The Testimony of Mike and Becky Lynch
August 2000 was a wonderful time for Mike and Becky Lynch. They were "rolling"
in cash. They paid their twin daughters’ tuition for private school in full for
the coming school year, and all their son's college tuition a year in advance.
They remodeled their patio, got their floors redone, had the house repainted
both inside and out, and had an interior decorator come in and do all new wall
and window coverings. They had it going on!
But there was something they did not do: they neither put money into a savings
account nor planned for the future. Instead of preparing for these expenditures
that were sure to come up in the following school years, they spent everything.
When August 2001rolled around they had to scrape up money for private school,
college, and everything else.
Also, they had not factored in their son’s monthly expenses. Those expenses
were in addition to the large monthly tuition for the twins. Then, of course,
there was the mortgage that "always" had to be paid on time. Overall, without
noticing it, their out-go had grown an extra $1,300 per month in one year, with
no additional income.
The financial struggle became so great that by May 2002 there was just no money
to pay the mortgage and any of the other expenses. Distraught, Becky went to
Mike to address the situation. By then, the mortgage was already 30 days past
due and creditors were calling on the other debts that were in arrears. Mike
called the mortgage company to see about refinancing their current loan. Much
to his dismay, the lender told him that the IRS had placed a lien on their
property and no new loan could be funded until the lien was released. Now the
mortgage was 60 days late and the lender had warned them of foreclosure
proceedings.
To make their matters worse, Becky is employed only 10 months a year, so she
receives no paycheck during the summer months, another setback to their
financial position. Finally, to demoralize them even further, a real estate
speculator showed up at their home one day while they were away and told their
son that they were losing their home to foreclosure. Mike and Becky, who had
been careful to keep this depressing news from their children, were pricked to
the very core of their being. The devil had literally come to their home and
attacked their children's peace. Becky declared war on the devil for this
unspeakable act of cruelty, and Mike called a family meeting and told their
children everything. But he promised them that no matter how bad things looked,
God would see them through. He didn't know how, but he knew God would do it. At
this point, they could only rely on their faith in the Word of God.
Mike and Becky sought the advice of their tax consultant, who was also a friend
and a member of their church, Crenshaw Christian Center. After getting into
agreement for the victory in Christ Jesus, they began to strategize about how
to stop the foreclosure. Unfortunately, time was not on their side. By then,
the mortgage was more than 90 days past due and none of their plans were
working.
Every day from the beginning of this nightmare, Mike and Becky had gotten into
agreement and confessed that God would deliver them out of this time of
trouble. They stood firm on the Word of God, even though the circumstances
seemed to get worse and worse. In the natural, there was nothing left to do but
pack. But their faith would not allow them to give up.
In August 2002, the mortgage lender informed Mike and Becky that they had to
come up with $3,200 by September 5 or the company would initiate immediate
foreclosure action. After having scraped up money for tuition and college
expenses, Mike and Becky had less than $200 between them. By then, all their
other financial obligations were in collection and their credit status was
deplorable. However, Becky had been blessed with an opportunity to go to a
three-day women's retreat in Palm Springs with their church. As she prepared to
go, Mike asked her not to forget to pray about their situation while she was
"having a good time with the girls." Becky replied, "I have given this
situation over to God. I refuse to think about it while I'm gone." It was not
until later that Mike understood the stand that Becky had taken.
On Tuesday, September 4, at 8:30 p.m., the night before the foreclosure would
go into effect, the tax consultant called Mike and told him to come over to his
office immediately. Thinking that something might have changed with the IRS
situation, Mike went to meet him. To his amazement the tax consultant handed
him a cashier’s check for $3,200, made payable to the mortgage company.
However, the name on the cashier's check was a person Mike did not know. When
he questioned the tax consultant about it, the only response was, “Praise God!"
Still stunned, Mike went home and asked Becky if she recognized the name on the
check. When Becky said no, they both realized that the giver was sent from God
to bless them in their time of need. They later found out that this person did
not want to be paid back, nor did she want to meet with them. The money was
given to help them get out of the foreclosure and save their home. To this day,
Mike and Becky have never personally met this wonderful person who blessed
their lives.
On the deadline day, September 5, Mike joyfully went to the mortgage company to
pay the $3,200 in person. But the blessings didn’t stop there. By then, Becky
was back at work and their income had picked up again. They were able to buy
their son a car for Christmas and their mortgage is current. Even though the
enemy is still attempting to distract them, Mike and Becky are fully convinced
that God is able to do what He said He would do no matter what the situation
looks like. He showed up for the Lynch's on what appeared to be the last day
and the last hour of their crisis. He never left them nor forsook them. He was
always there.
In giving their testimony at a “watch night” service on New Year’s Eve of 2002,
Mike and Becky encouraged the church to use wisdom and plan ahead and to
remember that the Word of God says: "they overcame by the blood of the lamb and
the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11).
They reminded the church that God is never late. Indeed, He is always right on
time.
----------------------oooo----------------------
Archive Listing
Feedback
|
|