A True Blessing Overflow

I've never written this all out so I thought I would add the full story to my blog:

About 2 summers ago I was sitting outside and had this odd feeling like we were going to move. I never felt the need to put my house up for sale and search for a new home. The Holy Spirit was just moving something in me.

Last summer we went to visit friends of ours who built their own house in South Lyon. I’ve always loved their house and felt very “at home” while visiting them. The husband is a builder and while we were there they mentioned that they own a piece of land just down the road and were planning on building a new home for their family on it. Immediately I heard the words “Look around, this is your house.” To which I thought to myself “Yeah, right… do you know what our financial situation is like right now?” Like God doesn’t know what’s going on with me!!?!? Then I heard “LOOK AROUND, this WILL be your home!” So I did just that I walked through the house room by room. I saw promises and visions of my life in every single room; they were very strong and very clear. I then told Brian and our friends what had just come to me, and I’m pretty sure they all thought I was a little nuts. But I think Brian really believed what I heard.

Over the course of the past year finances were really tough but lately Brian’s business has begun to flourish and we are feeling very blessed in the current economy. This past summer our friends said their new house would be complete in November and I sort of freaked out and thought “How am I ever going to be able to sell my house and move by November!?!” (jokes on me, because it’s happened). Our friends were skeptical and contemplated putting their house up for sale but we convinced them to believe and not put it on the market. Their construction deadline grew and now they’re planning to move in late January.

This summer I started packing up pictures, books, china, and other things we don’t use everyday. I really felt the Holy Spirit telling me that when the time comes to move I would have to move fast. And since He knows me and knows that I freak out in stressful situations that listening to Him would be very advantageous. So, I was obedient and I started packing and moving stuff into the basement of the new house.

It’s August 27, 2008 and we consult Margaret Dresser and decide to put our house up for sale/lease. There was no rhyme or reason to the timing it just happened. That weekend I was writing in my blessings journal about our house going on the market when I heard the words “Look back in your journal to one year ago today.” I almost passed out when I read what happened on August 27, 2007. It was the SAME day one year prior that we were at their house and I heard those important words from the Lord!!!! I couldn’t believe it!!! I shared this with everyone who would listen to me! (Because I think that’s what this whole experience is truly all about, sharing the power of God).

Sunday, October 19th we had a couple view the house and that night they put in an offer to lease it. They don’t believe in credit so they want to sign a 1-year lease and pay for it all UP FRONT!! We were so excited because the reason we decided to offer to lease was initially to bless someone who wouldn’t otherwise be able to have a house. We accepted their offer and feel like we are blessing a really great couple with our really great home. We have to be out of our house by November 1st so we’re moving in with my parents in the meantime and storing all our stuff in the basement of the new house. I felt so incredibly blessed that the thought of moving so quickly didn't even stress me out.

November 11th I'm at a co-op meeting held at the new house in South Lyon. Afterwards a woman I'd only met once before comes up to me and says "So, I hear you're living in Redford?" and I say yes, and explain why we moved. Then she responds with "Well, I'm only asking because we have a house down the street (literally a mile away from our new house) and it's been sitting empty due to the fact that we had to move for my husband's job. Would you want to live there? We just need someone to make it look lived it, we don't want any money." I was a little taken back and just told her that I don't have anything to live with, it's all packed up and in the basement of the new house. And she says "Oh, all of our stuff is still in the house because we're living in a trailer, even all of our silverware is there."

I talked to Brian that night about the offer and he was really surprised to hear about it. We decided that if the new house would truly be ready to move into by the end of January then moving again doesn't make any sense. But, if something happens and it gets dragged out to the Spring then we may take them up on the offer.

There is an overflow of blessing in our lives right now and I'm very excited about it. I'm sure they'll be more to come so stay tuned!!

Generosity

This past week I was in contact with Jocelyn from our church, I needed to get her address so that I could send her Nicole's baby shower invitation. I don't even know Jocelyn and in talking I found out some interesting things. First, she's from the same small town in Ontario where a few of my relatives live and she knows them!
Then, the Lord was just chattering away at me when I was emailing her a reply. He said that I needed to offer her the spare bedroom in our house because she's going to need it until she get married this July. I offered and it was TRUE! She does need a place to stay from April 19-July. She and Steve came over on Saturday to meet us, because like I said we don't really know each other. We got along very well and they loved our house.
The Lord is really speaking to me a lot about this situation. Hence Proverbs 11:24-26 (NLT):

Give freely and become more wealthy;
be stingy and lose everything.

The generous will prosper;
those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

People curse those who hoard their grain,
but they bless the one who sells in time of need.

The funny thing is that Brian told me yesterday that in the past he felt that someone was going to be living with us but didn't know who and so he never mentioned it to me.

Hello My Love...

I flippin LOVE freecycle

Today was my first experience obtaining items from a listing on freecycle. Look at a couple of the things we got:

We also got a LeapFrog electronic learning book thingy, 3 packs of crayons, 2 packs of colored pencils, and a awesome Bob the Builder flip book. What's funny is that Adam received more toys today from freecycle than he did at Christmas!

About 3-4 months ago we were at W*lmart when Adam decided he was in love this this lighting mcqueen toy where you race two cars down twirly ramps. I told him he could have it if he stopped peeing his pants. He hasn't mentioned the toy since November and this morning he says he wants that specific toy because he stopped peeing his pants. I told him I didn't know if W*lmart still had that toy but we could look one day. Then I picked up this ramp toy today and he LOVES it, I think he believes I went out and bought the lighting mcqueen one while he was napping.

You ask, and you shall receive my friends...

Currently Blessed

This is no joke people. My class starts tomorrow and I have ***8*** couples!!!
Keep me in your prayers, I'm nervous now......
But I know once I get past the first few minutes of class #1 I'll be comfortable and the nerves will wear away.

*Update* Yesterday I had to turn away couple #9! But thankfully I was able to bless another teacher with my overflow!

Overwhelmed with the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is just flooding in on my life today and it feels fabulous.

I feel kinda stupid and haven't admitted to many that I took the test for the Google job and actually failed. I'm really bad at test taking and had this feeling while I was taking it a few weeks ago that I was going to fail. I'd done the work before via Sarah and that just made me feel even more stupid. How did I fail at a test for something I've already been doing!?!?

Anyways, I was upset for about 10 minutes and then the Holy Spirit gave me peace with the situation and I was OK. I was assured that the Lord was taking me somewhere so I just decided to go along for the ride.

A few months back I had talked to someone about a job at the Glass Academy near me. Anyone who knows me knows that this place is right up my alley. And the owners are this really cool husband-wife team who understand who I am and that at first I am a mother! I'd talked to the wife (Michelle) many times about a job with them but it just never worked out, mostly because they didn't have the budget to hire someone.

Guess who I got a call from today! Michelle at the Glass Academy!! They now have a budget to hire me part-time and I can work my schedule into their schedule. I'm not doing anything fancy like blowing hot glass but it will bring my family some income! I start working the weekend after Thanksgiving at their holiday show (I'll be selling tickets all weekend so if you want to see some really awesome artwork come visit me at work!). Then, starting in November I'll work a couple days a week helping Michelle with some tasks.

And then tonight I received interest from a 7th student about my November class!!

Thank you LORD! I'm really looking forward to November! It's so awesome when your faith is majorly tested yet you stay strong and are greatly rewarded for it. Don't tell me there's not a God out there.

Currently Blessed - Update

This weekend I got a call from couple #6 to join my class!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yipee!

Currently Blessed

Wow, in the last week I've had 4 couples sign up for my next Bradley class starting in early November. I'm going to have to move my class into my living room because the family room where I usually have class isn't big enough! The most I've had in one class has been 2 couples.

I'm convinced this is happening because I've been passing referrals onto teachers that I can't accomodate. Instead of being selfish and trying to make it work out so that I can teach them I just pass them on to a teacher that I know needs students. Kind of like giving an offering in real life. I know that God tells me what to do so that I can further His kingdom not my own!

Awesome

From the Cross to CBS

This weekend was spent being dunked (aka immersed) in the cross and Jesus Christ. I got so much out of this experience that it's hard to put into words.

Last week I started a new bible study with CBS. I was really excited about learning until I opened up my homework this evening and practically fell asleep doing it. (sorry Josie, but it's true) It gives a very "religious" take on the bible and I'm not very keen on that. The Beth Moore Daniel bible study we just finished over the summer was absolutely fantastic, even Brian wanted in on that action. Uh, it was so great that it gets me all excited just thinking about it!!!

I've told myself I'm going to give it a chance, even if I have to choke down the homework just to get it done. (It really feels similar to eating something you totally despise but you choke it down anyways knowing will it be good for you. This was tofu when I was a child.)

Time to testify from the weekend:

On Friday evening Jess prophesied over me about burdens in my life. In the past Brian prophesied the same things to me about removing burdens from my shoulders.

Well, on Saturday evening during worship I was soaking in the the presence of the Holy Spirit asking Him to show me how to rid myself of feeling burdened. I saw Jesus being removed from the Cross, beaten, battered, lifeless. He raised me up onto his shoulders and carried me to the tomb with Him. Jesus took all my burdens to the cross so that I can be FREE!!

I then asked for a Bible verse to meditate on. I like to play game where I just open up my Bible and the Lord shows me what to read. I opened to John 11:25-16, check this out:

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Holy moly could you be more specifically talking TO me?!?! The verse even ends in a very specific QUESTION!

It's very difficult to go back to any sort of religious context after this wonderful word from the Lord. I'm just praying that I will be lead the right way to an enjoyable experience.

Currently Blessed

What a day/week/month

At dinner with my son I must have heard "mmmm, delicious" 6 times out of his mouth. Then he states "I love you cause you made me this squash". It about melted my heart.

Then I've been wanting to go visit my cousin and her daughter in Orlando. I've been checking airfare for something reasonable. I get updates from Spirit Airlines every once and a while. Well, today I got round trip airfare for both Adam and myself for $89 out the door! Before taxes and junk it was $12 one way for each of us!!

Then after I put Adam to bed I check my email to find that I've been accepted for a job as an Ad Quality Rater with Google!! This is a HUGE financial blessing that can only be credited to God for making it happen. I can earn $15/hour while working at home from my PC whenever I have free time.

A couple of days ago I got an email from a couple inquiring about the Bradley Classes I teach. She actually emailed 6 different teachers at the same time. I think I must have been the first (and maybe only) one to respond because she decided to join my session starting in November. Oh, and she said to expect to hear from her best friend because they want to join the same class as her and her husband. This would bring enough income to attend the Soaking Seminar in Toronto the following week! So awesome.

I've also been praying about a specific house. A couple of friends of ours have a home they built in Lyon Twp. We went to visit them a few weeks ago and discovered that they are building a new house and plan to sell the one they currently live in. In the instant that she said this God struck me and clearly said "THIS IS YOUR HOUSE" and then MY brain took over and I said "nah, no way, we can't afford this". Well, God made me look around and made me realize that this house is perfect for my family. I'd had little hints about moving from our house, some things have become less than desirable in our neighborhood. But I never said "I have to sell my house NOW" I just said "OK Lord, just show me what to do and I'll listen to You."

When He showed me this new house he also gave me a ton of signs that this is the right thing to do. I'd go on forever if I listed them all but trust me it is amazing. Please pray for further guidance and clear answers from the Lord as well as financial blessings. In a market where most houses won't sell and it's really difficult to get a mortgage we are the little guys fighting a BIG battle. But I know that with God on our sides we can do anything!

Currently Blessed

Do you know that God is always on your side? I have this sneaking suspicion that He really likes me and listens to me!! Whenever I say "Gee, it would be really nice to have ______" it literally shows up for free or nearly free. Although, to have this stuff happen to me I had to give up buying the stuff brand new and just accept that I'd have to look in the garbage or at garage sales.

Earlier this summer I wished that I had a little white wire fence around my garden to keep Adam from kicking his soccer ball in there. A couple of days later I was driving down Inkster Road on trash day and I saw a rolled up length of white wire fencing in someones trash. I got over the fact that I'd be a garbage picker and turned around to go get it. It fit my garden perfectly!! I couldn't believe it!

And then a few weeks ago Adam was playing a fishing game a church with some other kids. I remembered having it when I was a kid and it's absolutely addicting. I thought, this would be a really nice thing to have for Adam because he was entertained for hours with this game. (OK, it'd be nice for me too). I kinda glanced at Target for the game but didn't see it, so I just put it in the back of my mine. I was SO EXCITED to find this game for $1 at the garage sale across the street today! But, of course I had just put all my cash into my gas tank a half hour prior. The neighbor was so nice, she's like "oh, don't worry about it, you can owe me $1. I don't care" Then this sweet little 10 year old boy handed Adam 4 quarters to buy the game! I almost cried it was so sweet. It only has one pole but look how much fun he's having:

I have recently been praying for financial provisions to come so that the three of us can attend a conference at the Toronto church with the Ross family. We've never been to Toronto and would love to experience this event. Last week I was blessed by Sarah when she passed off some work to me and I was able to earn more than enough to register for the conference. We still need a lot more but I have faith that if God wants us there He will bring all the opportunities to earn the money needed for the hotel, gas and food for our family trip. I'm so excited to share what happens in the next few months.

How Great is Our God?

To quote one of Grande's songs that I've been singing to myself lately: "You move mountains in my soul / drench the deserts of my heart / in the deepest, darkest valley Lord / You lift me up and strengthen me / breath in me new life /relieve me of my burdens."

Over the past few weeks I've had a less than plesant experience with life. But I'm learning that through prayers and God's promise something that is horrible in every way can be made a little bit better with prayer. And that is something wonderful that I know I can count on in the future.
My dad's bike accident hurt him badly but I prayed over him a couple of times and he is healing quickly. I also prayed that they would be financially ok and all his medical bills would be taken care of. Someone informed my mom that they can use their own auto insurance to pay for his medical bills and so that is taken care of!!! Thanks God.

One of my students delivered her son at only 33 weeks gestation. I've been visiting with them at the hospital while he's in the NICU. On Saturday she called to see if I would come up to the hospital to meet their families. I was honored to meet their loved ones and quickly bonded with her mom and sister who are Catholic and understand the power of prayer. Since she went into labor I prayed for the baby to be healthy and to get out of the hospital quickly. Myles is very healthy and when I was leaving church on Sunday she called to tell me they took him off his oxygen and were going to be removing his IV very shortly too. This is AMAZING because it was less than a week after his birth!! Praise you Lord, I expect this baby to be in his own bed at home this week.

And then the worst of all. My best friend lost her baby girl at under 19 weeks gestation. I've been in such shock that I'm either speechless and really crabby or crying a lot. I've never prayed so much and so hard in all my life. While she was in the hospital I was specifically praying for a) a pain free delivery (apparently the drugs are very powerful and require most patients to have an epidural AND morphine) She did it without the drugs. b) a quick delivery, which it was c) An answer to why this baby did not make it into the world, the answer came upon delivery, the cord was wrapped around her neck. d) that my friend come out of this physically and mentally safe. She is physically safe but I continue to pray for the peace of mind that only the Lord can bring in such a time of despair. Blessings, S, I love you.

Just to know that my prayers were all answered is so comforting. I've been doing a bible study on the book of Daniel which is really great. I'm a very simple person and if I don't understand AND enjoy something I won't do it, this bible study is easy and wonderful. But in the homework I did last night I was brought to tears when I realized why all these prayers were being answered. It all comes down to the fact that God loves that I'm diving into His word and worshipping him through educating myself. It was so beautiful and so simple that I now want to do some sort of study of EVERY book of the bible. I didn't grow up in a church so this is my adult version of Sunday school and I'm excited about it.

I wanted to post this to give credit where credit is due, I may have been praying but God did the work, not me. He is the almightly and powerful One that works miracles!

Currently Blessed

This is a weird blessing but I thought I should note it anyways.

I rarely ever by boxed cereals but on Monday I had a craving for Honey Bunches of Oats. Having little money and desperately needing kitty litter I ran out to the pet store that morning. On my way home I was stopped at a stoplight and there were people standing on every corner. The lady at my corner ran up to my window (which was down) and says "Would you like some Honey Bunches of Oats?" Before I can answer she throws 6 mini boxes of cereal into my car. I said "thanks" and went home to eat some cereal. Pretty neat!

Currently Blessed

On Sunday Pete was talking about the blessings that are coming for the people that believe in God and trust that he can do anything.
I've decided to keep track of all the blessings that happen to me in a "Currently Blessed" post. I think that hearing what happens out of the blue to someone who needs something is a great testament to God's work.

My next door neighbor is the nicest girl. She's our age and about 1-1/2 weeks ago getting ready for a trip to Hawaii for 10 days. She asked if Brian could help her with some computer problems so he spent a few hours helping her out. While she was gone I brought in her mail (even though she told me not to worry about it because it was getting stopped) because it came when it shouldn't have and was getting wet from all the rain. I also watered her plants so they didn't die in the heat and mowed her front lawn when I did mine so it didn't get too long.

Today Adam and I took her mail back to her and she thanked us by giving us a $20 gift certificate to the local market that I love to get produce at. Anyone who knows me knows that at times it can be pretty rough to pay for groceries and the beginning of this week is no exception. This gift certificate was a unexpected and wonderful blessing!! Thanks God!