A Friend Means A Lot

Today I saw my friend from back in the day. Well, literally, back in the day when I bought my house. You see, it wasn’t the usual type of looking for a house. At the time, I thought my days were over for buying a house. I wasn’t employed any longer with a steady income. Although I still had the orchard to care for and a daughter to help me, but it was a tough go. I knew I had to move soon.

I Just Assumed It Was Too Late

Three years before when I was chomping at the bit to buy a house, I looked at a house in Nord. Boom, No way! Then I looked for a house in Orland. Boom. No way. I also looked at a house in north Orland and boom, no way, it was out. I decided I was looking at the wrong time. And I carried on, renting from Mom and Dad, knowing I needed to get out, still chomping at the bit. The home was falling apart, way past it’s prime. I didn’t know what to do. I started looking at rentals.

I gave up but just for the meantime.

Later I quit my job as a teacher though I kept the orchard job. I pursued my desire to become a writer. I was striving to improve as a writer, but without a lot of experience. I attempted to write two books. I worked very hard on them. Spent two summers completing them. But neither one was publishable. I didn’t know that you have to have the keys to sell your books (before self-publishing was possible). I had gone about writing in the wrong way, due to my ignorance and not having the money to take coursework etc. I must say I was terribly discouraged. I reached out to Inspiring Voices and they helped me with my first publishable book.

Then The House Appears

Anyway, back to the house hunting… One day I was walking in the circle of the driveway on the Nord property, when the Lord seemed to be saying that I should look for a house now. At first, I was surprised. I thought I couldn’t look anymore now that I wasn’t teaching. I mentioned it to my mother. She had just been talking with the owner of this house at church. Mother said, “I think she lives in the Pleasant Valley area, near the old Chico Mall. She wants to sell her house after Christmas.” I had decided to go looking for a house again that day with my real estate friend (realtor) so I included mother’s friend’s house. She was a friend of my parents from the church they attended.

The house is a 1960s house that had had only one owner prior to me. They were Christians, which was extra nice for me. The house was ready, as if she was ready to sell it then. She invited me to look at the house that day! She showed me the house, I felt a thrill as I walked room to room, viewing the backyard and enjoying the inside. It was a nicely built home, not too big and not too small. Just right! Could this be the house for me? I certainly hoped so. . .

When we got outside and were done looking at the house, my mother was happy. She was sure it was the right house for me. The realtor was smiling. She said “Norma, what do you think? Does it seem right for you?” I smiled and said that it had the right number of bedrooms and that the office was an extra. My realtor friend said, “Look up.” I looked up at the sky. There overhead was a big beautiful rainbow that arched over and around the house and went to the south. Entirely unbroken. She grinned at me. We both know the Lord. I knew that she believed God was revealing his will for me.

You Know It When It’s Right

Seeing her today brought it all back. God knew how much I wanted a house, but it seemed too impossible for me. He made what seemed impossible, very possible. I’ve been in this house eleven years now. So glad. So good. So thankful. God is good to us, better than we deserve. I’m glad he listens to us and he brings things to be as soon as the time is right. I’m glad I’ve got this home and I’m thankful for my realtor friend. She loves God more than money, and that’s the truth.

So, I guess, I want to encourage you to trust in God, even when the dream seems to be beyond your circumstances. God holds you and protects you. He knows what you don’t know. Sometimes it seems like the pain or problems won’t go a way, never will leave you alone (I had years of this type of thing) but God knows whether it is right or wrong at the specific time. He will help you when the time is right for you to do the specific thing. Trust him. Give it to God. Wait patiently. God knows what we don’t know.

“Thank you, Father. You’ve given me a home, but more than that, you’ve given me good friends that mean the world to me. You’re so good to us. We are blessed all the time, even when the days are long and filled with trials. You are always there to help us. I appreciate it so much.”

You can do it. Let God help you. Why? Someone needs your help. Every day is only lived once. Why not help make the day better for the person in need. You can. You should. Don’t be afraid to do it. You might be just the person someone needs. You can help. Really, you can.

When You Help, You Can, Since God is Your Helper

I don’t know, but people seem more hesitant to help than before the pandemic hit. We’re more afraid; I’m speaking for myself, too. What can we do to turn this around? God is still in control. We need to remind ourselves that He cares for the man, woman, or child that we might intentionally ignore. It’s time to question ourselves. We have something that has the power to help them. We have Jesus. He is mighty to save. He can change their life, and He can change YOUR life. Here’s how—

It’s Not That Easy, But You Know or Don’t Know

We don’t know unless we ask. Let God lead you and He will lead you. It starts like this. Ask Him to be with you every day and everywhere. Be intentional. Be kind. Be helpful. Listen to the Savior when He speaks. When we determine to share our lives with the people we meet, God has a way of bringing them our way. He also directs our path to where we meet the people God wants us to meet. We become willing. We are willing to be willing. It’s an amazing thing really. Ask God to direct your path today, tomorrow, the month ahead; whenever and whatever, however and, of course, surprisingly curious.

God Brings It To Pass; You Don’t Have To Get Their Attention

You don’t think you can do it. That’s normal. Neither do I. We get this wrong. It’s not up to us, although we determine what God may bring into our lives. What we must do is speak the Word when He gives us opportunities to share. We may hold back when He wants us to speak. Stop! Let God lead. You follow His lead. Then you’ll get it right. I’m speaking to myself too. I’ve been inordinately quiet as a result of health issues. But I’m coming out of it now. I see discouraged men and women. Hope is what they need in abundance. Then grace, love, help and peace will be quick to follow.

God Speaks, We Speak; They Speak, We Listen (^)

Everything in life is on God’s time allotment. We don’t know when God is going to bring things to pass or not. The thing is, we should listen. You are to do some things at just the right time, not too early and not too late. This is often hard to understand. We aren’t sure whether to proceed or not, and we don’t know if the time is right. You ask God for directions. You wait in anticipation. But you wait to proceed until God makes His will manifest in your life. But we don’t want to not act if God has given you the go-ahead, which means we must keep close to the Source.

We Listen When God Talks

Get alone with God. Push other thoughts aside. Open up to Him. Record what you hear. Think about it. Consider what He tells you. If you aren’t certain, talk about it with Him. Fluidity comes in time. How do I know God will speak to the person who truly wants to hear from Him? His word tells us “My sheep here my voice, and I answer them.” He sends the answer at just the right time, not before or after the incident. We sometimes think He waits too long. But God is never too late. He is always right on time. We learn to trust Him for He knows the journey. God is working in everything, in every way. God knows what He is doing. We’re lucky we get to be a part of His plan.

Thank you, Father God.

Last week I received a piece of discouraging news. My book proposal was turned down by the agent I’d picked from an agency I was hoping to interest. I was grateful to hear back so soon. Now I know and can make appropriate decisions. After reading the polite standard rejection letter (not what we’re looking for at this time) the most amazing thing happened. Even though it was discouraging and painful, my response was different than my usual reaction. I didn’t cry or tear up or feel sorry for myself. I chose to not moan about it to others. Instead, I prayerfully whispered to God, “What’s next?”

I am not surprised, though. God has to go before me with this one. I know my book will be a hard sell. Yet it is my hope that it will sing on its own merits and its message will reverberate with clarity.

God answered my “What’s next?” as soon as the thought became a prayer. I understood his answering message loud and clear, I’d heard this one many times before. “Trust Me,” he said. How familiar the words sounded. For a period of five years God’s answer to me on almost everything was always “Trust Me.” God didn’t elaborate on my next steps, he just asked me to trust him to take care of whatever. This process took me to the place of “further still.” I learned to listen for him and to trust him for basic things common to existence like employment and financial concerns and for miracles of healing and faith.

 Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!    –Matthew 7:9-11  NIV

Trust does not come easy, but I do trust in the One who asks me to trust. He is a good Father. A good father does not give a stone to his children rather than bread. Father God doesn’t tell us how he is going to do what we trust him to help us with or what he is going to do for us, or who he is going to tap on the shoulder to assist us, or how many years it is going to take. “Trust Me” is open ended, just like “Show me” is open ended or “What’s next?”

We learn to wait while we trust, and with an expectation to receive. This is an active waiting. My mind anticipates what God is going to do, but I’m rarely close. I draw strength in knowing God does only what is good.

On April 4th I began praying over my completed book proposal and will do so for forty days. As I pray I acknowledge how God is the author and finisher of our faith, and I ask him to lead and guide in all aspects of my book. I will send my proposal and queries wherever God shows me or nudges me.

Early in January I asked God to show me which of my manuscripts I should finish first (I have several) and the answer was, “the monastery book.” I wanted to protest, “no, not that one,” though I didn’t. The monastery book is my most controversial book. I draw a line in the sand about something I have come to believe with my whole heart. I can’t say I wanted to do this book first, because it puts the fat in the fire and will draw criticism.

I believe it will also open eyes where they need to be opened. From the get-go I have felt this book has a message for the Church at large and that the world also needs to hear. I share the message of Christ’s gift of salvation, Christ’s love for all people and Christ’s Church. I cross over traditional boundaries to anchor my statements. Christians are to love one another and follow Christ as the head of the Church.

What now? I truly don’t know, but I do have a plan. For one year I will seek traditional publishing  and if not successful I will self-publish. I don’t know who will take an interest in it, but I know the One who knows the agent, agency, editor, and publisher. “Lead on, O King Eternal.”

Lead on, O King eternal,
we follow, not with fears,
for gladness breaks like morning
where’er thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted o’er us,
we journey in its light;
the crown awaits the conquest;
lead on, O God of might.

–Verse 3.  Lyrics by Earnest Shurleff

Please pray for me. Thank you so very much. God is in control. To God be the Glory.