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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Right and Left (07/31/14)
Besides forgiving my sins, I believe God has allowed me to live in the most beautiful place on earth. My husband and I reside in a small house on the southern shore of one of the Great Lakes. Our front yard is a sandy beach. I walk out the door and amble across the sand; footprints mark my path to the water’s edge. There, I am awed by the vastness of this enormous lake. Each morning the sun rises to our right in the eastern sky, emitting light that dances across sparkling water. Each evening it sets to our left, casting hues of orange and gold across the western horizon. Our back yard overlooks a sweet and peaceful pond where turtles track slowly through cattails, frogs leap, croaking merry tunes and majestic swans glide through lily blossom water.

We knew this was the place where God wanted us when we first saw it. We were looking to downsize from our large house to something smaller. There was a “for sale” sign outside this little yellow, two story cottage that needed work. It faced the lake, but we couldn't see the beach from the street. The huge garage was its saving grace. It would be where we would store our many antiques knowing they’d never fit in this tiny house. Before we had a chance to put in a purchase offer, the “for sale” sign suddenly disappeared. Disappointed, we put in an offer on a house down the street and, in spite of the offer being for more than the asking price, we were bumped! It just wasn't God’s will for us.

Still in love with the little yellow house, we kept driving by, wondering what happened to the “for sale” sign. On one of our drive-bys we saw that the front door was open. Hanging a u-turn in the middle of the street, we pulled up and knocked on the door. A woman, with a phone cradled between her ear and shoulder, answered.

“Is this house for sale?” we asked.

“I’m a renter; call the owner,” she said abruptly, but gave us his name.

We went home, looked up his number and called. We asked if the house was for sale and why the sign had disappeared. He told us that the house had been sold, but that day, just before we called, the deal had fallen through! He was about to put the sign back. Not wanting to miss our chance, we asked if we could see the house the next day. He agreed.

The following morning we were up early, excited about our appointment. Once there, we found the owner sitting lakeside. Traversing the path alongside the house, we stepped onto the deck. My mouth dropped open! Waves at the end of the beach licked the shore and blue sky melted into the water at the horizon. It went on forever! I rushed to the beach, kicked off my shoes, wiggling my toes in the blessed warmth of the sand. Taking long strides, I stopped at the water’s edge. Moved to tears, I was overwhelmed by its loveliness. How could anyone deny the existence of God?

My husband followed and stood with me.

“Let’s buy this!” I whispered.

“But you haven’t seen the house yet,” he replied.

“Who cares? We can live on the beach.”

And so we bought the house. We have lived here ten years now and it never grows old. I hate leaving, even to buy groceries. It’s beautiful, winter, spring, summer and fall. It’s beautiful in front, back, to the right and to the left. The sunrises and sunsets still knock me out! God has blessed us in ways I never could have dreamed. We are not rich, but live among some of the wealthiest people in our area because God has chosen to give us, not because we deserve it, this precious gift.

The birds sing and I understand why. The fish jump on quiet days. When storms roll through the lake rages with frothy whitecaps and roars like a ferocious lion. When it settles, a rainbow appears and the sky and lake form a symphony of colors bearing witness to God’s faithful promise. And then I pray,

“My gracious God, thank You for giving me the desires of my heart!”

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
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This article has been read 638 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
08/09/14
Wow - Can I come and sit in that glorious place the Lord created?

It sounds outstanding, as is your descriptive piece you've crafted so well.

God's plans are the best, He knew that house was yours even before you guys did.

Enjoy, and may you have many many more years of joy and blessings.

God bless~
Joyce Krznaric
08/10/14
What a beautiful description! I could see every detail.
Toni Babcock 
08/10/14
My favorite part:

“Let’s buy this!” I whispered.

“But you haven’t seen the house yet,” he replied.

“Who cares? We can live on the beach.”

Love it!
Phillip Cimei
08/12/14
Good Job.


Was I looking in the mirror?
My life in a nutshell.

My wife and I were to move to Hawaii in the spring. Two weeks before closing it fell through. We sold all of our furniture and bought plane tickets, but God said, Whoaaa!

Last Week a Hurricane hit Hilo, right near my daughter's house.
A 40ft. tree fell on her house hitting the room in which my wife and I would have been staying.

Go figure.

We are to close, Lord willing, Sept. 12 on a new contract.

Thanks for helping us see that God does know the desires of our heart. Do we know His?