The Go Button

Well, last night we pushed the "go" button. We made the decision to move forward on the block house project, trusting in God to provide the resources. If it becomes VERY clear that we have chosen the wrong direction, then we will abandon ship, but no more wishy-washy on the fence stuff. We are going for it.

All of this comes after 3 days of silent contemplation. Thursday afternoon Teagan went upstairs in the block house to see what it looked like. He discovered why it has a steel roof. A tree had fallen on the shingled roof many years ago, putting a hole in the roof and cracking/breaking some of the beams. He also discovered more rotten wood than he had expected, probably a result of water damage from the fallen tree/hole in the roof. He came home with a new idea.

The new idea is to take off the upstairs and build an addition out the back. If we dig down and build with the slope we could have a bi-level home with a single pitch roof. It would be the same size, possibly a bit bigger, with no upstairs. The add-on would be a couple of steps lower than the original building. I'm not sure if that's what we are going to do or if we'll try to fix the problems upstairs.

Either idea comes down to one thing... money, money, money.

Why does it always have to be about money?????

Either option will cost some money to buy resources, even if all the labor is free. We're way past fixing up a building and living in a project. If we're reconstructing, that will require more resources and by default, more money. Yet, if it's the Lord's will for us, we know that He will provide the resources needed.

First step is cleaning all the junk out, no matter what direction we decide to go. So, once hunting season is over, Teagan will be working on that. In the meantime, I will be working on cleaning all the junk out here. We must declutter and trim down our possessions if we want to make this work. We don't need all this stuff. It's just cluttering up our lives and suffocating us. It won't be easy, but I think we'll be better off without it.

Yesterday in church, the sermon began with the story of Jesus and the rich young ruler. (Luke 18:18-23) The young man in the story had done it all "right" his entire life. He had followed the commandments and the law. But there was still something missing. He couldn't release his grasp on his worldly goods. He was RICH! He probably liked being that way. He was more comfortable than his neighbor and life was "easy". He didn't want to give it up, not even for Jesus!! As I listened, I wondered if I could give it up. Here I am, being called to give it up. To sacrifice the things of this world so that I can live a life more pleasing to God. Am I going to do it or am I going to go away from Jesus saddened at the thought of losing my "stuff" and my "comfort"??

How could I turn away from Jesus?

In my heart of hearts that's what this project is about. It's about letting go of the worldly things and looking to Jesus. It's about surrendering and letting God be the Provider and Sustainer. It's about stripping off the old (wo)man and being the person God created me to be.