Luke 2: 17-20 (The Birth of Jesus)
(17) When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told to them about this child, (18) and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (19) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (20) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:19 is one of my all-time favorite verses.
To me it describes not only the awe and wonder of God as he is now, but the expectance and thankfulness of what God is to come in advance.
It explains to me how he whispers to my soul.
How he’s planned out my every day; my every detail.
That he’s counted my days and watches over me while I sleep.
It exclaims the link of past events in my life to His purpose and my purpose now.
That I am his little child yet he’s got big, big plans for me.
And I get to ponder these promises for me.
For his promises never fail.
His love is endless.
His dreams are incomparable.
How Jesus told me, “Go, the money will come,”
And that was that.
How I felt the weight of what $15,500 meant
but never actually worried where the money would come from.
God was there and he was holding my hand.
How I prayed earnestly that God would not keep me in my horrible job into the New Year.
How he answered my prayer request on New Years Eve, with no job replacement.
How he taught me to reply to Him with not the question of “why,” but “how?” and he supplied me with a new job in less than 2 days.
Again, he spoke “Go, the money will come.”
I barely worked few months after, yet quickly “made” more money than I ever have in my entire life.
See, God’s been telling me a story my whole life. His promises to me I consider crazy.
He has made me ready.
I see the connections and I cherish these things in my heart. I feel as if I have a bond with Mary. As if we could sit and giggle together about Jesus and the great things he’s done for us. Discussing the future and wishing we could dream ½ as big as him.
May we stop praying for an escape but pray for His way, for his blessings are wondrous and ever faithful. May we always ponder the great deeds of the Lord in our hearts.
Thank you again to all of my amazing supporters, as I am officially fully funded. I ponder you in my heart as well.
As I’ve officially reached $15,500, all exceeded donations to my World Race account will go in a general account my other team members that haven’t reached their goals yet. (This is an awesome option, by the way).
However, if you’d like to keep continuing to donate to me and to my year there are many expenses I still need to foot the bill for. This includes toiletry items each month, miscellaneous traveling budgets, doctor/medicine bills, replacement gear funds (for when things fall apart, are broken or stolen), wifi purchases to write you letters, etc. (an expected $200/month).
To support me this way, feel free to write a check out to me, Anna Grotenhuis, and send it to my parents at 4414 Oakcrest, Lansing, MI 48917.
THANK YOU!
