Hello friends and family!
I wanted to give you all an update on how the Lord is FAITHFULLY providing for my World Race and thank everyone who has supported me in ANY way so far!
First, I want to say that God is SO FAITHFUL, friends. He really is!
Faithful, by definition, means “loyal, constant, and steadfast.” And let me just tell you, He IS these things. His Word makes it clear. When I am quick to doubt His provision and His ways (NOT being steadfast in trusting Him), He is so gracious to remind me that He cannot deny His own faithfulness and will bring glory to His own name through it.
When I first found out that I was accepted into the World Race and it really became a reality in my heart, $16,000 was overwhelming to me (And sometimes very much still is, don’t get me wrong). And the thought of raising money (And having to ask people for this money) to go out of the U.S. for 11 months and then not be making ANY money was a little crazy, not really safe, and not very logical. But sometimes (actually most of the time) following the Lord is not logical.
Mr. Beaver in C.S. Lewis’s famous series The Chronicles of Narnia had it right when he said of Aslan, the great Lion of Narnia (representing God), “Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course He isn’t safe. But He’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
He is good and He is faithful!
He has MIGHTILY provided for this trip so far! So much so that.. I MET MY FIRST GOAL OF $3500!!! Not only that, but I am at a whopping $4140!!!!!! I am amazed at Him!!!
So with that in mind, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ANYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME THUS FAR!! I am blown away!
I am so grateful for every dollar donated, every t-shirt and tank top bought, every encouraging word, and especially for the care from so many of you all asking how I am doing with fundraising and spiritually. It has meant more to me than you can imagine.
SO THANK YOU!!
Finally, I wanted to let you all know some things I am learning so far in this process:
1. God IS who He says He is and when He says He will provide, HE WILL.
He is the Provider. One of His names, Jehovah Jireh, literally means “The LORD will provide” (Genesis 22:14). He is simply amazing!!
From sacrificing an animal to clothe Adam and Eve in the garden after they rebelled and sinned against Him (Genesis 3:20), to providing manna from Heaven for the complaining Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:31, Psalm 78:24-25), He continually has provided for His people. Most importantly, these provisions were just a shadow to the ultimate provision for mankind. He graciously and mercifully provided His holy, spotless Son to be the PERFECT sacrifice to atone for ALL of man’s sin and rebellion and to be the Bread of Heaven in which we now delight in and feast and will for all of eternity!
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” -Romans 8:32
It is simply who He is.
To give you an example of a sweet provision of the Lord so far, just last week, someone anonymously donated a large amount of money to my World Race! Anonymously! (You know who you are even if I don’t :)). It built my faith so much in God’s provision! To that person, THANK YOU!!!
And He continues to provide every step of the way. I am excited to watch Him work!
2. Fundraising is a means by which God uses to keep us dependent on Him as Provider — and He does it through the Church (the body of Christ).
Fundraising is all about partnership and relationship, not just the exchange of money. Just as He created the Church for relationship with Him (the Bridegroom and His bride), He created the Church to be in relationship with one another. Paul says of the Philippian church in Philippians 1:3-5,
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
And friends, this is how I feel of you!! You are not just giving money; you are partnering to share the Gospel to all people!!
3. Going AND sending play equal parts in His advancement of His glorious gospel to the ends of the earth.
Without the senders, there are no goers. I am NO MORE important because I am actually going on the World Race than the people supporting me to go on the World Race. So for those of you reading this that are supporting me prayerfully and/or financially, I want you to know that you are EQUALLY important in this journey. And I am SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU.
Be on the lookout for more fundraising opportunities to continue to support me soon!
I write this post with joy and gratefulness that you would support me and partner with me. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! May He be praised for all things!!!
“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” -Romans 11:36
