I was struggling with what God wanted me to do next with my life. Well, to be honest I was being a Gideon and wanted God to confirm what I thought I was being prompted to do. So, I asked God, “What do you want me to do?” During my quiet time with God the very next day I read Isaiah 30:8 (NASB)
“Now go, write it on a tablet before them
And inscribe it on a scroll,
That it may serve in the time to come
As a witness forever.”
It made me laugh – God really can answer prayers very directly and specifically. This led me start this blog. It also came at just the right moment, so that I could participate in a free Memoir Writing and a Self-Publishing class at my local library. As I work on writing my memoir, I am thankful for God’s clarity that day, otherwise I would probably give up. Writing a memoir is not for the faint of heart. Try asking God direct questions. You never know what might happen.
Looking through our screen door at our son’s window.
As I look out the screen door of our living room… something is different. We are now looking at our son’s bedroom window. So, what does that have to do with being on a God Hunt?
Over the past year we have been praying for ways to cut our expenses. Our son is 33 years old and unable to work because of several issues. However, these issues, according to the government, are not significant enough to get disability payments. This means that we have been supporting him financially, so that he doesn’t end up on the streets – while still allowing him to maintain his independence.
This is an answer to prayer that I never expected, nor did I really want. Recently, one of our neighbors died after a prolonged illness. As a result, his housemate was looking for someone to rent the vacant room to help offset household expenses. This room is a little larger than the studio apartment we have been renting for our son and includes a private bathroom. The asking price for the room is about $250 less that we have been paying. Yes, it seems like a match made in heaven. This allows our son to still have his independence, while we reduce our expenses, our neighbor gets a renter, and it is easier for us to help our son when issues come up.
I am sad that our neighbor is no longer around. However, I am amazed that God has used this awful circumstance to answer our prayers and for that I’m thankful.
Sometimes, when we ask God for a sign that we are doing the right thing, He takes us literally. In the mid 1980’s, as my husband and I transitioned out of college, we joined some friends in buying a small farm in the Kent Valley near the Green River. Our goal was to create a community of Christians that lived in unity in our diversity – with each family having their own home but sharing the water well and a common garden – providing a living example of God’s love at work in a group of people. At the time my husband and I lived in and ran a Christian sober living/transition home called the Wholeway House. Although we never actually lived at the Farm, because God called us to other things, it was a rich time in our lives full of growth and hope.
Fast forward 30 years, when we were again at a transition point in our lives, we were asking God for a clear sign of what our next adventure would be with Him. Our new friends, who had just purchased FARM restaurant in Palm Springs, approached us about an interesting idea. They wanted to grow a community that was a living example of God’s love to a diverse group of people – many of whom were part of the recovery community or were in need of love and acceptance. This is how “Live180“, the ministry we now run, was birthed.
God knew we would need a special sign to give us hope and clarity as we stepped out in faith. He used something that would speak right to our hearts, the “Farm” signs. (Farms – places where things grow and life is sustained.) We could have easily missed the connection but, we have years of practice hunting for God’s movement in our lives. He likes to do fun things like this to help us navigate difficult situations. We pray you too will enjoy hunting for God’s movements in your lives.
What to know more check out our website: Live180.org
