While Waiting – Pray, Trust and Work

Today is day seven since we officially put our home up for sale. 

For a couple of years now, my husband Chris and I have been saying that we need to downsize and get a smaller one-story home.  Our home has served us well and we love friends, neighbors and the neighborhood, but it’s time to move.

In July, we contacted a realtor in our neighborhood.  For four and a half years, we’ve watched Lily’s work.  We’ve seen the difference in people’s homes who’ve gone with our realtor and those who have used other realtors.  When we had a question on remodeling decisions, she freely gave her advice on what buyers like.  When the time came to sell our home, we contacted Lily.

Over the last 6 weeks, Chris and I have been working to get our house ready to put on the market.  I can’t tell you the number of trips we’ve made to Good Will, or how much we’ve given away or thrown away or how many trips we’ve made to put things in storage to make sure our home is clutter-free.  We’ve had handymen in to take care of some odds and ends repairs.  We have thoroughly cleaned our home and worked in the garden.  We wanted to get our home ready, not only to sell but also prepare it for new owners.

Family and friends have assured us that our home will likely sell quickly and that is what we are praying and hoping for.

This last weekend, we had our first open house.  I had big expectations that we would get a lot of people coming to see the home and that perhaps we’d even have offers. 

We had five families that came to see our home.  They said it was clean and well maintained.  Some people thought the yard was too small and some raised concerns about living near power lines.  It didn’t seem like anyone was eager to buy our home.  We’ve had no realtors contact us to set up a viewing for their clients. 

Can I confess…I was disappointed!  Disappointed because I had the wrong perspective. 

Since then, the Lord has been reminding me daily that everything, including the sale of our home, is firmly and fully in His control.  Our home will sell when He brings the people that He wants to be the next owners and not before then.

If our home had sold on the first open house, I would have been attributing the success to our realtor.  Or being prideful and thinking that all our hard work had paid off. 

No matter what…whether it’s a quick sale or something that takes a while, the sale of our home will be the Lord’s work.

Each day…I go through a routine of getting our house ready just in case we get a call that somebody wants to see it.  I vacuum our house top to bottom.  Counters and bathrooms are cleaned, furniture, shutters, and blinds are dusted.  Once a week, I’m thoroughly cleaning each area or zone. 

While I’m cleaning, I’m praying for the family who will buy our home.  Perhaps they don’t even live in Texas yet but will be making a move here.  Maybe they are trying to sell their home and are waiting to look for a new home until it does.  I’m praying that they will be the right family for our neighbors and neighborhood.  If they have children that they will have an easy transition into new schools and make good friends.  That the husband and wife will agree on what they want in a home and for wisdom in making decisions and for their finances.  That perhaps the changes and improvements we’ve made to our home will be something that they will enjoy. 

All the efforts from our realtor and our hard work to get our house ready and keep it ready are good and necessary. 

During this time, we’ve looked at homes and have a better idea of what want to buy and where we want to live.  So, it’s not been a waste of time.  Perhaps the Lord’s timing is different than what we had hoped for because the right home for us is not on the market yet.

While I may not know why there is a delay in selling our home, I know that it’s perfectly in the Lord’s control, timing and plan.  On those days, when I get tired or have doubts…I have to remind myself to trust the Lord, know He is good and that He has a good and perfect plan that He is working out.  I can trust and depend on God while we are waiting. 

A Defiant Faith

She has a defiant faith

One that rests

Not in her circumstances

But in God alone

When her prayers seem to be unanswered

And God is silent

She strengthens her heart mind soul and spirit

In God’s perfect and inerrant Word

When others give way to doubt or fear

She instead sets her mind on Christ

And remembers His benefits

Her soul bursts forth in worship and praise

She knows of her heavenly Father’s great love

Before the foundation of the world was laid

He called her to salvation through His Beloved Son’s sacrifice

He has sealed her with the Holy Spirit

If He has met her greatest needs

Surely, He will care for her needs today

She chooses to trust God as He has revealed Himself to be

Her confidence rests in His unchanging, merciful lovingkindness

She has a defiant faith, a confident faith

One that does not waver

Like a light that does not dim

She rests secure in the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ

By Susan Wachtel

December 19, 2018

To a strong woman of God who is trusting God in her time of waiting upon the Lord. 

Election Confessions

Lord, I confess

As the election begins in earnest

There are times my heart is anxious

My mind filled with worry

I look around and see a nation

Seeped in sin and unrighteousness

Will You rightly and justly

Give us over to the judgment we deserve

Or will You respond with patience

In Your lovingkindness and mercy

Will You raise up a Josiah

Give us a godly leader who fears You

I see candidates of all kinds

Prideful, arrogant, rude

Contemptable, dishonest, liars

Who believe they are above reproach

Yet there are some

Men and women of integrity who fear You

Who desire to be upright and blameless

And humbly serve this nation

I see people deceived

Even believers have been taken in

I ask that You give Your people discernment

Help us to choose wisely

I confess my anxiety and worry are a sin

I have failed to trust You fully

But You are God who is sovereign and in control

You raise up kings and leaders and bring them down

When I feel anxious

Help me to repent and pray

Trust the One True and Living God

To whom we will all give an account one day

by Susan Wachtel

February 1, 2016

Five Minute Friday – Truth Be Told

 

LORD, the truth be told,

          I’ve been struggling

                   with fear and doubt

Try as I might

          I can’t control the future

                   or guess what will happen tomorrow

In my fear

          I’ve gotten my eyes off of You LORD

Forgotten

that You are able

          that You have a good and perfect plan

                   which You are working out in my life

I’ve lost sight of the fact

          that You walk with me always

both in the peaks and valleys of my life

You use all circumstances

          To help me grow and change

You expose my sin

          So that I will confess and repent

You buff out that which is displeasing to You

and reveal conduct unbecoming a Christian

Help me walk by faith

          May I not doubt Your goodness

                   or Your ability to accomplish what concerns me today

May I remember that with each step I take

          You are with me

You alone know what my future holds

          You are perfectly able to direct my path

Help me to keep my eyes on You Lord

          Not my circumstances

                   Not the people that surround me

Help me to trust You

          Tenaciously

                   Unswervingly

                             to the end

It’s another Saturday morn and I wanted to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s FiveMinute Friday writing challenge.  Head over to her website “Lisa Jo Baker Tales from a Gypsy Mama”.  Be sure to read some of the entries from other writers.  I can promise you that you will be blessed.

Thoughts & Reflections on Fear, Worry and Anxiety

Yesterday I felt worried upon hearing and reflecting about some sad and bad news.  Last night before bed, I read Ana Dagarin’s post at “Ramble On” for Five Minute Friday, and I've been meditating on something she said about fear...here's what I jotted down. 

Fear crowds out faith

Anxiety leaves no room for peace

Worry takes away the option to trust God

Self-focus obscures my ability to see God

Fear is a sin

Anxiety steals peace from my heart and mind  

Worry is a waste of time

Self-focus is boring

Lord, I take comfort in knowing that nothing takes You by surprise.

You are never anxious.

You don’t wring Your hands in worry.

There is not a path worn out before Your throne as You pace back and forth with worry

You alone know the future

You have perfect vision, un-obscured by sin

You will make wrong things right

Justice will be served in Your perfect timing

Evil and sin will be punished

All things are under Your control and firmly held in Your grasp

I can only be fearful, anxious and worried when I take my eyes off of God.

Despite reading God’s word each day and praying, I’ve felt like lately there has been silence from God.  Here are some thoughts and reflections of why I’m silent towards someone.  I’m not saying this is why God seems silent, but perhaps I need to ask the Lord why I feel as though He seems silent to me. 

I’m silent when someone isn’t listening.

I don’t want to waste my time and words on someone who doesn’t seem to care or pay attention to what I have to say.

I’m silent when I feel hurt by someone.

Lord are You quiet because I haven’t obeyed Your last instructions to me?  Please help me to obey, just follow through and not make excuses but make the time, not find the time, to do what You are calling me to do.

Perhaps I have too many other voices and noise competing for my attention.  Help me to listen clearly and incline my ear towards You Lord Jesus.

Preconceived Notions

Squeaking breaks were more than just an annoyance or an indication that I needed to get our car serviced to insure that I was safe on the road.  This would be another repair on a car that’s 11 years old.  A repair that might cost more than what the car was worth.  Our car had become a money pit and it seemed like we were throwing good money after bad. 

After the last repair, my husband Chris and I discussed the possibility that it might be the time to consider getting a new car to replace our aging car. 

The squeaking started just a few days before we were going on vacation and whatever action we decided to take would have to wait until we returned.  Thankfully both Chris and I had taken an additional day off from work following our vacation.  It proved to be helpful as we went car shopping yesterday.

God had some lessons for me to learn in the middle of our car troubles.  One of the top lessons was to not be anxious.  Our car problems didn’t take God by surprise and He would go before us and give us wisdom to make good choices. 

Yesterday, before we set off to look at vehicles, I felt that God was telling me to let go of my preconceived notions.  Based on prior bad experiences with two car dealers, I was tempted to dismiss two cars that we should consider because they had good ratings for safety and value.

Prior to our vacation, I had done some research on AAA’s automobile car shoppingservices and had a good idea on what cars we should look at.  It’s a great tool that proved to be very helpful in our search for a car.  If you are a member of AAA you can contact the designated dealers and arrange to meet with them.  In doing this, you eliminate the high pressure sales tactics associated with car buying.  You will also avail yourself of the AAA agreed upon discounted rate.

Before we left the house we prayed for God to give us wisdom to determine the best car to purchase and trust His leading and timing.  We asked that we would both be in agreement as to what car we should purchase and for His favor.

We set out with a plan to look at three vehicles, test drive them, find out what finance options were available so we could choose the best car for us and be responsible with the resources God has given us.

God did indeed go before us and we both felt comfortable with purchasing any of the top three vehicles we were looking at.  We had set a plan to look at all three vehicles before making a decision and we stuck to that despite heavy pressure from one dealer to make a decision right then and there. 

As it turned out, we ended up getting the vehicle that was last on my initial list.  We both liked the car and the tipping point was that we were able to get 0.0% financing for 60 months.  That was too good to turn down.

Now every time I look at the car I am reminded of God’s faithfulness, His provision in finding the car and getting a good deal. 

I know it’s silly, but I like to name my cars.  Last night after we got home, I decided to name our new car Ebenezer because it will be a reminder, “Thus far the Lord has brought us.”