The morning of our Crossing Over!

All Things Work Together for Good…

Romans 8:28  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love YHVH, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Sometimes does it seems like everything is working against you?  What is the deal God?  Did we not hear you correctly?  Are we out of your will?  What about your promises of blessing and provision and watch care over us?  Are we under attack of the devil?  Do we just resist and press forward?  But what if You are trying to tell us that we are off-track.  What does one think; so many conflicting thoughts and opinions?  In times like these you have to know what you know and have heard and trust that “ALL things work together for good!”  And never give the devil any credit.  Everything comes from YHVH, Everything – both the good and the seeming bad!  It is good to remember in times of stress and hardship and conflict, Rav Shaul’s counsel to the Philippian congregation in chapter 4 verse 4: “Rejoice in our YHVH always; and again I say, Rejoice.”

When we got home from Australia this past March, we needed a rest, a time for reorganizing, reprioritizing, rejuvenation, some down time.  During those few months we began to believe that YHVH was asking us to leave our home of the last 11 years and be like Abraham; get up from this place and go to a land that I will show you.  At first it seemed so simple.  The family that has been leasing with option to purchase the majority of our property, (everything except our home) for three years told us that they were now ready to buy.  So simple and we were emotionally ready to move.  Then the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months and finally the family informed us that the bank had refused the loan.  This news came shortly after the middle of July.  Now what do we do?  Suddenly the anticipated money from the sale of the property to buy an RV for our traveling was off the table.  Do we move out anyway and let the family lease the entire property?  What was it YHVH had said, “Get up, and go from this place to a land that I will show you…”  Suddenly things didn’t seem so simple anymore. We didn’t have a traveling rig and we wouldn’t have a home.  “Maybe YHVH is trying to tell us that we are not supposed to leave California and our home, maybe we’ve discerned His will for us incorrectly.”  Doubts, doubts, so many doubts…

Our leaving California date was set for the 26^th of July, we already had our travel itinerary scheduled, people are expecting us, what to do now?  “We’ll just have to take the truck.  We’ve traveled with it many times before; I guess it’s one more time.”  And then the truck quit working, just out of the blue it died; we tried several options and nothing; now what do we do?   “YHVH are you trying to tell us that we have missed the mark, that these plans are out of Your will for us?” more doubts…it’s difficult to resist the doubts when it seems like everything is against you.

But, our good and kind Heavenly Father had already put the idea for the Shalom Power Clips in our minds, the first one had already been recorded and we were due in the studio for a second session and had plans for a third session, but the uncertainties on the home front and the extra expenses of getting ready were taking their toll on our joy cup.  What a blessed relief it was though, to put the ear phones of the MP3 player in our ears and hear the Word of YHVH reassuring us that He is faithful no matter what the outward circumstances may be, yes, YHVH IS faithful!

We decided to continue packing up our home, the word of Genesis 12:1 was too strong to deny.  Something would work out, it had to!  We had a weekend camping trip planned with family and friends for Steve’s birthday the middle of July and from that weekend came confirmation that we were to continue recording the Shalom Power Clips and Steve’s folks offered us the use of their Toyota Dolphin mini motorhome for our up-coming tour.  We were grateful!  The motorhome was not without its issues and expense to deal with those issues and once again the joy cup was taking a hit.  “Do you trust me or not?”  Abba seemed to be asking.

“Yes, we trust you, but does it have to be so hard?”

Silence…

The 26^th of July came and went and we were still on the property.  Maybe the 28^th.. No, well then maybe we’ll be ready the 29^th.  We had an engagement in BC, Canada for the weekend of the 2^nd – 4^th of August; we’ve got to be able to leave soon.  Monday, the 29^th we were vacuuming the living room carpet when the electricity went off.  Since we live off-grid, and our home power is supplied by a solar system, this was not a totally unusual experience, but the sun was up mid-day and shining brightly and it did seem curious as to why we suddenly had no power.  Steve went to the pump house to check the system and came back with some disturbing news; our 3KW Inverter was toast.  Burnt toast at that.  “Oh please,” we said, “what more could possibly go wrong?”  But the day was not yet over…

We finally drove off the property at 9:45 the evening of the 29^th of July.  25 minutes down the road, heading north out of Oroville towards Redding to spend the remainder of the night with Steve’s folks 2 hours north, the Toyota Dolphin mini motorhome died.  No clicks, no grunts, no effort of any kind could be coaxed from that little engine that we thought could.  So we pushed the thing into the parking lot of the Home Depot and crawled into bed praying that we wouldn’t be harassed in the night.

Steve’s folks showed up to help us about 6:45 a.m. and it was finally determined that an 80watt main engine fuse had blown.  Of course no one in town had such a thing so Steve “hot-wired” the fuse and the little engine that we thought could, did, it started!  We put the fire extinguisher up front…just in case…!

We spent Tuesday, the 30^th, taking care of details.  Some people called and asked if we were out of California yet?  “Not yet,” we said, “but we are getting closer.”  “Oh my,” our friends responded.  Other dear friends recommended a reputable mechanic and we were able to get the fuse replaced.  It’s all about knowing what you need to do; mechanics are such knowledgeable and helpful people!  Steve could not get that fuse out for love or money, try as he would that thing would not budge.  The friendly mechanic though, with a deft turn of the wrist, popped out that stubborn thing; “push” he says, “not pull.”  Who knew…thankfully he did.

This morning, the 31^st, we finally crossed over into Oregon.  We read through the Psalms every month and during the reading for today YHVH spoke into my spirit, “ALL things work together for good. I wanted you to know that your time in California on the property you have lived at for the past 11 years has come to a close.  I sent you three witnesses to confirm this fact to you.  You thought they were hardships and difficulties and you were dismayed and disheartened by these three witnesses, but look at them now as confirmations that you are in My Will.  The truck quit working, My sign to you that your time to work here is over.  The inverter quit working, My sign to you that your house was no longer your home.  The Toyota Dolphin mini motorhome stopped dead in its tracks, but then was revived, My sign to you that this segment of your life is over and done.  Rest in Me and in the morning I will show you marvels that you will not believe.  (Who knew that you could “hot-wire” a fuse!)

Stay tuned….more to come!