I don't have beds yet, so I am sleeping on the couch (that someone GAVE to us, that is EXACTLY what I had PRAYED for). I don't have hot water yet, so I am taking cold showers here or warm ones at the gym.
But, I have a kitchen to cook in, toilets to use, lights and air to turn on, and space to hold the masses. I think I am still in a little bit of awe/shock/overwhelming can't believe it's real, mode. But it's perfect.
This is what I have learned over the last few days, already.......
I am going to need lots of food. I need a Sam's card, and all the help I can get with keeping my shelves stocked. I have already been to McDade's and Save A Lot 6 times since Friday. 50 freeze pops are already gone. 2 cases of water are already gone. 4 boxes of cereal are already gone. The only real food I have here is the food that I eat, that the kids think is disgusting and won't even try. Jesus did send a big tray of good hamburgers Sunday afternoon that they devoured. Thank you Lord for daily bread.
No shoes allowed rule is working well. They are already doing it on their own, without me having to remind them. Really, I think it's because they can run and slide on the new floor in their socks. I've stopped a few times on the front porch, just looking down at the pile of stinky shoes piled up, just taking it all in.
Freeze pops go in the top drawer of the freezer. You can get 50 freeze pops for about $2.00. They love these. I learned the first day they were frozen that keeping them in the bottom drawer of the freezer would be a lot more complicated than the top drawer. It's funny how something that simple can make a big difference in life. So, freeze pops go in the top drawer.
I still have to drive all over the place. I have been thinking, "when I am in the house I won't have to drive all the time." But, that hasn't really changed much. I still have to get them to basketball practices and games, still have to pick them up and take them home, still have to go up and down Lamar street 900 times a day, but - they are worth it.
By the way let's talk about this for a minute........I was given a 15 passenger van. The Lord GAVE me a van. I can't even.
Jesus really did a miracle here. The first night I stayed in the house, I slept on the couch, with no curtains on the windows and the lights shining all in my face. I really didn't even go to sleep because I laid there all night recounting every miracle of provision that Jesus has done to get me here. I thought about every single person I could remember that had come to help, give, pray, and encourage me along the way, and I prayed for EACH OF YOU BY NAME. Until the wee hours of the morning, I just sat with Jesus on the couch and we had the best time crying and laughing at how sweet and perfect He is. He loves to take us back through our journey with Him so we can remember how faithful and loving He is to us.
I was awakened this morning by my little neighbor knocking on the door at 6:30, peeking through my mail slot. "Ms Jamie, is you in there?"
Isaiah 60 is the best way I can really express all the emotions I have right now in life.
“What’s that we see in the distance,
a cloud on the horizon, like doves darkening the sky?
It’s ships from the distant islands,
the famous Tarshish ships
Returning your children from faraway places,
loaded with riches, with silver and gold,
And backed by the name of your God, The Holy of Israel,
showering you with splendor.
Foreigners will rebuild your walls,
and their kings assist you in the conduct of worship.
When I was angry I hit you hard.
It’s my desire now to be tender.
Your Jerusalem gates will always be open
—open house day and night!—
Receiving deliveries of wealth from all nations,
and their kings, the delivery boys!
Any nation or kingdom that doesn’t deliver will perish;
those nations will be totally wasted.
The rich woods of Lebanon will be delivered
—all that cypress and oak and pine—
To give a splendid elegance to my Sanctuary,
as I make my footstool glorious.
The descendants of your oppressor
will come bowing and scraping to you.
All who looked down at you in contempt
will lick your boots.
They’ll confer a title on you: City of God,
Zion of The Holy of Israel.
Not long ago you were despised refuse—
out-of-the-way, unvisited, ignored.
But now I’ve put you on your feet,
towering and grand forever, a joy to look at!
When you suck the milk of nations
and the breasts of royalty,
You’ll know that I, God, am your Savior,
your Redeemer, Champion of Jacob.
I’ll give you only the best—no more hand-me-downs!
Gold instead of bronze, silver instead of iron,
bronze instead of wood, iron instead of stones.
I’ll install Peace to run your country,
make Righteousness your boss.
There’ll be no more stories of crime in your land,
no more robberies, no more vandalism.
You’ll name your main street Salvation Way,
and install Praise Park at the center of town.
You’ll have no more need of the sun by day
nor the brightness of the moon at night.
God will be your eternal light,
your God will bathe you in splendor.
Your sun will never go down,
your moon will never fade.
I will be your eternal light.
Your days of grieving are over.
All your people will live right and well,
in permanent possession of the land.
They’re the green shoot that I planted,
planted with my own hands to display my glory.
The runt will become a great tribe,
the weakling become a strong nation.
I am God. At the right time I’ll make it happen.”
