Sunday, September 26, 2010

Securing the Doors to life...

Another hard day of work at the new house! I got up early this morning and began to work on getting more primer up on the walls before rushing over to OHOP for our children's set. I was extremely blessed to have Keith and Leonarda help paint the primer upstairs. Both of them worked so hard in getting almost all of the upstairs finished! We got a LOT accomplished today, but this process is so slow it FEELS like we didn't get a lot done.
I find myself occasionally missing family, but today was a little harder than most. It's not just a matter of having people to help out, but having people who share in your joy. And, know how to comfort you in your disappointments even when you're trying hard not to show it. But when you don't have family close by, it's all the more impacting to know that you have good friends. This evening my friends Matt and Carlos took out the entire front door frame. After lots of drilling, sawing, and other brilliant stuff, we now have a secure front door! (We also have a refrigerator!) YAY!
As I watched my 2 good friends fixing the door, I couldn't help but think of the significance of how our relationships are often doorways to life. The friendships we choose can lead us down amazing paths that we might never know if we didn't take the time to care for them.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Thank you, Jesus! (and some of your amazing people)

Things are really moving along with the house. Even though A LOT of things haven't gone according to "plan" (and we can't be too surprised at that) I'm so excited about the changes already made. On Saturday morning, Nick left with Antonio and Rocky to start working at the house. I was planning on joining them an hour or so later after a friend arrived to watch our little ones, however she fell ill during the night and couldn't come. I was disappointed, but Nick assured me that I didn't want to be there. While bagging trash, they'd disturbed something with a smell so foul that he almost lost his breakfast. So, I contented myself with working at home on packing and enjoying some near-quiet since only the 3 little ones were home playing; regular updates made me feel that I was kept in the loop while praying.
I am so excited about all the progress they made! Sorry it's taken so long to get the video up from last Saturday. I have to say a special THANK YOU to Carlos, Jeremy, Juan, Luis, Matt D., Matt P., and of course my boys Antonio, Rocky & Nick. You are all awesome men of God and I am so honored to call you friends.
As I've put my own hand in a few days this week, I know just how hard they all worked and I stand in awe of them! I scrubbed bleach water over some of the walls and started fussing about the blister I was getting. (More of a callous really.) Nick just laughed at me and said it was a good thing I wasn't there on Saturday. I know I'm a girl...

Saturday, September 18, 2010

On with the show!

So here we are... the big day! Sure there will be no dumpster today, okay so the construction company that was volunteering to to do all this work and put all this together ended up having some complications and won't be able to help this weekend now, and yes, there is the minor thing of the power company giving us problems with getting power turned on (Thanks Progress Energy) and there will be no power today, yes I'm still not feeling 100%, but you know what? It's ALL in God's hands. We are STILL going to be at the new house, ready to face the mess with whoever happens to join us, ready to tackle this giant and do it with joy. Cause you know what, there are ALWAYS setbacks and excuses as to why NOT to do something, but what I'm beginning to learn is how to focus on all the excuses and reasons as to why TO DO something. Such as the awesome opportunity this house represents for our family, the opportunity to be a witness and blessing to those in the neighborhood, the fact that many people are willing to come together and help us out with this, and most important reason as to why... because we're striving to follow the voice of God. So with that, we ask you for your prayers as we get ready to go and begin the restoration process - no matter how small or insignificant of a dent we might be making. After all the show must go on!!!!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Yes, We have No Appliances...

So yesterday we found out the construction company (name coming soon) who is donating towards this project has been unable to get any assistance towards the appliances. This economy thing is hitting Lowes and Home Depot pretty hard I guess, as they are the ones who have assisted in the past. So that means I guess we just have to start praying in some appliances for the place. In a way I smile, it's just another piece to this interesting tapestry of what God is doing. A week ago the Lord really spoke to Dixie and I that we are not to fret nor worry about how this is coming together but to delight ourselves in all of His provisions and just be ready to move when He says move, speak when He says speak. So I smile at having yet another opportunity to move in faith and be surprised by His goodness.
If you feel led to contribute towards this cause we're setting up a paypal account and also are accepting gift cards for Lowe's and Home Depot. In the meantime I'll start looking for a new Washing Machine and Dryer and reflect on the White Robes awaiting me heaven. :-)

Monday, September 13, 2010

All in God's Hands

After filming our little video of the house last week Antonio and I started to leave when we saw a young second grade boy and kindergarten girl standing alone at the corner of the neighborhood entrance, (straight down from the house) and both of them were crying, alone and clearly scared. It was early release day and their mother had forgotten to come and pick them up. Of course, wouldn't you know it I had left my phone at home that day. So after calming them down we stopped a jogger who had a cell phone on her and happens to be the mother of a boy that both of my sons have played with before! After reaching the wayward mother on the phone we sat and waiting. I was so proud of Antonio as he really engaged with the kids giving me an opportunity to speak and witness a little to the jogger.
40 minutes later as the mother finally pulled up with a quick "Thanks, I was at a friends and forgot..." before quickly speeding away, I couldn't help but reflect on how this house is so much more than 'just a blessing for our family' and not merely another 'move of faith'. It is an assignment from God and an open invitation from Him, for our family to be a witness and example to our own community right here in Ocoee. As we pulled away Antonio so pointedly said, "Wow, I don't think it's just a coincidence that we saw those kids there dad. What would have happened if we weren't there?" I couldn't help but think what WOULD happen if I spent even more time seeking God's voice and following the lead of the Holy Spirit.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Before Video...

This summer after being blessed with our van, the Lord really put upon our hearts to begin praying for a house. We knew it would take a creative move of God, and so, here it is! I'll share more of the story over the next several days, but on September 18th a construction company will be donating time, money and labor towards the renovation of our new home. We still are raising money to help out in the project but what we really need are as many able bodies who can come out and help.
We're extremely excited about all that's happening, but what's even more important is that this house represents so much more than just a blessing for our family. It's a prophetic picture of what God does in each of our lives and how when a community of believers come together in faith and cooperation through prayer, we can transform lives and neighborhoods.



 

Here is a little before video...enjoy!
- 2 Corinthians 5:7

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

A Journey of Faith...

As a family of 9 who live as full-time intercessory missionaries we knew it would take an extreme move of God for us to ever be able to own our own home, especially in this current market! However as Christians we don't have to be partakers in the World's Economy but we can stand on the promises of the Kingdom of God! This summer the Lord increased our faith as we listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit and trusted God in providing for us a 12 passenger van.
As with ANYTHING in life it required us to  
A. Give faithfully and sow (we did this by giving our 7 pass. minivan away)
B. Seek the Lord in fervent Prayer Intercession (we prayed about the van every day, several times a day - Mark 11:24-25)  
C. Work diligently toward our goal. (we called several churches, organizations, hotels, spoke to everyone we knew, went to dealership and van rental companies)
D. Trust in our Family of Christ (we had so many people laboring in prayer with us, looking for us, inquiring on our behalf. Do NOT forsake the fellowship of the brethren!)
E. Believe we had already received it (we were stuck in the midwest and delayed in getting airline tickets until about the last possible moment because we KNEW God had our van for us to drive back.)  
F. Give Him all the Glory! (Since driving our van back to Florida we have heard several testimonies of other families who were encouraged by our story of Faith and were able to hang on trusting in Jesus Christ until breakthrough came.

NOW.. the Journey Continues! Beginning tomorrow we will be sharing our next phase of this Journey of Faith as we share with you how the Lord is opening a door for us to own our first home. As with anything in life it won't be easy and requires all of the above steps in order for it to work out ... but isn't that what it's all about? The Journey of Faith.