“If God is for us, who can be against us?”

We continue our month of giving thanks!  This week as I witnessed and read the bombardment of not only negative comments about the election in our country, but also the flag. Blatant ugliness of people’s negativity and self-centeredness, as decisions were made that they disagreed with, they shouted from the rooftops and displayed their venom.

Even many of those whose “party” won, instead of showing the humility of gracious victory, showed self-centered pride.  Jesus said,

 “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

 I guess the question I would ask myself, and fellow countrymen this week is, “What is your heart full of?”

 God clearly states in His word, that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

This month has dedicated myself to giving thanks to my God, who deserves nothing less. My “house” has been the primary word on my heart each and every day. No, that is a lie.  In reality, “house” has been the word on my heart and mind and lips, every millisecond of every day.  From the moment we put the “For Sale” sign in front of the house we’ve been in for 11 years. We raised our family in their formative years, sent them off to college and marriage, set up a room in that house for our first grand babies, housed countless Bible studies and Life groups, and prayed together and served together through the ministry we had for 25 years, that house God gave us became a home.

A home is far different from a house.  A home is a haven; it is a sanctuary. It is a place where God restores you when you’ve given your all and depleted yourself, and you need to renew your strength. It is the place you create family memories that you reflect on and cherish.This house has been God’s gift to us.

It is God’s house, and HE will sell this house; HE will bring the perfect buyer; HE will move us from this house, to a new house in Santa Rosa, one that is within 4 miles of our new church ministry in Sebastopol and our new community.  

While our children won’t live there, they will visit us in that new house, and share joys and make new memories there together.  Our grandchildren will have their own room that they will know as theirs, and they will know that no matter how far the distance, that Papa and Mamma hold them close to their hearts!

While the details of transition from this house to that house are still not all worked out, we know that “because God is for us, nothing can be against us.”  And as HE graciously gave us this home for 11 years—for a season—He will also bring us to a new home, for this next season of great ministry and memories.

So today, as I write my third thankfulness blog, I am giving God thanks for what I do not yet see, but what I know HE will do!

I thank God for giving Jim and I a new ministry in Sebastopol, California!  I thank God for giving us family and friends that have prayed for us every step of the way.  I thank God for our daughter and son-in-law, who have sacrificed prayer, fasting, and physical labor to bring this move about.  I thank Him for the beautiful people of Sebastopol Christian Church, who have opened their hearts and arms wide to us, and anticipate our arrival with excitement.  And I thank God for selling His house that He gave us in Southern California, and for providing His house that He is giving us in Northern California.

I’m believing God!

HE will bring us to our new ministry and a new home, and no obstacle or setback can stand in His way.  HE will bring us into what HE is clearly calling us to.  His timing is perfect, but it is not always our time.

   I’m not going to let circumstances steal the joy that my God gives me.  HE is the God of miracles. HE can do what He says He will do! I’m believing God!

 Truth Bomb

You can’t trust in the Lord and lean on your own understanding at the same time.

 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”   Proverbs 3:5-6

The truth of this Scripture is my compass, regardless of my circumstances.  I am thanking God!  And I am leaning into Him!  I’m believing God!