Sometimes, while this may be a very “common sense” practice, we focus so much on looking at what is going wrong in our life that we forget to take a break and look at all the blessings that surround us. I am the first to admit that this has been my attitude lately… and it took me a moment to be vulnerable on FB to realize how much God really has been blessing me… even when I cannot see it. Let me explain…
For some time now I felt that maybe this journey of getting ready to head out to 11 different countries in 11 months was maybe a stretch… regarding money. When I first signed up to do this I felt God’s calling and assurance that at the time I may not know how I was going to be able to fundraise for this…but it was going to happen…AT HIS TIME. I began to forget that last part of course and began to notice only the negative things that were going on in my life. I began to stress out about school and not having enough time to fundraise and send letters out and most importantly…I could not get the guts to approach anyone regarding financial support! Aside from this, family “things” were also holding me back… making me doubt my departure date. Finally…in a moment of complete lack of self-control I wrote my feelings out on FB- something I never do! and there it was… once again I began to get emails, calls, comments, you name it! So many of my friends and family- some who I have not talked to in forever and of course… some of my fellow World Racers encouraging me left and right! The amount of support I felt was incredible I could not help but cry! It felt like God’s angels just came out of no where…as if these voices had been hiding somewhere waiting to encourage me! It was great!
I began to notice how great the Lord really has been and I began to count my blessings. It’s amazing really… in a month I got to lead my family back to church after almost 10 years of them not going… 2 of which have accepted God recently! I also got to fix my relationship with both my father and my step-mother… something that really meant a lot. I also got to fix my relationship with one of my closest friends Amy. These above many others have been great blessings I had forgotten to thank the Lord for! Here he had answered my prayer that I have had for many years… and that was to see my family coming back to Him… and instead of rejoicing in this…I was complaining about my lack of fundraising skills….tsk tsk….
This I have learned… God really does bless us every day… and it is not until we realize this that we are able to completely let go of worries and let Him take control once again… seeing these blessings are like fuel to our flame… the more we realize them… even in our darkest of times… the more we can get encouraged!
I know that support raising for this has not been my strongest point… but I have learned to see through all of His blessings for me that He really will provide.
So stay encouraged! For it says in Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
And that’s a promise 🙂
Another BIG Blessing… (From Left to Right) My father, myself, my older sister with my niece Katie (sleeping) and my mother… all together again after 12 years!!! God is amazing 🙂
