Monday, January 21, 2008

Please Join in Our Prayers!


We have been trying to sell the house we are living in for awhile now. We had it sold the first of June 2007, just a couple of weeks after putting the sign in the yard. It was a pastor and his wife that made us the offer. They offered us more than our asking price, stating that God had given them that figure after telling them they were to buy it. The husband, after walking to the back yard, and seeing our fire pit said, "I told my son my new house was going to have a stone fire pit". There were so many things like that said during their visits. Then they took pictures and went home to pack and arrange to sell their house. We were all in contact with a lawyer who was drawing up the contract. Then they called. They said that when they got home and started looking around, they realized they have too much stuff for our small house. And they HAD to find a place with enough room to keep it all. Seriously! And they withdrew their offer. God must have not realized they had all that stuff when he told them to buy our house.

That is the biggest story surrounding the sale of this house, but there are many more smaller oddities that have occurred. Some would take that as a sign that we aren't supposed to sell and move, and originally, we had our doubts. But God has continually showed us that he still desires for us to build a physical 'Koinonia Community'. We have realized, though, as this past year has progressed, that he still had stuff to show us, and we still had alot to learn, to prepare us for what he had in store to accomplish through us.

Early on, we had the house for sale by owner. We wanted someone else to handle the details. So God sent us to a friend of ours through church. We are both positive that we did what God prompted us to do. But the problem is that our friend was an agent with a small company, and from outside our area. So our house didn't get exposure with agents and buyers looking for a house in our area.

The last time we had it listed (several years ago), when the contract was up, we received phone calls and letters and brochures from a ton of agents, ready to pick up the contract. Our contract ran out over two weeks ago, and we have not been contacted by a single agent. None of them know it has been for sale. Our exposure has been limited to drive-bys.

We aren't as discouraged as we could be. We know that we were obedient to God, and that he has something incredible in store for us. We know that he already knows who is going to buy our house, and that when the time is right, he can bring that buyer to our house, regardless of the circumstances. We know that all these little adversities and setbacks are necessary to not only prepare us, but to ensure that honor and glory is brought to God through what is accomplished. After all, God likes a big story. But we are ready to go!

I have also looked at land to purchase and have run into a bunch of what appear to be stumbling blocks. But when I pray about it, God keeps telling me he is going to give us the land. Well, I kept interpreting that as 'show' us the land. What if he really means give? If someone were to give us the land, there would be no doubt that Koinonia Community was born out of the hand of God. It would be obvious that it was his creation, not ours. But alas, we are still just guessing....and waiting.

Koinonia Community is going to be a way of doing modern life following a first century model. It would involve sharing, communion, participation, communication, and giving. It is going to provide an opportunity for people to be better stewards of the resources God has entrusted to their care. That means, by sharing things such as lawnmowers and tools, more money will be freed up to distribute to the needy. That means, by living in close proximity, and with fewer individual resources necessary, we should be able to tread more lightly on this earth. And we hope by simplifying our lifestyles to be able to provide more spiritually and emotionally for our families and neighbors.

At this moment, I am asking for anyone who reads this to join me in prayer for Koinonia Community. We desire to sell this house. We desire to find the land God has promised us. We desire to get all the necessaries lined up to make it happen. We want to do something amazing! And I thank you for being a part of it through your prayers.

Every week since we were handed this vision, I have had scripture on my board to look at and pray daily. They change every now and then, as I am prompted to change the tone of my prayers. These are the ones that are there this week.

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 107:30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

Ezekiel 34:27 The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslave them.

Psalm 39:6-7 Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth not knowing who will get it.
But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

2 comments:

Michelle said...

I feel your pain. We are in the same situation (trying to sell our home). We wanted to buy land so badly and have a more self-sufficient type of living but circumstances led us in a different direction. We have the new home but yet to sell ours. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers and I hope everything you desire comes your way!

TheNormalMiddle said...

I know this is the desire of your heart, and I pray that it will all come to fruition in God's perfect time.

:)

A fellow traveller, looking for land! :)