Footloose Farms

Moving inspirations and fears

My Internet Explorer has been keeping me from the internet until today when I figured out that by starting it with the add-ons disabled, I can atleast tour the web.

I have been reading two books that I feel God has led me to.  “Profiles in Faith” by Harold Sala is an amazing book which tells about 50 people who, by following Gods lead, truly made a difference in the world.  I read the following passage in the book of Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”  In the Profiles inFaith book, Sala speaks about Abraham.  He begins by saying< Risk your money on dice and they call that gambling, risk your money on the stock market and they call that business.  But risk your future on God, and they call you a fool.”  This really spoke to me as we are planning on moving to another state in late spring of 2008.  This new adventure is scary to all of us and I find it very sad that I’m leaving loved family, friends and the place that has always been home to me.  However, 3 ½ years ago, Virgil and I were beginning to feel the pressure of needing to move somewhere away from controlling people and find freedom that we’ve never had.  We prayed and asked God to help us and he opened our eyes to a very small ad in an Idaho paper that was for 5 acres and owner financing.  We’d been looking for another place with more land (than our then ½ acre) and buying the places that we liked were out of our reach for one reason or another.  Plus, the last year had been especially hard for me with my family and I really wanted to move AWAY.  Then we find this little ad and both of us felt an overwhelming urge to call right now.  After speaking with the seller, DH made plans right then and there to go see the land on Saturday (this was Monday or Tuesday).  It was a long week for us!  Finally Saturday came and my bidding words to him were, “I trust your judgement.”  He called late Saturday morning to tell me we’d bought the place and the owners sister had another 5 acres adjoining it also for sale with the same terms and low payments.  We went ahead and purchased that too.  We couldn’t believe the blessings that had just taken place!  Everything had come together so easily throughout all of this, we knew that it was God’s will and a prayer answered.  The more I leaned about Idaho and the area which we were moving to, the more my heart burst with happiness.  I often cried while researching as it all sounded wonderful and a place where we’d be happy.  Then we drove over the following spring and found a lot of snow, mud and a long way to power and phone (we were told ½ mile, but we’ve since measured it and it’s only 1000 ft to phone and 2000 ft to power.  Anyway, the road was nearly impassible and we had to walk to our land.  We were dishearted and decided that God must have wanted us to use this land as a turn-over and make enough money with the resale to buy someplace more liveable.  Another year passed with things growing worse in our little town which increased our stress and our need to move.  So we began looking into selling the land and buying another place.  Again, we found nothing but closed doors for one reason or another.  Anyway, we started noticing that the places we were most interested in, were very similar to ours.  So we again took the drive (to measure exactly how far power and phone were) and to again look at the roads and re-think all of this.  I have to add, that both of our vehicles were not running very well and we planned on renting a vehicle for this drive.  When we arrived to pay in cash, we were informed that they only took credit cards.  We were appalled!  We’d driven an hour to get to the rental place, and there we sat.  I told DH that I felt we should continue on and pray.  God again answered our prayer and our car sailed there and back.  We again felt that God really wanted us to live on this land and so we are truly devoted to getting there this year. 

  We have found nothing but frowns and people saying there’s no way we can do this.  I have listened to them at times and felt like they’re right, but then I read a scripture that sometimes screams at me and I am again reminded that with God leading the way, ALL things are possible. 

In another part of the story, Sala goes on to say, “Can you imagine some of the conversations that must have taken place as neighbors said, “We see you are packing up your family, Abraham.  Where are you headed?”  And Abraham says, “I’m not sure; I just know that God is leading me.” “Uh-huh.” comments a friend.  “How are you going to take care of your family>”  Abraham shuffles his feet and says, “I don’t know, but I am sure God will take care of us.”

That’s how we feel too.  Except for us it’s family who think this is nothing but a dream.

I’ve lived in this small town for 30 of my 36 years and I can whole-heartedly say that this move is very scary to me.  BUT, living here is even scarier.  We are victims here, and starting anew someplace with the knowledge that God has led us there is a comfort.  The sunrises and sunsets will be missed, as will the mountains which I’ve called home for so many years.  We have good friends here that will be missed and my gardens won’t be the same as I’ve been told you can only grow cold weather crops there.  But we’ll have so much more.  We’ll have PEACE and quiet.  We’ll have new friends to make and won’t be burdened with people marking us because of bad family or a vengeful neighbor.  The hurt that I’ve felt this last year as people whom I thought were friends have turned their backs on me because of something they’ve heard has been horrible, unbearable if I really think about it.  I’ve known these people my entire life and for them to do this…..  I just never thought it could ever happen….  Anyway, it has, and because of it, we’ve felt the need to move even greater than before.

  Since our last trip over to our land in Idaho (last July), we have been busy getting as many things taken care of as we can (like bills paid, and our vehicles running well).  Our truck needs a new engine so we’ve been pursuing that.  We’d like for everything to be ready in April so we can be free to go in May. 

  In ending today, I would like to quote another book that I’m reading, “The Attributes Of God” by Arthur W. Pink.  Throughout this year, I have thought horrible thoughts and have felt that I have been failing God.  I have felt that this has been a test and I’m not doing so well.  So when I read the following, I felt my heart lighten and once again can only say, “Thank You!”

Chapter 15 “The Love Of God”

….”Jacob have I loved,” declared God, and despite all his unbelief and waywardness, He never ceased to love him.  John 13:1 furnishes another beautiful illustration.  That very night one of the apostles would say, “Show us the Father”; another would deny Him with cursings; all of them would be scandalized by and forsake Him.  Nevertheless, “Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.”  The Divine love is subject to no vicissitudes.  Divine love is “strong as death….many waters cannot quench it” (Song of Sol. 8:6,7).  Nothing can separate from it (Rom. 8: 35-39)

Untitled Comment

{ 06:22 , Friday, December 7, 2007 } { Posted by blessedmomof10 }

I love Idaho...... there is some beautiful places there.... I especially love the NW corner of Idaho...... so beautiful! Where in Idaho is the land?
I hope that all goes well -- we too moved from "home" because we needed a break from family that was giving us much heartache.....it has been a blessing to have some space to just be "us" without their meddling. You will not regret the move and the space.
Blessings~
gloria