Monday, October 09, 2006

a detour!


"It has been said that a mark of deep spiritual maturity is to be able to enjoy the journey when God puts you on a detour." ~ Vance Havner

my personal detour is the lack of housing in this area ... it doesn't matter what i have done or where i have looked ... the answer is the same - day in, day out - there is nothing out there for us to buy ...

some days are frustrating ... other days we ask the Lord: "do you want us to move out of the area?" ... ALL days we continue to pray fervently for wisdom and for a home to buy ...

i'm just wondering if i should unpack more? ... then cozy up the rental to a more comfortable level?

as you can see, there are more questions then answers!

i mean honestly, who would have thought that the real estate market would drop to zilch around here ...

so i posted the Vance Havner quote to remind myself that detours are from God ... for a purpose ... so that i can GROW ... and all things are only for a season, and all for a reason ...

13 comments:

Catherine said...

Great quote! I'll have to remember that one. :)

I am also a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, even if at the time, we don't understand what the reason could possibly be.

Saija said...

catherine ... i am a "i'll fix it" type of person ... i like to take care of people, if i can ... to make my world run as smoothly as i can ... leo's pain is already something i cannot fix or control -maybe i over compensate in other areas? ... so the fact i can't find us a suitable home to buy is driving me crazy! sigh ... i said i would "let go, and let God" - but it seems i am still hanging onto something in this process! *rye chuckle* ...

Anonymous said...

nice quote...

Tis hard to be in a waiting mode of life...we have been renting now over 3 years here, paying more than we can afford really. But buying just does not seem an option now...maybe never actually. But we have to learn to be content in all situations, don't we? Whether to pack or unpack is a very hard question too!! I have boxes of stuff around yet...sigh...maybe it is getting time to pare down more...I think that might be best!

Anonymous said...

Saija, my friend:

Praying for you during this detour experience! God is working things out behind the scenes and it's for our good.

Get cosy where you are and watch the Lord do something wonderful.

Much love in Christ,

David

Saija said...

elizabeth ... now that is a good idea! to pare down ... i did a fair amount of that before the move - and now i'm itching to start giving more stuff away ... i mean "out of sight, out of mind" ... :o) ... may the Lord grant you wisdom in your particular situation - and may He grant us both peace and contentment in the situations we are in! blessings ...

David ... thank you for your prayer, it does mean alot ... and we do realize that this isn't a bad situation to be in - it's just one of those annoying ones - but i may just cozy-up here ... i have a few ideas up my sleeve ... blessings on your week!

Maggie Ann said...

Its so hard to live in a 'temporary' state. I remember when we were living in an apartment before our house was finished. I was miserable, but of course I didn't have the Lord in my heart back then, but it still was something I am not comfortable with. I'd LOVE to have you live in my town...grin. I'm praying for you & Leo ...that the Lord would show you his will for right now...there must be something just right that he knows of! Hoping....for you/smile. Thanks for sharing your faith/testimony over at knitting kat. We just may meet in the air, and it will be thrilling. I love it too, that we will be sisters through out all eternity. Saved by the blood of the crucified one...our precious Saviour, the Lord Jesus! Getting to know you has been a great blessing to me and it seems the Lord led me to your blog, soon after I started blogging and often you were the only comment 'er' I had...grin. Thanks! You are special to me. *hugs*

Captainwow said...

well, in our city, there are a BAZILLION houses for sale! Lots of them have been for sale for EVER. So you could get a really good deal here, ifn you wanted to.
You wouldn't have bears pooping your back yard. Or a long drive to work at a park. Or even a park to work at for a few hours drive.
But you could go work at RBC and live in one of the most architecturally diverse cities in the US. But then, You'd have to live in the U.S.
it all depends on what you want.
I bet this is a challenging time for you, but whatever you're supposed to do will come to you.

auntibeck said...

Waiting for God to answer--it's tough. I love the detour quote! We feel like we're on a bit of a detour right now--husband patiently awaiting an opening for heart surgery, son and family in Valdez evacuting his home, as we speak, due to flooding. I always think that these trials meet us where the rubber hits the road and we find out what our faith really means to us. And also we know that we're being observed by others so that they can learn how to go through the storms of life by our example. You are doing that, Saija, and you're sharing with many to whom you look for answers...that's all you need to do. God is doing the rest.

What I do find hard is being stuck in our humanity unable to see what lies ahead--and how God does have a plan--we just haven't been let in on it yet! God Bless!! Hang tough.

Debra said...

My 'funny answer' is yes! Start unpacking more and settling more --that always makes something happen! (Like, wash your car and the next day it will rainfor sure!). :)

My serious answer is that I've learned that when I'm really trusting God (*really* trusting Him) then things come to me--I don't even have to go after them anymore. There's a verse which says that 'blessings will chase us down the street', and well, it's like that. :) More of that 'seek ye first' stuff....

So I'd say just relax... It must be that God, himself, wants to find the house for you, but He can only do that when you stop looking and let Him look for you for just the perfect place. If He finds it for you then truly *He* will get all the credit, because really, it will have been all Him. Blessings to you and Leo, Debra

Saija said...

maggie ann ... i read your warm, sweet, comment to leo ... the internet has been a blessing in the kindred spirits God has brought into my life - truly amazing ... how can i complain about anything when the blessings so warmly embrace my spirit ... *hugs*

cptnwow ... well i'd love to work at RBC - they have helped me grow, brought wonderful authors into my life - i mean the list is endless in the "good stuff" department! ... :o) ... unfortunately i don't think the US wants us for residents - we don't fit the bill ... sigh ... if we did, we could live in a trailer under the superstition mountains in AZ ... *chuckle* ...

antibk ... yes, that is exactly it - the waiting is tough ... i think we are all people who want to DO SOMETHING ... and the something can be patiently waiting ... i am waiting with a smile - most days ... i mean, compared to 90% of other folks and their troubles in this world - this is extremely minor ... thank you for the encouragement as you yourself wait on the Lord for answers to very grave issues in your family ... blessings!

Saija said...

Debra ... maybe because it is the HARDEST thing for me to NOT do anything - that is what i need to do? i keep thinking that i need to work at it - then the Lord will reward my work ... but i guess it's almost like "working" for salvation - which is impossible of course ... i will try to rest in the Lord ... i appreciate your thoughts on this ... thank you ...

Diane Viere said...

What a profound post! We are experiencing a detour of our own....the failing health of my MIL. It is important to remember to lift our eyes from the stresses of life and look for the handiwork and promises of God. Great post!

Diane

Saija said...

Diane ... i'm so sorry to hear of the sadness re your mother-in-law ... though it sounds like you are indeed comforted by the presence of God's Spirit ... He is the BEST Comforter ...