We have been in a sermon series at church called “The Cross and the Crown.” It has been so impactful to me. God has brought me through so many things in my life, and I have a responsibility to be a witness for the incredible things God has done. It has always been my desire to use my writing gift to disciple others into a stronger relationship with Jesus. I need to get busy!

In August 2010, Randy was laid off from his job. By the end of the month, he had a job in San Dimas, California, and we moved away from everything we had ever known with two high schoolers in tow. Oddly enough, they both embraced the move (this is another story for another blog post…stay tuned. I told you I have a lot of stories to tell!)

This story is about the sale of our home in Duvall, Washington. In case you don’t know or don’t remember, 2010 was in the midst of the economic downturn and the plunge of housing prices across the country. As it turned out, we owed more on our house than it was currently worth. One realtor came into our home and told us the only way out of the situation was to stop making payments on our house and short-sale it. I literally cried while sitting at the table with him, but we boldly told him that we would not do that. We ushered him out of our home and began looking for alternative plans.

I called Bank of America to see if there was a way to convert my home equity line of credit to a personal loan instead so I could continue making payments on it. They said “No,” and when I asked if they would rather have me default on the loan than pay it off, they actually told me “Yes.” We continued to pursue ways to honor God with our finances in this situation.

We listed our home for sale and waited. Randy moved to California while the kids and I stayed behind to sell the house, but we finally moved at Thanksgiving while leaving our home for sale. We rented a house in Glendora and began to settle into our new church, school, and community. There were many days that I doubted God in this season. I was unable to find a job and spent a lot of time at home alone, feeling that God had forgotten about me.

When calling to add renter’s insurance to our policy, the agent asked me about our home in Washington. I told him it was for sale. He told me that the insurance company would cancel our homeowner’s insurance if they knew the house was unoccupied. Then he said, “Here’s what I am going to do. I am going to pretend we never had this conversation. You have until May 28, 2011 when the policy renews before the insurance company will know you moved and will cancel the polcy.” While we had been praying for our house to sell, we now had a specific request: “Lord, please sell our house by May 28!”

One Friday near the end of April 2011, I decided that I would spend the day in prayer and fasting until I picked up the kids from school. I honestly don’t remember what I prayed or read that day. I went to Walmart to pick up a few things we needed on the way to get the kids. I continued my conversation with God while I walked through the store. I very specifically remember seeing the Golden Arches across the store and asking God, “Does it even matter that I’m hungry? Do you even care that I haven’t eaten today? I could go over there to McDonald’s and get some food and I don’t even know if it would matter. But, I committed to this fast, so I will honor it anyway.” I picked up the kids, went home, and broke my fast like I had planned.

Around 9:45 pm that evening, I got a phone call from my realtor. She said, “I just sent over an offer to your email. Go check it out!” I opened my email and opened up the offer. As I looked at the offer, my breath caught. The random closing date picked by the buyers didn’t mean anything to them. But, it was a very clear message from God that I mattered. “May 28” jumped off the page, and we knew this was the buyer.

We ended up cashing in our retirement account in order to make up the difference between what we owed and what we got from the sale. This is not what a financial advisor might have suggested, but we felt it honored God and that he would take care of us in the future. We were able to use the rest to purchase a house in LA County. I don’t think there would have been another time in history where we would have been able to buy a house in LA County, but God has been good to us. Now we own a second home in San Antonio.

Don’t give up on God. He’s never too late or too early; His timing is perfect. You may think He’s not listening to you, but He is. He is so so good, all the time. I honestly don’t know what would have happened if I had gotten McDonald’s that day. Would I still have gotten the offer that day? I don’t know. But God used the opportunity to show me just how much He loves me.

Shout out to my pastor, Dr. Ed Newton, for the incredible messages he has shared this month. God has been speaking to me! If you would like to listen, click here to be taken to website for the series!

Please do me a favor and help me get my blog out there! Share with your friends or on social media if you can. Thanks for your help with this! I have never liked “self promotion,” but these are God’s stories in my life, and they are meant to bring glory to Him.

God bless you.

When we moved to Texas a couple years ago, we sent our daughter-in-law to tour the house we ultimately ended up purchasing. We didn’t see it in person until a few weeks later, but as soon as she walked in the door with the video on, I knew it was “home.” It checked all the boxes on the “must have” list and even the boxes on the “wish list.” God provided and blessed in an amazing way for us.

There is just one thing I don’t like about my home. It is located smack in the middle of “Turmoil Curve.” Who in the world would name a street in a neighborhood “Turmoil Curve.” Whenever someone asks for my address, I get questions and comments. Yes, I live on Turmoil Curve. Not exactly an ideal street name. Who wants to live in or on Turmoil?

I think we can all agree that our world is in turmoil right now. We are in the middle of (well, prayerfully nearing the end of) the longest government shut down in our history, a political divide in our nation that feels wider than our country itself, wars around the world, increasing crime and cost of living. On a personal level, I’m sure we all have a list of tumultuous areas in our lives: paychecks that don’t quite stretch to the next one, doctor’s appointments and tests that are uncertain, caring for aging parents or our own precious babies who can’t tell us what’s wrong, difficult relationships with a spouse, friend, or co-worker. But if anyone happens to ask, we are “fine.”

God reminded me this week to take a look at my map. Out the back of my home is a beautiful greenbelt where deer come by periodically. There is something deeply spiritual about the deer that make me feel a greater connection to God. I think they are a reminder of the beauty of his creation, even on Turmoil Curve in the west side of San Antonio. And they fill my heart with gratitude to Jesus for his provision for me and my family.

If I back out of my driveway and turn right, I will run into “Peaceful Dell,” and if I back out of my driveway and turn left, I run into “Peaceful Glade.” No matter which way I go on Turmoil Curve, I end up on a peaceful street. When we follow God in the midst of our turmoil, He promises that we will find peace at the end of it.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV)