This is another story about God‘s provision. Dave Sanford Studios was birthed in a three-bedroom house. I used the living room and dining room for a shooting area.

There was a commercial building not far from my house I walked by frequently. One evening there were some lights on inside it. I looked in the window and I thought: that looks like it would be a really cool space for a studio. A few months later I was getting ready to go to a men’s retreat for the weekend. I drove by that space and saw a for rent sign in the window. I was running late to get to the men’s retreat but something inside me said I should go home and call the number on the sign.  So I did.

Doug, the man who owned the building answered the phone. I explained seeing the sign in the window, that I was late for a meeting, and asked if he could show it to me Monday.  My office is right next door, I am there now, how about I show it to you now was his response. Again, something inside told me I should do that.  (I could be late for the men’s retreat.)  When I walked in I was blown away! The space was amazing!  It was better than perfect.

I prayed about getting that studio space all weekend.  I asked God to please make a way. There was a guy there that snored. I hardly slept all weekend. That gave me plenty of time to pray.

It’s hard to explain how I felt.  I believed The Lord was leading me to call Doug on Monday and tell him I couldn’t afford it.  For some reason I didn’t feel disappointed.  I rehearsed over and over again in my mind how the conversation would go. 

Early Monday morning I called and said, “Doug, thanks for showing me the studio space on Friday.  It is an amazing space.  I love it! I thought about it all weekend trying to figure out a way to make it work. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can afford it.

Doug’s response was, “What would I have to do to rent it to you? You’d have to rent it to me for $1000 a month  ($400 a month less than he was asking) was my immediate response. All those sleepless hours going over it again and again in my mind made my response quick and easy.

Doug shot back, “How about 1200 a month?”

“Doug,” I said,  “I wasn’t trying to negotiate with you.  The place is really nice. I think it’s worth what you’re asking. I called back to thank you for showing it to me and tell you I can’t afford it.”

He paused briefly before saying, “Well Okay.”

The way he said it raised questions in my mind so I asked, “What do you mean?”

I’ll give it to you for a thousand a month” he said resolutely.

I couldn’t believe it. It took a few seconds for what he said to sink in.  When it did, I almost burst into thanksgiving to God.  I rented that space for seven years and I never lost the feeling I had the first time I walked in and thought, “Wow this is amazing!”  I thanked God frequently for making a way for me to get it.