When we got back from this trip we were greeted by the squishing of our toes in the corner of our dining room carpet.
Somehow water had leaked into the house while we were away and soaked through the dining room carpet as well as part of our tiled pantry.
Personally, I preferred the squishing of my toes in the sand of the Bahama beaches, but whatever. 🙂
The hubs pulled the carpet back and set up a fan and we thought we had it all figured out.
Until a few weeks later when I went in the pantry to pull out my craft bin and low and behold discovered a garden of mold growing.
This led to the discovery that the outside of our house had a bunch of cracks which led to the unveiling of more mold that stretched all along the left side of the kitchen which led to the ripping out of cabinets which led to the relocation of waffle makers and mixing bowls and utensil drawers which led to the entire pantry needing to be stored on the dining room table which led to my children thinking that our home was now a Grand Corral buffet open all day long which led to the realization that we had absolutely no money to fix anything which led to us contacting our insurance for help.
As much as the water damage and mold was a big pain, the prospect of getting some financial assistance to fix things up was kind of exciting.
So I did what anyone would do.
I started a board on Pinterest for a kitchen remodel.
I’ve always been pretty happy with our kitchen. It’s old and it has some funny quirks, but they never bothered me.
That is, until I began pinning.
Then I became hopelessly troubled that I didn’t have granite countertops and 42″ cabinets.
Armed with the knowledge that our insurance adjustor was ‘busy working behind the scenes’ with the claims department, we visited Home Depot and started dreaming up our perfect kitchen. I began praying that insurance would give us a specific amount so that I could get my granite countertops AND possibly throw in some updated appliances AND maybe have a bit left over to replace the carpets.
**You know, totally and completely not selfish prayers.**
7 weeks later and we received a call that our insurance would not be helping us.
Not one little bit.
And I found myself feeling kind of grumpy.
What about my beautiful new kitchen? What about my stainless steel things? What about my granite?
And the Lord whispered to my spirit,
“Insurance is not your provider. I AM your provider.”
Talk about a swift kick to the knees.
I repented of my selfish prayers. The ones that didn’t take into account all the people in the universe who live in homes with dirt floors and no kitchens AT ALL.
I thanked God for giving us all that we could ever ask for or need in Jesus Christ.
Then something amazing happened.
Over the next few days, a man at church approached my hubby and said that he felt the Lord telling him to help us fix the leaks on the outside of our house as well as help repaint the exterior. Then another man approached the hubby and said he could help rebuild the damaged cabinets. Then another man took care of all the mold. Then a few friends showed up with casseroles.
Then a friend of my neighbor’s found out about my Summer Bucket List and told me she worked at Benjamin Moore and could give us paint for my beloved yellow front door.
And we found ourselves completely and utterly in awe of the Lord’s provision.
In reflection, I am so humbled by how quick I was to exalt money to a position that was equated with my happiness. As if receiving a large sum of money would fulfill the deepest desires of my soul.
As if a double oven could even do that.
When I look around our home, I see my Father’s handprints. I see the dining table that my parents bought for us. I see the bookshelves a dear friend in college gave to us as newlyweds. I see the crib and changing table from a former student’s mom. I see a playhouse from my mother-in-law. I see a couch we bought for a steal because the manager felt moved to accept our offer. I see a bed given to us from another friend. I see a dresser that we found in the garbage. I see the mirror that a friend bought for me as a happy gift when our baby was in the hospital. I see the dresser that used to be my brother’s. I see the piano given to us by a girl we knew at Florida State. I see our bedroom furniture that belonged to my parents when they first got married.
Provisions. Needs met. Every single one with a story behind it. A reminder of GOD’s faithful provision through precious, obedient people.
Like the Church as described in Acts 2.
That is the stuff that works itself into our souls.
So as we face these ‘trials’ – these fallen world problems – I’m trying to train myself to see things with eyes fixed on a different home.
A home that is way more perfect than any of the ones in Southern Living.
A home that won’t ever have settling cracks or mold or damaged cabinetry.
A home that is full of glorious riches far greater than a check from insurance.
A home that is eternally provided for us through the perfect work of Christ.
This perspective gives freedom to be patient while it looks like your kitchen vomited its contents all over the living room (going on week 8). It gives peace in knowing that He sees what we need. It gives overwhelming gratitude when needs are creatively met.
And it gives joy to be fully trusting in the One who knows best.
Which reminds me… I picked out a color for our front door –
Benjamin Moore – Pure Joy #327.
🙂
– Julie
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
I think you are so wise, you made my day today…thank you
Fabulous, Julie! Thanks for taking the time to put the thoughts and words into writing. Love the transparency!
Loved the happy thoughts from the happy home, cherished the happy reminders from the happy Father! The happy door color is pure joy, may its color grace your home with continued sunshine and blessings . God IS good …all the time.
Great post! This also goes to show that we don’t know the little (huge) things that people are constantly dealing with at any given time! I had no idea! That wasn’t a tiny trial! So glad He worked them all out for you and your followers to see.
Amen sister. I love when our heavenly Daddy is so creative. I am blessed by the story of the people who stepped out in obedience to be the hands and feet of Christ to your family during this heavenly makeover. 🙂
Thank you so much for that wonderful reminder. I needed that.
Great reminder! It’s easier than you might think to get caught up in something and over your head in thinking you need something. Contentment is a lifelong journey and I think we all need moments like this to realize just how much God provides for us. Thanks for sharing!
Megan
This makes my heart so happy!! Love u dear friend! Xoxo
Julie, this was such a great reminder! Justin and I have been learning a bit more about families in poverty living in the US. Particularly the hungry children. It has made us immeasurably grateful for all that we have!
Thank you for your honesty…it would have been so much easier to show us your new front door than to praise the One who made it possible and show us your repentant, grateful heart. As we get ready to move to a new house, I’m reminded to focus on the life we live, not the stuff we have…but the temptation when it comes to house stuff is pretty intense. I can totally see myself following you down that rabbit trail, but I pray that if that’s the case, I’ll be as obedient as you were and get back on track!
This post really spoke to me. We have been in the process of trying to sell our current house and are contingent on a new construction home. Well we have not had any reasonable offers on our home and will be taking it off the market the end of the month. I have had my moments of sulking but am realizing the same things this is our home and its where memories are made. Not to say that I’m not still Pinterest stalking ideas to improve our current house to my liking but I am definitly starting to change my thought process of where we live. Soo much to be thankful for especially when I have just gotten the news that several of my friends’ husbands have been laid off from work. Situations can change in the blink of an eye and its best to content.
Pure Joy is perfect!!
Isn’t it ironic? We trust Him in the dark of the night in hospital rooms because He is literally all we have…but we hang onto the lesser things and scramble to solve them our way. Then He shows us that He is, literally, all we need. Thanks for the reminder.
Wow that is just what I needed to read today! Amen! Thank you for sharing
I am waiting on The Lord to provide this weekend. He never fails me- even showed me a rainbow last night for reassurance. Still I was a little stressed this morning wondering what “I” can do to provide what I need. Thank you so much for this blessing today!
LOVE this!! Sooooo needed. We are meeting with a realtor tonight to sell our home due to financial constraints. We are planning to rent. This is so backwards from a worldly view that its a struggle. But your post reminded me of the blessings that will come if we obey HIM and NOT the WORLD!!! thanks so much. LOVE LOVE LOVE your posts!!!
God is so good. Continued blessings to you.
Thank you for this message. I’ve been hearing it a lot lately….
http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement/don-t-cry-over-spilled-shampoo-encouragement-for-today-july-23-2014.html
Thank you, Julie for the wonderful reminder on the true nature of “home”…. “For in Him we live & move & have our being.”
It’s so true that we rely on him for the “big” or “serious” stuff in life because we have to–there is nothing else to do. But somehow we convince ourselves that we either have to be or should be in control of everything else. But God provides for all of our needs. This was a great post and something I really needed to hear–thanks!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I really needed to hear this today. hope you’re having a fun summer despite living in the midst of your ‘pantry relocation project’ 🙂
I heart this story. And this is why I read your blog. xoxo Veronica
This is one of my favorites. This really helped ME put things into perspective!
And now, I have a yellow front door craving, too! How perfect is that color?!
This is something I have recently been having trouble with…as an admitted instagram addict…I am constantly thinking I want this….I want that….look at what she has I wish I could afford that….I constantly feel guilty wanting and hoping and wishing when I have everything I need…..how do I overcome? I pray to god daily to fill my heart with contentment for I have everything I need and then some….
I just wanted to tell you what a blessing your blog is to me. I love to go through my emails and when I get to yours, the Lord always uses it to prick my heart. Thank you!
Oh Donna! Thanks for these sweet words. 🙂 You are a blessing to ME!
What a blessing to read about how you turned your difficulties into faith in action. God is good all the time. And and you stated he is the provider and we need to trust him at all times. He knows the plan and gives us strength to carry on each day.
Love this….we live in a “HGTV” and “pinterest” world where we can’t be content with what we have! I find myself getting envious bc my home isn’t fully updated, and I have brass sink fixtures and door knobs, and my cabinets aren’t ceiling high. My family lives in a very modest ranch home that we love dearly, that is until we visit others and see how amazing their home is decorated, and updated, etc. I find myself envious of others at time. But it’s always good perspective to realize we have been given soooo much and blessed beyond what we can imagine. It’s amazing what some paint can do for a room! I’ll be happy with my brass knobs and vinyl flooring!
Hi Julie,
My family just moved from Texas to the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s a big change…including a downsize into a condo MUCH smaller than our old house. We kept saying “but we don’t have ANYTHING” as we took things we had moved but didn’t have room for to a local Salvation Army. And it’s true…we’ve been broke college students for all of our married life. We don’t have much, but God reminded us that we have enough. Our boys. Each other. And He reminded us that he would provide…the storage closet on our balcony was just big enough for all the Christmas decorations I was afraid I would have to give away.
Lately every time I’m feeling down about this move far from friends and family, I find myself making my way to your blog. Because there I am reminded that God is enough…Pure Joy!
I’m also inspired to revamp my blogging. While you won’t see my old one anymore (as I’ve personally and spiritually outgrown what that blog was designed to be), keep an eye out for a new one coming in a few weeks.
Happy Summer! Thank you, and God bless!!
Melissa J Aday