JJ and I distributed fliers about our Open House on Friday night after the Good Friday service our church hosted. We put some in the racks at the grocery stores nearby. We also put some in mailboxes in the neighborhood we used to live in 10 years ago. It was fun to reminisce about where we are, where we've been and where God seems to be taking us. It was like watching a movie of our life as we drove through our old neighborhood and stopped to see our first home.
When we woke up Saturday morning, we decided to pause before we jumped into preparations. We sat down in the kitchen to have coffee and pray - asking God to show us how much to do to prepare before the Open House started at 2pm. We didn't want to be crazy maniacs trying to straighten every inch of our home and yard. We didn't want to fall into the trap of depending on our efforts to accomplish God's plans.
We knew we needed to clean the bathrooms, vacuum, dust and clean the kitchen. We also had a list of outside things that need to be done sometime: paint our shed, put more pine straw down in the back, pull weeds,fertilize trees, etc. But did we need to do ALL of that Saturday morning before the open house?
A peace settled over us as we talked and prayed. We agreed that we'd only do what really needed to be done - even if we weren't selling our home. So we focused on cleaning house. If we had time we'd work on the yard. We ran out of time. Our home was clean. Our yard still wasn't perfect but we were okay with that.
My friend/agent came with her business partner to host the Open House. JJ and I left to run errands since they didn't need us here. We had a great time buying things for the boys for their Easter baskets. Josh and Andrew were at a friends house so it was just us. A great Saturday date.
When we got home we found out that only one showing had occured. I felt bad for my agent/friend who gave up 3 hours of her day to meet the one person who stopped by. She said they got lots of work done on their computers and told me not to feel bad. Oh well.
In the end, we just want to look back and know that we gave it our all. We ran after the giant. We followed God's leading. We walked in faith. We were willing to have big hopes for this home, but tried our best not to put our hope in a bigger home. We actively put our hope in God and trust Him to accomplish the plans He had for us.
When we woke up Saturday morning, we decided to pause before we jumped into preparations. We sat down in the kitchen to have coffee and pray - asking God to show us how much to do to prepare before the Open House started at 2pm. We didn't want to be crazy maniacs trying to straighten every inch of our home and yard. We didn't want to fall into the trap of depending on our efforts to accomplish God's plans.
We knew we needed to clean the bathrooms, vacuum, dust and clean the kitchen. We also had a list of outside things that need to be done sometime: paint our shed, put more pine straw down in the back, pull weeds,fertilize trees, etc. But did we need to do ALL of that Saturday morning before the open house?
A peace settled over us as we talked and prayed. We agreed that we'd only do what really needed to be done - even if we weren't selling our home. So we focused on cleaning house. If we had time we'd work on the yard. We ran out of time. Our home was clean. Our yard still wasn't perfect but we were okay with that.
My friend/agent came with her business partner to host the Open House. JJ and I left to run errands since they didn't need us here. We had a great time buying things for the boys for their Easter baskets. Josh and Andrew were at a friends house so it was just us. A great Saturday date.
When we got home we found out that only one showing had occured. I felt bad for my agent/friend who gave up 3 hours of her day to meet the one person who stopped by. She said they got lots of work done on their computers and told me not to feel bad. Oh well.
In the end, we just want to look back and know that we gave it our all. We ran after the giant. We followed God's leading. We walked in faith. We were willing to have big hopes for this home, but tried our best not to put our hope in a bigger home. We actively put our hope in God and trust Him to accomplish the plans He had for us.
5 Comments:
Renee....when I received your message Saturday, right before your "Open House", I immediately went to prayer for you. I also specifically remember praying, not for numbers (Oops...sorry), but for God to send the one couple who would purchase your home. All you need is one buyer. So...don't be discouraged. So glad this is showing you a deeper level of trust in Him. He will send the one family that He has chosen for your home.
God is teaching me a huge lesson on trust today too. I posted about it early this morning - since I couldn't sleep anyway. Come over for a visit if you have time. The post is titled, "Focus".
Keep your eyes on Him - He will accomplish His plans for you and your family.
Love & prayers,
Joy
It doesn't get any better than that Renee! Trusting God to accomplish His plans for your lives is right where you need to be!
Be blessed!
Mary :)
No matter what happens, it is beautiful to see you and JJ walking in faith, trusting and believing God with your future. I am still praying and believing in miracles for you!
Renee: God will honor your surrendered and yielded hearts! May HE show you His faithfulness and favor.
"...yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel."
Joshua 24:23
Looking unto Him for the Swope Family!
Love reading this. What a testimony of surrender and trust to God. I love seeing how you approached all this.
Looking forward to hearing the next step in the journey.
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