February 5 - Carolyn Mack
My husband, Ron, and I moved to New Jersey from Michigan in August of 2021 and immediately went to work on staff here at CCOB at the invitation of Pastor Lloyd and the Board. In our search for housing, we found a new apartment building just opening with availability in Matawan, giving us a short 15-minute commute to work. We signed the papers and became residents of New Jersey.
In the summer of 2023 with our second lease nearing an end at the same apartment, I began to pray for something that would feel more like a home. I had heard stories from various people about God miraculously providing the perfect house, most recently from Ron's brother and sister-in-law, and asked the Lord if he was pleased with us, if He would open the door to a new place to live, knowing the market was slim pickings. Like most women, I confess I had formed a mental image of what the next place might look like; Ron just wanted a short commute to work. Even with my own google searches and the assistance of a realtor, we kept coming up empty.
One particular day, I decided to drive through a neighborhood which we passed every day on the way to work. Feeling that it would be a very pleasant neighborhood in which to live, I noticed the name, Society Hill, as I turned to leave. Doing a google search specifically for Society Hill, an address came up. Driving back to the address, I found a group of people gathered in the parking lot and asked if they knew anything about the address I found possibly being available to rent. The man who engaged with me identified himself as the association president and he directed me to a townhouse just a few doors down that the owner was preparing to lease. I left a note in the door and prayed, letting our realtor know what I had stumbled upon, knowing she also had been praying.
The weekend passed with no response. Finally a phone call came the next week, resulting in a meeting at the townhouse and a walk-through. Yes, this was what I prayed for... more space, and more like home with friendly neighbors in a quiet neighborhood, and a most gracious owner who seemed as pleased as Ron and myself about these new living arrangements. From one lease to the next, the Lord provided a seamless transition from Matawan to Old Bridge. Several friends gave up their Saturday to help with the move as did our son from Wyckoff. Blessings on top of blessings. With the view out the back windows, the Lord has shown me he knows my needs and my wants and delights in fulfilling the desires of our hearts. Every day, driving the short 1.2 mile-commute to Calvary Chapel is another reminder that Jehovah Jireh is indeed our provider. The Lord promises to make a way when there seems to be no way, even in a dry housing market. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He is a good Father. I just had to say... thank you, Lord.