Today’s post is a praise instead of a prayer request. I figured it’s about time God gets some praise for how good He really is!!!!
Yesterday I spoke to two beautiful Sunday school classes at my home church about my call to go the World Race. Both classes prayerfully felt led to give a donation. One class was so touched by the {Lord moving} they were able to give the EXACT amount that I still needed to reach my fundraising goal to be able to attend training camp! Can I get an amen?!
Let me break this down for you… I’ve been fundraising for a little over a month now. My World Race account currently holds $1,640 in it. Today I received a check for $2,450. My first goal: $3,900. Training camp: THURSDAY, Oct. 15th – 3 days away.
In in case you’re missing this mind-blowing, hair standing up on the back of your neck, moment right now…. 3 days from my last extension, I have surpassed my first goal. GUYS, I’M GOING TO TRAINING CAMP!!!!! Praise God!
Want to know something else? Yesterday as I so gratefully spoke to the Sunday school classes of EBC, I was reminded of my passion for missions. I was refreshed and rejuvinated at the real opportunity to travel the world that is in front of me. I was heartbroken for the needs I know we will see. I saw the Lord, once again, be so faithful to me in the midst of my worry and anxiety. He reached down and whispered to me “Be still my child, I am with you. I have called you. I have good planned for you, and I will be faithful.” What an encouraging message. What a blessing I have received. The joy that overwhelms me pales in comparison to the awe I am in for the love poured out on me by my Heavenly Father.
I have ALSO so graciously been gifted every piece of gear that I will need for training camp. As I look at the pole of gear overflowing like Christmas morning in my living room, I am flabbergasted at the outpour of grace upon me and my life.
Thanks does not express my gratitude to all those who have reached out to me, prayed for me, and prayerfully given financially ///
To the social media run world out there, let me be real with you. I’m im a time in my life where it seems that the Lord is pouring out His blessings on me and life must be radiant. Doesn’t the internet always portray people’s lives that way? Often leaving you feeling radically insignificant. I want to break that chain with you. I want you to know the pain behind the pictures, videos, and mirage, so that you may see the Lord’s work in me. Truthfully, over the past year I have begun to see for the first time, that I struggle with the very real challenge of perfectionism. After unknowingly chasing this characteristic for most of my life, it has taken my life coming to shambles to see that perfection was an unknown disease in my life. Righteousness sought to be earned by good works was unveiled in my life. Sermon after sermon I have heard that “good works will not get you to heaven” and “righteouness is through Christ alone.” I never even saw that these things held a secret grip on my life. It took a very real question of faith and the goodness of God, a loss of desire to seek after righteousness or the heart of God, and a lack of concern for my nearly spotless, goody-good, reputation to show me that I had been seeking rightouessness by my own strength and good works for a very long time. I genuinely believed the way that my church and community viewed me depicted my commitment to the Lord. However, when life events and long igorned emotional strongholds caused me to lose the strength to fight, my Heavenly Father fought for me. He is firsthand teaching me the true meaning of grace. I am learning the truth that He loves me and stands by me and carries me JUST AS MUCH when I am broken and running, as when I am strong and faithful. I don’t have to earn grace. I cant earn righteousness. I can never be “good enough” to deserve the love that he so kindly pours out on me. When depression grips me, when I hurt and cry and can’t find the will to live or the words to pray other than “Lord, help me,” he carries me. He closes the gap. He forsakes the 99 sheep to go after one and then carries me back to the flock.
Not only does he love me and carry me. He undeservingly continues to pour out his favor on me through the goodness of people giving to send me on the World Race. Y’all, God is good, all the time (not just when my life has a pretty bow tied on it and not just when I do my devotion every single day). He loves the broken, messy sinner. He associated with the outcasts. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. He loves you, and unlike anyone else in your life… He will never leave you nor forsake you… even when that’s exactly what you deserve. — I can’t wait to tell all of the broken people around the world, how he brought sinner like me to tell them about how good he has been to me, and how good he wants to be to a sinner like them.
{Dont give up, even when it seems like you’re fighting a losing battle. Don’t give up, when Satan tells you that you’re all alone even though you’re surrounded by a crowd of people. Don’t give up, because although you can’t see it, your Heavenly Father is fighting for you. In the words of my best friend,”it will get better.” Just hold on, dear soul. Just hold on — even when all the prayers you can muster is “Lord, please help me.” Because, child of the sovereign King, He will.}
You are loved more than you can ever fathom. He is faithful.
In humble honesty and gratitude,
-KP
