Refuge for a Single Mom

Once again, I’m revisiting a topic I’ve talked about before.  Once again, it is something that is weighing very heavily on my heart and I am dealing with it every day.  (Actually, I’m NOT dealing with it, which explains the need for revisiting it!)

As I’ve mentioned before, my family is faithfully searching for a new home.  Not just a house, not just a place to move, a HOME!  Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE moving?  I only want to do this once and do it right!  Under the circumstances, we need something a little more unique than what is traditionally available on the market.  (Within a reasonable price range that is.)  The kids need their own bedrooms, Mom needs a ‘suite’, and I need a bedroom and an office.  We surely need more bathrooms!  We’d ‘like’ a family room and perhaps an exercise room.  We need a garage.  We really, really, really want a nice, level, private yard…and the list goes on!  *smile*

We are once again entertaining the idea of buying a modular.  We found the exact modular we want and have planned out our basement!  We would end up with 3900 square feet of living space and approximately 500 square feet of garage!  (Right now the four of us are essentially living in 900 square feet of living space!)

Well, in a sincere effort to not insult anyone involved or resort to name-calling, I will just tell you that people are often not what they seem, although they say a lot of things - they don’t mean any of them and unfortunately, promises are not always kept.  I am finding myself, once again, very disheartened.

I’m struggling so much with this.  I know that God has a perfect plan for His people.  I know that He wants us to live comfortably and happily.  I know that He would not have us suffer!

So why then?  Why are we still in this same small house that desperately needs some TLC?  Why are we still subjected to neighbors that ‘flash’ us, damage our property, keep us up late at night and are all around inconsiderate?  Why?

Because, for whatever reason or purpose, it just isn’t God’s time yet.  Either something isn’t available for us yet, we need to ‘do’ something here before we move…I don’t know.  I have no clue whatsoever!

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1

All I know for sure is this, God will not allow us to continue to suffer like this.  He will not allow us to continue to suffer sleepless nights, to be cramped, stressed, fearful, insulted, or anything else that is going on.

For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

It is so hard, as human beings, immersed in this sinful, material, ‘natural’ world to think outside of the box.  To think within the box, or the promises of, God.  It is times like this, times of disappointment, heartache, hardship, frustration, that we need to look to Him and to His word.  To not fall victim to the deceit and the lies of the enemy.  Unlike every other promise or declaration, those of our Lord and Savior are true!

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.  I Peter 5:6-11

Labels: Anxiety, Encouragement, Patience, Perseverance, Timing

For truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,` and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.  Matthew 17:20

Around my house, the last couple of weeks have been a bit more trying than usual.  It seems as though we are simply muddling through and `just getting by`.  (Anyone else feel that way?)

Before I explain the details I would like to take a moment and thank God for His many blessings.  Especially pointing out, that I am sincerely grateful to Him for the health and safety of my children, my Mom, myself and the rest of my family and friends.  I realize that things could surely be much worse!

So, I`ve been sizing up this next post and debating what material to use as a `jumping off` point.  This is tough, because I don`t want to gripe or complain!  *wink*

Maybe I`ll start by telling you that I got a bit of a raw deal with my new vehicle.  (Luckily it is only cosmetic.)  There is some body damage that was `hidden` and I didn`t find it until my first thorough washing/waxing attempt.  This could easily be a very costly job and obviously one that I cannot justify the funds for right now.  Can you say `GRRR`?

What`s more, while the nation was reeling in death and suffering, some idiot(s) had the audacity to enter onto our property (through a gated fence) and steal both of my sons peddle bikes.  (Both of which he saved his own money to buy!)  I realize that this is what the `world` has been reduced to, but I still find it hard to understand.  We left something outside, on our patio, propped up against our home, next to our back door, (in plain view) and this justifies someone TAKING what is OURS?  The police really can`t do much.  They did promise to increase their presence in our area, but  I haven`t seen them yet.  Alas, this is how THIS summer has begun with my neighbors.  A girlfriend asked me if I really thought they were involved.  Most definitely!  The effects of the `world` on my neighborhood have been unbelievable.  UNBELIEVABLE!  We just can`t get moved fast enough!

Simply put, there are a lot of `little` things that are building up.  Every once in a while I get a little overwhelmed by it all.  To mention everything individually would probably wander into the realm of complaining and I am doing my very best to stay out of there!  (Even though that little purple bracelet isn`t here yet!)  *wink*

Overall I am just feeling very alone and sad.  Not depressed or anything major like that.  Just that annoying `alone` feeling when you ache for someone to `make it all better`!  You want for those strong arms wrapped around you to soften all the blows.  Perhaps a loving whisper of encouragement in your ear.

Although in the natural we seem to be incredibly alone, we need to refocus, step out of the box, so to speak!  Each one of us has a friend and comforter like no other!  Certainly like no one on this Earth!

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.  II Corinthians 1:2-7

God is always working to `make it all better`!  His arms are the strongest and He`s always willing to wrap them around you!  He never stops whispering uplifting, encouraging, loving words in your ear – just be willing to listen!

We`re never alone!  Have faith!  Even that of a mustard seed!  (Which by the way, is not quite as big as the top of a pin!)

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  Hebrews 11:1-6

Labels: Choices, Encouragement, Faith, Frustration, Growth, Learning, Patience, Tests, Trials, Way of Thinking

Do you often find yourself running late? Boy, I do. It seems like no matter how early I start to get ready, something happens. The kids won`t cooperate! The car won`t cooperate! Traffic won`t cooperate! Let`s not even talk about hair, make-up or clothes! It seems like the tighter the schedule the more issues that crop up! (There`s always that one sock or shoe that `hides`! *wink*)

I`ve had to work really hard at overcoming this challenge too. I mean here I am now with two children to get ready and essentially no help. It takes a lot of motivation and sometimes it even takes skipping some things.

It`s comforting to know that not only does God not skip over things, but His timing is always perfect. He is never too early or too late! There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 8

As I`ve mentioned before, we`ve been looking for a new house for almost 4 years now. We`ve seen all kinds. We`ve considered building. We`ve considered a modular. Here we are now, back to buying an existing home. We really want to make the right decision!

The house we`ve found this time is really great. It`s actually been on the market for some time; however, I never paid it any attention because of its location. If you consider the events that had to take place for me to finally decide to consider it, well it`s pretty amazing. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

We have prayed and prayed for God`s perfect will. It`s been hard to completely trust Him, because as humans, we`re pretty impatient and controlling by nature! Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages. Isaiah 49:8

We`ve been saying for a long time `when we move` or `we`re moving soon`! Actually, most of our family just blows us off! You can see the doubt in their faces! I mean, unless the U-Haul is sitting in the driveway . . . you aren`t moving! Right? *big smile*

Of course, we aren`t out of the woods yet (or rather, in our case, IN the woods *smile*) there are still a lot of events that will have to take place for this to all work out. Finally, however, we have learned to give this particular situation up to God. But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Psalm 69:13

You see, if this house doesn`t work out, it wasn`t `meant to be`! There will be another house out there that is absolutely perfect for us. If we will be willing to completely trust God and trust His perfect timing, in due course, we will be happier than we could have ever imagined.

Hang in there Sisters! Whatever it is that you need or dream of, God has it all figured out for you. He`s done all the leg work! Trust Him! Trust His timing!

Labels: Patience, Timing