The past few weeks have not been what I expected. I had my second fundraiser a couple weekends ago and it didn’t go exactly as I had hoped. I only raised enough money to get my vaccinations. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful for the money that was raised but I left that craft show defeated. I had wanted to raise enough money to help with my December 18th deadline, my vaccinations, my spending money for the race, and the rest of the gear and essentials I’ll need before January 5th.
Sunday morning rolled around and it was exactly what I needed to get me out of that rut. The message was centered around being thankful. One of the songs we sang was Sun and Shield by Gateway Worship. The chorus and bridge of this song are some of my favorite lyrics.
Chorus:
You are my sun and shield, beyond what I can feel
I put my trust in who You are
You are the strength in me, beyond what I can see
I put my trust in who You are
Bridge:
I will trust You, I will trust in You
I will trust You, I will trust in You
As I sang these lyrics tears streamed down my face. I had forgotten a very important fact that weekend, God is my strength, my shield, my ever present help in time of trouble.
It was something I needed to sing over my situation. I needed to be reminded of this simple truth. I CAN trust God and I WILL trust Him. He has never failed me.
So even though I didn’t raise as much money as I had wanted, I still trust that God is in control and He’s got this.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (AMP) “Thank God in everything no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks, for this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus.”
My pastor preached a great message called the Forgotten Factor. We focused on Thankfulness and how it should be an integral part of our lives.
“Thankfulness CHANGES things before things CHANGE!”
He ended with this illustration of Paul and Silas in prison, found in Acts 16:23-26.
“After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”(NIV)
I love this. Instead of complaining and asking God, “Why me?” Paul and Silas chose to worship and pray. That challenged me to look at my fundraising situation in a different light. I’m going to worship my way through this. I will stand anchored in God and his promises over my life and trust His plan for me on this journey. I choose to be thankful.
What will you do at your next “MIDNIGHT”?
I am still in need of financial assistance before the December 18th deadline. I need $1,356 so I can launch with my squad in January. If you can help, please click the support me link on the left. If you would like to mail a check, you can send it to Adventures In Missions PO Box 534470, Atlanta, GA 30353-4470, put my name BenitaTownsend in the memo line of your check.
Thank you so much for your continued support. Together we will spread the love of Jesus across the world.
