God is my Provider!

Some of you know that about a year or so ago my current living place was basically condemned. It was a structure on our campus that was structurally not as sturdy as it should be. This was discovered not too long after I moved into it. I heard a rain shower inside the apartment one night and realized there was a waterfall coming through the roof. Upon fixing that the rest was discovered.

I continued to live there unless there was bad weather and I would go stay in our office or with my friends. It's been a little nomadic for me, shall we say. But never was there a day where I did not have somewhere to go. Many people have continued to ask what I was going to do about finding somewhere to live. My answer was always I'm waiting to see what God does. With a car payment now I had no extra money to afford to buy or rent anything so I just waited. Some days patiently but most days not very patiently.

Here's the wonderful part. God is finally revealing His answer to my housing dilemma! They are remodeling the basement of our new office for me. An amazing man from my church has basically taken over the project as his own! It's such a blessing. He's had many family issues that he's been dealing with over the past year and his own daughter is trying to move into a new place right now too. Yet he shows up and works all day on my place. It's amazing! It frustrates me that I can't just go down there and remodel it myself. As my mom says one of my first phrases was, "I do myself mama". I've always had that independent spirit about me. Unfortunately, remodeling a basement is not something I could do. Financially, I couldn't afford it either. My boss has done a wonderful job with expressing the need for me a place to live and has gotten money donated to complete the whole project! Once again... It's amazing.

It's hard to live away from home in situations like this because I wouldn't mind asking my dad and brother to help with all this. It's hard to expect other people to come to the rescue. But come to the rescue is exactly what people are doing. There's another man from my church doing the electrical. My boss has also spent ample time figuring out what all is needed for the project and helping with the plumbing and the electrical too. Two other guys from church came in this week and put up studs for the sheet rock to be hung from. There's a group of men coming in next Saturday to hang the sheet rock. Then I think my pastor is coming to do the mudding. I'm supposedly going to be living there within a month. Amazing...

God is my Provider. I'm understanding that right now down into the depths of my soul! i'll try to post some pictures as soon as I take some.

Treasures discovered

Cleaning out my office today! The paperwork has taken over. It's frightening. In the process I ran across a college graduation announcement. Due to the graciousness of my parents they allowed me to create my own. They weren't expensive, just expressive. I didn't want the normal announcement because I wanted to let folks know what was next for me in life. Graduating from A&M, then moving to Tennessee to work with a ministry.

I just smiled when I saw that announcement because I remember the excitement of not only graduating but of moving onto another chapter of life. I had no clue what to expect. All I knew was that I was sleeping on this family's couch. Getting $100 a week, reaching the lost through whatever means possible. God had put a deep desire for this ministry within my soul and I knew I had to come here. Despite the fears and anxieties of being so far from home and without much stability, so to speak of. I had no choice but to be obedient to God's leading.

I continue to rejoice that God placed the desire on my heart for this place and these people.

Psalm 119:1-8 is the verse I used in my announcement from The Message version.

"You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find Him. That's right - you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then i'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me."

Great and wonderful words those are.

It's been an interesting journey to say the least. I still don't understand it all. Not sure why I have to be so far from home. But I know God is using me in what I do. I've seen many people drive through the gates at camp as they head for know with a whole new perspective on who God is. Those are the moments I live for. Seeing others experience Him in a real and true way. It's the only experience in life that will last for eternity. The things of this world are so fleeting... When we will start to live like it?