TIMING

As days go by, we get closer to our settlement date. "On or before March 18" is what our agreement says. Between now and then, we wait. Details we are unaware of and  meetings we are not part of are taking place without us knowing. We did our part, and now we trust in the authorities and their process to make it all work out. We are between not owning the house and owning the house.  It is a place in time where "it is not yet".

This space in time is often a hard place to be. Why do I have to wait? What takes so long? I feel impatient and can be filled with worry. God gently spoke to me this morning about this. Here is what I heard Him say..."TIMING" Perhaps He wants to accomplish something in me and for me within this space of time that "is not yet". 

This room is on the third floor. We want to make it

into a lovely apartment for someone to live in someday. 

This part of the project has to be put on hold because of budget and permit reasons. 

However, this will be just the right living space for someone...in God's timing.

While I am waiting my anticipation and excitement is growing. There is more time to share my excitement and vision with more friends. I have more time to think about details; to change my mind and revise my plans and budget. I spend more time talking with Him about the future and His plans for us. 

I want God to take as much time as He needs to put everything in place. I choose to trust in His TIMING. I heard someone suggest that while I am sleeping, God is planning my day; while I am waiting, God is putting details in place. This gives me peace and joy to know that all things are in His hands. I can walk throughout my day without worry or impatience, knowing that in His TIMING, it is all good.

What are YOU waiting for?
What might God want to put in place while you are waiting?
Trust His TIMING. . .

But I trust in you, O Lord;

I say, "You are my God."

My times are in your hands.

How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you,

which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.

Psalm 31:14, 15, 19

DISCLOSURE

With all the requested paperwork finally gathered and delivered to the bank, we began another week knowing the next period of time will be crucial to the process of owning the house. On Monday, we were asked to stop by the bank to sign DISCLOSURE papers. I had no idea what that meant, but after a long day at work we drove to the bank to sign a paper...or so we thought. 

After almost 2 hours of discussion and document searching with the loan officer, it was time to sign the paper...or papers. Keith and I signed perhaps 20 papers. With each one, the loan officer explained the important aspects of the loan we were hoping to receive. It was a bit overwhelming to discuss all the fees and regulations we were agreeing to. It felt as though our entire lives were being opened and laid bare. And after all the papers were signed, we were told we still needed to supply the bank with about 7 more documents. We promised to deliver them in the next day or so.

DISCLOSURE. What is disclosure? What is the significance of it in my personal life? I checked its definition..."the act or process of revealing or uncovering; something uncovered; a revelation". I gasped in amazement. This is exactly what I perceive God doing in my life right now. He is uncovering and revealing who I am at a new level. I am learning that certain things inside of me have been set aside or pushed under the surface. I sat with a spiritual director the other day and heard myself saying to her that it feels like I want to re-introduce myself to my friends. It has been an invigorating time. God is giving me revelations about myself and they are linked to revelations of who He is. As he reveals Himself and His character to me, I discover more about me. This is an amazing partnership! I want to reflect Him; me in Him and Him in me.

Jesus said, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine...If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15

 I would like to note that this bathroom 
does NOT reflect who I am...but it will someday.

Our last action step in that meeting with the loan officer was to write a check. Of course! We had to pay a fee to have an appraiser discern whether or not the house, and the renovations we hope to complete, are in fact worth the amount of money the bank is going to loan us.

So now we wait. And we pray. Might this be the final step to complete before we have settlement on the sale of the house? The loan officer told us that everything is out of our hands at this point. We have no control (nor does he) of what the appraiser will do or say. We are praying that God would direct this; that this house project would receive favor in the eyes of the appraiser. We are placing our future plans and dreams into the hands of God. May His will be done on earth, even as it is already done in heaven.

How about you? The disclosure process with God is exciting and scary at the same time. Trust Him. He wants to reveal himself to you. You will learn who He created you to be. You will learn how to reflect who He is when you learn who you are in Him.

COST

Suppose one of you wants to build a house. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? ... Luke 14:28-33

We have been estimating the COST in the last couple weeks. A budget needed to be crafted. Electricians, plumbers, drywallers, carpenters and others did the math as they toured the cold forsaken house. I spent many hours online looking at lighting fixtures, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures. Even the children joined in when we visited the local stores in search of paint samples, floor tiles and appliances. No purchases were made at this point. But we estimated the cost of every item. It was important for the success of our plans. 

Keith and I met with our contractor yesterday to go over projected costs. We were not surprised to discover the final numbers to be quite a bit higher than expected. So we began prioritizing. We chose to be flexible with our plans as we discussed the options, knowing that faith and trust in God's plans and timing was most important.

Note the curve of this window. Lancaster Historic District regulations say that if we want to replace it, the new window must be a reproduction of the original. The cost of a custom window such as this? $11,000 each. (I think we'll just make do with the window as is)

"God, what do you have in mind for this property? What plans do you have for our lives as we look towards these transitions? We choose to place ourselves into Your hands. We ask You to have your way in this process. We have considered the cost; we will do what is possible and trust You to do the impossible." 

Counting the cost is difficult. In the same Luke 14 passage Jesus said, "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." I believe counting the cost means that I make priorities. It is not about getting my own way. It is choosing to trust that God has already done the math; has already counted the cost and paid the price. He knows the outcome. All the resources are in His hands so I'm with Him!

APPROVAL

The past two weeks have held a flurry of activity in order to gain approval. If the bank does not approve us, they will not loan us the money needed to purchase the house and begin renovation. Because of the current economic conditions, this has become a very complex process. I won't bore you with all the requirements and conditions we are having to meet, but the process involves many people working together to satisfy the authorities. The work has been stressful at times as the deadline approaches. Phone calls, emails, documents, photocopies, statements, letters, permits and meetings will all be joined together this weekend for final approval. 

And then we wait; wait for approval.

Questions and doubts come easy... What if the bank does not consider our plans to be worth their investment? Did we really make the right decision to pursue the purchase of this house? Why would I consider disturbing the comfortable home and routine that I currently enjoy?  Do I have the strength and faith enough that this project will work? That this project will be completed?

This space will be my laundry room (I say that in faith).

This period of time has caused me to dig deeper for faith and trust. I am seeing that my faith muscle is weak. Hebrews 6:12 says "...don't become lazy, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." If my faith muscle is to get stronger, I must exercise it and use it. I want to inherit what He has promised.

waiting + patience = the promise

"I am confident of this. I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." 

Psalm 27:13-14

 

RENOVATION

renovate (verb): to restore to good condition; make new or as if new again; repair; to reinvigorate; refresh; revive.

I am a person who is intrigued with the "before and after". Trash to treasure is one way to phrase it. You can see one of my projects here...  

Before                                                                 After

I like to search yard sales, consignment shops and trash piles for items that have possibility. To take something that no one wants or something that is by popular opinion no longer useful or ugly and transform it into something useful and beautiful brings me great joy. (it can also be very economical)

The house we just purchased has those traits. Not too much works right now...the plumbing has leaks, no kitchen exists, only a few lights are hooked up. Heat? The last time I visited the property the thermostat said 47 degrees. The walls have holes and several layers of wallpaper are showing. But the bones are good. While popular opinion might say that this place is trash, I see a treasure in her.

Many years ago, in a prophetic prayer time, someone prayed over Keith and I that we are in the renovation business. They said that "in the same way we enjoy renovation projects, God wants to use us in the renovation of lives". This declaration is a confirmation of what is in my heart; in our hearts. It is a joy to see God work in the lives of others with whom we have relationship. As a couple, it has been our pleasure to encourage and pray for others. To see people gain confidence and victory in their spiritual walk is very rewarding. Bottom line for us: we want to be an extension of the hands of Jesus; to partner with God in touching other lives so that they are RENOVATED.

Father God...touch me today. Renovate me on the inside. Restore me, repair me, refresh me and revive me. Make me useful and beautiful for your glory. Amen.

Create in me a pure heart, O God. Renew a willing spirit within me. Restore to me your salvation joy...sustain me.   Psalm 51

Here is one of the treasures we found in this house.