For those of you who have known me for more than a year, you know how much I've been praying for a car. For a replacement Burt. For something that actually has windows and that locks. And that I can wash in a car wash, NOT in the rain...
Well, my Abba answered my prayers. TALK ABOUT A TESTIMONY! :)
This is how it went down:
All this past week, I kept hearing (in my quiet times), to start looking for a car again. (& again for those who know me, you know the deep history of why it's been near impossible for me to do so.) So, after much prayer and debate, I went up to my roommates on Thursday night and asked for them to be in agreement in prayer w/ me on this issue. I knew exactly what I wanted, down to the details of the car, the look, make/model, etc. This time I went in with my eyes WIDE OPEN rather than in a blind, rushing panic (which was my fault anyway the last time...but His grace came in anyway! :) ).
So, late Thursday night rolls around, and I'm working on my budget & finances now that everything for the next 2 weeks have come in. And lo and behold, I have $500 EXTRA above and beyond what I needed...just waiting for me to use it! :) So, I hear Mama Lynn's voice in my head to pray over how HE wants me to use that money...
And immediately I think...this would make a GREAT start to a down payment...and then I start looking up cars that I had wanted around local area dealerships. When I had talked w/ my roommates, I had originally said I'd be okay w/ a 2001/2002 car...until during my search...when I head Him say to raise my bar higher...to a 2009 or greater.
And that's when that unbelief started to come in. "Wait...what?! I know that's not gonna happen...it's too expensive! How can I ever even afford that?!" To which, after last week's sermon talking about the spirit of unbelief, I IMMEDIATELY began to battle and cast down those thoughts.
So, on to my search. I have about 5-7 cars in mind, at 3 different dealerships. After the search, I head to bed, wake up Friday morning, and head to the morning job. Come home, to which I had this GREAT idea...you know what...lemme just do a bit of the leg work today (since DM was willing to meet w/ me in the a.m. to look at cars w/ me), see where I stand at the possibility of financing/trade-in, and go from there. That way, on Saturday morning, it's no biggie and it'll make it easier on both of us so we're not wasting time if it doesn't happen.
So I get dressed, ready for the afternoon job, and head over to the dealership that has 3 of the cars I wanted. Oh, and did I mention they were all 2009 or higher?! Walk into the dealership, where I was greeted by a man named Al who I instantly liked on the spot (surprising for me, I know). Laid EVERYTHING down on the table, was brutally honest, to which he says, "Well, let's at least look and test drive them. That way you can narrow down your search for when your brother comes, and you'll know what you like and don't like as you search for what you want. And don't be afraid to shop around out there." (yes, this salesman did say that!)
On we go to look at the cars....2 2009 ones and 1 2010 Civic. Test drove them, and immediately was drawn to one. We then went back inside, he took my car keys, and tells me, "I'm going to have the mechanic appraise it and we'll go from there."
So during this whole time I'm praying in the Spirit, believing and asking for favor, and praying and praising some more. The mantra that morning was: "He makes ALL things in my life for good, and ALL things in my life WILL point to His glory in my life."
An hour later, he comes back and asks me: "You want the good news or the bad news first?"
Of course I want the bad news first. "No bank is willing to take you...except one."
Good news: He then goes over what the bank is willing to do for me. 1 of them being the dealership would willingly give me $1500 (blue book value) for Burt...and we ALL know that Burt's not worth that much!!!! But one of the catch's was I needed $1000 down payment. And the monthly payments were WAY too high for me! So I pointed to those 2 items and I told him, there's no way I'd be able to do those 2 things. I'm just not comfortable with that. But thank you anyways. This helps me know where I stand. So he gets up and says, "Let me talk to our finance manager, and let's see what we can do to help you."
About 5 minutes later, the finance manager sits in Al's place, and says, "Okay, we'd be willing to take your down payment and put the extra $500 down into what we'll give you for Burt. (So now they're willing to give me $2000 for Burt) and we'll pay off the rest of what you owe on Burt (which was roughly $900). As for the monthly payments, what number would make you feel comfortable with getting this vehicle?" I did the number crunching, trying to figure out what exactly would work budget wise, we talked about gas, insurance, etc. So I threw out a number, he threw out a number, I did more number crunching (to which I then told him, Give me a moment; I need to pray about this).
And lo and behold...
I walked away with a new to me car.
That was EVERYTHING that I wanted, down to the little itty bitty details I hadn't even told my roommates about regarding what I wanted in Grace. From the tinted windows to the CD player with NO tape deck!!!! lol
So, that's the story of God's grace, goodness and glory in my life when it comes to my car. And I'm praising and dancing my way through this. At His goodness. His grace. His amazing mercy and His hearing the cries and desires of my heart.
After 3+ years or so of this battle cry and mantra...I have an AMAZING and beautiful car that runs like a dream, works COMPLETELY, has windows and a/c...and that is such a blessing.
So, for all of you who have been on this prayer journey with me for years, I thank you so very very much for being persistent right alongside me. For running that race with me. I know this wouldn't have been possible without Him!
So, thanks. :)
And that's my story on Grace. :)
Well, my Abba answered my prayers. TALK ABOUT A TESTIMONY! :)
This is how it went down:
All this past week, I kept hearing (in my quiet times), to start looking for a car again. (& again for those who know me, you know the deep history of why it's been near impossible for me to do so.) So, after much prayer and debate, I went up to my roommates on Thursday night and asked for them to be in agreement in prayer w/ me on this issue. I knew exactly what I wanted, down to the details of the car, the look, make/model, etc. This time I went in with my eyes WIDE OPEN rather than in a blind, rushing panic (which was my fault anyway the last time...but His grace came in anyway! :) ).
So, late Thursday night rolls around, and I'm working on my budget & finances now that everything for the next 2 weeks have come in. And lo and behold, I have $500 EXTRA above and beyond what I needed...just waiting for me to use it! :) So, I hear Mama Lynn's voice in my head to pray over how HE wants me to use that money...
And immediately I think...this would make a GREAT start to a down payment...and then I start looking up cars that I had wanted around local area dealerships. When I had talked w/ my roommates, I had originally said I'd be okay w/ a 2001/2002 car...until during my search...when I head Him say to raise my bar higher...to a 2009 or greater.
And that's when that unbelief started to come in. "Wait...what?! I know that's not gonna happen...it's too expensive! How can I ever even afford that?!" To which, after last week's sermon talking about the spirit of unbelief, I IMMEDIATELY began to battle and cast down those thoughts.
So, on to my search. I have about 5-7 cars in mind, at 3 different dealerships. After the search, I head to bed, wake up Friday morning, and head to the morning job. Come home, to which I had this GREAT idea...you know what...lemme just do a bit of the leg work today (since DM was willing to meet w/ me in the a.m. to look at cars w/ me), see where I stand at the possibility of financing/trade-in, and go from there. That way, on Saturday morning, it's no biggie and it'll make it easier on both of us so we're not wasting time if it doesn't happen.
So I get dressed, ready for the afternoon job, and head over to the dealership that has 3 of the cars I wanted. Oh, and did I mention they were all 2009 or higher?! Walk into the dealership, where I was greeted by a man named Al who I instantly liked on the spot (surprising for me, I know). Laid EVERYTHING down on the table, was brutally honest, to which he says, "Well, let's at least look and test drive them. That way you can narrow down your search for when your brother comes, and you'll know what you like and don't like as you search for what you want. And don't be afraid to shop around out there." (yes, this salesman did say that!)
On we go to look at the cars....2 2009 ones and 1 2010 Civic. Test drove them, and immediately was drawn to one. We then went back inside, he took my car keys, and tells me, "I'm going to have the mechanic appraise it and we'll go from there."
So during this whole time I'm praying in the Spirit, believing and asking for favor, and praying and praising some more. The mantra that morning was: "He makes ALL things in my life for good, and ALL things in my life WILL point to His glory in my life."
An hour later, he comes back and asks me: "You want the good news or the bad news first?"
Of course I want the bad news first. "No bank is willing to take you...except one."
Good news: He then goes over what the bank is willing to do for me. 1 of them being the dealership would willingly give me $1500 (blue book value) for Burt...and we ALL know that Burt's not worth that much!!!! But one of the catch's was I needed $1000 down payment. And the monthly payments were WAY too high for me! So I pointed to those 2 items and I told him, there's no way I'd be able to do those 2 things. I'm just not comfortable with that. But thank you anyways. This helps me know where I stand. So he gets up and says, "Let me talk to our finance manager, and let's see what we can do to help you."
About 5 minutes later, the finance manager sits in Al's place, and says, "Okay, we'd be willing to take your down payment and put the extra $500 down into what we'll give you for Burt. (So now they're willing to give me $2000 for Burt) and we'll pay off the rest of what you owe on Burt (which was roughly $900). As for the monthly payments, what number would make you feel comfortable with getting this vehicle?" I did the number crunching, trying to figure out what exactly would work budget wise, we talked about gas, insurance, etc. So I threw out a number, he threw out a number, I did more number crunching (to which I then told him, Give me a moment; I need to pray about this).
And lo and behold...
I walked away with a new to me car.
That was EVERYTHING that I wanted, down to the little itty bitty details I hadn't even told my roommates about regarding what I wanted in Grace. From the tinted windows to the CD player with NO tape deck!!!! lol
So, that's the story of God's grace, goodness and glory in my life when it comes to my car. And I'm praising and dancing my way through this. At His goodness. His grace. His amazing mercy and His hearing the cries and desires of my heart.
After 3+ years or so of this battle cry and mantra...I have an AMAZING and beautiful car that runs like a dream, works COMPLETELY, has windows and a/c...and that is such a blessing.
So, for all of you who have been on this prayer journey with me for years, I thank you so very very much for being persistent right alongside me. For running that race with me. I know this wouldn't have been possible without Him!
So, thanks. :)
And that's my story on Grace. :)
