I Am Listening

 12 Items or Less  

Have you ever found yourself asking, "Does God really hear me when I pray?"  Followed by, "When is He going to answer me?" I want you to understand, I know God hears the prayers of His people, but from time to time, it would be great to get an express answer to our prayers, right? God, I have have 12 items or less, please help, I need the express prayer line please. Sounds a little ridiculous when I say it out loud, but, I know I have said it in my mind over and over again. As a Christian I understand that instant answers to prayer don't usually happen, however I have discovered that He does answer prayers in His time and sometimes I don't hear the answer because it's not the way I think it should be answered...

I believe God speaks to us in many different ways, through His Word, His Church, and through our Christian family. He was speaking to me, but I wasn't listening, I was hanging on to my dreams, not God's reality.

In 2016 a building located at 304 N. Franklin was donated to Her House Ministry. I remember the day Chelsea Wagoner and I first walked through the doors of the vacant building. When I say vacant I mean vacant, there wasn't any plumbing, heating or cooling system, or electrical, and studs served as the only walls throughout the building. Our hearts were so excited, Her House was becoming a reality, since becoming a 501c3 in 2013. The board of Her House continued to pray and ask for God's leading. Late in 2016 it was decided to lease a home and begin to serve as a refuge for pregnant homeless or displaced women. It was the boards intent to minister to our community while fundraising for both operational funds for our leased home and the renovation of donated building at 304 N. Franklin Street. In 2017-2019 Her House welcomed 3 mom's and 4 babies to our home. In 2019 the board decided not to renew the lease contract during lease negotiations. 

Recently, I received a phone call that jolted my thoughts in a different direction. I began to pray and reflect on the past few years and the journey of Her House. Shortly after receiving the call, a very wise, dear friend and sister in Christ joined me at 304 N. Franklin for a walk through and a time of prayer. As we walked through the first floor, it was free of damage. and the building secure. My friend was ahead of me, as I walked towards the stairs to the second floor I thought, " Hmm, ceiling tile on the floor, that's not good." Then I heard, "Cheryl, you've got to come and take a look at this." As I made way to the second floor I could see the flooring was water soaked, and most of the ceiling was on the floor, and then I saw it, sunlight pouring through a hole in the roof. A tree limb had punctured the roof, the building no longer safe, and beyond the thought of renovation. My friend could see I was sad, knowing I thought the donation of the property as a gift from God, she said, "Not all good things come from God, they can also come from our enemy to distract us from our mission." I am so glad she said the "hard thing" to me. It took a tree limb and a hole in a roof for me to see the light, thanking God for sending a message so clear. God, I'm listening. 

Looking back as I write this blog, God was answering prayers of direction, but I wasn't listening, my heart was set and my dream of hearing the the sounds of meal preparation coming from the kitchen followed by the murmur of conversation around a table at 304 N. Franklin filled my thoughts. My dream was going to happen!  During our time 317 N. Franklin, (Her House leased home) God was faithful to bless Her House with operational costs. Renovations were on hold. God was speaking, but I couldn't hear him, my own desires blocked His voice. I had heard the message from others of cost, to be realistic, and the list goes on. I was convinced 304 N. Franklin was the building for Her House. It wasn't and it isn't. Most of this year has been a time of lessons and learning. Isn't that what the life of a Christ follower is all about? Learning lessons, and do overs? 

I started out this blog with 12 Items or less, the Express Prayer Line. God did answer my prayers, He was trying to speak to me since 2017, however my mind was set and I made my dream my reality, not God's direction for the path to take. We serve a wonderful God, He allows us to make choices, but He also directs us back to the right path when we take a detour on the road He has planned for our lives. I needed to remember Her House is His Ministry, not mine.  God finally  got my attention, but it took a  hole in a roof for me to see the light of the path ahead. My wise cousin once told me when I was anxious over a decision concerning Her House. She said, "If your heart is in the right place to please God and you make a wrong decision, He will make it work out for His glory in His time." Wise woman, my cousin. 

Proverbs 8:11 says, "wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared to her."

 

2020 has been a year of waiting and asking for direction, and I am finally listening. 

So, where is Her House now? What is the next step?  The ministry is looking for a house to purchase, watch our Facebook Page on how you can financially support Her House and be involved our new location.  We have a house in mind and our goal is to raise $35,000.00. Help Her House provide our community with a safe place for mom's who are pregnant and without a place to call home. Her House is a place where relationships are formed, hope is renewed and the love of Jesus is shared. Her House, is where new life begins.

 

 

Her House, the journey continues. Will you join us? Please donate to Her House, it's easy, just select donate on our website. 

 

Glory, Honor and Praise to Our Great God and Savior Jesus       

 

Cheryl Thornsbrough

Co-Founder/President Her House Board