Redeemed :)

There are many things God has redeemed in our lives. Many. He is gracious and merciful and while redemption is often times painful, extremely painful, as God has to shape us and mold us and grow us in the process, it's so incredibly worth it when you see the end.

This was our house in Fort Worth. It's a pretty little starter home with a wild life story from its humble beginnings in 1969. We got it in 2001 and, finally, today a new "God story" started. Today, God released us and redeemed a decision we made outside of His will into something beautiful.

There is a sweet young couple moving into this, their first new home. They breathe Jesus and we know they are who God has specifically, hand-picked, even years before we or they even knew it, to love on His people in this neighborhood. They are an answer to many, many prayers over a long, long time. And, while we waited (not always patiently or happily, I'll admit) until God allowed us the ability to fix this home, He blessed a single mom and her four boys for a time and, after them, a man who needed to have people treat Him like Jesus would. That's redemption, people.

And, while the whole journey of the last eight years was painful in ways I won't try to explain, my heart is bursting with joy at all God has planned for this next season, at the blessings I can see, and at the ways that God has delivered and continues to deliver us in His perfect timing.

Standing in jaw-dropped fashion amazed at Him, yet again, and ever so thankful.