About two weeks ago I was starting to become really discouraged about my fundraising for my trip. My account continued to sit at the $100 that I had to put in originally to save my spot, and let me just be totally honest for a minute… that is incredibly discouraging to see after three weeks into the fundraising process. Now, three weeks might not seem like a long time but when I have a total of 7 weeks (now only 4 weeks) to reach my first goal of $6000, it starts to make one realize how valuable three weeks can be. I started to avoid checking my account all together because I was tired of being disappointed after each time checking. Early last week I realized that I needed to work through this disappointment and I brought myself to check my account. Now I could tell you all that there was once again no change in my account but what would be the fun in that?! Yes, you guessed it; my account went up! As of the middle of last week I reached $725 and even though it is a small amount in the long run, I was ecstatic. Definitely a huge blessing in the discouraging time. When I saw this I easily could have become really proud of myself for getting to this point but in reality, I have not done anything other than send out a simple letter. For this, I give credit to no one other than God because He knows what we need before we even ask for it. He continues to amaze me in new ways every day.
There are things that happen in life that we just don’t understand and I’m learning that we have to be okay with that. One of these things that I haven’t been able to totally understand is why such a young person had to be taken from his life here on earth so soon. But through the past few days I have started to realize that we won’t ever know the reasoning behind why God did this but we can rest in knowing that He did have a reason for it and now another one of God’s children is in His presence and knows Him fully. Wow, what it would be to know God fully. Thanking Him that we will someday be with Him in the kingdom of Heaven. Though rejoicing in this is something we are forever grateful for, it can still be hard to work through the sadness of a loss. Through the tears and hard days I have really been made aware of all the friends and family that God has blessed me with. My friendships are something that I often take for granted but in hard times it makes me stop and really thank God for the people He has blessed me with. We don’t know how much time we have and unfortunately, it takes the loss of someone to make us face the reality of how valuable and precious our lives are. I’ve really been wrestling with being aware of how I’ve treated some people. I never know when the last time I will see someone is and life is too short to mistreat people. I am to love as Jesus loves me. It’s easier said than done at times but, to love someone is an action and according to good old dictionary.com, an action is the the process or state of being active. We are the hands and feet of God and what better way to be just that then to ACT in His love to those we come in contact with? Through all of this, I am learning to cherish each and every moment of my days and to take hold of every opportunity that God throws my way. Finding comfort in Revelation 21:3-4; “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
In the middle of this rough, emotional week I was shown God’s faithfulness in yet another way. I checked my account today…. I have a current total of $1070. God is SO faithful; all the time.
Sorry this didn’t really flow together very well but I am just in awe of how amazing the God we serve is and He has blessed me with so much in the good things as well as the more difficult things of life. One thing is for sure, life is quite the journey and I am learning more and more every day that I can’t do it on my own. But we serve a God who stretches out His hand daily for us to hold on to.
