Today is bittersweet…. September 9, 2016 I closed on my house. The first house I had ever owned on my own. Almost 2 years to the day later? I’ll be signing the papers to put it on the market.

A backstory worth sharing… I lived in a small apartment and I would drive around sub-divisions and thank God that one day? He’d bring me a man and I’d have a home like that. I started thanking him for the blessings I knew he’d deliver. My hearts desire was to have a place big enough that I could have all my family over for birthdays and holidays…”Ninny’s house” for my grandson that was about to make his grand entrance into this world…It wasn’t necessarily the “house” I was craving? But the memories I wanted made. I longed for room for a table – because I recalled as a child how special those conversations around a kitchen table were…

Psalm 37:4-6 says…”Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun…” The Lord fulfilled that promise! In an unexpected, quick turn of events? I was buying my first home. WITHOUT a man! You see? I had been on a journey for about 4 years, seeking the Lord FIRST and not worrying about a relationship. But silly me? I thought I needed to marry a man to be able to afford or have a house. I truly believe the blessing of this home was two-fold. The Lord reminded me yet again that HE is my provider. And? He knew I’d recognize that and use this home for His glory. In the last 2 years while I’ve owned this home I have been able to make those sweet memories with my family around the table. Cade had his own room at Ninny’s house and he knows right where it is when he gets here.

I opened my home up to women – any woman – and it became a place to gather with new friends and old as we held prayer meetings in my basement or just got together for fellowship and coffee. There was a fire on the back deck where we wrote down the lies the enemy speaks to us … we’re not pretty enough, good enough, etc. And then… We prayed for one another and threw those lies in the fire! I was blessed to host 7 young amazing women on a mission trip across the US and provide a place to live for a beautiful young woman in transition for God’s next big move in her life. The sunroom was perfect for taping the “Coffee with Kris” video testimonies.

But then? It happened. Out of the blue….One Saturday morning this past winter I was headed downstairs to my favorite room in the house. The sunroom. Fresh flowers I had bought myself on Friday would be there on the table on Saturday mornings. I’d open my bible, have a cup of coffee and read.. and absorb.. and pray and just have the best talks with Jesus. On that particular morning? I felt so at peace… so full of joy.. I said “Lord – I’m so good being single! Thank you!! If it’s just me and you the rest of my life? I am seriously beyond blessed!! And this house? Lord I LOVE this house! It’s more than I ever imagined I could ever have!! But if you took it away tomorrow, as quickly as you gave it to me? I’d still love you all the same and trust in your will.”

Well my friends… now it’s time to walk the talk…. In a divine appointment with God’s hand all over it, I’ve met a man that I will marry tomorrow. When Brenda saw me falling in love she started reaching out to me about listing my house. To be totally transparent? I’d get a little bit of a “tude” and think – Who said I was selling my house?!? haha. I LOVE THIS HOUSE!! We had intended to keep my house, fix his up to sell, then live in mine while we build. But I wasn’t having any peace. Trying to keep up with 3 properties and I just felt I was failing at all locations. I kept thinking “The Lord gave me this house – surely he doesn’t want me to sell it?!?” But then these verses started to rise up in my remembrance …

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” – 1 John 2: 15-17

After MUCH Prayer – the Lord said “Sell your house”. The minute I said “OK, and contacted Brenda? I had peace.”   You see? My end goal is to be in ministry full time with my husband. To life coach, mentor and love on others.  To champion starting an orphanage in Highland County.  And that? Is going to require me to sell my house.  To pick up my cross and follow Jesus – which means I move to Highland County. To trust God fully that he has a plan and purpose for my life. What I do know about God? He takes us from glory to glory to glory. And what I’ve learned the last 6 years, and especially in this process of letting go of worldly things? There’s truly nothing more important to me than doing His will. So here we go… it’s on the market in just a couple of days.

If you are a praying friend of mine? Please pray it goes into a bidding war – pray God blesses the sale of the house so I can be out of debt and free to minister full time. And for all of my family and amazing ladies who have helped me build such beautiful memories here the last two years? THANK YOU!! I will treasure each and every one of those moments in my heart!

Because He Lives,

Kris