A little while ago I sent the folks back home an email. I just asked a few of my friends and family if they had anything to share about how God has been working in their lives in America lately. Any stories, testimonies or answered prayers to show that the God who is over Bulgaria, Romania, India, Nepal, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and the Philippines is the same One who is working in my home state in America. I thought it might be a fresh perspective to remind us all that God’s goodness and faithfulness is not restricted to borderlines or nationalities. So, while these might not exactly flow or mesh together perfectly, they are stories from some sweet people back home that are giving thanks to the Lord and exalting His Name!
From my aunt, Freda:
Hannah, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be a part of your blog. Your Race has opened my eyes. I live in my own little world and in my own little routine. I read your blog and see your pictures of people who do not have the simple things that I take for granted. When I take a hot shower, I think of you and the people you are ministering to. From what you have shared, some of them don't know what it is like to have that hot shower, much less shampoo, conditioner and shower gel that is a must for me! This humbles me. I think of the clean water that I drink, my comfortable home, my clothes, my food, etc. We truly are blessed here in the US. Yet I fear we have lost sight of our Christian heritage. I am grateful that you and your teammates are willing to step out and spread the gospel to those who have not heard. I am grateful that you have shared what you have seen and experienced so that people like me who live in our "little Iredell county box" can appreciate what you are doing and can appreciate more the blessings and grace that our Lord showers down on us each and every day.
I will continue to pray for you and your team. I am also praying for your return and for the decisions that you will be making after you get home. I believe in the power of prayer and that our Lord is in control of ALL things. I want to trust Him and not ever lean on my own understanding.
Thank you again for sharing the love of Jesus with those who may have never heard.
From one of my best friends, Blair A.
“Just because I don’t understand what Jesus Christ says, I have no right to determine that He must be mistaken in what He says.”
I nearly choked on my cereal when I read the first line in My Utmost for His Highest (Chambers, March 28) one morning about a month ago. See, God had revealed to me a couple of days prior the answer to an important decision I needed to make. However, what He showed me was the complete opposite of what I, in my “oh-so-great wisdom” (ha!), had already decided in my head “made the most sense” (ha! again). So, I had been wrestling back and forth since God said something I wasn’t really sure made sense. Even within a few minutes of getting out of bed in my early morning fog, I was already debating the whole thing in my mind yet again. Needless to say, God used Oswald Chambers that morning to wake me up from the nonsense that was going on in my head. I knew what I had to do right then and there. In fact, if I was honest with myself, I knew deep down what I had to do right when God whispered it in my ear a day or so before. Chambers also wrote, “…Faithfulness to my own ideas means that I first clear the way mentally” – what I had been agonizingly trying to do – “Faith, however, is not intellectual understanding; faith is a deliberate commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ, even when I can’t see the way ahead.”
Thank You, Father, for being faithful when we are faithless. Thank You for being perfect when we are so far from it. Thank You for Your forgiveness when we, yet again, miss the mark. Give us the grace to do whatever You tell us, Jesus (John 2:5). No turning back.
Testimonies from another friend in NC:
You have stated many times throughout the past year about "spreading His word throughout the nations". In my opinion it should be "spreading His word to every person – everywhere, everyday!" Because God works in my life on a daily basis. I was really worried about my husband for several months, he didn't seem to be getting well, and of course, thoughts were in my mind about cancer, heart problems, etc. I always pray for every member of my family daily, but I was especially praying hard for the Lord to help my husband. It turned out, he had a thyroid problem! A simple pill daily for the past month has raised his thyroid to where it should be and he is feeling so much better. That is a miracle from God.
My best friend of 28 years, was working at Dollar General, part-time and hated it! She finally got fed up and quit. She is a widow and has been raising her grandson for the past 10 years, he is now 17. The bank was about to foreclose on her house, her car broke down, she was behind on all of her bills and didn't know what she was going to do. I prayed extra prayers for her and within a month's time, she got another job, working more hours and making more money! She is now doing just fine. That is a miracle from God.
I always pray before I go into work for God to help me to do my job to the best of my abilities, and to help me to be kind to all of my customers, regardless of how impatient they may be. And that always helps me through the work hours. My customers undoubtedly notice, because there are several, especially the older generation who make it a point to come through my line at the grocery store.
I pray for God to keep you and all of the members of the World Race safe. I especially ask God to guide your words and your feet throughout this journey you are on. You are safe and I know you are touching lives everyday with God's love. Another miracle!
I firmly believe that there are no coincidences, everything happens for a reason and only God knows the reason. Miracles happen in my life every single day.
And it’s me, Hannah, again:
Thanks for taking time to read about the simple ways that the Lord is working in the lives of my friends and family. So much has happened on the Race, but I’m beginning to see lots of changes back home as well. It’s good to know that we serve a mighty God who knows no boundaries and who is fighting to make His name known among every people and nation, including our own!
