Endurance for life

[don(MI)]

I don't post much, but have time now and figured I would share whats on my mind.

Do you understand just how much oversight the Lord has in our lives?

I mean, open doors, closed doors. And all the time spent between those doors. He watches us, and knows when to put His plan in action to take care of us.

I have looked, and looked, and looked more for the last 5-6 years for a house. Yes, I am picky when it comes to my own home and property. It had to be a stick built house, smaller scale, a fixer-upper, hopefully on more than 5 acres of land (I need SPACE!). Location to me was critical, because I want to be near my family, even though I have a 40 mile commute one way to work, every day.

He provided in full terms, and more than I could even imagine. 28 acres and a small house that needs work, with a newer furnace AND central air!! I have room now, to hunt, do a little farmin with my tractors (Yes I have old tractors) and work for Him! He has put a plan in my mind, of how he wants me to accomplish His work! (Is He good or what?)

I just spent 20 minutes reading stories on different people lives on this forum. One thing seems common amoung us younger people, I am 27 BTW. It seems that we all want what is best for our Christian walk, even though at that time God has not provided yet. It weighs on us. Everyday, We still pray that He will answer, but nothing seems to happen (Bein real here).

I was in that same boat looking for a house, the right house, for years.

And from nowhere, He answered.

Not only did He answer, he answered with certainty, as many things happened to make this purchase possible. Only through Him.

Were there times I felt exhausted, complained, belly-ached, and felt sorry for myself? Oh ya, you bet. I did keep praying though, and even though I had no idea this kind of a deal would happen for me, I kept praying.

I am still in this boat that is adrift in the ocean, as I still pray for my future wife.

Has not happened for me yet, but I still pray. And I will keep praying, and as fustrated as I sometimes get...........I am not giving up. God loves us so much, and desires for us to serve Him.

With strength from Him, and support from others, I really believe there is nothing, in this world, that God cannot bring us through. He really does carry us through the valleys, this is more true than words can express.

I am sorry for the long post, but my point to others here that read this and are in similar situations is don't fail to believe that He will answer. It might not be now, a month from now, 2 years or 5 years from now, but will answer in His time and way.

I do hope I meet my future wife, sooner than later though! haha

Have a great week! Don

 

[AirDancer]

Beautiful post, Don ... thank you for encouraging everyone to not give up. You're sooooo right: our Lord God does indeed answer.....albeit in HIS time schedule for us, not always on OUR time schedule!

Congrats on the house & property .... our Lord certainly does make our dreams come true!

Blessings!

 

[Claudya]

Beautiful post, Don ... thank you for encouraging everyone to not give up.

I agree, that was a beautiful post. I needed some encouragement.

You should post more often.

 

[don(MI)]

Thank you both!

 

[AirDancer]

You're welcome, Don!

Hopefully, you'll post more often ... become one of the 'regulars' here. You have a lot to offer to the rest of us!

 

[don(MI)]

Ya, I should. Just my view on things.

I usually spend time on an old tractor forum(Yes they exist) and a sportsmans forum, and right now a maple syrup making forum. When the weather warms up in about 1 month, I am generally outside whenever I can be.

 

[AirDancer]

Maple syrup? Are you contemplating making maple syrup?? REAL maple syrup??? (I'm starting to drool here...not a good thing for a keyboard!)

I can understand the preference to be outside whenever you can. I enjoy gardening in my spare time during the growing season. But there are evenings, when your day outside is done, where you can join us here.

Old tractor forum sounds like fun. Some of those beauties are still operational ...beyond the parade route circuit. Had an old John Deere years ago...kept the lane (leading up to the house we had at the time) cleared of snow & snow drifts. Sold that tractor along with the property .... there are times when I miss that old thing.

 

[Claudya]

Did somebody say "maple syrup"?

 

[don(MI)]

Maple syrup? Are you contemplating making maple syrup?? REAL maple syrup??? (I'm starting to drool here...not a good thing for a keyboard!)

I can understand the preference to be outside whenever you can. I enjoy gardening in my spare time during the growing season. But there are evenings, when your day outside is done, where you can join us here.

Old tractor forum sounds like fun. Some of those beauties are still operational ...beyond the parade route circuit. Had an old John Deere years ago...kept the lane (leading up to the house we had at the time) cleared of snow & snow drifts. Sold that tractor along with the property .... there are times when I miss that old thing.

Yes, REAL maple syrup! The only good kind!

Have been making it for around 18 years now, almost since I can start remembering things. Very fun to make it, and could not imagine a spring without it. Looks like another 2 weeks and we will be starting again.

Old tractors, my grandfather has a small farm that I kind of grew up around. He uses nothing but older tractors, and I now own a few old ones myself.

I enjoy this kind of stuff, and pray that the Lord brings that good lookin Christian woman into my life, that I could raise a family with in this kind of environment. Maple syrup and kids work well together! lol

 

[don(MI)]

I will share a few pictures being that you are asking about what I enjoy.

This is a batch of maple syrup, in the pan, cooking (Maple syrup is basically an evaporation process, removing water from the sugar concentrate of 'sap' that comes from maple trees. It usually runs around 2.5% of sugar content, so if you can imagine that is alot of 'water removal'.

This is my grandfather and I, on the back of an old farm tractor. We 'cultivated' his corn field that day, that is my tractor, his old one is in the background

 

[AirDancer]

Great pictures, Don!

There's nothing finer than real maple syrup on homemade waffles, pancakes or French toast. Grief! The thought makes me hungry!

And prayers for you to find the person with whom our Lord wants for you to share you life

 

[don(MI)]

Thanks again!

Life is interesting to say the least...

A new family started coming to my church (Missionary) in the last 2 months, on and off. There is a young lady in the family, early 20's that I got to meet 2 times, briefly. Kinda excited to see if this goes anywhere, without going into a long story one of her parents asked about me, to a relative of mine. Funny how things happen, because I talked to my relative about the young lady 1 week earlier. I am really hoping God has a great plan ahead for me!

He knows just how long I have wanted my future wife, and to start a family with her. His timing is so incredibly hard to understand, yet perfect. I know this has been said many times, but until you actually live it out and see for yourself His plans and how they work to glorify Him, only then does it become real (at least to me). And all the valleys of difficult times that I talked about, He is just testing our patience and our trust in Him! haha Goodbye valleys and hello Life! (I hope!)

 

[AirDancer]

Isn't it amazing how our Lord works things out? Whether he places people in our lives for a season or for life, it's simply awe-inspiring how He does it!

Without a doubt, He has a plan for you .... and since the plan is His, it will be wonderful!