Category: Remembering

The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou14 Comments

Every year, our family puts up our Christmas Tree.  We get out the boxes of decorations–they are in red tubs with green lids, and each ornament is nestled in its original boxes—I am bragging about this area of my organization, as it is the only area I can brag about. 🙂  We make hot cocoa, have some cookies, and decorate our tree.

I love decorating the tree.  We usually buy an ornament to commemorate a vacation we took, or a special trip we took and so decorating the tree is a walk down memory lane.  We talk about the trip or remember the people who gave us the baby ornament, or any ornament we put up on our tree. 

After Sean died, this usually wonderful tradition of decorating the tree became a tradition that led to grief.  Every ornament became a memory with his memory attached.  “Remember, we got this ornament when we took the trip to Florida and we went to Disney World?”   Then I would remember how Sean wanted to go to Florida to Disney World so badly.  There were T.V. shows on the Travel Channel highlighting the Disney Parks, and he would watch them over and over again.

“Mom, can we go to the Disney Parks?”  “Well, Sean, you can pray about anything, so you can pray that we go to the Disney Parks.”   In my mind, I didn’t know how this would ever happen, it seemed unlikely to say the least, but when my daughter told me all she wanted In the whole world was a baby sister, (she was 5 at the time), I told her the same thing—”well, you can pray about anything, so pray for God to give you a baby sister.”  I was thinking we could look into adoption.  Instead I found myself pregnant at the age of 45, giving birth to a baby girl at the age of 46. 

Sure enough, shortly after my son started praying to go to the Disney Parks, my sister-in-law called my husband and she wanted to plan a family trip with our families and their parents to go to the Disney Parks.  (Their parents had a time share that we used the points from to book timeshares in Orlando, and my sister-in-law knew the websites to get the best deals on the Disney tickets—and so we found ourselves down in Florida—in the Disney Parks!!)  We had a blast!!  Sean had a blast!!

 Looking at the ornaments–led to all those memories, which led to grief, but it also led to remembering the answered prayers as well. This helped us stand in the reality that God exists, and He loves us, He listens to us, He cares for us.    

It was very difficult to continue with this tradition of decorating the tree.  We celebrated our first Christmas without Sean a mere 3 months after we lost him.  We were still in a state of shock.  My husband and I thought we needed to continue with our traditions, that the children needed these things to bring the past into our present and our future.  Even though it felt like everything had changed, some things remained the same.   God’s love remained the same.  We have found that each year, there is more of a blessing in the remembering, than grief.  It has helped to bring Sean into our present and will help bring him into our future.

 Just writing this story, I am remembering my daughter praying for a baby sister, and God answered!!  God does not always answer these types of prayers—as my nieces who were only daughters will attest—but He did for my daughter.  Perhaps because He knew that she and all of us would need this baby in the days to come, (our baby was 6 years old when her brother died.) She would bring us God’s comfort and love in her hugs and kisses and declarations that, “Sean is in heaven, and we are going to heaven too, we will see him again.”

Christmas is celebrating that God left heaven and came down to earth in the form of a baby.  “Immanuel” means “God is with us.”   In John 1: 1,14, we find this concept of : The Word is God and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  

In Romans 8:31, it says, “If God is for us, who is against us?”  In other words–it doesn’t matter who is against us, because God is so big and great, we are covered by Him.

Romans 8: 38, 39 also says– nothing can separate us from His love.

I am here to bear witness to these truths.  God is With Us.  God is For Us.  Nothing—not death nor life, nor any created thing can separate us from His love.   Not losing a child, or the grief that this loss brings, or any other problem in the entire world can separate us from His love.

If you are having trouble believing this, I want you to think about how much you love your children, and you are a mere human being. If you and I can love with such passion as imperfect human beings, imagine how a perfect, infinite being who considers us His children—loves us.  It is not so hard to imagine when we think of it in those terms—is it?

However, God’s thoughts are greater than my thoughts, and His ways are greater than my ways.  Sometimes, (ok—many times), I question God and what He is doing in my life.  I questioned Him many times for taking my son.  I have come to the realization that God is not upset with my questions, but sometimes His only answer is to wait on Him, and trust Him, even if I don’t know the answers, I can trust Him, I can trust His love, I can trust that He is for my family, He is for me.

You can trust that God is for you, He is for your family.  You can trust in His love.  He is “Immanuel”—God is with us—He is with us in our joy, in our grief and in our lives!!  So Be encouraged!!

**This post was originally posted 6 years ago–but I am still a witness to these truths. Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Love never Ends….

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou7 Comments

I wrote this blog 6 years ago, since I wrote it, my mother-in-law has passed away, and my mother has put her house on the market to sell. However, the legacies of love these women have left in my life and the lives of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren continue on. That’s because love never, ever ends. Please read on, and prayerfully–be encouraged!!

The Gift of the Beach House

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This summer we made our yearly voyage to the “Beach House.”  My husband is from the East Coast and when we had our first child, my mother-in-law started actively looking for a vacation home that would comfortably fit her family, with room to grow.  She ended up finding a gem of a house on the Beach with a pool.  We have been going there for 26 years.

It has been a place where memories have been made, traditions started, and laughter abounds.  It has been a gift of love from my mother-in-law and father-in-law, (my father-in-law has passed), to their children and grandchildren and now– great grandchildren. 

I think my mother-in-law had a vision for what this house could be for her family, but mostly I think it was where she wanted to express her love for us all—for giving us a place to come and be together and play together.  This year when we went, my mother-in-law was not able to join us, instead we visited her in her Senior living apartment.  Every time we visited her, she would ask us, “Are you swimming in the pool? Are you having a good time?  How is the Beach House?”   I felt like she was really asking us, “Do you know how much I love you.  I made this place for you all.  I decorated it and maintained it for you all.  Do you know how much I love you?”

My husband has a younger sister.  She brought her, (at the time), future husband to this house, to meet the family.  I, of course, interrogated him, as was my right as the older sibling.  He passed with flying colors.  At their rehearsal dinner, I told his mother that I had long prayed for whoever my sister-in-law would marry, and her son was a shining example of God answering beyond what we could think or ask. (His mother dragged me to the front of the room to share that statement with the 100+ guests that were at the rehearsal dinner.)   

Over time, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law brought their children to the beach house, and the beach house became a place where the cousins could play together and build friendships.  So even though we lived in the mid-west and they lived on the east coast, we had this shared place and experience to come together.

Our family has so many shared memories:  playing Categories and Marco Polo at the pool.  Dancing in the yard, building sandcastles at the beach, catching hermit crabs in the ocean, looking for shells on the beach, eating lobster and fish, going for ice cream at our favorite places, going to the corner store, (when it still existed) for a treat, having birthday parties, eating pizza on the jetties while we watched the giant sand castle, (we spent all day building), washed away by the tide. Being together, just being together.  

All these shared experiences remind us that we are loved.  We belong.  What a gift we have had to share in these experiences together—because my mother-in-law wanted to have a place where her family could come together, year after year.

I hope you have a place like this.  It may just be a tent; the place doesn’t really matter, it is all about family coming together to make memories, to share love and laughter.   When I was growing up— my parents took us camping, or we went to our Uncle Chuck’s cabin or to my Grandparents’ cabin.  We had places for our family to gather together and “be” together.

All these things were a way to spend quality time with one another, away from the bustle and hustle of life.    In many ways, our homes can be those places as well– a place of comfort and solace to come home to after a long day at work or school.   When I go back to my family home, (which my mother still lives in and maintains beautifully), I draw a sigh of relief, my soul recognizes the love and nurturing I still receive when I walk through those doors.

If I’m honest, part of being together, does involve conflict, conflict between siblings, cousins, between parent and child.  Conflict is not easy, ever.  Forgiveness is not easy, ever.  But the verse, “Keep fervent in your love for one another because, love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8), is true.  It is because we love each other, that we choose to overlook the offenses, and forgive them, not dwell on them. 

You may think, “you don’t know my family”, they are unforgivable.  You are right—I don’t know your family.  But I do know mine.  They are so fabulous, but they are also so flawed.  I don’t know a perfect person on this earth.  We all want to be loved, we all want to love, we all want to be significant.  Families can be the vehicle that God uses to reassure us – yes, you are loved, yes, you belong, yes, we want you, yes, you are significant to us.  Families can be a vessel which God uses to show His nature.   Families can also be used, to show us that no matter how great a family is or is not, they cannot fill the void we have in our hearts. Only the infinite God can fill the infinite hole we all have in our hearts.  (This thought of us having an infinite void that only an infinite God could fill, did not originate with me, but with a scientist named Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662)

 Moms, your role of expressing love to your children, of creating a place from which they can draw comfort, will help them in ways you cannot even imagine.  Your role of showing them the God who can really love them completely and totally—is immeasurable!!  You are needed Moms, you are so, so important!!  (Dads are needed too!! ) But this blog is to encourage Moms–especially my moms, that they are appreciated and so, so loved!!

So Be Encouraged!!

Six years ago, I started writing this blog

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou20 Comments

Six years ago, I started writing this blog.  I just want to sit here for a minute and soak that in.  I have been consistently communicating my thoughts to other people for 6 years.  However, I’ve been writing my thoughts in journal form since I was in 5th grade.  I had read the book, “Harriet the Spy”, and Harriet wanted to be a writer and she kept a journal to develop her writing skills– for some reason I thought–”I want to be a writer too, so I need to keep a journal too.”

(The first picture was when I was 14 years old, the second when I was 17 years old.)

It was clear from my journal that I thought my significance and value came from how thin I was and how I looked–and I kept detailed lists of when and what I ate, and how much I weighed.  I also recorded what I did —trips I took with my family and friends, trips I hoped to take. ( I loved to travel and have adventures, and I still do. )

  As my calendar filled with work, school and dating, my recordings were fewer and farther in-between. At first my writings were filled with details like when I woke up, what I ate, who I spent time with during the day, but as I matured, I shared more about my feelings, and descriptions of people.

I think I realized I loved writing as far back as the third grade.  I wrote a poem that my teacher praised and then published in the school newspaper. However, it was not until I read the book, “Harriet the Spy”, that something resonated in me and I thought, “I’m going to be a writer”, and indeed–since that time, I have not stopped writing and journaling.

In fact, I’ve shared in previous blogs that for years, the Holy Spirit has been telling me to write, not just for myself, but for others.  I would then start working on a book, but get sidetracked in the process of raising and homeschooling children. However if I’m honest–fear would mostly sidetrack me.  Then over 6 years ago, the Holy Spirit was even more insistent’’’”Write!”   

I responded, “Okay, I’ll write, but please tell me what to write, who my audience is, and the vehicle You want me to use for my writing?”

The Holy Spirit was very clear,  “Write a blog, write to younger women to encourage them to love their husbands and children. (Titus 2:4)  Tell your stories—and point to Me–the giver of love.” I was still afraid, but the Holy Spirit gave me the courage, step by step to obey. (Part of that fear was learning the technical skills in doing a blog.)

So—this is what I have done—for 6 years!!  Now the Holy Spirit is telling me to work on a book.   I am putting this out there for you all to see.  In the process of seeking to encourage you—you have more than encouraged me.  You have been unbelievably kind, truth-telling, and wisdom-giving.  You have prayed for me.  I have prayed for you.

As I seek to begin this next step of obedience in my writing, I seek your prayers again.

May We Be Encouraged!!

What you think about yourself matters.

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou19 Comments

The bad things I think about myself are easier to believe.  The good things that God says are true about me, are almost impossible to believe, yet those things make the biggest impact for good. Let me tell you a story….

My major in college involved a lot of research, reading, and writing—and giving lectures to other students in the classroom.  I thought my fellow classmates were brilliant, simply geniuses.  I thought my professors, unsurpassed for their knowledge and discernment.  I often wondered how I ended up in this particular college, as I did not think of myself at all as intelligent and articulate in comparison.  

However, I had one thing going for me.  In my spring term of my freshman year of college, I made a decision to trust Jesus.  I told Him, I would follow Him, I would be His, and He would be mine.  I would believe what He said to be true.

I had learned that I was God’s child and God’s Heir, (Romans 8:14-17), so in my mind I thought—if I’m God’s child and heir, and my Dad is the King over all Kings, that means I am His Princess.

I had to give a speech in one of my classes, which was really intimidating among all these brilliant, articulate people.  As I prepared to give my talk, I would tell myself over and over again:  “You are a child of the living God, you are His Princess, He is the God and King of the Universe, so you are a Princess of the Universe.  You can do this, you are His Princess.”

I was really, really nervous.  I tried not to hear the other voice—the one that said, “You’re not smart, who do you think you are giving this lecture.  Everyone is going to see how stupid you really are.”   I would not listen to that voice—instead I told myself, over and over again:  “you are a Princess of the King of the Universe.”

The day came for me to give my speech.  I stood up in front of the classroom, and in my mind I kept saying to myself, “You are a Princess of the King of the Universe.”   I looked out upon my fellow students, and my professor, who sat in the back of the room.  I took a breath, and I began to speak.  My voice was confident, I presented my talk with my research.  After finishing, I asked if anyone had any questions.  None of the students asked me questions, but my professor did.  I answered his question to the best of my ability.  The professor thanked me. 

After the class, one of my fellow students came up to me, and told me how impressed they were with my talk.  I was told that I sounded, “Just like a professor.”   

I have never forgotten that time.  It was my first lesson, in receiving from God what He says is true about me, and acting out on that truth.

I’m still in the process of doing that—of asking God what He says is the truth about me, and receiving what it is that He says and then acting on that truth.  This is what God says faith is—receiving from Him what He says is true–and then acting upon that truth.

Look at Hebrews 11 if you want to read about others who have lived out their faith.  Look at Jesus—God in human flesh—He came to give us a visual image of God–in human flesh–so we could ‘see’ what a life of faith looks like—so we could see what we are each to be and to do.  Then Jesus left so that the Holy Spirit could come and “lead us” into that life.   

Pretty amazing!!  Let’s be encouraged!!

Lord, You know how much I want to know so much
In the way of answers and explanations
I have cried and prayed and still I seem to stay
In the middle of life’s complications

All this pursuing leaves me
Feeling like I’m chasing down the wind
But now it’s brought me back to You
And I can see again

This is everything I want and this is everything I need
I want this to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires, Lord I want it all to be for You
Jesus be my magnificent obsession

Yeah, yeah, yeah

So capture my heart again
Take me to depths I’ve never been
Into the riches of Your grace and Your mercy
Return me to the cross and let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the love that You’ve shown me

Cut through these chains that tie me down
To so many lesser things
Let all my dreams fall to the ground
Until this one remains

You Raise Me Up

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou7 Comments

In a few days, it will be my cousin’s birthday.  She died last year not long after her birthday.  I made her a playlist of songs to listen to and one of the songs was, You Raise Me Up.  I put that song on her playlist, because that is what my cousin did for me, my siblings, and mostly her siblings.  She had experienced great tragedy in her life at an early age, and she responded to that suffering, by comforting others.  She continually reached out to me whenever I experienced life’s blows.  So, my sweet cousin, and all my cousins, and all my siblings–this song is for you all.

May We Be Encouraged!!


Lyrics

When I am down and, oh, my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then I am still and wait here in the silence
Until You come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on Your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on Your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up (up) so I can stand on mountains (stand on mountains)
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas (stormy seas)
I am strong (I am strong) when I am on Your shoulders (ooh)
You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up (up) so I can stand on mountains (stand on mountains)
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas (stormy seas)
I am strong when I am on Your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up to more than I can be

Beloved

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou14 Comments

Have you ever wanted to talk with someone about spiritual things, but you weren’t sure if they wanted to talk with you?   I’ve experienced this scenario many times, but I’d like to relate to you one of the first times I experienced this.

I was a young woman–21 years old.  I was spending my summer at Bear Lake, Michigan teaching Mexican children during the summer, while their parents worked in the farms around that area.

I got to know one of the other teachers pretty well, during playground duty.  This teacher was warm, open and friendly.   I started talking about how I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and the teacher’s face shut down.  Her body language was clearly communicating, “It’s not okay for you to talk to me about these topics.”   

So I stopped talking.  I changed the subject.  I could see the teacher visibly relax.   

A few days later, as we were again on playground duty, sitting next to each other on a hillside, overlooking the students playing on the playground, she turned to me and said, “I really appreciate you not pushing the conversation about spiritual things.  I’d like to tell you my story if you don’t mind.”  I told her I would love to hear her story.

She told me that she had been married, but was now divorced.  Her husband was from a very religious family.  Her husband also physically abused her.  She said that in her head, God and her view of God was all mixed in with this abuse, and her feeling of guilt–as if somehow she deserved to be hit.

She started crying.  I listened to her.  I reassured her. I shared the truth with her.

God wasn’t her husband, or her husband’s family.  God loved her. He loved her perfectly and unconditionally.  God died for her.  She could trust God.

She opened up to me, but more importantly she opened up to God.

What did I learn?  I learned to treat that woman in a manner that I would have wanted to be treated—which is how Jesus would have treated her, if He were there. Jesus would have listened to her. Jesus would have loved her. Jesus would have gently revealed the lies and replaced them with the truth.  And because Jesus lives in me—Jesus was there, and Jesus did those things through me.

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”  Galatians 2: 20

Jesus lives in us. We can approach every situation asking ourselves, “What would Jesus do?”, and then asking Jesus to do that very thing through us–as He lives in us, and can live His life through us. How amazing is that thought!!

May We Be Encouraged!!

Have you ever heard the legend of red cardinals?

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou22 Comments

Have you ever heard the legend of red cardinals?  I hadn’t, until I was visiting my mom a few months ago.  My sister was also visiting, and she walked in my mom’s door saying, “There are two red cardinals outside–it must be Dad and Sean.”   I looked at her like, “What did you just say?”  She told me that the legend is when you see a red cardinal, one of your loved ones is visiting you from heaven.  I said, “That’s a nice thought—so when we see a red cardinal, we are reminded of our loved ones in heaven.”   She said, “Exactly, when we see a red cardinal we are reminded of our loved ones in heaven.”

Then on Christmas day, I saw two red cardinals in my yard.  I actually took a picture of them.

** I know these pictures are not the best–and it is really hard to see the cardinals through the screen, but they are there. 🙂 ) I used my friend, Maureen Jacus’ picture in the top picture–which she graciously gave me permission to use. Thank you Maureen! 🙂

Christmas is one of those days when I am sorely missing my son Sean and my Dad.  So when I saw the red cardinals, (which I had never seen or noticed in the yard before), I was reminded of my son and my dad.  Tears welled in my eyes, at the thought of those two loved ones.  I even wondered if God directed those birds to my yard, so that I could be reminded of what He did for us—in giving us eternal life with Him. 

This was the day we were celebrating the God of heaven and earth –coming to earth as a baby.

 Elizabeth Elliott shares about that  in this podcast.  She talks about “Jesus, the creator of the worlds and the stars, was willing to be confined in a woman’s womb.  It is absolutely staggering to think of the Lord of the Universe, a prisoner in a dark womb, helpless.  He was willing to pass through the birth channel like any other baby.  This was God remember, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself.  Why did He do it?


Because He loves us.”  Can you imagine that kind of love?

But God demonstrates His Own Love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

I told my husband that when I think about that act of Christ dying for us –I think—God didn’t have to do anything more than that to convince us of His love—that is the ultimate demonstration of love.

Yet, He continues to show us in ways big and small, that He loves us, He is with us, He is for us.

He even sends two red cardinals on Christmas Day, to show us that our loved ones’ lives continue on—because He lives, because He loves, because He died for us.

No He doesn’t have to do anything anymore–but He does.  He surrendered all for me and for you.  I want my response to Him to be– surrendering all to Him.

May We Be Encouraged!!

New Year, New Beginnings

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou17 Comments

Sometimes I think it would be great if I could go back in time, and do things differently.  Most of the time, what I would fix–has to do with acting out love.

Recently, I listened to an old Elizabeth Elliot podcast. (Elizabeth Elliot was an author, speaker, and missionary.)  In this podcast, Elizabeth shares a story about a very rich man who pursued getting rich and having power. However, he found no satisfaction in obtaining these things.  He came to know Jesus, and when he asked God what He wanted him to do with his life: God told him to love his wife.  Elizabeth asked his wife if her husband had changed.  The wife answered that her husband changed so drastically, that at first she thought he was faking it, but when he kept it up past a year, she knew he really had changed. 🙂 His wife experienced being well loved by her husband.  Later the wife was diagnosed with a rare cancer—and the husband continued loving and taking care of his wife.

Elizabeth also tells a story of  a woman who wrote Elizabeth a letter after hearing her talk about loving our enemies and loving others as we love Jesus.  She told Elizabeth that she had been married for 30+ years, and when she heard these things, she realized she felt like her enemy was her husband.   She decided she would obey God’s command and “Love your enemies” and “Treat others as you would treat Christ.”  She told Elizabeth that acting out these verses brought new life into her marriage.  They couldn’t have imagined even when they were courting, loving each other as much as they do.   The podcast is about 12 ½ minutes–and if you click here you can listen to these stories yourself.

When I’m tempted to think that I need to go back in time to fix things, I need to remember that Jesus actually did fix things.  He crucified sin on the cross.  When I trusted Him to be my Savior, He gave me a new heart.  He gives all who trust in Him and His work on the cross a new heart and a new life.  He gives us the power to love one another, even when we do not ‘feel’ like loving one another. He forgives us, and gives us the ability to forgive others, and the humility to apologize.

Tom Holland, author, historian, and once an avowed atheist, said:  “Today, even as belief in God fades across the West, the countries that were once collectively known as Christendom continue to bear the stamp of the two-millennia-old revolution that Christianity represents. It is the principal reason why, by and large, most of us who live in post-Christian societies still take for granted that it is nobler to suffer than to inflict suffering. It is why we generally assume that every human life is of equal value.” 

Tom Holland considered this ‘revolution’ of Christianity radically different from all others–resulting in people valuing life. For example: Christians took care of orphans, took care of the sick, took care of the poor and the hungry. Christians started orphanages, hospitals, homeless shelters and soup kitchens. This was radically different from the indifference to the suffering of others in the rest of the world.

 Love, (God is Love)—- changed the world, is changing the world, and will change the world—-one life at a time.

So as we begin this New Year—let’s resolve to look back—so that we can look on and go on–to love and serve the Lord!!

May We Be Encouraged!!   Happy New Year and Happy New Beginnings to us all!

Hindsight is 20/20

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou31 Comments

Do you ever look back, and see the hand of God in your life, taking care of you, providing opportunities, guiding you and directing your path?   I call this the gift of hindsight.

 When I look back it is so clear to me, how God took care of us, but when I was living that moment, it wasn’t clear at all.  I think one of the reasons for this, is that I have my plan, and when that plan gets derailed, I feel frustration, disappointment and sometimes despair.

I’d like to share with you some of the ways God provided for us, to encourage you.  God is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow– (Hebrews 13:8).  He can be counted on.  We, however, are all different from one another.  The Bible calls us the Body of Christ. (Romans 12:4,5) :  Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body, we are many parts of one body, and we all belong to one another.  In other words –We have different purposes because we make up different parts of the “Body of Christ.”  So, when I share my story, please look at what God is doing and what is true about Him.  I hope you don’t compare yourself to me or judge me—as we were made differently, for different purposes.  We are both needed, we are both necessary, we are both loved, but I may be the mouth of the body, and you may be the eye.  Would you really want to live without either one?

So, here goes—When my husband and I were young parents, God was leading us to do something we thought rather drastic.  He was leading us to trust Him for our finances, and for me to stay home with our children.  We had both graduated from college.  We had careers, yet we were going to live off one income and I was going to be the one to stay home.

 My husband really wanted to start his own Construction Company, but he didn’t think he had enough experience, so, he took a job as a Resident Hall Director at a University, (which included housing and food–making it easy for me to stay at home with our child), so that he could get another degree, making him more marketable in the professional world.  Then a year into the job, the University closed three of its dorms and my husband lost his job.  At the time, we were devastated.  We had our plan– and that plan was changed.

My husband was offered a job by a local construction company.  He was offered $6 an hour, which was a little more than minimum wage at the time.  When we prayed and asked God about what we should do, it seemed clear that this was the way God wanted us to pursue my husband’s dream of having a construction company.

We didn’t know how we were going to live on the wages, my husband would be making.  Yet God was clearly asking us to trust Him and depend on Him.  He was asking us to walk by faith.   So—we did.  It felt a bit like free falling, but as we walked with God, it became clear why He was the rock– the foundation, we could stand on.  (Matthew 7:24-27)

 Our first concern was housing—where could we afford to live?  Well, the people my husband worked for had several rentals, and they were willing to rent to us.  The apartment was a bit expensive for our current salary, but for apartments in the area, it was very reasonable, I think we paid $440 dollars a month.

Our second concern was food—we had a very small budget—I think it was $30 a week for groceries, (this was 32 years ago—but that was still low at the time.)  I learned to use 1 chicken to make three different meals—roast chicken, chicken pot pie, and chicken soup.  I made everything from scratch, because it was less expensive.  I would make up a menu for the week, write down my grocery list, and estimate how much everything was going to cost.  I would go to the store, and time and time again, the things on my list were on sale that week.  Coincidence—I don’t think so—I think that was God’s graciousness to us.

 Our third concern was clothing.  We didn’t really buy new clothes at this time, we used what we had, later however, when money wasn’t quite so tight, we would shop at discount stores, second-hand stores, and garage sales.  Our family would give us gifts of clothes and family and friends would give us hand-me-downs.   We weren’t and aren’t too proud to accept hand me downs, and we gave and give away a lot of hand-me-downs too.  God has used these support systems to help meet our needs many times, and hopefully has used us to meet others’ needs as well. 

One of the biggest gifts from God at this time of our lives was a house we could afford to own ourselves.  We had been renting since we were married, and we really wanted to have our own home.  My husband had been taking side jobs outside of his regular construction job, and we saved this money to make a down payment on a house.  However, we knew it would take an act of God to bring us a house that we could afford to live in.

Then a friend of mine told me about a house that had been given to our church.  It was over a hundred years old, and it needed everything—roof, furnace, electrical and plumbing.  It had layers and layers of wallpaper on the walls.  It had great bones: beautiful hard wood floors, 11-foot ceilings, deep base boards—truly a diamond in the rough. 

This house became our first home.  We could afford this house; we bought it for $27,000!!  It was less expensive to live in this home than it was to rent.  We had enough for the down payment and enough to reroof the house!   My husband traded labor with a plumber and electrician, so we paid nothing out of pocket for our house to be replumbed and for a new electrical service.

Then we bought a furnace for $50!!  My husband was putting a new addition on a house, and the house needed a new furnace for the extra square footage, so the owner sold us their older furnace for $50.

These are just a few ways that God graciously provided for us and blessed us!!   Within three years of my husband taking the job in construction, we started our own construction company.  We had our business for over 25 years!!

 I am glad that when I look at the past, I see God leading us, and I see us following God.  Sometimes I see us following grumbling and complaining.  Sometimes I see us following, in great pain, but still following. Sometimes, I see our disobedience and rebellion—when we thought we knew better than God did and went our own way.   Many times, I see God carrying us, because we had no strength.

I am grateful for the gift of Hindsight, that allows me to see God’s will being played out in our lives.  God tells us to look back and remember His works and His acts, (1 Chronicles 16:12) so when we are faced with faith hurdles in the present, we remember how He helped us jump those hurdles in the past and trust Him in the present as well.

 I hope that in sharing our stories, it will encourage you in your own walk of faith, to look back at how God was faithful to lead you and provide for you, so that you can continue to follow Him in your life today.

So Be Encouraged!!

** Jane Newland.  Artist

Thanksgiving

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou17 Comments

When I was pregnant with my last child, (at the age of 46), I was too sick to join my extended family for Thanksgiving.  So my husband found himself in the grocery store on Thanksgiving Eve, shopping for our family’s Thanksgiving.  He bought frozen mashed potatoes, frozen stuffing, frozen pies, frozen everything and a turkey breast–not a whole turkey, —and then the next day, he put together a Thanksgiving Feast.

Our children still have memories that they share with us about that Thanksgiving—it scarred them because of the horrible food.  

Recently I watched the video of The Great Thompson Flood—where the big message of it was to give Thanks to God in all things.

It’s easy to Thank God when things are going well.  Not so easy when things are not going well.  In fact, generally—when things are going badly—God hears my complaints and how I want Him to change my circumstances.

Somehow I think if I complain loudly enough, I will not have to partake of the troubles any longer—like my children so many years ago—as they partook of the makeshift Thanksgiving feast. 

How wonderful to come into Thanksgiving—with the thought that even in the bad, even in the midst of trouble—God is with us, God is for us, God loves us.   Those are things I am thankful for, and will be thankful for every moment of everyday.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!