“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than the birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Luke 12:21-26
I am so so so EXCITED to announce that I have reached my first fundraising goal of $5,000 a MONTH in advance! Praise be to God!!! This summer, although there have been ups and downs, has been a summer of God’s provision. He’s providing in so many areas of my life that I have to brag a little about how great He is!
1. My God provides Support.
Fundraising is truly a process like I’ve never experienced. $16,561 is a BIG number, and I’ve had many doubts as I’ve tried to raise support. I tried to fundraise for a trip to Africa last year, and that trip was only a small fraction of this number. I had difficulty with this fundraising because I don’t think my heart was truly in the entire process. I was not recognizing God every step of the way, and I was not fully trusting that He would bring in all of the money. With this goal, I honestly have NO CHOICE but to give this number to God because I cannot raise this much money on my own strength!
God has responded in a way that is bigger than I ever imagined. This week alone I have raised over $4,000, which not only means that I have met my first goal of $5,000, but also I am halfway funded!! God is so good, and I am so thankful to the people that have responded to God’s call and stepped up to help me fundraise and support me through prayer! I love you, I am thankful for you, and I praise God for you!
2. My God provides Community.
Last semester at Clemson was honestly a very lonely time for me. Since I was full-time student teaching, I did not have much time to hang out with friends after teaching, planning, and sleeping. I had also shut myself away from others because of many lies that the enemy was throwing my way. I was so lonely that I didn’t see a way out, and I didn’t have many people to “do life” with.
This season of my life is a complete 180 degree change.
God has provided an amazing youth staff to work with that speak into my life and build me up. He has provided adults in the church to love me and speak truth over me. He has allowed me to live with my parents again. Parents who love me and build me up more than anyone else in this world. Parents who have been my number one fans throughout my journey to the Race and who would do ANYTHING to further this cause! God has brought me back to work with my youth group; the oasis that brings people and opportunities that always replenish me to go and spread God’s love.
Without Godly community and guidance, I am truly nothing. God shows me that more and more everyday.
3. My God provides Healing.
Through discipleship, God is providing healing in my life. I recently read a book called The Bait of Satan by John Bevere. This book addresses the spirit of offense that exists among us. As flawed humans, we get offended when someone wrongs us, or when we feel as if we have been wronged. God has opened my eyes to the large spirit of offense that has been controlling my thoughts and actions recently. I found myself in a place of such deep hurt, that I made it almost impossible for others to love me before I pushed them away or shut them out of my life. Thankfully, I have been able to recognize this spirit offense and lift it up to God. He has blessed this process endlessly, and I can already see the seeds of healing and hope in my life. This is definitely a process, but God is drawing near and responding so clearly to my need.
4. My God provides Protection.
Throughout this journey, Satan has been hurling lies at me– lies about fundraising, lies about what others think of me, lies about who I am in Christ, lies about my purpose in going on the Race, so many lies. Thankfully, God is providing protection against these lies in two ways. He is teaching me how to recognize these lies, and He is teaching me how to be vulnerable about these lies.
It’s easy to think poorly of myself as I compare my life to others. It’s easy for me to “get into my head” and overthink everything. It’s easy to let these negative thoughts consume me because I continue to let them exist, rather than combatting them with the true things that God thinks about me and tells me in Scripture. I am a child of God (1 John 3:1), God created me with intentionality (Psalm 139:13), I am fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of GOD (Psalm 139:14), I am LOVED (John 3:16). These verses don’t even scratch the surface of the great love that God has for little me! Wow!
Secondly, God is teaching me how to be vulnerable when these lies come to me. Last week, I was feeling so overwhelmed by these lies that I felt physically ill. I felt as if there was a hand pushing down on my chest, and I couldn’t breathe very well because of this pressure. After some internal battling, I decided to tell my two co-workers and friends Halle and Baylee. I told them the thoughts that were going through me head and how it was making me feel. They took the time to stop and pray for me, and I immediately felt the heaviness lift from my spirit and my chest! We moved on to have a great conversation about the summer and how we were feeling, and we grew closer through this experience. God has definitely provided protection against the enemy as I deal with Satan’s attacks, and I am forever thankful!
5. Finally and most importantly, my God provides JOY (:
This past week was VBS week at my church, and it is always one of my favorite weeks of summer. From dancing to outdoor recreation, VBS week is such a joyfully exhausting week. I found myself coming home each day tired and sore– and joyful. Seeing these children play and worship in the love of the Father is one of my favorite things. God’s joy has brought me through easy times and hard times, but I know that it is one of His greatest gifts to me. I am even radiating with joy as I write this blog.
God is so GOOD and His provision is so PLENTIFUL. I am so thankful to serve a faithful and unchanging God. This summer is a summer of learning for me, and I am so thankful to have the platform to share with others the ways that God is working in my heart! Training camp is in 45 days, God is good, I’m halfway funded, and I cannot wait to continue in this journey with Him!
Praise be to God!
Jordie
