Happy Sunday Beautiful People!!
It has been awhile since I have blogged and I am far past due on an update! 
First off I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has been praying over me as I prepare for the race. I am so incredibly thankful for the outpour of love and prayers; please keep them coming! God has truly provided and I am happy to announce I have met my first financial deadline of $3,000! Woooohoooo!! Praise God!! (Celebratory dance included) 
Over the last few months my intimacy with the Lord has truly grown in ways I had no idea was possible; however, like all great things it took some work. At the start of summer, as I progressed in my fundraising and preparation for January I began to experience a lot anxiety and I felt like I was battling this world and my relationship with God. Temptation was at an all time high, I struggled to feel good enough to be a child of God and I was struggling to feel joy. I grew very frustrated because I did not understand what was happening. There were moments I cried out in desperation to understand why I was experiencing this new type of anxiousness.
One night while reading it finally occurred to me… This is what spiritual warfare is.
God needed me to understand that this is a very real battle and He needed me to acknowledge the only way through it is to learn to truly surrender to Him in every aspect of my life. As Christians we know this is how we should live our lives; but every Christian knows this is easier said than done. The reality is that we will lose every battle of this life if we continue to rely on solely our own strength.
Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
As I continue to learn to hand everything over to God, he also revealed to me that I need to spend more time listening to what He has to tell me. It is amazing what God has to stay when you open the lines of communication both ways. God he has provided affirmation to me in the direction I should take as I prepare for this missions trip. I am filled with more peace and joy then I have ever experienced and I am overflowing with anticipation for what is yet to come.
My next financial deadline of $6,500 is due in December, 2013. Please continue to pray for people to open their hearts to support me on this journey. Also please continue to pray for the success of our squad as we prepare for our launch and meeting each of our deadlines.
Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV)19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Again thank you so much for all of your prayers, love and support. My heart is overwhelmingly full from the encouraging support I have received.
In His Service,
Lesa
