THE HOUSE STORY - A Challenge to Wait and Trust

THE HOUSE STORY

In July 2004 my wife Kim and I began to talk about looking for a new house. We were not really in a hurry, and did not think we could afford the size of home we wanted, but we thought it wouldn't hurt to look and see what was out there. A good friend told me of a relative's house that was for sale, and said we should go take a look. 

We did. 

From the first time I saw the house, I felt like God was saying "This is yours." It wasn't "This will be yours someday" or "This is the type of house you can get". It was simply, yet emphatically "This is yours." Before I even walked through it, I felt it to be true. As we explored the property inside and out - it just seemed like it was custom designed and built for our family. 

One of the things Kim really wanted was locker/cubby space in the main entrance so the kids had a place to put all their stuff. When we first walked in the front door, we noticed the house had those features built into the front closet.

Near the kitchen was a small nook area where the owners kept their dog. It had a sign hanging above which said "Sadie's Place." (we have a dog named Sadie.)

One of the upstairs bedrooms had pictures on the wall of the owner's son and our daughter Cady. (They were classmates) in other words, there was a picture of our daughter hanging on the wall in what could potentially be her own bedroom.

One of the unique features of the house is a long hallway that leads to a round octagonal type room at the end. The hallway is lined with windows as is the room on the end. The original owner was a lover of nature and had designed this to be his bird watching sanctuary. For me, it was the perfect potential spot to look out over the pine trees, listen to the sound of the wind blowing through, look up at the stars, and simply worship.

It's not a perfect house, in fact many people think it's a bit strange, but it's a perfect fit for us. One tiny problem - there was no way we could afford it. We left the first open house very impressed, and very much wishing we could have it, but realizing this was probably just out of reach. Still I heard "This is yours.”

Over the next few months we would monitor the price. It would drop a bit every few weeks or so. We learned that of all the people that went through the house, although many liked it, we were the only ones who actually envisioned ourselves living there.

We would talk to the realtor every so often, she would ask if we were interested, we would say yes, but not at the current price.

The experience has been strange. I've probably never wanted anything more, yet at the same time was in no hurry. I prayed many times that if god wanted this to be ours, that He would make a way. I was also very careful to always let Him know that if He gave us this house or if I lived in the current house until the day I died, I would praise Him the same.

My love for God, my recognition of His faithfulness, my desire for His presence would in no way be conditional. It would not be based on whether or not we were able to get a new house. This was key.

There are a lot of things I'm not good at. There are a lot of Bible verses I don't know. But there are a few Scriptural truths I know and have rooted themselves deep within me. I know that every good and perfect gift comes from God, from the Father of Lights who does not change.

I love to see God bless other people, but to be quite transparent, I'm kind of uncomfortable to be on the receiving end. I prayed early on, that if this house was to ever be mine, that the house itself, and everything that was done within its walls and on its property would be 100% for God's glory. I prayed against the scenario of "Look at me, I've got a big house!"

It may sound presumptuous, but even very early on I prayed that God would prepare me to be able to talk about the process in a way that would glorify Him and tell a story of His incredible love for us all, not just a story of me getting a bigger house.

The prayers I've offered up for this home are countless. Sometimes they were long, tearful, aching requests for the impossible. Sometimes they were simply letting God know that I trust him, that I love Him no matter what, and to ask Him to make a way if it was His will.

In December 2004 we began to negotiate a price with the seller, which we did, but later found out they would not take our offer until we sold our home first. This was one of many setbacks. But still I heard "This is yours."

By 2005, we had been watching the house for over 6 months and all along we were really the only people who had a strong interest in the property. That changed in February. We learned that a private school was interested in purchasing the home. They were looking at the home as a campus and were lining up several investors to make the purchase. I considered that bad news. The school had access to lots of money and could act fast. Two things I could not match.

Still we prayed.

By this point in time, I would find myself driving home down Saint Joe Road, out of my way, just so I could see the house. Many nights I would pull in the driveway and just pray. (The house was vacant just so you know.) I would pray that God would keep me faithful, and keep me dreaming the dream. I would equally pray for Him to search my heart and reveal to me if my motives were not in line with His plan for me. Over and over I prayed. I walked the property. I prayed for the music that would be created inside the long hallway. I prayed for kids who would attend birthday parties and just have fun, feeling love and acceptance in a positive Christian home. I prayed for the families we could invite over for times of fellowship. I believed a great potential existed there.

When the potential school buyers entered the picture, I felt like a starting gun had been shot and the race was on. I felt like we had to act or we would lose the dream. In March 2005 we put a for sale sign in our yard, trying to sell our home by owner to save the costs of commission. 

We had many, many people come through during the first couple weeks of march, in fact many people loved the house. The trouble was that they were in the same situation we were in - they needed to sell their home first.

We began to pray that God would bring us buyers who were already pre-approved for a mortgage, and who did not need to sell a home first. Kim specifically prayed that God would bring these people to us by April 1. Through the next few weeks of March, we had great attendance for the open houses. We were even showing the house during the week as well.

By the end of March, I was growing weary of the “sale by owner” concept, and tired of doing all the open houses. On what would be our final showing, on the final Sunday at the final hour (4:00 p.m.) my phone rang. A realtor called me and said she had a young couple who might be interested. They were pre-approved for a mortgage and were living with her parents so they did not need to sell a home first. I agreed that if the realtor brought us an offer for the price we were asking I would pay her a commission.

The next day, we arranged for the realtor to bring her client over. She loved the house, but her husband was very sick and could not make it. They came back with the husband a few days later and spent some more time with us. 

We met with the realtor on Thursday night March 31, and she showed us an offer to buy our house. God answered yes to Kim's prayer of having a buyer by April 1. He even answered a few hours early. The offer came in quite a bit lower than we expected, but the realtor would not budge on her commission. With the lower offer, and the expense of the realtor's commission, even though we had a valid offer on the table, we did not have enough money to cover the down payment on the new home.

God was faithful. He made up the difference and affirmed the home was to be ours.

From the time we first saw the house to the time we moved out of ours was about nine months. There is significance in the nine month time frame, because this really was like the process of giving birth. It began with a dream, and a glimpse of what could be someday. There were many setbacks throughout the journey, and the greatest pain was definitely just before the birth. Nevertheless, all the while I felt the heartbeat of "This is yours". 

One of the simple prayers I said over and over during this adventure went something like this:

"God you say to be anxious about nothing, but by prayer and petition make your requests known to God. God I know your word is true. I believe that you hear every prayer and every plea. So, I will let you know my requests. If this house is to be ours, please make a way. If it is not be ours, please take it away. Either way, I will praise you. Either way, You are perfectly faithful. I love you Jesus." That was the cry of my heart for those 9 months. 

I write all this to thank the many friends, family, and people from church who have prayed for us. Some even prayed in the driveway of the house at night, asking for God's will to be done. I would encourage you all as you pray to remember that He does hear every prayer and every plea. You are precious to him. He cares about your thoughts and your dreams. Sometimes our dreams are His, sometimes they are not. Sometimes He says "Yes". Sometimes he says "No". Sometimes He says "Not right now". I challenge you to let God know that your love for Him is not based on what you get vs. what you don't get.

There is an incredible sense of freedom and a deep saturation of His presence when we are determined to bring Him glory no matter what. To be resolved that we won't be shaken, we won't be tricked into loving Him more or loving Him less. To every day, be just a little more thankful than yesterday, to see His hand of provision in just a few more details of life. 

To discover, and accept, and feel - a love for you that is unmatched.

In the depths He's there. In the highest heavens, He's there. From His presence, we can never flee. (Psalm 139)