8-31-2004
Dear
Friends,
Much
happening here.....
Met with a
lawyer yesterday, a Christian man that I trust, to help us draw up the lease
option agreement to get the ranch and conference center into our names so that
we can invest in the place and seriously winterize it. Paperwork should be
signed by the end of the week if all goes as expected. God divinely led me to
this attorney after I prayed about it, and I am thankful. Things take a
HUGE step forward with this development.
I think I
already mentioned that someone donated the entire cost to move the donated
mobile home up here. And I thought that $200 was all I needed to finish getting
them here, but with other fees and all that have been added, I need just almost
$700 to finish the process of getting them here. And $400 for September rent to
keep living here...
But in
looking at that, and realizing I am flat broke, the temptation is to get very
discouraged and grumble like the Israelites did at the Red Sea. But I
refuse to do that. Instead, I have been thinking a lot about faith, and
pondering the lives some of the great people of faith in the Bible,
and even our own modern day. Ruth. David. Abraham. George Mueller. Richard
Wurmbrand. Others. And had my own little faith thing last weekend even. Let me
share it with you.
A friend of
mine that has asked God to lead them into ministry too, needed help moving on
Sunday evening. And my daughter's birthday party was going to be Sunday
afternoon. I was broke. NO money. Was even out of propane so couldn't bake a
cake for her unless I went to Boise and borrowed a friend's kitchen. I had
enough gas in the car to get to Boise, but not back again to the ranch. And no
computer repair jobs or anything on the schedule to get money or anything. I
had had 3 or 4 major job bids and business agreements fall through on me in
August, which just killed me financially, after I had invested time money and
effort into making them happen. So I laid it before God and told Him that I was
trying to honor Him by putting others first, and that I was completely in His
hands.... But then I found myself whining to Him. Had to stop that....
*chuckle*. So I just left it at His feet, jumped in my car, and headed for
Boise with Vanya, still not knowing how I would get back home. And as I drove,
I just kept reminding myself of all the times God has come through for me in
the past, and how He promises not to let His children fall, and how He DOES
promise to meet our needs if we put HIM first. So then I just started singing
praise and worship songs to Him in my heart as I drove, and then with the
radio, with my daughter Vanya in the seat next to me. At one point we stopped
and prayed together that God would meet our needs. I want my daughter to grow
up seeing God in me, and to see Him taking care of those that trust in
Him. Then I started thanking God for whatever way it was that He was already
working out the gas money situation.
But we got
to Boise ok, baked the cake, and had the party. She's 5
now.... And midway through the afternoon, while talking to a friend
about something small and entirely unrelated, they handed me a check for just
over $20, part of something small that they had just sold within the
previous hour and agreed with me some time ago to share the profit
with me. So that was my gas money home! I was SO thanking God, and praising
Him. And then later that same afternoon, when talking with another friend about
a financial situation that THEY were facing, that we had together lifted
up to God several times, they told me God HAD answered their prayers and had
blessed them. Then this person handed me a $100 bill, sharing the blessing of
God to them with me. I was rather shocked, and instantly humbled. And that $100
paid a critical bill Monday morning that I also had had no idea how was going
to be met. It was kinda cool! *chuckle*.
So I
already know that God is working out the $700 that we need to finish moving
the mobile home up here so that staff can start moving here also, and
the $400 for September rent. So I am thanking Him for that.
This whole
walking in Faith thing takes some getting used to *chuckle*. Can I say that?
What
else......
ONE man
showed up last Saturday to help. We got a number of logs cut up and ready to be
split. They say that getting started is half the battle, so I guess since the
process has started, I am happy *chuckle*.
Yes, I am
planning to be here Labor day weekend and will be happy to share the vision,
fellowship, give a tour about noon thirty, and work some more, for anyone that
wants to come up. Camp out here for the weekend if you want to give up a
couple hours of work. We're only about a half mile form forest service land
that is open to public use. And yes, there ARE things that need to be done
indoors here too, like cleaning and sorting hundreds of cans of dried food
goods that were donated to us that have sat in a cellar and are mostly still
sealed but need cleaned up before opening. I can put anyone and everyone to
work... *grin*
My
recovering alcoholic friend has relapsed again. Pray for him. I'm not sure how
to reach out to him....
My rock
rabbit is apparently a member of the pack rat family. I have found his old
nest, and many many bits of this and that from around the house....
*chuckle* He is getting more used to me, and though is not tame per se,
he does come out of his hidely hole in his cage to greet me when it is feeding
time. Cute critter.
Talked with
a young man at some length this morning about him wintering here with us. Pray
that God gives him wisdom. Also another fellow in prison asked me last night if
I would consider letting him stay here awhile to work and get on his feet. Pray
that God give ME wisdom too!
So what
does my typical week consist of? Am I truly being faithful to the call of God
on me to touch lives? I hope so, and am trying to be so. My typical day
has been starting around 7 am or earlier when I wake up, pray and/or
read my Bible for awhile, then get started on things by 8am. If Vanya is here,
I fix breakfast for her. Then it's project time. Last week, I spent parts of 3
days installing a big wood stove in the main lodge house for heat this winter.
Worked on some other projects around here too. Also spent a day in Boise
helping someone move, and discussing God stuff with them. I often spend an hour
or more each day on email, talking to people, encouraging people, and doing
newsletters or working on other ranch related business. I also often spend an
hour or 3 each day on the phone, doing ministry stuff, planning events, and/or talking
to Central District Health, Health and Welfare, and other government
entities about the project here. I rarely eat lunch, and sometimes
remember only a snack for breakfast for myself unless Vanya is here, and then I
try to fix her 3 decent meals. But when by myself here, I don't eat regularly.
It seems like I am often down in Boise at least twice a week, in meetings with
people, helping people out, praying with people, attending or helping lead
Bible Studies, or doing something or other. Wednesday nights I am at the church
in Robie creek as their volunteer youth pastor. I've only had a few computer
fix-it jobs lately, but I go to Boise for those too, just to help pay bills, as
I have no firm or regular commitments of support from anyone yet. Tried to
salvage a business deal last week too, which fell through anyway. A friend took
me to a hot springs yesterday just for some relax/soak time, and boy did I need
it. It felt wonderful. But I honestly can't remember exactly when the last time
was that I honestly took a full day off and just did something for myself that
wasn't ranch related. But I don't mind. In some ways, the ranch consumes me and
I love working on it. I did go see a pointless and rather worthless movie
several weeks ago, and regretted that. And my family reunion a month ago was
time away, so I do get time away once in awhile *shrug*. Last week I
also met with a number of people, including 3 different
Boise County pastors, a politician, and a prayer warrior, specifically
just about reaching Boise county up here for Christ, and unifying people and
meeting their needs. And I cut firewood. There's nothing quite so
wonderful as the sound and feel of a chain saw in your hands on a crisp
fall day in the mountains, with the smells of the fresh-cut pinewood, the
forest, and chain-saw and campfire smoke, fresh in the air
*chuckle*, with the warm sun on your back, the birds and creek babbling
nearby, and life just feeling joyously and truly alive. I ENJOYED last
Saturday, working with my friend to cut wood for this place. .
I am
thankful for all those that support me in prayer and other ways. This dream and
place is slowly taking shape, and I think God is being honored in it. Pray that
He continues to receive the glory due Him, and that the right people continue
to come and help make this place a reality, and that those people that pass
through our doors for healing in the future, truly find God here.
God is
good, and I am thankful,
-Tim
Tim
Benedict
Thorn Creek Conference Center and youth ranch
21 Yellowpine Lane
Boise, ID 83716
208-392-6723
tbenedict@bigskytel.net