“Bent But Not Broken”

My husband and I opened a small, retail store selling ethnic cosmetics, cards, hosiery, figurines and a number of other items.  There was no other place in town that sold these particular types of items.  We drew up a dynamic business proposal and submitted it to the Small Business Association, after which we received a considerable loan to start the business.  We found a place downtown (the location wasn’t great, but we could not afford anything better (location is everything).  We remodeled the place, which we didn’t own but rented (mistake!).  We bought fixtures with a business credit card, and we purchased products to sell.  We had done a survey to find out if there was a demand for our products in our area, but you know how often people say one thing and then do another?  Our survey showed a good demand for our idea and our products.  We thought we had a sure thing.  We had prayed, trusted God, and basically, we had done our homework.  Some people say to give a business at least five years to become a success.  I say examine the facts.  Why endure a lot of hardship and expense?  When the cards are dealt after the shuffle, and, after you have drawn more cards, and you can’t make a good hand, then fold and fold gracefully.

I kept a diary of what went on in my life and how God saw my family and me through those hard times.  If you read my first book, remember I said that you should, “Never let them (people) see you sweat?” (Remember the Right Guard™ commercial)?  Well, now I will allow you to see a little of my perspiration.

Don’t stay away from a church, congregation or God because of previous hurts or misunderstandings.  God loves you.  Let her prove it.

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“The Job Syndrome”

(A Spiritual Faith Diary) “Formula for Faith is Believing Without Seeing”

“The Job Syndrome”—what is it?  It’s an expression that I’ve come up with to explain the condition, which I feel that I’m in sometimes.  Those times are the times when we go through a situation we feel is unpleasant.  As I write this book, I feel that I am experiencing those issues right now in order to help someone at another time.  Sometimes the experiences are embarrassing, but we have to remember what the Bible has to say: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13).

The book of Job, in the old testament of the Bible, is a ‘once-upon-a-time’ story about a good man who suffered many injustices in his life.  One day, as the story goes, Satan appears before God to tell Him about all the sinful things people are doing on earth.  God says to Satan, “Did you notice My servant Job?  There is no one on earth like him, a thoroughly good man who never sins.”  Satan answers God, “Of course Job is pious and obedient.  You make it worth his while by showering riches and blessings on him.  Take away those blessings and see how long he remains your obedient servant.”

God accepts Satan’s challenge.  God doesn’t tell Job what is about to happen to his life.  As the story develops, Satan destroys Job’s house and cattle and kills his children.  He afflicts Job with boils all over his body, so that his every moment and movement becomes physical torture.  Job’s wife urges him to curse God, even if that means God’s striking him dead.  He knows he can’t do anything worse.  Three friends come to console Job, and they too urge him to give up his piety if this is the reward it brings him, but Job remains steadfast in his faith.  Nothing that happens to him can make him give up his devotion to God.  At the end, God appears, scolds the friends for their advice, and rewards Job for his faithfulness.  God gives him a new home, a new fortune, and new children.  The moral of the story is: when hard times befall you, don’t be tempted to give up your faith in God.  He has His reasons for what He is doing, and if you hold on to your faith long enough, He will compensate you for your suffering.  “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come” (Ish. 57:1).

“Small Beginnings” (September 23, 1996)

In 1996, I began to go through a situation similar to Job’s.  No, I did not lose my children, or my home, or my health, but, when you are confronted with misfortune; it can seem as enormous as any problem that Job faced.  Just as Job’s trials, my misfortune seemed enormous and unending...
 

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Moving On Up With Our Lord

As former Military members, we are use to relocating and within a few months, moving into a new home – but not this time.  I know women like details, yet I’ll try to be brief.

A few years after our military retirement, my husband (Van) and I decided to move closer to family from Clovis, New Mexico to Jacksonville, Florida.  It took a lot of getting use to; nonetheless, we arrived in our 27ft. RV (Recreational Vehicle) back in September 2007.

The RV was fine for my hubby, me and a small dog, but when you add a Daughter, my Grandbaby and another dog – things got a little tight.  God blessed us with this house on wheels, yet imagine 3 adults, a baby and 2 dogs in a small confined space.  My second book (Bent But Not Broken) was birthed while in that RV.

Our house in NM wouldn’t sell and had gone into “Short Sale”.  Van had his military retirement, but no work offers from the applications that had been submitted.  He was receiving a couple months pay from a previous position, and the money was going down.  It looked bleak.  Finally, God moved on our behalf and his Miracle Position came through.

Did I forget to mention that we were paying for a house in NM, paying RV rental lot fees and household goods storage fees on all our furniture here in Florida.  Lots of money was going out and more bills than paycheck.

We are strong believers in what God can & will do for us despite our time restrictions.  Have you ever NOT wanted to come home because of the way things are at home?  Not emotional but physical.  And don’t tell me we should have been grateful for a roof over our heads.  During Tropical Storm Faye, the RV had some leaking issues and needless to say the wind created some serious concerns.  Meanwhile the house in NM finally sold, although way below loan value.  The second mortgage (not a smart decision) is still being paid back.

We needed some relief until our needs were met. So, the Spirit of the Lord suggested that Van find a place for rent.  So, in November of 2009, we all moved (except for one dog) into a beautiful 3 bedroom home.  Home ownership was our desire but because of the “Short Sale”, home ownership was not possible at that time.  The rental was gorgeous and we could get rid of the storage bill and the RV space rental.  We have always been givers, so we donated the RV to a church in Georgia.  It’s amazing how God’s supply comes when necessary.  Sure you may have to wait, but the blessings are assured.

The entire time that we’ve been in Florida has not been ‘sunshine and lollipops’.  We’ve had sickness and death in the family and ‘Florida Children and Family Services’ continues to drag their feet; but, through it all, we NEVER stopped loving each other or loving God.  He has been with us every step of the way.  I’ve always signed my emails and certain correspondence with “TBR” (Trust, Believe, Receive), and we chose to remain faithful despite what it looked like in the natural.  So many blessings have come upon our family, but I promised that I would keep this post short.

On September 29, 2012, Van and I signed papers on our new 4 bedroom home.  We can once again, enjoy the pride and financial blessings of owning a home.  The scriptures say, “Wait upon the Lord”, “Rejoice in the Lord Always”, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”.  We kept God first and foremost in our lives and we allowed Him to lead us to our perfect blessing.  TBR!!! 

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