Don't you just love it when God answers your prayers? I know I do!
At the same time we tend to get frustrated or even angry with God when he doens't answer as quickly as we'd like or in the way that we see fit. Sometimes, God doesn't answer your prayer until the very last minute…… AND that my friends is when you see God's mighty work! He shows us that He's in control, and that we should just have FAITH because He's got our backs.
Let me give you an example in my own life…..
January 3rd, just after Squad worship four of us (Me, Nikki, Vivian and Robin) get pulled aside by Mike and Stacey. Not sure exactly what is going on. Stacey starts by saying, "That was Noe (our field support and former Trainer from Camp) on the phone to talk to me about you three and your support. The deadline is basically right now." (she gave us the numbers of what we had in our accounts) We all ask, what do we do? What happens? Stacey says, "Get the money in tomorrow or you're going home when we land in Atlanta." PANIC hits us all! Calmly we ask, can we go to town tomorrow and work on this. Mike says, "YES this is TOP priority!" I needed $2,500, Nikki needed $3,000, Vivian needed $2,700 and Robin needed $4,500.
That night I went into a calm panic…. haha hard to describe, I know. Brainstorming so that I would be prepared the next day, to hit the ground running. Emails, Blogs, Facebook…. you name it I did it. I hadn't even cried yet and if you know me well at all you know that I would normally be a hot mess with news like that. Instead, God gave me a clear mind and I prepared. When I told Jake about the news was the first time I cried about it and he just held me like a good brother and let me cry. Which was very comforting but it was his words that calmed my spirit, "Courtney, God has a purpose for you and you're suppose to be here. Don't worry! It'll come in." Then seeing Wade after his meeting he says to me, "You aren't leaving!" My two boys are always there to encourage and lift me up Thanks Guys!!
Next day, I wake up with this overwhelming PEACE! I knew God was in control and I was fully trusted in Him. The four of us and Liz (our cheerleader and coach) head into the city for internet to come up with a TON of money. As we are driving there, I had my head out the window praying and praising God for all that He has done in my life. Looking at His BEAUTIFUL creation fully at PEACE that He would PROVIDE! I've seen Him move in the eleventh hour before and knew He could do it again.
We bust our tails on the computer with blogs, emails, facebook everything that you can think of. Checking in with Melina (our support coach) and Noe (field support) throughout the day, seeing where we are. God moved in some AMAZING ways that day! He showed us that $8,200 doens't get in His way! He owns a thousand cattle on a thousand hills, and He's got our backs but I also believe that we need to earn it too. In James it says that all we need to do is ask and we shall receive and He honored us when we asked for support and when we worked for it. He always comes through for us, it might not be in the way that we want it to like for Robin. She was sent home because of funds and that's okay because God has an even BETTER plan for her! Sometimes He shows up in the eleventh hour like He did with me.
"And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ Matthew 20:6 We aren't to stand around with our hands out waiting for God to just give us everything that we need. We must work for it, we don't deserve it! I don't deserve anything that He's given me but you know what? I sure am humbled by this experience and so very grateful for what He has done for me.
I want to thank every single one of you that helped me stay on this journey that God has put me on. Thank you for being obedient to what God has asked you to do. Thank you for supporting me not just through finances but through prayer!!! I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH!!!
$2,800 UNTIL I'M FULLY FUNDED!!!!
