At this point in time the main thoughts that consume my mind when I think about my upcoming journey are in terms of finances. The World Race Price Tag has been on my mind ever since I first heard of the program. The accountant in me racks my mind for the nuts and bolts of where this money is going to come from. Feeling the Lord push me to take part in this journey I started having expectations that my finances would be provided for. At times I even went so far as to thinking to myself that if I was dedicated enough and worked hard enough God would reward me and have me fully funded before I left in September.
I have always had to keep myself in check in when it comes to making sure that I give God the glory in all my successes and that his timing should guide my expectations. Thus far in life I have been blessed in terms of expectations being met on Greg's timeline. I have found summer employment between school years months ahead of time, and I have met academic and athletic expectations of myself.
I must stay grounded in God's grace as he provides for me financially for this journey. I am ecstatic as thus far he has already blessed me to raise enough support to meet my first financial deadline! I have until July to raise $3,500 and this goal has been met!!! Maybe God wants me to be fully funded before I launch but maybe he doesn't. I always had a feeling at some point in my life God would make me totally surrender my financial security and comfort to him. As of now I could clear out my savings and checkings account, sell my car and hopefully then I would have enough to go on this trip. But is that Gods plan? How much should I be expecting to give to go on this journey. I mean it is all God's anyways so does it even really matter? I have told myself that fundraising is a meaningful way to bring others into my spiritual journey. Somehow someway my pursuit of a Christ first life may bring encouragement to my spiritual and financial supporters. In the case that this is a test of my committment to God's call I'm all in. I almost wonder if I didn't have the safety net of my family to fall back on would I still be as committed? I don't think God asks as many questions because he already knows the motives of my heart.
For now I will pursue my financial goal of being fully funded before I leave not out of a sense of pride but out of the spirit given in the verses below. If I become fully funded today, or not until the 6 month deadline in the field I will thank God and trust in him regardless. If I end up financially investing all I have, or just a small portion either way I am making this trip about the Lord. Christ has called me to tend to his people, befriend them, listen to their hurts, their joys. This my friends, obeying my eternal father's commands does not have I price tag and that is my only lasting expectation.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 1:20
As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
