October 7

It’s been a grueling process, but we are finally moving forward! I spent the entire day yesterday running all over Tampa, picking up permits, delivering blueprints, and recording a notice of commencement so we can start building duplexes. Richard has been clearing trees, installing a fence, and preparing the ground, among other things, for this project. We started this over a year ago, and we haven’t wasted a moment, but we must depend on others to fill in where our abilities end; such as architects and engineers, who don’t always work at our pace, and then there are the county employees, who could care less about us or our project, so they intentionally make it difficult. Not only that, but then COVID slowed the process by more than six months! But we made it! Now the fun begins! This process is much like our growth in Jesus. It starts in its simplest form of accepting Jesus, then as we grow, we must contend with the enemy throwing roadblocks in our path. There is a lot of clearing out of trees and underbrush to prepare the ground; then, we begin to build on the foundation of Jesus. When all is said and done, we will have created a magnificent mansion! Don’t give up when things get difficult; it’s all part of the process, and it will work out in the end. You are not alone in this life; you have the Holy Spirit as your companion; his guidance and wisdom is what will help you as you move forward; so keep building up your life in Jesus; it will be worth every challenge you face.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25