On the business end: We are currently trying to settle out of court and are hoping things will be finished quickly so we can end this chapter and move forward with our lives. Nothing in this situation has been easy, and this is being drug out too. It will be concluded in the Lord's perfect timing.
Update 3/12/2012: http://contentmentacres.blogspot.com/2012/03/last-night-clint-went-to-check-on-his.html
On the relationship end: We have spent a lot of time in prayer and searched our hearts constantly about this situation. We want to do what is right in the sight of the Lord. Every single time we have prayed about their intentions, the Lord has shown us all they were interested in was the house. Their actions speak louder than their words. They hid what belonged to Clint for four years, tried to take it through deceit and manipulation, when God revealed what they were up to they admitted they had concealed it, and then asked Clint to give it to them.
We have been floored by their impudence. They tried to steal what God had blessed Clint with due to bitterness, jealousy, and self-entitlement. They asked Clint why he felt he deserved what was legally his. I want to know why they felt they had a right to conceal, lie, manipulate, and scheme against my husband. I want to know what Scripture they use to justify what they have done. I struggle with anger over how deeply they have hurt my husband. He did not deserve this kind of treatment, but everyone understands now why he backed away from these people's behavior many years ago.
With the exception of losing our child, you can add all of the events of last year...the floods, earthquake, barn fire, battle with the mortgage company, stress over livestock busting out of the damaged fencing and "visiting" the neighborhood, tornado, the four car accidents, my injuries, the ongoing battle to get the at fault driver's insurance to pay for my medical bills, etc and it would not match this situation for shock and anguish it has caused. We are heartbroken at the situation, but there isn't any single other effort we can make that we haven't already tried. Accepting the person as God has revealed them has been hard, but we are moving forward.
We ask you to join us in prayer for the person. We are praying God will bring them to a close relationship with Him and give them the courage to act with integrity even when it is hard. We petition they will desire God's blessings for doing the right thing more than they fear the consequences of their actions. We pray the Lord will bless their business so they can continue to support their family. We ask God shows them how He calls us to relationships with Him and others and helps them appreciate material things appropriately. We pray they will walk in obedience to His Word and strive to be more like Him. We ask the Lord to remove any and all people or things that are stumbling blocks for them so they can grow in the Lord. We pray the desire of the Lord for their lives will become their desire. We ask the Lord to give them the strength to turn from sin and for them to run to obey what God puts on their heart. We petition the Lord to bless their children with godliness and a strong desire and ability to walk with integrity. We pray that if it is God's will for a relationship that He will work that out according to His time and purpose in a way that brings abiding love, trust, and understanding and creates a strong bond that cannot be broken. We pray God will clearly show them our hearts for them. We love them very much which is why this has been excruciating.
Thank you to everyone who had prayed for us. You have held us up in prayer when we wanted to give up. Your heart has hoped for the best and grieved with us as the events unfolded to reveal the harsh truth. May God reward you for the prayers you have lifted for us. We value you and need you; please keep praying for us. There's a lot of living left to do.
Ask the Lord to make His will clear to us so we will know with certainty what we are to do next. We do not want to miss a calling from the Lord. We are looking into adoption, but the hurdles ahead are many. We are not certain if this is where the Lord wants us to go, but it is on the table. We also need prayer for an unspoken request-for safety and well being.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:10-11
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone; for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Proverbs 23:5
