Consistently over the last few years, God has shown me that he is indeed Our Great Provider. Four years ago, I knew He was telling me to go to Union University, a school that seemed way out of reach for someone like me. I was not the brightest in school so scholarships were given to me by the mercy of the university itself. For the first 1-2 years, I frantically searched for ways I could pay for tuition, food, gas and other expenses. I considered joining the ROTC program, working various jobs, getting a degree that would make bank to repay loans but I pursued none of these things with a clear conscious.
God kept saying, “Stop and trust Me.” So of course, in pursuit of His will for my life I became frugal, cheap, and stingy. Obviously, I still didn't understand what He wanted from me. My stinginess made me bitter and a jealous person. In all His wisdom and sovereignty, God paired me up with a roommate whose natural gift is pure giving. Over the last four years, my heart became more open to the idea that nothing I have is really mine anyway. It’s all a blessing and gift from the Lord. If He blesses me with so much, shouldn’t my immediate response be to bless other people with everything I have!
This Sunday, my pastor preached on Luke 16:1-12 about leveraging our worldly wealth to build lasting relationships in the Kingdom. I thought about the typical American dream to own our own home, have 2 if not 3 cars, a big screen TV for those sports games that are only shown on Pay-Per-View. I thought about one of my own childhood dreams to one day live in a three story house by the lake with a boat and swimming pool. I always wanted one of those round-about driveways in the front with a fountain in the center. We all have dreams and desires and in themselves these things are not bad to have.
If God ever blesses me with such wealth, my dream now is to house people who have nowhere else to stay or are volunteering on mission. I want to give them a room in my mansion and adopt them into my family as long as they need a family to love them. I want to see children who aren’t my own running through my backyard laughing and playing with no care in the world. I want to live in real community, in service to one another and in 24/7 worship!
However, if God never blesses me with such wealth, I still want to be able to give and not hoard what little I have. When someone is hungry, I hope I love in such a way that their hunger far outweighs mine. I pray that no matter what may come in this life, I remember all the ways God has consistently provided for me these past couple years. I pray the Spirit of Stingy is Gone for Good! I pray others see Christ through my giving and praise Him in response!
God, when people see me, I pray my life points back to You!
God is providing for the Race in so many incredible ways. To be frank, I was terrified to even attempt the World Race because the price tag was too much. I was insecure, prideful, and thought little of the power of God. But I have seen God providing in ways that completely blow my mind! Squadmates are handed $12,000 checks from churches that aren’t their own. Strangers are investing in lives of people they’ve never met. God is already touching lives of those around us here in America before the official launch date of the Race has even begun!
This is incredible!! You are incredible!! It is truly blowing my mind!!
All this to say, God is our Provider! As of right now, I have enough money to cover my entire Race! There are still more financial needs such as gear, vaccinations/medications, travelers insurance, and plane tickets to and from launch. But I am more than confident these things will be provided in the days to come. 6 months ago, I never would have imagined all this would come together so smoothly. God doesn’t always send storms our way to teach us lessons; sometimes it’s in a simple message while picnicking on the mountainside. I’m not saying storms aren’t headed my way, but I am saying how thankful I am for the days we can just relax and enjoy our Lord and His great promises.
God is truly our Great Provider!
Thank you all who are praying and investing in this journey! I stand on the shoulders of giants and that is something I wish never to forget.
