Wow. That word pretty much sums up how God has come through this month in my fundraising journey. After having to postpone one fundraiser and thinking I don’t know what to do, God orchestrated an amazing month of fundraising bringing in funds totaling $3,833 in February alone! Through the paint party, a friend of mine so graciously hosted and donated all the materials, so proceeds could entirely go towards my trip, Chick-Fil-A donating sweet tea for the event, friends, and family helping to make it happen, friends who couldn’t attend donating funds as well. I have experienced firsthand how my worry and hiccups in the plan couldn’t stop God’s plans. And I’ve been so overwhelmed, having moments of “what have I gotten myself into?” and becoming fearful and thinking I feel good and comfortable at home, but then I had a Facebook live event with my squad, where my trip advisor explained to all of us what training camp and daily life on the mission field will look like and I became excited about the possibilities of what God will do in this time and space I’m devoting to Him. Every once in awhile, I stutter step in my faith wanting God to move first, so my next step will feel secure and safe, but I’ve asked God to help me trust Him and part of that means taking a step when He leads me to and not knowing fully what will happen next. It’s terrifying, but He always meets me there on the other side when I do and even if I don’t take the step, He doesn’t give up on me. Even at work, I find more and more that somehow God comes into the conversation and this month God invited me into community with four other coworkers who are seeking Him as well and it’s beautiful to see and experience. I’ve begun to recognize and give God credit for what some would deem coincidence. Because I know, God is in the midst. In my small group bible study, we talked about witnessing God’s faithfulness and I know I have and I am and I will forever. I hope to always give God the credit, because He is ultimately the star of my story. Sometimes, I make much of a favorite bible character other than Jesus like David, because I love when it says he danced before the Lord with all his might in 2 Samuel (and I can’t wait to dance in heaven!) and he’s a musician writing hit after hit(that’s my guy right there!), which became the book of psalms. But I don’t want to lose sight of this whole narrative by making it about a creation rather than the Creator. Lately, I’ve been listening to a number of songs that declare over and over again, “You are worthy” to God and that truly can’t be said enough. In fact, God doesn’t even need our praise, He just wanted us and loved us that deeply to even give us a chance to exist. And the more I’ve spent time with Him and in His Word, I recognize myself becoming more of who I am in Him. I feel lighter and more free and less afraid to fail, kind of like I did when I was child before I knew the taste of rejection and failure. These are just scattered thoughts of where I’m at. I hope some of it makes sense. I’ll leave you with this conclusion.
A good friend once wrote me a letter and this part stuck with me, “I see God’s fingerprints all over your life.” At the time, I didn’t know what she meant, but I’m starting to. I hope you see His hand in your life too.
