While organizing computer files (the saga continues), I ran across a miracle that happened one miserable winter just after 9-11. My journal records:

Business entrepreneurs who were purchasing our property went into default, suddenly unable to make payments to us anymore. Against counsel, they had borrowed money from a loan company, known for jacking up interest rates sky-high if customers missed a single payment. The “sharks” had foreclosed, and now the entrepreneurs  contemplated bankruptcy to protect themselves.

Where would that leave us? Our property would be tied up in bankruptcy court for years—and we had payments to make too! The sharks could sit on their legal option to purchase the land and simply wait out the lengthy bankruptcy court proceedings, then scoop up our property when we cried “uncle,” if we survived the financial trauma at all.

At our wits end, we prayed, “Lord Jesus, we have no power in this situation. It’s your property… not ours. We ask for your help.”

One afternoon, we met with one of the twitchy sharks in a dingy basement office to hear a proposition…

He bared his pearly whites at us (and I thought: Uh, oh…)–then he offered to purchase the property, lock, stock and barrel  for our asking price, immediately. The sharks wanted us completely out of their hair.

Why? We’ll never know the reasons, but Carol and I knew WHO sat in the fourth chair in the sharks’ office. (I remember thinking that it was too good to be true. Real faith, right?).

I settled accounts with the sharks exactly ONE DAY before the bankruptcy court froze all business transactions having to do with our property.

We serve a merciful, powerful God who watches our backs.

And this is why I write these events down in a journal—my faith has a short memory. I need to remind myself and my family about God’s timely provision and miracles.

I Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

II Corinthians 12:10

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in
hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am
strong.