I've been cautious to go public to raise funds due to it being the holiday season. On many people's lists of things to do during this time period is shopping, gift wrapping, finding who they're gonna share their New Year's kiss with, what gifts they're gonna return back, etc. What's not on their lists on things to do is fund a missions trip. So I've been cautious about going public. Pretty much, I know that barely anyone, if not, no one will even read this post because no one knows yet. It won't be 'till months later that this post with find any views. And that's alright with me… sorta. The Spirit has been talking to me about going public. If I may be transparent, I'm afraid of going public. I've always been afraid to ask for help. It's not that I have a "I'm too tough to ask for help" mentality. It's "I'm too timid to ask for help." But the Spirit prompted me to an amazing section of Scripture. It's in Exodus 35:20-36:7, and the story is something I'm diligently praying for: it's a story of miraculously giving.
Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the LORD. 23And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats’ hair or tanned rams’ skins or goatskins brought them. 24 Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD’s contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. 25And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. 26All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats’ hair. 27And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece, 28and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. 29 All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.
Construction of the Tabernacle
30 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.
Exodus 36
1"Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded."
2And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. 3And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, 4so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, 5and said to Moses, "The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do." 6So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, "Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary." So the people were restrained from bringing, 7for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.
In a super summary, Moses asks the people for funds for the new Tabernacle, and so many people had such a tremendous heart to give, that Moses had to ask them to stop giving! When in the world do you ever hear someone say to someone else "Stop giving! You're giving too much!" ? My prayer is that this would happen to me in this first mountain of The World Race; financial support. I would be in a miraculous position that I have to close down the support line and ask that people would discontinue from their overwhelming generosity. And in a culture that is very self-centered, self-indulgent, consumeristic in nature, my biggest challenge right now is climbing up this mountain and reaching the other side, where my trip is paid in full and I won't have to worry about the unfinished Tabernacle, but worry about how to politely ask the people to stop giving.
Ultimately. God is my Provider, and I know He will provide the means so that I will go, or even a greater endeavor if He does not want me to go. If there is one thing I always forget and yet I know is so evident in my life, it's that God is always there for me. He is bigger then my financial mountains. He is greater then my timid mind. He has all things in His control. He is going to be glorified, regardless of what happens. And He works all things for my good according to His rightful will and purpose. And I have faith that He will do what He has promised.
He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.
– 1 Thessalonians 5:24
So here I go, here I begin my climb up my first cliff of the World Race. Here I begin my descent into the deep, dark cave. And as I start my descent, I ask that you consider being part of the people God will call to hold the rope as I go. Like the people who gave in a miraculously way to Moses, would you consider being my support as I embark on this calling from God. Whether through the spiritual support in prayer, or the financial support of donating, I humbly ask that you join me in my adventure on the World Race. Please consider coming alongside with me. If you want to help financially, please click on the link below! Thank you all for your support. May the peace of God and the love of Christ be with you, always.
