"GST"

Last year, during the holidays, we began considering moving to a one story house.  Larry felt like I would be able to enjoy the whole house rather than waiting for him to be home whenever I wanted or needed to go upstairs.  We both love our home, neighbors, and neighborhood so it was not a decision we wanted to make lightly.  We talked and prayed for wisdom about the timing and decided to put our house on the market it March.  One of my prayers all along was that I wanted it to be the house that God wanted us to have and that we would know, without a doubt, that it was His provision and in His timing.   I did mention to Larry that since we were trying to sell so early in the year that we wouldn’t get to enjoy another crop of lemons from our tree.  Although we have had the lemon tree for seven years, last year was the first time it produced.

Larry and I made the commitment that we would sell our home before purchasing another one.  That meant that the timing would need to work out for us to sell and buy in a short span of time.  These 8 months we have operated on what our pastor, Duane Brooks, refers to as God’s Standard Time (GST.)  We had one contract that fell through, but were still at peace waiting for God’s perfect timing and provision.  In the meantime, we have been looking at houses off and on to see what we really wanted and where we wanted to locate.  One by one, the houses were quickly bought.  Two months ago on a Saturday, we looked at a home that we both really liked.  Our agent was honest with us and told us that it would probably be on the market less than a week.  As we were leaving, I knew she was right about someone purchasing it quickly.  By Monday there was a bidding war and the house was sold.  Since we had still not sold our home, we did not make an offer.  We found other homes, but still liked that one best for its looks, proximity to the freeway, and the feel of home.

Towards the end of October, our agent suggested us taking the house off the market on November 15^th.  There was peace in the decision since we still enjoy living here and were willing to trust God’s timing to pursue moving.  Then November arrived.  On Monday morning, Larry and I both spent time praying about the house, knowing we had just 2 weeks left with it on the market.  Larry had mentioned a price he would be content with if we could sell it for that amount.  Our desire was to do God’s Will.  We just needed to know what it was.  Unbeknownst to us, that morning a man had delivered some papers to our next door neighbor and saw that our house was for sale.  He inquired about the house and Frank told him he had been in our home and it was a great house.  That afternoon I received a text that someone wanted to see the house that evening.  Larry and I left to run a few errands and then went to Starbucks to wait and visit while the people looked at the house.  We soon received a phone call from our agent saying the client’s agent called.  The man wanted the house and made an offer.  It was $3,000.00 more than Larry had mentioned that morning when he prayed and the exact amount of the later appraisal of the house!

We left Starbucks and decided to drive around the neighborhood we hoped to live in to see if any other houses had recently gone on the market.  As we drove past the original house we had really liked, it had a “Coming Soon” sign on it.  The previous bidder had backed out of the contract and it was going back on the market!!!  We called our agent and she drew up a contract to submit as soon as it was back on the market.  In the meantime, a friend encouraged me to write a letter to the owner of the house to deliver with the contract.  Our agent decided to submit the contract and letter early and the owner accepted our bid before placing the house back on the market.  In one week’s time, God provided a buyer for our house, an acceptance for a contract on a house that was not yet on the market…a house that was not available 8 months ago when we first began looking.  Knowing that there would have again been a bidding war on the house, which we could not have participated, we believe and accept this as God’s generous provision.

Oh to have the faith, trust, and patience to live on God’s Standard Time for every area of my life.  And for the record, we are the recipients of another bountiful harvest of lemons on the tree.   As we enjoy and share them, we will also leave some fruit on the tree as a welcome gift for the new family that will live here.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 1:5

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19