PART 3 - THE TAMPA TIMES

Greetings -

The scriptures are from the King James Bible.

This is Part 3 of "THE TAMPA TIMES."  

Here are the links to 1 http://lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/2011/03/tampa-times.html and 2 http://lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/2011/03/tampa-times-does-anybody-feel-me-on.html

Also, here is a link to a related post http://lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/2011/03/before-tampa.html

Last paragraph from Part 1:

What did I discover?  Bob and his "company" didn't have a license for a boarding house arrangement.  The official record revealed that it was a single family home.  I called and spoke to one of Bob's representatives.  I was told that the subject licensing was pending.  What?!  I'm no expert but I knew that the boarding house deal was not legit.  Of course, our Lord knew all of this - yet - He let me move in unaware of that matter.  2 Kings 4:27 - KJV says, "...and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me."  Not once did I sense that it wasn't our Lord's will for me to move into that house.  I sought Him about my dilemma.  I said something like, "Lord, I'm a Christian.  I can't be in this shady drama.  And You know I have limited options with no job..."

PART 3 BEGINS:

After my investigation into the rent increase notice, and my obvious Christian conduct, I was on the "hit list" with Rita and Richard.  Remember Richard, Rita's boyfriend, put the rent increase notice on my room door, and got angry when I questioned it.

Our Lord had not provided me an answer yet about what I was to do about the shady boarding house drama.  It was certainly of deep concern to me.  Later, due to circumstances which I will post later, Rita, Richard and I "reconciled."

In the meantime, one day I came back to the house and there was a "For Sale" sign posted for the house.  Huh?!  I spoke to Rita about it.  One thing led to another and she gave me the home number of Bob, the house owner.  I phoned him about the matter of the house being for sale.  Bob sounded sufficiently pleasant.  He told me that Rita, and some of the other house residents had complained to him about my Christianity and requested that he evict me.  He informed me that he had told them that "Ms. Hicks pays her rent" and that he didn't have a problem with me being there.  Of course, we cannot believe everything that we are told, but our Lord gave me a witness in my spirit that Bob spoke the truth about the complaints about my Christianity.  Also, I had received some "vibes" to that effect from some of the residents.  Secret agent Christianity doesn't appeal to me nor does it appeal when Christians disrespect others with
self-righteous "zeal," such as when so-called Christians protest with signs that display demeaning things about the lifestyle choices of others.  We are to love the sinners but hate the sins.  That is Holy Bible truth.       

I lived in that boarding house with two alcoholics who I loved.  It wasn't proper for me to preach to them about their addictions.  What our Lord led me to do was to offer them food, and to help them in other ways.  Initially, they had some issues with my Christianity but before I left the house, Lee and I, in particular, had come to like one another.  We had some good conversations and shared helpful information.

Now, back to Bob and our telephone conversation - he shared with me about him that "Jesus is my Lord and Savior."  I mentioned to him about the boarding house "pending" license issue.  He gave a reason for that - I forgot what he stated.  In reference to the house being for sale, Bob expressed some about that matter.  I don't recall much about what he said.  He told me that he would give me thirty days notice before I had to move from the house.  I continued to be unsettled about his business practices.  I thanked Bob and got off the phone.     

Sometime later, Bob told Rita, Richard, and Claude, who all worked for him, to move to another one of his houses.  Rita shared with me that she was uncomfortable about the request.  They all moved.

Shortly after, two new residents (I'll call them Steve and Mercer) moved into two of the vacant rooms.  It didn't make sense to me that new residents were moved in since the house was for sale.  

Well, one day I came back to the house and on my room door was a notice that instructed to vacate in seven days.  What?!  The rest of the residents had the same instruction.  I believe, at that time, that Steve and Mercer had only been there about a week.  When Steve came home, we talked.  I asked him if he had been told by the house agent when she rented to him that the house was for sale.  He was furious about the seven days to vacate notice, and stated that he had not been told about the sale posting.  He expressed that had he known that, he would not have moved in.

I called, "Jesus is my Lord and Savior" Bob.  I asked him about the seven day vacate notice.  This time his tone was crisp and cold.  I reminded him that he had told me that he would give me thirty days notice.  He informed me that he was acting on advice of his attorney.  Yeah right!  Bob offered no apology or offer to re-locate us.  That was it.  We were to be out of the house in seven days.       

Understandably, the house residents were quite disturbed.  I shared with Lee that I wasn't worried because I trusted GOD.  I told him that I would pray for him and the others, which I did.  Shortly after, Lee was able to make other housing arrangements.  Pedro moved in with his mother.  Later, in another post, I'll share more about the house residents and some of what happened in the house before we all had to go our separate ways. 

I had no idea how I would find someplace to live in seven days.  GOD knew, and I trusted Him.

Proverbs 3:5, 6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

To be continued....

Sandra 

Written March 17, 2011

Copyright 2011