I can’t say it loud enough..
Thank You!
Thank you all SO much for your support. In your donations, in your prayers, in the conversations I’ve had with you, I am constantly blessed, blown away, and humbled by your obedience to the Lord. My gratitude towards all of you is absolutely understated and cannot be expressed enough.
Everyone of you has been an integral part, no matter how small or how short our interactions have been, in the Lord shaping my heart. As I constantly go over my list of supporters, I am continually reminded of your influence on my life, constantly pointing me to Jesus. I absolutely mean it. Each and every one of you! Whether it’s the love you shown my parents and them absolutely using your love as beautiful examples, or your continual desire to pour into me especially as an awkward teenager, or your faithfulness to raising children that have been wonderful friends to me, or the examples I’ve seen in you personally in my interactions with you, I have fondly sent you support letters because of your impact on my life. I wish I could instill in you how truthful my words are right now. I cannot even touch the gravity of my gratefulness for you!
In sending out letters and in speaking to groups about my trip, I neglected strategic planning or efficiency for the sake of praying for each of you. In stuffing envelopes with letters, I chose not to have others help in order to use the time to thank the Lord for you, asking Him to expand His love in your heart as well as mine. In speaking to groups, I prayed for your hearts to be changed for the desires the Lord has for you, and put aside planned talking points in allowing room for the Spirit to speak. I don’t say this because I desire attention towards anything I’ve done, I say this because as much as it’s about what the Lord is doing in me, it’s just as much about what the Lord is doing in you.
So let the Father of lights come and radically change who you are, through walking along side me in this crazy journey or by some other means. I pray that my letters would be more of a challenge to your lives than an invitation to give support (though I hope the latter certainly isn’t neglected). Let JESUS be exactly who He says He is. And consequently, let your hesitation be turned into joyful adoration of the One who is Love. Jesus is calling you to Himself. What’s more beautiful than that? Let Him empty you of yourselves that you may be filled with all of Him and walk in joyful obedience in the desires that He has for your life!
Jesus, You are faithful in our faithlessness. Glorify Yourself because when that is done, lives are changed. In each of these people’s lives, do work that only Your Spirit can do. Jesus You are freedom, life, peace, hope, joy! Let the words in Psalm 63 ring true in all of our hearts – “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you!” Jesus You are more lovely than we can ever imagine. Come and change us to be more like You. Amen.
