God's Innkeeper: There Was Room for Him in the Inn

By Peggy cox

God’s Innkeeper: There Was Room for Him in the Inn is a moving account of Peggy Cox’s fourteen-year journey after the death of her husband.

With aspirations of retirement in mind and visions of ministry, Jim and Peggy built their dream home as a bed and breakfast inn in the beautiful piney woods of East Texas. Soo

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Jan 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781640885448

Book preview

God’s Innkeeper

There Was Room for Him in the Inn

Peggy Cox

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2019 by Peggy Cox

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

For information, address Trilogy Christian Publishing

Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, Ca 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/ TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-64088-543-1 (Print Book)

ISBN 978-1-64088-544-8 (ebook)

Dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ. May He receive the glory.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

The Story of Redbird Retreat

Friend with God

The Silent Years

One of God’s Broken Things

No Tears in Heaven

Sonrise

Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness

Hearing and Obeying

The Man in My Life

A Word about a Bird

The Honeymooners

Coincidence or Divine Appointment?

Michelle’s Story

Perfect Timing

Songs from the Redbird

The Missing Ingredient

More Lessons from the Earth

One Is a Majority

A Tribute to Freddie

I’ve Got Your Back

Wild Hogs, Alligators, and Other Creatures

Stand Still and See the Salvation of the Lord

The Money Is in the House

Your Word Is Your Testimony

A Divine Sticky Note

The Final Chapter

Epilogue

Endnotes

Acknowledgments

It would be impossible to remember and to thank all the people who blessed me during the years I grieved the loss of a husband and struggled financially. If you are not named here, you know who you are, and you will have your reward.

My own children stood by me and offered support in many ways; to build my business by creating and donating the website, sending out newsletters and financial assistance. Thank you, Colleen and Craig, Christi and Gabriel, and Clay. My sister, Dorothy, gave me funds for expenses more times than I can count. I don’t think I could have stayed as long as I did without her help. Jerry provided me with a new laptop and printer.

My dear friend, Nikki, offered financial support and brought people to help with yard work and maintenance over the years (I suspect you may have been my anonymous donor).

Patti, Anney and Richard, Jerrod and Jerri, Janet, Len, Vera, Leesa and Byron, and Michael, all of you, dear friends, gave from your heart in my time of great need. Some of you brought paying groups to the B&B, others gave me special trips and financial aid. In my last few years, there was Tommy, who worked on my road, Pat and Rick and Pastor David and Melissa. God bless Patsy and Mack who treated me to lunch after church when I didn’t have money to eat out. Patsy selflessly spent hours helping me pack and move. Tracey made the sale of my home.

Then there were my special guests: Mark and Jessica, Allyn, Karen and Tara, Julie and Laura, Fay and Kay, Mark and Nan, and Linda. Many brought me thoughtful presents when they came to stay. I still have your gifts and treasure them. Mike had new brochures printed when I ran out and shipped them FedEx to me.

There were so many others who gave gifts, prayed with me, and lifted my countenance. I loved serving you, and I am so grateful that you are my friends!

Introduction

These are stories that simply must be told. My heart is to convey them in a simplistic manner without diminishing the impact of God’s supernatural answers to heartfelt prayers.

Some are anecdotes of special guests who visited over the years while we were in business. Although there were many repeat visitors, some were one-time only, chance meetings. Skeptics might consider them as coincidences, but I like to refer to them as divine appointments.

Some stories are of miraculous provision where there seemed to be no way in the natural, and others are of much needed spiritual lessons learned during trials and testing times. I believe one of my character traits is tenacity. It’s the one thing that kept me focused on what I had committed myself to.

Being a bed and breakfast proprietor alone was an exhausting full-time job. It involved continuous maintenance even when no guests were present. The physical and emotional weariness sometimes was more than I thought I could bear. I wore many hats from hostess to CEO, bookkeeper and secretary, to maid, chef, and gardener.

Breakfast was a time to allow the Holy Spirit to open the door for ministry. After sharing the story of Redbird Retreat, a few guests would linger and ask me to share more stories. Lasting friendships were formed during those times. Most of all, I truly wanted to communicate the love of Jesus to hurting people. Those were the times I lived for, and I believe the impetus that kept me going when everything else was falling apart.

Although I believe I was a faithful steward of the house and property that we dedicated to God, my number one priority was then, and is now, allowing the time for divine interruptions and to pray with someone who has a need. There was always Room for Him in the Inn.

The Story of Redbird Retreat

For many years, I fed the birds in my backyard. The cardinal was my favorite, but I never seemed to be able to attract one.

One day, as my husband