Although I had had a dream to have a home for women for many years, it wasn't until May 2010 that I began to actively pray for it, and believe God to grant me the desire of my heart. I felt now is the time. Interestingly enough, I didn't feel like we should begin to look for a home--but to Seek Him for a home, and to pray. So pray I did.
In June a property came to our attention, which I thought might be it. It wasn't.
In August another property came to our attention, which I was really excited about (which wasn't it either). But it was used to really get me to hone in on my praying, and to pray and ask specifically, detail by detail. I felt like I really needed to ASK God in a BIG way for this house that I was dreaming about. So I asked.
I told Him that it needed to be in the countryside. I asked for it to have two houses on the same property: one for our family and one for the girls. I asked for it to come fully loaded, with furniture and all. I asked for the girls' rooms to have amazing views of the countryside, so when they felt discouraged and like giving up all together, that one look out their window would say to them I have brought you to this place.
I prayed. And I waited. And I believed. And I hoped.
I really felt like God was on the move, and that He was about to do something HUGE. I was filled with anticipation.
But by December, there was total silence. It was as if the whole momentum of praying and believing God for such a BIG DREAM had come to nothing. Had I been a total fool? Had I been praying for a pipe dream? Had I wasted my time hoping for the impossible?
Through a friend, the Lord brought it lovingly to my attention that I had lost HOPE. And I had. So having no where else to turn, I cried out to Him again, "Dare I hope for the impossible?"
A week later, we received the phone call that has changed our life. It was from a pastor in our city that we had never met before, but he had heard of us and my dream to have a home for women. He got my number from a mutual friend, and he simply said, "There is a man in our church that I believe has the perfect property for you and your dream. Would you like him to call you?" I was shocked. Of course I said YES! And an hour later we heard from the owner.
He, too, had lost HOPE. His father had unexpectedly died, and thus he had inherited his family's property in the countryside--with two houses on it. He had been praying for seven months (since May 2010, which is the exact time I began to pray) for the Lord to use the property for His Glory. He didn't want to use the property for himself, yet didn't feel right selling it. His heart's desire was for the Lord to use it in a way that would bring Glory to Himself. Lord, I give this house to You. It is Yours. Do with it what You will. He prayed and prayed for months, and nothing seemed to be happening. Until December, and his pastor told him about us and the dream. We clicked immediately on the phone and he invited us to come and see the house the next day.
It is two homes--a big one a little one.
It came fully loaded, furniture and all.
The views from the womens' rooms? Amazing.
And the owner has given it to us rent FREE--
to use for God's Glory.
Did you get that, fully?
FREE of charge?!
A dream come true for us.
A dream come true for him.
Two people praying for God's will.
One answer.
One GREAT, BIG God.
Have Hope!
