindsey and I to continue to minister in Cincinnati for another five years. It has a garage, off street parking, large kitchen, extra bedroom and even a fenced in yard for the dogs. We weren't actively searching for a home, but it seems God might be moving in our hearts to purchase this one. I called a loan officer about it and she informed that it's pretty much impossible for us to buy a house right now because we can't count a lot of the income we have coming in (we need two years worth of tax statements to count construction income and rental income). I am encouraged by her saying it is impossible because of what Mary exclaimed in Luke 1:37, "All things are possible with God." If this home is going to happen then it is going to be God getting it done.

If you would please pray for this whole thing, that would be sweet. On a practical level right now we are getting our current home appraised to see if we can't get a home equity loan. We'll see what happens!

We will keep you updated!

so much to think about.

"Yet she (Hannah) did not cling to her blessings anymore than she clung to her woes." (About in Hannah in 1 Samuel 1)

In the days proceeding today, there has been a lot of uncertainty. Things to be woeful about (to have grief and heartache) and things to praise God about for the blessings He has given us. It is hard to think that we should not cling to either one. Hannah in her life and marriage to Elkanah was great. He treated her with double the offerings for sacrifice, would tune into her weeping and downheartedness, and helped her through the time when she grieved because the "Lord closed her womb". Even with such great things to praise God with she also weeped because of rival Peninnah. Peninnah was Elkanah's other wife who had children and was very jealous and bitter of Hannah. Year after year when Hannah would go to the Lord, Peninnah would provoke Hannah until she wept and couldn't eat. One day she went to the temple and asked the Lord to remember the servant and give her a son. She was crying soooo hard that Eli, the head priest, thought she was drunk! Eli found out what she was really after and that is for the Lord to be her center instead of the bitterness and anguish that was there. Eli understand and said "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked for." She became pregnant, worshipped God for the baby, and named it Samuel "Because I asked the Lord for him."

After Samuel was weaned she gave him to the temple for Eli to watch over. Each year she made him a special outfit. Instead of her raising him, she allowed Eli and the Lord to do so.

I just couldn't imagine holding my baby for a year or 2, something I had wept for years about and give it right back to the Lord. What a hard decision and big faith that Hannah had to make! I think about our current situation and how each blessing we get there is a woe right around the corner. Hannah teaches us that we should not cling to either state, but rather give each state to the Lord. Unity is what He desires from Hannah, from me, from us all. He wanted to hear and experience Hannah's tears of pain and joy. He wants it all! Paul writes "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Phil 4:12-13)

Today, we ponder the next steps of the Lord has for us. From potential new jobs to a house across the street. Each are scary and only the unity of Christ allows us to discern our next move. Without Him in us, I'm sure we would be missing this opportunites or clinging too tightly to these opportunities. We, like Hannah, weep because of misfortunes and celebrate because of His blessings. Please join us today and pray about our next steps with Him, the adventure He has for us. Is there something like Hannah that you are clinging to tightly to that maybe you should repent (A blessing that you are now controlling or woe that just seems too hard to let got of)?

With love

linds and rich