I've told the story of my new home to a lot of people one on one, which is how it flows best, because there are certain things which can't be shared with the world at large. But, I'd like to tell a part of the story, because God has been so very good to me, and deserves the glory. Though there are many people who deserve a mention in this story, I am going to leave those mentions to the times I tell the story in person. I want to tell the story of God and me.

Since moving back to the Northwest, I've been dreaming and hoping to own my own home. I wanted to buy for sure by the time I turned 50, and was working at paying off debt to make that possible. When I started talking to recent new homebuyers, I realized I didn't have to be out of debt to purchase.

Around the corner from where I was living, I watched a new development go up. I watched the development with interest because the first home seemed very small but very high end and I couldn't think of why a person might want both.

On a lark, I went and looked at the model home. It was stunning. The top of the stairs split into two different sides, it didn't just end on top. That detail impressed the socks off me, because it was so aesthetically pleasing. It gave me confidence in the artistry of the builders. Every inch of the home was well thought out and beautiful. If only. But I knew the home was way out of my price range.

BUT, when my mortgage broker ran the numbers, turns out I could afford it, on the very high end of the debt to income ratio. Floored, I began to look around at other homes in the same price range. Each home I looked at had a feature which made it stand out. And each was missing something the others had.

Miracle 1. My school district was in the middle of contract negotiations. The teaching staff was prepared to go on strike and fully expected to. At 3 am on the Sunday before school started, the district offered us the best salary package we've ever seen. This was no small thing, and was hands down the toughest contractual fight I've seen in 22 years of teaching. The raise made the numbers work not just on paper, but in reality.

Miracle 2. One week after looking at the model home with my realtor, Pahlisch Homes offered me a $12,000 incentive to move into one of the homes already built.

Who does this? The agent who represented Pahlisch told my realtor that it's one of the best deals he's ever seen offered.

This $12,000 changed my life.

Growing up, my middle class family always had more than enough. Our cupboards were stocked, our Christmases large, and we went on vacation every year. If we had tight times, my parents never mentioned them. And from young adulthood on, I knew the faithful provision of God for myself. I saw firsthand how He would be my God of more than enough.

But somewhere in adulthood, I lost sight of this part of God. And, I lost sight of His love for me. I bought into some lies which effected me for a decade or more. I would hear "Bethel" kind of people say things like, "You're God's favorite." Or "God's never in a bad mood." or things like that. And I struggled to identify with their confidence, because though I knew God loved me and believed it in my head, I had lost the belief that He truly loved me down deep in my heart.

Enter the $12,000. If you're familiar with Gary Chapman's theory of love languages, you know there are supposedly five: Acts of Service, Touch, Gifts, Affirmation, and Quality Time. While I don't subscribe fully to this theory, people I hang with do, so I've always identified myself as a Words of Affirmation/Touch person. But really?

I'm a gifts person. I absolutely show love via gifts. And, when I have the time and virtue and funds, I am super intentional about the gifts I give. Problem is, it. is. very. hard. to bless me with a gift. I have super high standards. I'm not going to explain that statement because if I did you might not like me anymore. Just give me a real hug (none of this side hug stuff) and tell me sincerely what you like about me and that's all I need. Better not to try the other.

Back to the story. The GOD OF THE UNIVERSE gave me $12,000. I had gotten to a place where I couldn't receive from Him anymore. I didn't believe His love for me. I'd been knocked around and hurt so much that even though as GOD I knew He was obligated to love me to hold on to His character, it had a hard time penetrating.

Then He spoke my love language. I don't know about you, but $12,000 makes me feel loved. It changed everything. The belief up in my head that "Jesus loves me this I know" dropped to my heart. I remembered how taken care of I felt in my youth, and how his provision was always there for me.

$12,000 paid my closing costs. $12,000 put A/C in my home. $12,000 bought a washer and dryer and fridge that I didn't have to shop for or find a way to get to my new place. $12,000 bought a fence around my property. $12,000 gave me confidence that God was in the buying of my home. And $12,000 penetrated my heart with the love of a Father who had never lost track of me.

Could $11,000 have done it? Maybe. But I'll tell you a secret. The original incentive to me was meant to be $10,000. The agent representing my builder told them he was upping it to $12,000. I like to believe that was God's overabundance. He didn't just want me to feel loved. He wanted me to know He went the extra mile for me.

There have been other miracles. Here's 2 of my favorites.

Not long after the $12,000 I entered an online contest for some $700 eye cream. No one needs $700 eye cream. And I never win anything. But I knew I was going to win. Because God is just that extravagant. I now knew He loved me, and the $12,000 miracle gave me confidence for more miracles. I won the eye cream. Pretty sure I'm His favorite.

Furnishing the home has been mad fun of the best kind. When the funds came to their expected end, I realized that the back pain and shoulder pain I had been having were likely due to my old inexpensive mattress. I prayed and asked God to provide me with some mattress money because I couldn't afford a new one on my own. And you know what He did?

The next day a check for $1200 arrived. THE NEXT DAY, YA'LL.!!!!!!!!!!

Owning my own home has changed everything. I am more of an adult, a word given to me about my home being a place of hospitality has come to pass, because I absolutely love having company. It's the best thing.

But mostly, I know the God of the universe loves me, tracks me, and wants me to know of His abiding, overabundant care for me. He took time to speak my love language. He showed up and continues to show up.

He told me to tell you He wants to do miracles for you too. He wants you to know you're His favorite.

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