A Blessings Update

Back on January 13th, I started a three part series based on the story of Hannah (1 Samuel).  The lesson from this story was based on Hannah's example when she prayed for a child and God blessed her with Samuel.  Hannah promised to give Samuel back to God and she did so by taking him to the temple to serve.  Because Hannah was so faithful to follow God and trust Him to provide, God did more than just grant her request.  The Almighty gave her five more children.  The revelation in this blog series pointed to the power God can have on our dreams and desires. More times than not, when we choose to take our hands off and trust God, He comes through for us in ways we can't imagine.

I wanted to offer you a chance to hear about a real life "Hannah" story.  Shortly after writing that blog series, my husband and I found out that the home we've been so blessed to rent was going to be sold.  That meant we were going to have to find a new place to live.  Moving is stressful and tiring.  If you've ever moved, you know what I am talking about.  But the process of finding the place that meets your needs and your budget is sometimes the most overwhelming part of the journey.  My husband and I felt that stress.  Where we live currently is perfect for us.  In fact, up until recently, I would have said there wasn't a place that could get much better.  The location is perfect, the house has more room than we need and better yet, it fits our budget very comfortably.  In our little rural town, finding a home for rent is like finding a needle in a hay stack.  Finding a home in a country setting that allows pets would be like looking for a smaller needle in a much bigger hay stack.  It is tricky.  And because we have enjoyed a place that is budget friendly, my initial reaction upon hearing that we were moving was panic. 
I have to admit, when the news first hit me, I didn't go to my closet to pray.  I did start to worry.  But it was later that day when God spoke in a comforting whisper to my soul that seemed to say, "I knew this was coming.....I've got it worked out.....Trust me."  A sense of peace resonated deep within and my husband and I decided to not panic or stress, but wait for God to provide and leave it all at His feet to work out. 
Now, I am not perfect.  Please understand that I do things wrong more times than I do them right.  I am flawed and filled with faults. So I share this as a source of encouragement to you....not as a pat on the back for me.  But in those next weeks, I didn't worry or panic or try to run around like a lunatic working out the solution to our housing dilema.  I simply went about life and my husband and I offered it up in prayer and left it be. 
Because God is faithful and so good, He knew our need and in fact offered a solution that far exceeded our expectations.  In a flippant conversation with a friend at church, I shared with her about our need for a new place to live.  Within the next 48 hours, I was intouch with a woman who had remarried and had her existing house available for rent.  It just so happens that this woman is related, by marriage, to my friend at church.  And it just so happens this soon to be landlord's son goes to church with us.  And it just so happens that her son participated in a theater production my husband directed.  And it just so happens that this wonderful woman goes to church with Shane's boss.  And it just so happens that she was praying that God would bring to her the right people to rent her home.
The relationship was set in place.  God orchestrated those connections....I completely believe that.  But now came the real truth....would the house suit our needs?  When my husband and I went to see the house, the location couldn't have been more ideal.  In the country, but not too far out.  The house itself is newer than where we currently live. It offers more storage, more bathrooms and more bedrooms.  That was our "Samuel".  God answered our prayers for a home.  The rent amount was within our budget and the house did more than just meet our needs.  God had indeed provided.  But He wasn't finished yet.
As I said, this woman recently remarried and had moved into her husband's home.  That meant all the appliances and furnishings were not needed since her husband's house is already furnished.  So as my husband and I were rejoicing over the fact that this house was such a blessing, the owner offered us all the beautiful appliances, the dining furniture, the living room furniture with it's end tables and lamps, the spare bedroom set and so much more....at the same rent amount.  Needless to say, I was speechless and so very grateful.  This was perfect timing.  Due to a flood in our basement, our washer doesn't run right.  In the past 3 years, my oven hasn't worked and I don't think we have ever had a dishwasher since we've been married.  After 13 years our living room set was retired and we have been sitting on second hand furniture.  Don't get me wrong, my husband and I would have been delighted to move what we have into that house and we would have been content making do with what we had.  But this was an additional blessing I could never had imagined.  I compare it to Hannah's other children.  She would have been content with having Samuel -- that is all she asked God for.  But God saw to it to bless her in a way that was nothing more than miraculous......five more children.  He was faithful to Hannah because Hannah was faithful to God. 
So please read this personal story as a testament to what God really can do for us when we get out of the way and let Him.  Had I tried to pull this solution together, I might have been lucky to find this home and negotiate a lease, but I sure wouldn't have dreamt of all the extras we are now blessed with.  Now on to packing.  I might have to reread this post as I wade through boxes....just to keep this blessing on the forefront of my mind as I wrestle with the joys of moving! :)