Hallelujah! Sometimes there is no other word to describe the situation you find yourself in than to declare Hallelujah! But, just what does Hallelujah mean? Strong’s Concordance (see my resource page) shows it is a combination of two Hebrew words halal and Yahh. Halal is defined as: to be clear, to shine, to make a show, to boast and thus be foolish, to rave, to celebrate. Yahh is the sacred name of the LORD, most vehement, Self-existent, eternal one. There is no doubt when the word hallelujah is spoken it distinctly declares, Praise the LORD!
This is where I am: in a state of hallelujah! As many of you know, if you’ve read the About Me page on this website, it’s long been a dream of mine to live on a farm. As a little girl, a teen-ager and especially the last few years it has become a yearning ache in my inner being. Homesteading is an attitude, a mind-set, you homestead where you are by getting back to a simpler way of life, less dependent on others and working towards a goal of sustainable, self-reliance to whatever degree is comfortable for you. This was true for me in my suburban backyard. I did what I could with what I had.
Along with this simpler lifestyle I incorporated my ministry. My heart for discipleship spread over into doing life lessons around some of the skills involved in homesteading. We made pickles, repaired quilts, built compost bins, weeded gardens, dug new ones and much more. Through each one of these activities God was faithful to speak to us, offering encouragement, direction and demonstrating when we seek Him we will find Him!
Psalm 37:3-4 says Trust in the Lord, do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Many of us are familiar with the oft quoted, God will give me the desires of my heart. This is true provided we understand the conditional responsibilities spelled out in verse 3 and 4a. We receive the desires of our heart when we:
1. trust God.
2. do good
3. dwell in the land
4. feed on His faithfulness
5. delight our self in Him.
This is FIVE different conditions! How many of you knew that?
Well, with five being the number for grace, let me shout out for all the world to hear before I bust: GOD GAVE ME THE DESIRES OF MY HEART!
Yes, all praise and glory to Him!
I am moving from the southeast Texas ‘burbs to the northeast Texas boondocks to live on a FARM! Yes, a FARM!
I’ll share more of the details later but my primary purpose is to encourage you.
If you are waiting for a promise of the Lord know that He will fulfill His word.
Five years ago, the Lord spoke to me about moving north. I responded in obedience: praying into what He spoke.
I wrote out my vision, put my house on the market and splat,
epic fail.
My house didn’t sell, nothing opened up and I sat back with egg on my face wondering if I had been mistaken in what I heard.
So, I waited.
And then, I waited some more.
Now 5 years later God is fulfilling what He spoke to me in 2009 except on an exponentially larger scale than I could have imagined!
Isn’t He amazing?
Below are some of the things we did while we waited!
Jeremiah 29:13-14 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity.
shared at Country Fair Blog Hop and Thrifty Thursday