Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Vision





Our first house is on the market (you are welcome to check it out HERE). The one we built. The one that we have put so much time into making it our cute little home. The one we have brought both of our girls home from the hospital and the one I spend everyday raising them in. I didn't think I would be saying it is for sale, for a little while. But it's good, even exciting. It's up to God if it sells. If it doesn't sell, that's ok. We are just on a journey. Searching, seeking, willing, eager, and trying to hear the voice of God. So really, it's not about the house, it's about God and seeing what He wants for us. 

I've been thinking on the fact that as a beloved daughter of God, my things are not my own. I am just a steward of what God gives me. So if it means giving up my cute little house for a time to pay down school debt, I'll do it because it's all His anyways. Sacrifice for a short time is worth it. 

A few weeks ago I got off the phone with my mom after she told me she would not be coming home again. My parents have been living elsewhere for a new job my dad took but they have chosen not to sell their house, which is conveniently on the same street as our house. So an idea popped in my head. Why not sell our house, move into theirs (hopefully not to pay rent) and pay our student loan (only debt we have besides our hose) debt down at a much faster rate? Woah. That's crazy. Well, I call my husband, discuss, pray, talk to my mom, and bam, my parents were discussing presenting the same exact idea to us. What?! God, that's what. You know why? Because about 5 hours later as I talk to my sis (in-law) about this, I start to feel like this is ridiculous (not because of her). Why would we give up our cute little house "meant for us?" All this recent work I put into it and the fact that we could stay in it a while if we wanted. All the future plans we have for the house. Well, I realized that was my flesh. The selfish side wanting comfort. I do believe that the Holy Spirit was the one prompting me to spout off the idea and my flesh started pushing back. He was also speaking through her to encourage me of seeing the bigger plan.

But after more prayer and discussion from my same sis and Kyle's brother, Kyle and I both felt that we should at least try and see what God might have because this is a big opportunity. We feel that getting out of debt is a big plan that God has for us. It directly affects how much we can give to others and be able to have open hands. Instead, we constantly have to close our hands to the things we would love to do and give towards, so we can pile money on our loans and just pay our existing bills. 

The excitement is seeing a soon end to debt so we when our missionary friends need extra money for a clean water project, a person in the community needs groceries, a family member needs a car, a far off friend has crazy medical bills, the homeless on the street needs a job, or we want to spoil nieces and nephews,  etc. we would be able to see needs and fill them because we are less distracted by ourselves. It's not only about having money to give but having the chains of unpaid debt off us so we can devote time and resources into others. If my husband has to keep working long hours to pay for the debt we have then how can he split more of his time with a non-profit business that would be investing into people and sharing the love of Jesus? It is so much harder to do that when you have to spend so much time and resources towards paying on things that weigh you down. I'm not saying we don't have opportunities now, we do and we try to pay attention to what God has all the time. But this is something we feel God has for us.


For now, the house is on the market, our hearts are open, and we are trying to chase a vision we believe God has set in our hearts. Do we have moments of doubt or uncertainty? Sure. But honestly, our over-lying attitude is just one of peace. I personally have just been feeling grace poured out on us with the amount of peace and patience The Lord is giving us. It is unnatural how peaceful we feel and I can only attribute it to God. This is about His plan, His will, and it's HIs stuff/money so He has this figured out. I am just on a ride and am very curious to see where it goes! Thank you for your prayers!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares The Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11-13

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