January 29 – 31, 2016
We didn't realize it—but we are crossing the Jordan.
After specifically praying and inquiring of the Lord to be shown His will—last night He did just that. I am SURE this lawsuit is not going to go to trial. SURE. Last night it became crystal clear. This trail we are on, and this path we are following does NOT include a trial. We strongly feel and are convinced (once again) that a trial is not in God's plan. It is not God's will, it is the evil plans of man. We are crossing the Jordan. We haven't quite made it to the other side, but the other side is within sight.
The confirmation of our earlier belief came as a complete surprise to me. From early on we felt this lawsuit would never proceed to a trial, but after the failed Settlement Conference it seemed hopeless and inevitable. The next (and only) step left in the legal system is a trial. In man's eyes, and in our country's court system, it-is-the-only-option-left. But while this battle was started by "man," the battle belongs to the LORD and it is HE who will decide the process and outcome.
How did we come to believe (once again) there will not be a trial? How did we become so SURE? How did the journey we are on bring us to this point?
It started with Prepare The Way!! which I wrote on October 14, 2016. We were given clear direction on how to pray about "the storm" and my sister and brother-in-law. We spent the next two months passionately praying for them and the upcoming Settlement Conference. But then the Settlement Conference failed. Now what? When I looked back over my Journal and Addendum notes from early December until now, I realized there was a progression in our thoughts and God was clearly prodding, guiding, leading, and directing our path. We went from Prepare the Way!! to becoming absolutely certain and SURE that the journey we are on does NOT include a trial.
Now we come to January 29, 2016. Last night I was once again praying and asking God what HE wants. The next legal step is a trial. Is that YOUR will, LORD? Or, is a trial just another step in the evil plans of man? If it is YOUR will then we all in and will follow you no-matter-what. If it is not YOUR will then we pray you block it. What is YOUR will, LORD? What is it that YOU want?
I don't know how to explain what happened next—it just became clear. A trial is NOT part of God's plan and will for the path we are on. It was crystal clear. There was not a single doubt in my mind. As I was praying and seeking HIS will, whenever I tried to pray about a trial, the prayer seemed blocked and I couldn't gather the thoughts. The words would not come. I tried multiple times and each time the same thing happened. It was then that this strong impression came—and I KNEW. There is no going back; there is NOT going to be a trial; the LORD Himself will be the one who secures justice and releases us from this lawsuit; and we are to wait on Him. I don't know how to explain it any better than that. I wish I could because it was an incredible unfolding of thoughts. We were willing to follow if that is where HIS path led, but we believe without a shadow of doubt that a trial is not part of HIS plan.
In the morning I told my husband what all had happened during the night. As we talked throughout the day more and more became clear and began to make sense. We talked about what the judge said during the Settlement Conference. He pointed out several things in his remarks at the Settlement Conference I had never thought about before. While they were interesting observations, at the time I didn't think much about it. Now I realize his statements were an important part of the trail we are on and were statements we needed to hear. Here is what he said:
One of the first things the judge said was, "I'm not sure why I have this case." He later went on to talk about the "King's" court and forgiveness. He boldly talked about biblical things that are usually taboo in a court of law. It soon became clear why he was the judge appointed to handle the Settlement Conference. We actually ordered the transcript with his opening remarks. His remarks were powerful. You can only come to the conclusion that he was given wisdom and inspired words from a Higher Power. My sister and brother-in-law most definitely heard Truth—again. They were given another opportunity to change their ways—again. And they chose to go their own way—again.
How will this lawsuit end and how will God secure justice? I have no idea, and I am okay with that. I am glad that there is no logical human way for this to end. Our prayer has always been that ALL will KNOW that it was God alone who saved us. We thought we understood this, but our understanding has deepened. I love the fact that it will be God and God alone that frees us. It is not going to be a judge that throws out their case since they have the American "right" to do what they are doing. It won't be a judge that rules in our favor, that won't stop them. No earthly person or thing can stop them. No. No earthly person or thing can stop them unless they have a heart change and they "get a new way of thinking" or God somehow forces them into a corner where there is no way out.
It will be like we have said all along. They have a choice. They can either be the Saul of the Old Testament and go to their graves blinded, paranoid, and refusing to surrender their hearts and lives to the authority of God—OR—they can become like Saul of the New Testament who literally was blinded, but then listened to TRUTH and chose to surrender his heart and get a new way of thinking.
Oh what a witness it would be if my sister and brother-in-law would turn from their old ways; change their hearts and lives; and get a new way of thinking. That is our prayer and hope for them. But that is all we can do—pray and hope. We can't do it for them. If they refuse, a day of accountability and consequence will happen. God WILL secure justice.
What we know is this: We are crossing the Jordan and there is no going back. There will come a day when the crossing is behind us. The Praise Shelter has been constructed. The floor of brick and cobblestone with the engraved promises of God will hopefully be finished this year. ALL Honor and Glory belongs to God. Blessed be HIS name.
Addendum: 8/31/16 ~ Yesterday, as I was working on the links for this page, something caught my eye. Blogger started a new thing a while back called a "Featured Post" that appears on the right hand side of each page. My "Featured Post" is my very first post. Yesterday the title of that post caught my attention—The Beginning. I'm working on a post about The New Beginning and I see the title of my very first post. Hmm. The Beginning → The New Beginning. I was thinking about that during the night last night. It was a brand new thought. I never connected before that my very first post was titled—The Beginning, and that God pointing us in a new direction and the shift in our thinking was called—The NEW BEGINNING. Hmm.
The Beginning: 2009 - I randomly (or so I thought) begin a private journal of our journey during this "trial" time in our lives.
The New Beginning: 2012 - I randomly (or so I thought) feel led to begin praying about a NEW BEGINNING. We don't have a clue what that means, but we begin praying about it and God slowly begins to reveal what it means. Then in 2014, LORD – What Am I to Do?; The LORD Answers!; and I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!! happens. Now it is 2016, "the storm" is still going, and I am continuing the process of preparing Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead). I only have another few weeks of editing and then I will finish entering my journal entries from Philippians to Revelations.
LORD,
With tears in my eyes I bow before you. You are an amazing and unfathomable God. "What is man that you are mindful of him?"
LORD, I am at a loss for words. Who are we that you would allow us to participate in furthering YOUR kingdom. We are so ordinary LORD, so ordinary. We are thankful and grateful for the Blessed Event you gave to us and for this opportunity to share it with others. LORD, may YOUR will be done. I can't imagine how you are going to use this journal, but it is YOURS to do with whatever YOU please. It is ALL yours. Use it; use our lives; use our story which is YOUR story; use anything we have LORD to bring people to you. I surrender all to YOU.
LORD, I pray for those who will someday, somehow, find this journal. May YOUR Holy Spirit speak to them. May they not get lost in my garbled up words and poor grammar skills. May they see YOU. May they desire YOU. May they surrender ALL to YOU. Oh LORD, may it be so. May it be so.
LORD, I used to say that if I could save just one of my Sunday School girls from making wrong choices it would be worth it all. But then LORD, I realized one wasn't enough I want to save them all!! I was going to say that if even just one person found this journal and saved their eternal soul by seeking your forgiveness that all the "junk" of the lawsuit would be worth it. And that would be true, Father. But I want more, LORD—I want more. There are so many hurting and lost people in this world.
LORD, I ask that you somehow bless these words and use them to draw people to YOU. LORD, may YOU take YOUR story and use it to give hope and salvation to many, many people. All for YOUR honor, LORD. All for YOUR glory.
In the precious name of Jesus, may it be so. May it be so.
Amen.
Next Entry: Luke 13:1–35
We didn't realize it—but we are crossing the Jordan.
After specifically praying and inquiring of the Lord to be shown His will—last night He did just that. I am SURE this lawsuit is not going to go to trial. SURE. Last night it became crystal clear. This trail we are on, and this path we are following does NOT include a trial. We strongly feel and are convinced (once again) that a trial is not in God's plan. It is not God's will, it is the evil plans of man. We are crossing the Jordan. We haven't quite made it to the other side, but the other side is within sight.
The confirmation of our earlier belief came as a complete surprise to me. From early on we felt this lawsuit would never proceed to a trial, but after the failed Settlement Conference it seemed hopeless and inevitable. The next (and only) step left in the legal system is a trial. In man's eyes, and in our country's court system, it-is-the-only-option-left. But while this battle was started by "man," the battle belongs to the LORD and it is HE who will decide the process and outcome.
How did we come to believe (once again) there will not be a trial? How did we become so SURE? How did the journey we are on bring us to this point?
It started with Prepare The Way!! which I wrote on October 14, 2016. We were given clear direction on how to pray about "the storm" and my sister and brother-in-law. We spent the next two months passionately praying for them and the upcoming Settlement Conference. But then the Settlement Conference failed. Now what? When I looked back over my Journal and Addendum notes from early December until now, I realized there was a progression in our thoughts and God was clearly prodding, guiding, leading, and directing our path. We went from Prepare the Way!! to becoming absolutely certain and SURE that the journey we are on does NOT include a trial.
Now we come to January 29, 2016. Last night I was once again praying and asking God what HE wants. The next legal step is a trial. Is that YOUR will, LORD? Or, is a trial just another step in the evil plans of man? If it is YOUR will then we all in and will follow you no-matter-what. If it is not YOUR will then we pray you block it. What is YOUR will, LORD? What is it that YOU want?
I don't know how to explain what happened next—it just became clear. A trial is NOT part of God's plan and will for the path we are on. It was crystal clear. There was not a single doubt in my mind. As I was praying and seeking HIS will, whenever I tried to pray about a trial, the prayer seemed blocked and I couldn't gather the thoughts. The words would not come. I tried multiple times and each time the same thing happened. It was then that this strong impression came—and I KNEW. There is no going back; there is NOT going to be a trial; the LORD Himself will be the one who secures justice and releases us from this lawsuit; and we are to wait on Him. I don't know how to explain it any better than that. I wish I could because it was an incredible unfolding of thoughts. We were willing to follow if that is where HIS path led, but we believe without a shadow of doubt that a trial is not part of HIS plan.
In the morning I told my husband what all had happened during the night. As we talked throughout the day more and more became clear and began to make sense. We talked about what the judge said during the Settlement Conference. He pointed out several things in his remarks at the Settlement Conference I had never thought about before. While they were interesting observations, at the time I didn't think much about it. Now I realize his statements were an important part of the trail we are on and were statements we needed to hear. Here is what he said:
- As Americans we have a legal "right" to litigate. While I knew that to be true, it was something I had never really thought about before. Litigation is not something we personally would ever even consider. It is an American "right" but not an option for us. When we realized we needed to separate ourselves from my sister and brother-in-law and we sought the advice of a lawyer, litigation was never even mentioned as a possibility in any of our meetings. We just wanted to be separate from them. And incredibly, God provided a buyer which would have allowed us to go our separate ways. My sister and brother-in-law rejected the sale and filed this lawsuit instead, accusing us of threatening them with litigation so they were "forced" to file a lawsuit as a "defense" against us. That of course was not true. It was just tactic to avoid personal responsibility, implement their plan, and blame us for their inappropriate decisions and actions. Their decision to litigate was entirely for the purpose of manipulation, threats, anger, greed, control, and revenge. Litigation may be a legal "right" but it is morally wrong. What we needed to hear and understand is this: no earthly person or thing can stop them. No judge can tell them to stop or prevent them from continuing their pursuit of us. Their pursuit of us is their American legal "right." Every person who has looked at this case or listened to them "explain" their case can pretty quickly determine the reason for their actions and motives. This lawsuit is a personal and vicious attack—but it is their "right."
- If you don't like the verdict at trial, you can always appeal. Goodness. I had never thought about that either. Why had I never thought about that before? How had I not realized that a judge (man) ruling against their claims would only be a bump in the road for them? If they have another legal option available to them they would take it. They aren't interested in a legal opinion unless the judge rules their way. This is a personal vendetta. They must win. NO judge is going to tell them what to do!! Our lawyer said it the best when he described their attitude as, "We win or you lose—you choose." What we needed to hear and understand is this: no earthly person or thing can stop them.
One of the first things the judge said was, "I'm not sure why I have this case." He later went on to talk about the "King's" court and forgiveness. He boldly talked about biblical things that are usually taboo in a court of law. It soon became clear why he was the judge appointed to handle the Settlement Conference. We actually ordered the transcript with his opening remarks. His remarks were powerful. You can only come to the conclusion that he was given wisdom and inspired words from a Higher Power. My sister and brother-in-law most definitely heard Truth—again. They were given another opportunity to change their ways—again. And they chose to go their own way—again.
How will this lawsuit end and how will God secure justice? I have no idea, and I am okay with that. I am glad that there is no logical human way for this to end. Our prayer has always been that ALL will KNOW that it was God alone who saved us. We thought we understood this, but our understanding has deepened. I love the fact that it will be God and God alone that frees us. It is not going to be a judge that throws out their case since they have the American "right" to do what they are doing. It won't be a judge that rules in our favor, that won't stop them. No earthly person or thing can stop them. No. No earthly person or thing can stop them unless they have a heart change and they "get a new way of thinking" or God somehow forces them into a corner where there is no way out.
It will be like we have said all along. They have a choice. They can either be the Saul of the Old Testament and go to their graves blinded, paranoid, and refusing to surrender their hearts and lives to the authority of God—OR—they can become like Saul of the New Testament who literally was blinded, but then listened to TRUTH and chose to surrender his heart and get a new way of thinking.
Oh what a witness it would be if my sister and brother-in-law would turn from their old ways; change their hearts and lives; and get a new way of thinking. That is our prayer and hope for them. But that is all we can do—pray and hope. We can't do it for them. If they refuse, a day of accountability and consequence will happen. God WILL secure justice.
What we know is this: We are crossing the Jordan and there is no going back. There will come a day when the crossing is behind us. The Praise Shelter has been constructed. The floor of brick and cobblestone with the engraved promises of God will hopefully be finished this year. ALL Honor and Glory belongs to God. Blessed be HIS name.
Addendum: 8/31/16 ~ Yesterday, as I was working on the links for this page, something caught my eye. Blogger started a new thing a while back called a "Featured Post" that appears on the right hand side of each page. My "Featured Post" is my very first post. Yesterday the title of that post caught my attention—The Beginning. I'm working on a post about The New Beginning and I see the title of my very first post. Hmm. The Beginning → The New Beginning. I was thinking about that during the night last night. It was a brand new thought. I never connected before that my very first post was titled—The Beginning, and that God pointing us in a new direction and the shift in our thinking was called—The NEW BEGINNING. Hmm.
The Beginning: 2009 - I randomly (or so I thought) begin a private journal of our journey during this "trial" time in our lives.
The New Beginning: 2012 - I randomly (or so I thought) feel led to begin praying about a NEW BEGINNING. We don't have a clue what that means, but we begin praying about it and God slowly begins to reveal what it means. Then in 2014, LORD – What Am I to Do?; The LORD Answers!; and I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!! happens. Now it is 2016, "the storm" is still going, and I am continuing the process of preparing Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead). I only have another few weeks of editing and then I will finish entering my journal entries from Philippians to Revelations.
LORD,
With tears in my eyes I bow before you. You are an amazing and unfathomable God. "What is man that you are mindful of him?"
LORD, I am at a loss for words. Who are we that you would allow us to participate in furthering YOUR kingdom. We are so ordinary LORD, so ordinary. We are thankful and grateful for the Blessed Event you gave to us and for this opportunity to share it with others. LORD, may YOUR will be done. I can't imagine how you are going to use this journal, but it is YOURS to do with whatever YOU please. It is ALL yours. Use it; use our lives; use our story which is YOUR story; use anything we have LORD to bring people to you. I surrender all to YOU.
LORD, I pray for those who will someday, somehow, find this journal. May YOUR Holy Spirit speak to them. May they not get lost in my garbled up words and poor grammar skills. May they see YOU. May they desire YOU. May they surrender ALL to YOU. Oh LORD, may it be so. May it be so.
LORD, I used to say that if I could save just one of my Sunday School girls from making wrong choices it would be worth it all. But then LORD, I realized one wasn't enough I want to save them all!! I was going to say that if even just one person found this journal and saved their eternal soul by seeking your forgiveness that all the "junk" of the lawsuit would be worth it. And that would be true, Father. But I want more, LORD—I want more. There are so many hurting and lost people in this world.
LORD, I ask that you somehow bless these words and use them to draw people to YOU. LORD, may YOU take YOUR story and use it to give hope and salvation to many, many people. All for YOUR honor, LORD. All for YOUR glory.
In the precious name of Jesus, may it be so. May it be so.
Amen.
Next Entry: Luke 13:1–35
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