February 5, 2018
The day after we learned that a space at The Grove Retail row was available!
Exodus 20:24: "Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you."
"Lord, is that place here at the Grove? Or do I just want it here because it is convenient - I live here. Please make it clear."
Exodus 23:10-13 "For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. Baked Bites by ABC, my home-based business started in 2011. This year is it's 7th year...
My siblings and I agreed to fast from Feb 10-14 while making the concept paper.
February 11, 2018
Psalm 33:9 "For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”- The Word of the Lord can be trusted. If He says it will be, it will be.
February 19, 2018 - We submitted our proposal.
February 28, 2018 - 10 days have passed and no response to it. Perhaps they just gave it to the established ones... Finally called to follow up. Rockwell said they will reply to our email in the afternoon. Emailed that they are interested to meet us to learn more about our concept. Asked for March 7 but it was Gummy's surprise 7th bday party. Asked to meet the next day - March 8.
March 8, 2018
Numbers 10:29 "We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, I will give it to you.. for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.” - First attempt of Moses to head to The Promised Land. Our first meeting with Rockwell for our "Promised Land.
March 12, 2018
Rockwell e-mailed that they are offering us the space!!! We felt so undeserving. There were 2 groups applying- a sandwich and a noodle place - one was even "M.A". Ate felt it was expensive though. The costs were TOO BIG. But...
March 13, 2018 - Seeking God.
Numbers 13:30 "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”- Do not be overwhelmed by the giants - giant overhead expenses!
March 23, 2018
- Numbers 33:53 "And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.”- Word before the final offer even came. Accepted it! It was lowered though still high BUT God said GO - affirmed and confirmed!!!
- "See I have given you his land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers- to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - and to their descendants after them. May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised! See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors , told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” - Deuteronomy 1:8,11,21,29-31
- The Lord was faithful to lead us into our Promised Land
April 24, 2018
We already needed to sign the lease offer - a step indicating there is no more turning back. We were asked many times about our revenue streams, projections et al. But we couldn't see it! Hindi naming makita ang kita. Bedtime reading was about Abraham , leaving Ur by faith.
April 25, 2018 - Clear Go.
"Lord, we do have a deadline. I don't wanna rush you but may I please have a clear answer and a confirmation too. Do we go or just settle for a home-based, set up of the same thing. Cheaper, yes, but then Exodus 20:241 How will You be glorified if the very reason for settling is because we did not have faith in Your Word and Promises? And since it will not be a public place, how can we use our business to bring people to you? If we just stay and not move, won't that be disobedience?
"Do I lack faith and am overwhelmed with numbers? Am I forgetting that You are the Faithful God who opened the Red Sea and made the walls of Jerico fall. Am I forgetting that You are the God who blesses the faithful and with whom nothing is impossible? Aren't you the God who enables those who believe in You? WILL MY DECISION TO GO/SETTLE BRING YOU GLORY?
Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." -The entire chapter of Hebrews us about FAITH IN ACTION. God's people moved BY FAITH. By faith they obeyed and were blessed.
Hebrews 11:32 “And what more shall I say? I do not have the time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets.... who through faith gained what was promised.” God said He doesn't have time anymore. Ironically, we also do not have time because of our deadline!
Command: GO! By faith.
(But Lord, the 350k overhead per month??? I am overwhelmed! To think we cannot see exactly how we will earn)
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Assurance: I am with you. I will never leave you. (Funny because at this point we already know that Ate Kat's heart is set to working abroad. We were really depending on her knowledge on skills and operations.)
(Okay Lord, I get it. Yes. But convince me more. HOW???)
Proverbs 3:3-5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”+ 2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
How: Trust in Me. One step at a time. My Grace is enough. I will enable you.
At this point, I was fully convinced that the Lord wanted us to take possession of the space, our "Promised Land.”And so we walked by faith and signed the lease offer, with God's Word as our sure confidence. (Yes, still no provision at this point! But that's another beautiful chapter! :)
C KITCHENRY IS A PLACE BUILT BY FAITH ALONE, TO HONOR THE FAITHFUL, PROMISE-KEEPING LORD. MAY YOU BE BLESSED IN YOUR VISIT!
