I have mentioned several times how I want to get better at this whole “blogging” thing and so here we are. With that I will give a fore warning that this post will be one with vulnerability and honesty. I say that because I have learned over the years how important it is to be honest and vulnerable to truly grow personally but also with others, and I want to grow with you all and respect you all who are taking the time in supporting us and joining us on this journey!
The mention of support is where I will start. Many of you have received letters from us personally and even got a card to put up the fridge or poster board as a reminder 🙂 (if you have not received either just let us know and we will be happy to send you one!) I will start with my personally growth in the idea of “support”. I grew up with a healthy mindset of if you want to obtain it- you work for it….not bad right? Well, in some regards…When it comes to our salvation, it is by faith and not by works! When it comes to paying bills, it might not be a bad idea to have an income to support that. My mindset has since be transformed and molded to see more of Gods heart in all of this. I used to view it as simply “asking people for their money” and when given the options to either PRAY or FINANCIALLY SUPPORT- I would choose the prayer route because it was simply easier and there is no “buyers remorse”. That’s honesty.
Over the past few years being part of a church plant that relied heavily on the giving heart of people it has been a very encouraging aspect now. I have seen how the Lord moves on your heart and isn’t just telling you to give “your money” (because lets be real IT IS HIS MONEY- completely different subject so we will save that for another time) haha- instead the Lord is giving us an opportunity to invest in something ETERNAL and is inviting us into furthering HIS KINGDOM! It is humbling when it is viewed through that lens.
I have gone from a selfish mindset of “these people just want my money” to the humbling mindset of- this money is not mine in the first place and I get to partner with these people to further the Kingdom of God! Now- I do not say all of this to guilt trip anyone, as I have stated before this is simply me being vulnerable and stating what I have been learning. If the Lord moves on your heart to give THATS NOT ON ME 🙂 PRAISE GOD! I will say this though, with this healthy realization of what the Lord has been showing me He is also currently teaching me that if He is calling me to this- He will provide, but also He is calling me to be bold and confident in presenting this to potential partners.
With all of this to say a very real part of what we are being called to is fund raising and we have very real deadlines to make. Our next deadline is December 13th, we will need to have $20,000. We are currently at $11,440.00. We were taught in training camp to not always aim for the multi million dollar giver (which again IM LEARNING and that was good to hear) but to simply say ANYTHING IS APPRECIATED. That means $1 is good and seen as a blessing, $10, is good and seen as a blessing, $25 is good and seen as a blessing, and so on! We are called to a season where we are trusting the Lord more than ever and are confident He will be glorified in all of this!
Again I cannot reiterate enough how much I don’t want to pressure anyone through this blog. I have said before that if these blogs can get the wheels turning in a manner the Spirit is moving on hearts and challenging individuals then PRAISE GOD! That is our goal to be open to how God is wanting to use us and to be His vessels! In all things we want to bring God glory! So in closing if this is nothing more than an inside look at where Austin has come from- PRAISE GOD because He has changed my heart. If this is a refresher on what you already know- PRAISE GOD for Him graciously already revealing this Kingdom mindset to you! If this is challenging and might take some time to digest- PRAISE GOD for He is not a God of confusion, so ask Him through His Spirit to reveal the things of His heart and Kingdom to you! We want to boldly ask for prayer and if the Lord is leading you to give ANYTHING we are appreciative and see it as a blessing!
Thank you all so much for taking the time to see where we are at. The Lord is working and I am so thankful for what He has done and what He is going to do!
Austin
