The awesome years
1999 - 2005 were the best years of my life... just learning this moment by moment walk with God where I didn't need to do anything.....just enjoy Him! I saw Him in everything that went on every day. Life was fun again.
He gave us an OK to start the Bed & Breakfast....what a hoot that has been. Literally, from knowing nothing about the B&B business, He taught us how to do it, one step at a time with absolutely unreal results. His very specific word to us was that "He would send us only those that He Himself wanted."
I can't tell you what great people He has sent to us..... no horror stories (we've heard plenty from other innkeepers). Each year He has increased our business 10% to 15% in a very normal, gradual growth as He taught how to care for and serve our guests.... nothing that would overwhelm us.... just one step after another.
Those were just wonderful, growing years.... what a blessing after all the "stuff" that had been going on in our lives. We were really ready for the next step. By this time, we knew that everything was from His hand and we trusted Him regardless of any circumstances.
So when He just dried up the business in a way that would get our attention in December of 2005 and January 2006 there was no question in our minds but that the Lord was trying to communicate something to us. It was the slowest 2 months in what seemed like forever and the first time since we opened the doors that we had no bookings for New Years Eve.
OK..... Lord, you control all these things and it is not happening, what is this all about? What needs to happen here?
Ellen had just finished reading a book her sister had sent to ME for Christmas that I had been procrastinating about getting into.... well... listen to the note my sister-in-law penned inside and you will get an idea of why I was not terribly anxious to start reading it: "Phil.... hope springs eternal! Here's another book for you and I to 'discuss'! I hope you see God in this book. If not, there's always next Christmas! Love you, Jeanne."
I'll tell you the "rest of the story" hopefully on the 'morrow.
:)
He gave us an OK to start the Bed & Breakfast....what a hoot that has been. Literally, from knowing nothing about the B&B business, He taught us how to do it, one step at a time with absolutely unreal results. His very specific word to us was that "He would send us only those that He Himself wanted."
I can't tell you what great people He has sent to us..... no horror stories (we've heard plenty from other innkeepers). Each year He has increased our business 10% to 15% in a very normal, gradual growth as He taught how to care for and serve our guests.... nothing that would overwhelm us.... just one step after another.
Those were just wonderful, growing years.... what a blessing after all the "stuff" that had been going on in our lives. We were really ready for the next step. By this time, we knew that everything was from His hand and we trusted Him regardless of any circumstances.
So when He just dried up the business in a way that would get our attention in December of 2005 and January 2006 there was no question in our minds but that the Lord was trying to communicate something to us. It was the slowest 2 months in what seemed like forever and the first time since we opened the doors that we had no bookings for New Years Eve.
OK..... Lord, you control all these things and it is not happening, what is this all about? What needs to happen here?
Ellen had just finished reading a book her sister had sent to ME for Christmas that I had been procrastinating about getting into.... well... listen to the note my sister-in-law penned inside and you will get an idea of why I was not terribly anxious to start reading it: "Phil.... hope springs eternal! Here's another book for you and I to 'discuss'! I hope you see God in this book. If not, there's always next Christmas! Love you, Jeanne."
I'll tell you the "rest of the story" hopefully on the 'morrow.
:)
