It’s Debrief. It’s a time of reflection and rest in the Lord. It’s a time of spending time with the ones we love who are no longer on our team, and it’s a time to learn new things and grow even more under the leadership of our mentors and leaders. It’s a pretty great time overall, and I always learn so much.
Today, I decided to be a social butterfly and sign up with several one-on-ones with a few members of our leadership team. We’re parting ways in just a few short days. They’ve raised up 4 incredible people from our own squad to take their place and now they’re heading home. So why not meet with as many as I can?
I met up for a coffee date with one of our squad leaders this morning, and we began to talk about worship. She mentioned that there are 7 Hebrew words for praise and told me about the word Towdah/Todah. Towda/Todah, is the Hebrew word for Thanksgiving to the Lord by looking past the circumstances in front of us and praising God for the things he WILL DO through faith! It’s so much more than this, but this part especially stuck out to me. As many of you may know, I’m at another difficult point in fundraising where I’m very much in danger in leaving the mission field and returning home. I still have so much I want to learn about the character of God and how he sees me. I know I’m where I’m meant be, but the funds just aren’t there. When she began speaking to me about Towdah, I knew this was something that I really wanted to grow in and practice.
How wonderful it would be to be in an ongoing state of praise. Not only when I’m happy and God is answering my prayers left and right, but also in the waiting; in those moments that seem impossible and hopeless. It isn’t easy, right? It requires a choice. Will I choose joy and praise today? Will I sit in his presence and thank him for the things he hasn’t even done yet?
I want this to become a daily practice. Towdah is used many times in the Bible in boldness and in faith to speak out what hasn’t happened yet and to praise God in the middle of difficult circumstances. These people knew who their father was and they knew he was capable of the impossible. And guess what?! He was and he still is!! We are here to bring his kingdom to earth, and that means we carry the doer of the impossible with us. Not only that, but he’s given us the authority and power to do the impossible in his name! Super cool right?
So today I’m going to be vulnerable. I’m struggling and unsure of where the funds are going to come from, but even though I’m struggling, I’m going to praise him. This has been an incredible year. I’ve grown so much and I’ve received healing and been part of an incredible community. I’m not giving up, but I’m looking at how good God has been in my life. I’m looking at where I was and where he has brought me and how he provided for all of it. God is SO GOOD. I’m thankful for all he’s done and all he will do!
If you would like to be a part of what God is doing in my life, please click the donate button above. I have 5 days to reach $13,500. That means I still need a little over $2,000 to stay on the field. Please pray about it and ask the Lord what he would like you to give. If you can’t give, please share this so others can have the opportunity to give and please keep me in your prayers! Thank you all so much for everything you’ve done and continue to do. ♥
