An Offering

Today we took a small leap of faith and made an offer on the Lyndhurst house. I say that it is a small leap because the house is listed for $134,900. However, it was purchased by the bank back in December so we decided to make a low offer and see what happens.

Help

Help, an interesting concept. Most people that we meet want to help. They offer suggestions, ask intelligent questions, recommend people to contact. Most of the time friends, acquaintances, contacts, even our own children are helpful. This house search has been full of us headed one direction and then we receive help that points us in another direction. A friend who is a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic gave us a friend's number and said his house is for sale. It is in University Heights. It looks like it would work for us. We emailed the man and he is excited for the church plant in Cleveland. Is this the one Lord? Two days later Judy called and asked, "how are you doing?" She said that the neighborhood where this house is located is not that great. Back to square one. However, God's wonderful Word says in Psalm 33:20, "Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield." We are content to wait on Him because He truly can and is our Help.

A Possibility

Ken and Drew got home late last night from speaking at Cedar Hill Baptist Church in Cleveland Heights. Their pastor took a church in Columbus last August so Ken has done some pulpit supply there over the past several months. Some of the families there would like Ken to work with them to get their church back on its feet. There is good potential and they have a good building in a good location. They also could be very helpful to us in getting the church plant going in downtown as well.

Ken and Drew rode around with Judy on Saturday looking at houses in Euclid, East Cleveland, Mayfield Heights, and Lyndhurst. The Lyndhurst house reminds Ken of our little farm house in Middleburg, Pennsylvania. It has plaster and lathe walls, was built around 1900, has creaky stairs, mis-matched ceiling tiles, but it also has 5 bedrooms, a fireplace, garage, finishable basement, two full baths, air, decent yard with space for a garden and trampoline, a street we would be safe to walk or ride our bikes, a nice front porch to hang plants and a swing, and it is bank-owned so the price could be reasonable. Our next step will be to place an offer. Our friends at Cedar Hill think that Lyndhurst is a good area which is encouraging since they have lived in Cleveland their whole lives.

Maybe Today?

The couple who met us outside one of the homes (see "puzzle pieces" entry) has taken an interest in us and Ken and Drew are riding around today looking at houses with Judy. There are some that we have looked at on-line since last fall that they will go through today. There has to be a reason that they are still on the market right? It could be that the sellers will be greatly motivated because they have waited a long time. It will be interesting to hear how their day went when they call tonight. We read over and over in the Psalms, "Wait on the Lord". I am content to do just that. We also know that a car sitting still is much harder to steer. So, we also actively pursue, look, investigate, and pray for the house that our loving Father has chosen for us.