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My BIL, (John's brother Glenn), came running to John's bedside the moment I asked. He's a very good man. He was saved when he was 12, but immediately went to backsliding, until he fell in love with future-wife. (My SIL.) He asked her to marry him, except she said she wouldn't, as much as she had already fallen in love with him, because she had to marry a believer. And that's the moment when he remembered he was born again and came back to the Lord.
He truly was saved before that, and she too, so they've been married over 30 years now, have three kids -- all saved -- and the middle one -- the daughter -- was married to a good Christian man last summer. The oldest son is an electrician who lives at home, and he became engaged to a good Christian woman last month. And the youngest is getting his degree in genetics (his major at this point) at Liberty University. (Falwell's school, so he's a believer too.)
Sounds great, doesn't it?
Glenn made very good money working for PBS, was wise with his money, and bought a big ole house in the suburbs. But, about 10-15 years ago, he was let go from that job. He's had a few jobs since, and every time he gets a new job, the money is less and less. He went from upper middle class to lower middle class. He had a job that he kind of liked, and didn't like, when he went to see hubby last spring. It paid okay, but it was the kind of job that told him he wasn't going to retire young. He probably wasn't going to retire at 66 even, however, it was enough to pay for his daughter's wedding and to send his youngest to college.
That job came through the boss bidding on a government contract every year, and every year, he won the contract... until three months ago. The boss lost the contract, so Glenn was out of a job. And Glenn's job paid for his cellphone, car insurance, and gas.
Since then, a basketball hoop smashed in on his windshield, (no car insurance), they had to sell that big ole house (settlement is in 7 weeks), he found a new job, that is now close to minimum wage, AND Glenn is finding out if he has prostate cancer. (Tested yesterday. Results next week.)
So prayers needed for the following:
1. New place to live. (They want to buy with cash, but since their old house was just refinanced last year, that means they really have to downsize, and he has become so used to big ole house, he can't conceive to end up in rowhome anymore. Plus the housing market is still in that regulation pinch so only the most trusted people can buy. And by "trusted," I mean either pay full cash or have a great job over a long number of years or both.)
2. Even though they know prostate cancer isn't likely to be a death sentence, you just can't keep taking time off from work at a new job, so God's will in that.
3. That the youngest son can still go to college.
4. That the oldest will hear God's will in whether he stays with his parents or moves out on his own. (And to be clear, he stayed to help with the finances.)
5. If need be, and they have to move in with daughter and their new SIL that THEIR house is settled in time. (They just bought a house, but settlement is in five weeks.) And that the clashes of wills doesn't set in. (It's hard to live with family, even if you really like them.)
6. Glenn and his wife can wrap their heads around this that God is doing this all FOR them, not TO them. (They're the opposite of John and me. Glenn is the angry one. I was the angry one.)
Basically, God's will be done, but it has to be in the next seven weeks, and really? Knowing God, it really doesn't, but BIL and SIL will need God's grace to get that too. (She's still believing God won't give them more than they can handle, but, yeah, he really does do just that so we remember he's doing the handling, not us.)
He truly was saved before that, and she too, so they've been married over 30 years now, have three kids -- all saved -- and the middle one -- the daughter -- was married to a good Christian man last summer. The oldest son is an electrician who lives at home, and he became engaged to a good Christian woman last month. And the youngest is getting his degree in genetics (his major at this point) at Liberty University. (Falwell's school, so he's a believer too.)
Sounds great, doesn't it?
Glenn made very good money working for PBS, was wise with his money, and bought a big ole house in the suburbs. But, about 10-15 years ago, he was let go from that job. He's had a few jobs since, and every time he gets a new job, the money is less and less. He went from upper middle class to lower middle class. He had a job that he kind of liked, and didn't like, when he went to see hubby last spring. It paid okay, but it was the kind of job that told him he wasn't going to retire young. He probably wasn't going to retire at 66 even, however, it was enough to pay for his daughter's wedding and to send his youngest to college.
That job came through the boss bidding on a government contract every year, and every year, he won the contract... until three months ago. The boss lost the contract, so Glenn was out of a job. And Glenn's job paid for his cellphone, car insurance, and gas.
Since then, a basketball hoop smashed in on his windshield, (no car insurance), they had to sell that big ole house (settlement is in 7 weeks), he found a new job, that is now close to minimum wage, AND Glenn is finding out if he has prostate cancer. (Tested yesterday. Results next week.)
So prayers needed for the following:
1. New place to live. (They want to buy with cash, but since their old house was just refinanced last year, that means they really have to downsize, and he has become so used to big ole house, he can't conceive to end up in rowhome anymore. Plus the housing market is still in that regulation pinch so only the most trusted people can buy. And by "trusted," I mean either pay full cash or have a great job over a long number of years or both.)
2. Even though they know prostate cancer isn't likely to be a death sentence, you just can't keep taking time off from work at a new job, so God's will in that.
3. That the youngest son can still go to college.
4. That the oldest will hear God's will in whether he stays with his parents or moves out on his own. (And to be clear, he stayed to help with the finances.)
5. If need be, and they have to move in with daughter and their new SIL that THEIR house is settled in time. (They just bought a house, but settlement is in five weeks.) And that the clashes of wills doesn't set in. (It's hard to live with family, even if you really like them.)
6. Glenn and his wife can wrap their heads around this that God is doing this all FOR them, not TO them. (They're the opposite of John and me. Glenn is the angry one. I was the angry one.)
Basically, God's will be done, but it has to be in the next seven weeks, and really? Knowing God, it really doesn't, but BIL and SIL will need God's grace to get that too. (She's still believing God won't give them more than they can handle, but, yeah, he really does do just that so we remember he's doing the handling, not us.)
