TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!!! WOW…where do I begin?
First of all, let me start out with this. I told the Lord that if he blessed T and I with this house to begin our lives together, that WE would forever give HIM the glory, praise and the honor. Because I know that this awesome feat was not by our might or power, but by HIS spirit, sayeth the Lord 🙂
Our journey started right when we returned from Jamaica for a friend’s wedding. We saw these new homes that we envisioned ourselves in. We were all set on renting an apartment, until one of my co-workers, I like to call Momma Jackie, told me that we should be in these homes! She encouraged us to apply for them b/c in her words, “T is too big of a man to be in a little apartment!” I was also encouraged, ever since the DAY we got engaged to purchase a house by my VP and to take advantage of this market.
We thought, we have nothing to lose! If we get approved, great, let’s move forward – if not, we’ll start our lives elsewhere and save up. We applied and got pre-approved! The loan officer said that, “we were MORE than qualified!”
My heart lept – we were going to be homeowners! Terence and I filled out the purchase agreement/contract, we paid 2% to take the house off the market and our journey began.
But it wasn’t an easy journey. We pulled the requested documentation together and sent it off to the loan processor and our loan went into underwriting. I was kinda nervous about this whole process, but the loan officer ASSURED me, that we were more than qualified and that everything would go smoothly….
Until our tax transcripts came back! To make a long story short, my fiancé and I are in a home based business, where we have over 408 LEGITIMATE tax write-offs, including but not limited to, training costs, travel associated with the business, mileage, etc. Because we’d taken a business “loss” with our write-offs, our adjusted gross income (some new law that was supposedly enacted in April) was no longer high enough to be qualified anymore!
Talk about heartbreaking….I literally crumbled, I have to say. I thought to myself, why did we get ALL of the way here for God to allow this to happen?? Then I heard a song on my heart, based off a scripture, “He did NOT bring us out THIS far, to take us BACK again! He brought us OUT to take us INTO the PROMISED LAND!” T ministered to me, as I cried and we prayed about this together. T prayed that we were walking on faith, that we would get this house. Everyone around me prayed, my friends prayed, my parents prayed, elders at my home church in Richmond prayed, even extended friends of friends prayed intercessory prayers for our house.
The very next day, we called Bank of America to start the loan process with them. We explained what happened earlier and the loan processor advised that, unless our home based business was our primary income, they do not pull adjusted gross incomes or factor in tax returns and business losses from home based business and that they would verify our W-2s and keep it moving. We were pre-approved in a matter of minutes, over the phone.
Bank of America sent us our loan application around the end of June 2009 and we filled it out. Before we mailed off the loan documents, my sister and I prayed over them. We recited God’s promises to T and I, found in Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. We stood on the fact that we’d submitted ourselves (spiritually, physically and FINANCIALLY) to Christ and he promised us in his word in Matthew 6:33 that we should: seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
We also submitted our pre-approval to our seller, who advised us, after a bit of debate, that they would still pay our closing costs (approx. $15,000 worth of costs)!!!!
I will be honest, I wasn’t as concerned about the closing costs, initially, I just wanted the house – but praise God for sending me such a faith-filled future mate – the whole time T NEVER faltered in believing that we should have to pay NONE of the closing costs. And God honored his request!
T and I REJOICED in the good news.
Additionally, my job advised me that after filling out the application for their home benefit program, we were pre-approved for the remaining amount of downpayment as part of their benefit to first time homebuyers!! PRAISE THE LORD! That means, at the time of closing, we would owe NOTHING!!
We begin to stand on faith. We went to church that Sunday at Jericho City of Praise and celebrated as the vision was fulfilled to build Jericho’s Active Senior Citizen Facility. During the message – they said God is no respecter of persons, and what he did for Jericho – he will do for US! Immediately after church, T and I applied the word! We went to our property, took our shoes off and walked around – thanking God for our house and laying claim to what he had for us!
I walked around my house and vividly pictured myself in it. There was some anxiousness in my heart, but I was standing on the Word of God, waiting for its fulfillment.
SN: during this whole time, our loan was not in underwriting yet….just waiting to go to underwriting, so we’d yet to get our final approval! We didn’t go to underwriting until July 20th.
As I was standing, I began to immerse myself in MORE word to stand on. I got a word from my co-worker and VP about faith:
Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT
I like the old King James translation of Hebrews 11:1:
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is not an abstract theoretical proposition. It’s not wishful thinking. It’s substance. It’s action.
Most of my life I imagined faith as some kind of force field. And the way we talk about faith dematerializes it. By most definitions, faith is synonymous with hope.
The more I study Scripture, the more I detect a sharp distinction between hope and faith. Hope is a desire. Faith is a demonstration. Hope wants it to happen. Faith causes it to happen and acts as if it’s already done.
Faith is not content to want it really, really bad. Faith consults the drawings and gets busy building. Hope is the blueprint. Faith is the contractor.
Some of the things we’re believing God for will never happen in our lives because we stand in hope instead of walking in faith.
I knew from that, that I HAD to take my faith to another LEVEL! I was just hoping and believing – I put a little bit of action to it, but now it was time to WALK in faith! T and I began to furnish our home. We bought things for delivery for our kitchen, our den and our future bedroom. We gave them the delivery address of our new house and had the delivery schedule for the first weekend in August, after we closed! I WROTE THIS VERY BLOG, BEFORE WE GOT APPROVED! I changed one of my passwords to “NewHouseJuly” so that I had to remind myself everyday (not exactly that password, I can’t have yall hacking my stuff, lol – but it was close enough)!! While addressing my return labels for our wedding invitations, I put our NEW address on there, in beautiful script and had them printed. THIS IS OUR HOUSE – we proclaimed! We got all of the utilities transferred into our names. We made plans and moved forward on everything concerning our house – WALKING in faith, instead of just “hoping things would come around.”
As we moved into the month of JULY and I thought to myself, here is the time for good news! July is the 7th month and 7 is God’s perfect number of COMPLETION. The year is 2009 – 9 means MANISFESTATION. So I thought, how perfect for us to close on 07/09 – where we will have COMPLETE MANISFESTATION of our vision that God gave us.
I also began to read the prayer of Jabez:
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I born him in pain.” Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.
and I prayed it….now then began to THANK GOD for it coming to pass….
Then we WAITED….FOR APPROX. A WHOLE MONTH…
and on 07/24/09 we heard the news that we were approved! It took OVER a month to finally hear those words and get that coveted MORTGAGE COMMITMENT LETTER!!! We even got a nasty call from the seller saying, if they don’t have it asap (earlier that day) then we would be in seriously jeopardy of losing the contract! It seemed like we had soo many obstacles against us, yet we pressed on! And FINALLY WE WERE APPROVED AND COMPLETELY THROUGH UNDERWRITING!!!!
I write this to encourage you – just b/c you hear a NO the first time (or the 2nd or the 3rd time) you attempt to do something, does NOT mean God doesn’t have it for you! Press on – fight the good fight of faith. In everything, delight yourself in the Lord and he WILL give you the desires of your heart!
It wasn’t an easy task…in fact it was HARD. I had to literally get on the phone and BEG people to do their jobs. I couldn’t take no for an answer… it was our first time doing any of this and at times we were completely LOST as far as next steps sometimes! But God…he showed us the way and navigated that thing until the VERY end! It was up until the last minute – we even pushed closing back one day…but it was DONE!
T and I are blessed so that we can be a blessing! We plan on honoring the Lord with what he has given us. The first way is by giving this testimony. The word says, we overcome by the words of our testimony. I hope that you are encouraged and always remember to give God the glory – he’s showcasing you, so the world can see that he is TRULY GOD -honor him in what he does for you, so that he may receive all of the glory, honor and praise 🙂
In addition to thanking God, I really want to thank some angels that God sent to us to stand and greatly ENCOURAGED us during our walk of faith:
Momma Jackie for CONSTANTLY encouraging us and showing us what the Lord had for us!
Hyacinth for planting the seed!
My baby sister & roommate, Racine for praying with me and standing with me during the loan application process and repeating those encouraging words we heard during service! For walking in FAITH with my at my new home and claiming it was ours! Even planning on where she would stay (she clearly was acting as though it had already happened, huh?)
Tiffany aka Ferg for rejoicing for us harder than you rejoiced for yourself. For praying and telling your friends to pray and standing even when I was sad about the initial upset before the breakthrough came!
Halleluya for listening after I we found out the bad news about the first lender. I’m not sure how we ended up talking about it, b/c I was determined to keep it to myself – but God has a bigger plan! Thanks for encouraging, sending me scriptures and keeping me encouraged when I bumped my head and forgot to encourage myself! You’re prayers and scriptures were LITERALLY a GODSEND during one of my most difficult hours. Words will NEVER express my gratitude for helping me get over the hump.
Janelle for saying, it will come, you will close – regardless of the exact day, its coming.
Dara for sending a word of prayer via email on the day I felt like closing wasn’t going to happen at all.
My parents and Elders Thomas for stopping in the middle of the night when we first heard the bad news about the lendor and praying in front of a hotel together for T and I 😉 after a noni meeting!
The WONDERFUL ministry of Pastor Joel Peebles…who literally walked us through EVERY PHASE OF THE TEST – even up until this past Sunday when he declared that the TEST WAS OVER!!! Thank you for allowing God to use you and for literally guiding Terence and I through this test!! It seems like whatever you are preaching about, you’re preaching DIRECTLY to Terence and I! What a great, anointed man of God!
All of my friends and family who offered encouraging words.
Every single person – even our seller who spoke the very encouraging words, “It will work out, it’s coming.”
If I forgot your name, charge it to my head, not my heart!
And Lastly – Terence….you are a the man God meant for me. You are SO strong and so filled with faith, it amazes me! You encouraged me to lean on the word of God and inspired me to have the same childlike faith, even when we both didn’t see a way out. I’m amazed that God chose me to spend this life with you and I cannot wait for MORE testimonies we will share together. One can put 1,000 to flight, but TWO can put 10,000! I can’t wait to spend the rest of my days with you!!! Love you!
THANK YOU LORD!!! TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE WONDERFUL THINGS HE HAS DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We got a HOUSE now…heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!
More pics on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2317418&id=7819045&l=11169be2e8
Us @ closing
16 responses to “WE CLOSED ON OUR FIRST HOME YESTERDAY!!!!”
Halle
July 30th, 2009 at 22:40
So i am crying….. thats all i can right now but i will comment again soon.
Stevy
July 31st, 2009 at 11:44
May God continue to bless and work through you and Terence.
Franshawn
July 31st, 2009 at 11:56
OMG! Girl, I started reading this b4 I left the house this mornring & wanted 2 cry b/c it is such a beautiful, inspiring story! I couldn’t stop reading even though I was driving (bad I know, lol).
It is truly great to see young couples stand strong in their faith and God! Knowing that God will make a way for u! I felt the same way when God showed us our home and made a way perfect for us and our situation to obtain it.
You and T are a beautiful couple, who more than deserve every blessing that comes your way. You have a beautiful heart and spirit and ya’ll are so meant 4 each other.
Congratulations again girl!!!
Franshawn
July 31st, 2009 at 12:02
OMG! Girl, I started reading this b4 I left the house this morning & wanted 2 cry b/c it is such a beautiful, inspiring story! I couldn’t stop reading even though I was driving (bad I know, lol).
It is truly great to see young couples stand strong in their faith and God! Knowing that God will make a way for u! I felt the same way when God showed us our home and made a way perfect for us and our situation to obtain it.
You and T are a beautiful couple, who more than deserve every blessing that comes your way. You have a beautiful heart and spirit and ya’ll are so meant 4 each other.
Congratulations again girl!!!
janelle
July 31st, 2009 at 13:34
YES!!!!!!!!! So…I’m not crying, but I am smiling REALLY big. Again, congrats. If you felt encouraged by anything I said also know that I was encouraged by your strength through the process. No need to ever worry – Matthew 6: 25-34. Yahoo!
Halle Samuel
July 31st, 2009 at 13:59
E– that testimony has been EXTREMELY moving for me… and seeing you go through that with so much faith and a great partner made me so proud of you! I am glad that I was able to encourage you during that difficult time but I was only doing what you have done for me for years 🙂
Love yall and so proud of my bro and sis!!
T
July 31st, 2009 at 14:05
This was a great write up. Reading this makes me feel great about our victory. Thank you GOD! E we need to get you to write a book. Your writing skills are amazing.
Tiffany
July 31st, 2009 at 14:13
Well…. You already know I’m crying…. I watched you and T everyday fight the good fight and I’m so proud of you both. If any two people deserved this blessing it would be the “Future Gibsons”. I love you both and congrats, congrats, congrats! What a testimony you both have to share! There is no limit to the power of God that is worked through faith – Matthew 17:20
Pastor Joel & Ylawnda
July 31st, 2009 at 15:49
Congratulations! Your hard work and persistence have opened up a new season for the both of you. We are so (Godly) proud of you and know this is just the beginning.
Take care of each other for, after your salvation, the greatest gift you have in life is each other.
(Psalms 66:11&12, I John 4:7&8)
Racine
July 31st, 2009 at 18:21
YES!!! GOD IS SOOO GOOD! Boy oh boy did you write this thing! Thank you Lord for allowing this to come to pass! I can’t think of two more derserving people. And with that being said, I know all of those people that you mentioned in your Thank Yous are preparing for a blessing as well! They planted a seed for you and Terence and God will make sure that they reap what they sowed.
I am honored to be your younger sister right now. As much as I hated seeing you upset, sad and frustrated, you always remained strong and continued to stand on the word. Reminded me of that childhood song we used to sing, “Standing on the word. Doing what I heard. Praying in the Spirit. I got my helment of salvation and my rightgeous breastplate, my belt of the truth and my sheild of faith. My sword of the spirit and my rightgeous feet shod and I’m STANDING ON THE WORD OF GOD!!!” Ohhh man, that song is great and now I know what it really means! What an encouragement you are!
Mom and Dad
August 1st, 2009 at 00:50
Erika and Terence,
What a powerful and wonderful testimony! You make us proud to call you “daughter” and “future son-in law”. What a mighty God we serve. All I keep thinking of is that song that says, “God’s able, He’s able, yes He is” (or something like that, smile). I’m so proud that you stood on your spiritual foundation even when things got rough. It reminds me of the summer when you and Racine were around 7 and 10 and you all were home with your 15 year old cousin and a tornado warning
had been declared. You both prayed so hard to ward off the tornado that your much older cousin
confessed her amazement over your great faith and vigilant prayers. Youand Terence never waivered and God brought you out, more than a conqueror. Your home is beautiful and we stand in great anticipation of your new life together and what God is going to do as you continue to give Him the pre-eminence in your life!
Jackie Fenwick
August 3rd, 2009 at 15:25
I praise God with you and I think Him for His mighty works in your life. I was under the weather the day of closing, but just moaned asking God to let you and Terrence come away from the table with cash. I am so grateful to Him for seeing you and Terrence’s faithfulness and allowing you to see His Glory. I give praise, honor and glory to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Praise God, Praise God, Praise God. This is testimony for me also. I will be your neighbor soon. Love you both.
Dara
August 3rd, 2009 at 16:50
Great post Erika! You truly encouraged my spirit when I read it. I cried when I read your words to Terence at the end, they were so moving and touching. You two deserve it so much for all the blessings you bestow on others, continue to put God first in all you do. Thanks for being such an inspiration!
Dorine (Dara's Mother)
August 10th, 2009 at 17:23
Erika:
What a POWERFUL testimony! You blessed me and I bless your Parents for during such a GREAT job in raising you in the things of God! It is MARVELOUS to hear a young Adult walk in such strong FAITH! I LOVED the analyses that “Hope is the blueprint “, but “Faith is the Contractor!” I agree, Faith without works is dead, and you and Terence put Faith to work and God honored his word! Congratulations on your new home and the upcoming uniting of two hearts, and three spirits, yours, Terance’s and Holy Spirit. As long as He is part of the three-fold cord, you WILL have many more testimonies. May God continue to bless and order your steps!
Kristin
August 14th, 2009 at 19:49
WOW! Congratulations girlie! You and Terrence are going to LOVE your new home. Welcome to the world of homeownership… and remember, you have to change your air filters every 3-4 months or so. Had someone told me that from day one, it would have saved me some crazy hot nights in August last summer, lol!
Kamahl
December 29th, 2009 at 21:49
I just happened upon this message/blog when I was researching Jericho City of Praise and it was touching. The Power of GOD is so Awesome, I see it everyday and now I see it here.
I want to tell you Congratulations and will Pray for many more Blessings for you and your Family.
I am going to print this out as well and share it because I believe that’s one of the reasons I was sent here. We must be ministers of His Love.
I don’t know at the moment what else is to come of this but I will pray on it and keep this close. Let it give encouragement to myself and the path the Lord has given me and that He is never finish with me just like He will never be finish with you.
Keep moving forward in the LORD, let Him guide you and if we never meet here on Earth it will be a blessing to see you in His Kingdom.
Be Blessed
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