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shared in an earlier post that Mark was laid off of his job due to reconstruction in the company. This has been a blessing in many ways, but the logistics of it have been stressful. The way Mark was laid off was hurtful and we are processing and bringing all the emotions to Jesus and letting him heal our hearts. We are also letting him lead in regards to where we are going to live and how it will be financially possible.
Because of the timing of Mark loosing his job, we lost the loan we were in the process of signing papers on to purchase a house. The bank no longer wanted to have anything to do with us. Our realtor was gracious and patient with us, the sellers of the house were angry, as well as they should be. It complicated everything for all involved. I was crushed and went sobbing to Jesus’s throne, there was no other place to go for that kind of hurt and I needed peace to keep following him on a path that was suppose to be straight but had more twists and turns than I cared for. Our amazing realtor has hung in there with us through this rollar coaster adventure. I don’t know why she hasn’t thrown in the towel with us, but she hasn’t, and we are so thankful for her.
Mark continued working the day after he was laid off, he began working for a good friend of ours and what an amazing experience for him. To go to work every day and received encouragement, affirmation, and to be able to express himself creatively is truly a blessing. Mark and Ken are in the process of building Discount Web Solutions, so if you need an amazing website that won’t break your bank account look them up, they do amazing work! Mark is working on a part time basis, not enough to support us fully, so unemployment is thankfully kicking in and allowing us to make ends meet. The goal is for Mark to be able to go full time by January, February at the latest. This will be a miracle and an act of God’s deep love for us his children. Because of the hope and through the hard work of Mark and Ken, our realtor was able to work it out for us to live in the house we are trying to buy on a renting basis, them in the spring when Mark is prayerfully full time, we will purchase our home with a bank loan. We are so thankful for our realtors hard work, for the sellers who have been so gracious, and for God’s hand working and shaping our lives.
These last few months have been awful and painful, full of hills we were not sure we could or would want to climb, but God met us at each hill. He has sustained us, he has provided for us, he has shown himself to us as only he can when we are truly broken with no where else to go. I believe God is able to move the most in these moments because we are unable to get his way, I begin grasping at straws, and begging for his hand. God wants us helpless, he wants us to be weak, because when I lay down my strength and admit I am weak, it is then that God gives me amazing strength I didn’t know I had, I find peace that is amazing and nothing compares to it. It is not weak to be helpless, it is were living really starts and really happens. We live I’m a world that is so hurt and so filled with anger that when we are born instead of being protected, it is as if our parents give us our own set of armor and we are told to stand tough. We are told to love others, but the things that really happen tell us to have our bows drawn and our arrows at the ready, we figure out on our own that life isn’t safe. What I desire to teach my kids is to put on the armor of God, not build walls with their piercing arrows at the ready. I’m knocking down my walls and trading it for God’s armor, armor that not only protects but filters everything that is happening to me and my family. Armor that reminds me who I belong to, armor that tells me who I am when the arrows of the world try and pierce not my body, but my soul.
When we move into our house and begin renting, we are not out of the stressful woods, we will still very much be living in them. We will still need to be able to take out a loan to purchase our house. We arpeace that we are watching as a watchman keeps vilgaliance at the castle gate. Watching for God our knight and saviour to rescue us from this situation. We know he is working, we know his hand is upon us, we know and are confident he is more than capable to bring the miracle.
We want to thank you, our friends and family for your prayers of support, your notes and hugs of encouragement, and for the financial gift some of you have sent. The money gifts have come at exact moments we have needed groceries and we were not sure how it was going to happen. God provided physically through you. Who ever you are, thank you! You matter, your prayers matter, and your selfless financial gifts matter. Thank you and may the Lord bless you greatly. I am thankful for the constant peace God continues to give us, peace that is carrying us through and saving our sanity.
We are watching for the miracle and will keep you posted on what is happening and the goodness of the Lord we know is coming! Also, if you know of a friend or relative in need of a web site Mark and Ken do great work at affordable prices!