I Prayed Ten Years for This

This seems to be the year for special markers along life’s way. A couple weeks ago I celebrated my 15th blogging anniversary. This week we are remembering a gift from the Lord that I prayed ten years for…

Our church had graciously provided an ample 3-bedroom ranch style house for us, and I was content. We lived there for thirteen years. However, when I watched my mother-in-law having to scramble to vacate a parsonage after my father-in-law, (also a pastor) passed away, I began to pray that the Lord would allow us to buy our own home. You can read a little of the story here.

I didn’t just pray for a house, I prayed specifically, using a list I created on my phone. I asked the Lord for a home that had an open floor plan, making it possible to entertain many guests and to be able to interact with them easily. I asked for an office space for my husband, a family room, separate from the living room for resting and television viewing. On and on the list went. Our great God answered that request perfectly August 2013 when we moved out to the country on an acre of property. We were ecstatic, and we still are! I try to thank God every day for our home. He provided in a way that only He could have done.

Here are some highlights about this place we call home:

• We have had over 1,000 guests! I keep a guest book, and there are over 700 names written in them, but there have been MANY who never signed, like when Men’s prayer breakfast meets here, or when people come for counseling or mentoring, etc.
• I have hosted lots of different kinds of events – from both wedding and baby showers, youth nights, couples’ nights, cooking classes, mentoring sessions, church-wide picnics, volleyball nights and men/ladies’ events, and many other fun times in between!
• Our best loved space is probably our back porch. It’s covered, creating a lovely outdoor “room” with dining table, cafe table, swing, love seat and chairs. Shades keep the evening sun out, and the ceiling fan keeps it breezy. We eat all our meals on the porch from spring through fall. We host gatherings out there as often as weather permits!
• We’ve added lots of trees and bushes. Our yard is so deep that I wanted to create spaces we could use. The first third is patio/fire pit. The next 2/3 is for play – kite-flying, croquet, and volleyball are some of the games we’ve enjoyed out there. I have another dream I’m asking the Lord for back there!
• I’ve painted almost every room. I need to do the guest room and laundry room, then we’ll have them all freshly painted. My favorite color is in our bedroom and the guest room. I also love the accent wall in the family room.
• I use every inch of the space in our home. I move around for my Quiet time, depending on the season. I have an office space in our guest room where I often work on my blog and writing projects. I often use the front guest room to pray in. The family room is where Dale and I sit together to watch a movie or each of us to work on our blogs. Our family gatherings happen up there, too.

I love our home, but it’s not just because of the structure – it’s what the Lord allows us to do here. We serve others. We share Christ. We love our family. We pray. We laugh. We cook and eat. We rest from ministry. I like a description written by Ina Garten concerning the function of a house –

A good home should gather you up in his arms like a warm cashmere blanket, soothe your hurt feelings, and prepare you to go back out into that big bad world tomorrow all ready to fight the dragons.”

With the Lord’s strength, it’s the people in the home that create this atmosphere. As we continue to live here and serve the Lord, I pray that every person who walks in our doors will feel the love of Christ enveloping them and causing them to rest, to know that someone cares, and that there is always room for one more chair at our dining room table and space on the back porch swing.

Thank you, God for our home. It is all of the His goodness, and I share this post to encourage you to bring your requests to God Who knows what you need even better than you do.

Any guesses about what we’re doing at our house this weekend?
What do you love most about your home?