by Lisa Howeler

Created on: September 04, 2009   Last Updated: September 06, 2009

Ellen* was a single mother with five girls, ages one to 7-years old.
Her husband was an alcoholic, sitting in jail after being caught drinking and driving numerous times.

Ellen spent a year living with her mother, a bitter and abusive woman who lashed out at the children on a daily basis.

Ellen's brother and sister-in-law wanted to provide her a place to stay, but their house was too small and constricting for five young girls.

Ellen and her family began praying, asking God what Ellen's next step should be. They knew she had to get away from her mother, for the sake of her children and herself.

The pastor said people should pray specifically for what they needed in their lives; to point blank ask the Father for what was needed. Ellen decided this is the way she should pray.

She needed, not just wanted, a safe place to raise her girls. She needed a house or apartment near her job as a waitress, because she would be without a car when she left her mother's house. She would like to have the house be somewhat close to the girl's new school. And she needed to find a daycare who would accept subsidy from the state as payment.

She called her sister-in-law one day, excited, sure she had found the right apartment. A week later the landlord told her they'd rented to someone else. Two weeks later the apartment building she had looked at burned down.
The landlord had rented to a woman, her daughter and a newborn, instead of Ellen. The woman and her daughter narrowly escaped the fire and tossed the newborn from a window to waiting arms below.

Ellen realized that had she rented the apartment, and had it caught on fire, she might not have been able to save all five of her children in time. She, and her family, thanked God she had not rented the apartment.

Months passed and Ellen was growing depressed and discouraged. Her husband, was returning to his former ways, threatening to take custody of their oldest child when he was released. Her mother was becoming more bitter, and treating the children worse each day.

She learned of another apartment for rent, a half house. She called about it, was told by the landlords they were afraid Ellen couldn't afford the rent with her current salary. Ellen called her sister-in-law and together they prayed.
The apartment was less than two blocks from her current place of employment, well within walking distance; it was a short walk from the elementary school the two oldest girls would be attending; and directly behind it was a daycare/pre-school which accepted state subsidy.

When Ellen expressed concern the landlord might not rent the apartment out to her, her sister-in-law told her, This is exactly what you prayed for, Ellen. God did not bring you this far to drop you now.

And God didn't. The landlord rented the apartment to Ellen. She and the girls moved in about a month later. The older girls began attending school; the younger girls went to daycare; and Ellen landed a higher paying job at another restaurant, still within walking distance.

Miracles happened during the days of Jesus. And they still happen today.

*This is a true story. Ellen's name has been changed to protect her identity.

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