Houston, we have lift-off!
January and February were looking good for Lisa and I. I was still at Opex, working on mail equipment, doing my job as usual. Lisa on the other hand was working for our friend, Brooke Goranson (PR-31 Real Estate Marketing Services), cleaning new construction dwellings for Regency Homes. It was a nice set up for her, and she could make her hours flexible to minister to people and take care of me in the home. Lisa was working a ton, and the business was looking good. This was a great sign since Lisa and I were to take over the business when the Goransons left to start a mission in Costa Rica, South America in March. The money that we would pay for the business would help get them started down there before they started building homes in Costa Rica for Regency as well.
Before we acquired the business, Lisa and I planned to take some time and go to some conferences to help us in our walk with the Lord. In the Beginning of April, first conference was in St. Louis, MO for Personal Freedom Outreach (PFO) which was an apologetics ministry teaching people how to defend the Christian faith. We learned so much during those couple days…and had the privilege to be in the same hotel as the speakers themselves. Men like Jay Wegter, Donald Whitney, and Ron Rhodes. We learned how to meditate on scripture, make right decisions by using the Bible, and even how to pray. We also learned how to defend the faith against The Secret, the emerging church, and other groups that come against Christians. It was such a wonderful experience, and we even got to go up into the Gateway Arch which was a sight. What a wonderful week and we took so much from it. We can’t wait to go again.
The next conference at the end of April was the 2008 Calvary Chapel Leadership Conference in Wisconsin. What a fun trip with different people from Heartland Christian Fellowship. We went in Jaws (the church van) with Brent (our new pastor) and Tracy Fees, Kenny Roach, and Rick Freeze. The conference went very well as we learned about David’s mighty men, and had a lot of fun doing other things in the area. We took a trip to Lambau Field where the Green Bay Packers play and got a tour of the stadium. We also went out to eat occasionally, and had a lot of fun in the traveling. I cannot wait to take the trip again. We said that we would make it a once a year event.
Houston, we have a problem
While Lisa and I were in Wisconsin at the Green Bay Packer stadium, we got a phone call from Brooke in Costa Rica. Two days after we signed the papers for the new business, Regency Homes, where we received 99% of our work for the new business laid off all their employees, and stopped construction on all projects immediately. I was devastated, and I started to worry about surviving on one income. It was too late to give the business back, but this was the start of the housing crash in Iowa, and looking for more work was impossible. When Regency went out of business, they also pulled the plug with building homes abroad as well, and now Wayne, Brooke, and the Beards were stuck in Costa Rica too with no job and a baby on the way. Two other families at Heartland were also affected from the fallout as well. The best I could hope for is that God would take care of us in the midst of what was going on.
This is a test…I can do this.
And I failed miserably. At first I was really stressed out. I would panic, then be ok, then panic again. It was hard especially being the man of the home, and my name on the paperwork as President of PR-31 Real Estate Services. We had some marriage counseling, with Brent, and we fought more than usual. But the fighting and worrying never made the situation better. I had to give it up to God in prayer and ask him to help us get through it. For God’s Word says:
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. 13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. –
Philippians 4:6-7,13
We relied more on God in the next few months than we ever had in the past. He provided 6 months. We were living on one income and with all the debt we have we should have been bankrupt months ago, but there we were paying all the bills and on time for the most part. GOD IS GOOD!
The blessings only came when I trusted fully in God to provide. We were invited to different friends’ houses for dinner which took care of some meals. Gifts out of the ordinary were given to us. Our moms gave us a couple hundred to get us by. I was blessed with extra work at Opex, which always seemed to come at the best times. One trip I needed to go to Davenport, Iowa after the floods came. I hit road blocks until I had to drive way out of my way to get to the site. I had a lot of overtime for that, plus the mileage helped pay bills. Since Lisa wasn’t working, she was a blessing to her mom. In the process of getting a divorce her Mom needed a ton of help to update the house to sell. So Lisa went out there to help her paint, and get the house ready. It was really cool, because if Lisa was working, she wouldn’t have been able to go out there. God is good and His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). But one of the greatest blessings came when it was getting closer to take a trip to North Carolina for a much needed vacation with my family from NJ. Things were at the lowest point, and I was just planning on going to the airport with my bags packed and watch God show up. Well, that never had to happen because He put it on my cousin Danielle and Randy hearts to bless me with their air travel miles, and my Aunt Dot to help me with bills. I was so blessed to be there and see my family that I miss very much.
Houston, we are on approach5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
- Proverbs 3:5-6
Now things are “starting” to get back to normal. Lisa got her job back with Ankeny Pet Salon as a dog groomer, and is doing well. We decided the best thing to do with PR-31 Services is to dissolve the company. We held on to one more account until this month, and canceled the insurance on the company. I am still teaching Sunday School and Wed night at the church. I also joined a group in June called Toastmasters International where I practice speech writing and public speaking every Monday at 7 am which is cool.
It’s so amazing how God brought us through this, not only to test us, but to grow us. No matter what you are going through, it is always a way to train, test, and grow you. As it was with Joshua and the children of Israel attacking the city Jericho (Joshua 6), they walked around the city 14 times staring at the wall that was between them and victory. But what happened when the wall came down flat? That which was their biggest stumbling block, became the tool used to get them into the city and they walked over it. As this company was our biggest stumbling block, ultimately became the very tool used to bring us in a more loving and trusting relationship with God.
28And we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28
So if you know the Lord, I pray that you trust the Lord Jesus more each and every day. Seek him first always, and the rest will follow (Matthew 6:25-34). Read the Bible daily, obey what you read, and God will never let you down.
If you don’t know Jesus as the Lord of your life, there’s no time like the present. You may be thinking, “I don’t need saving…I’m a good person.” Well, consider God’s standard of “good”. How many lies have you told in your life? Have you ever stolen anything? Blaspheme God’s or Jesus’ name this past year? That would make you a lying, blasphemous, thief…and that’s only 3 of the 10 Commandments. There’s another 7 to go. Covet anything or hate anyone? You know many of us are guilty. So what should God do with you? God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. Those who repent (turn from sin and walk the other way), and put their faith and trust NOT in their good works, but in the sacrifice of Jesus will be justified in God’s sight. We go to heaven not because we are good a good person, but because we are bad people that have been forgiven. We broke the law, Jesus paid the fine. The only sacrifice God accepts (Hebrews 9:22; 1 Timothy 2:6-7; John 14:6; John 3:16-21; Acts 4:12), and that’s why we celebrate Jesus’ birth. Praise God!!!
Love always, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukka …Frank and Lisa.
