I hadn't had any money go into my fundraising account since about mid-July, even though I had talked to what seemed like a million people, passed out like 1000 support letters, and had received many promises of money.
And I was FRUSTRATED!!!
My first fundraising deadline, October 1st, was (and still is) slowly creeping up ….I was still short the funds needed to meet it, and panic was starting to set in. I have already given this to God, so what do I do now?!? Put it on my credit card if the funds don't come in and trust that He will somehow pay off my credit card?!? I didn't know what to do, and I was having a breakdown!!!! I honestly don't think that God wanted me to put the funds on my credit card, I believe that He will provide….and He will do that without putting me into the red. But if He didn't start that money rollin' in soon I would have to take things into my own hands……
Wait a minute……my own hands?!? I thought that I had put it His capable hands. I thought that I had said that I would trust in Him for the funds no matter what happened…..why was I picking this back up again?!?
Through all of this mental anguish and frustration that I was going through God was talking to me. He was gently prodding me to let go of the reigns and allow Him (clearly the more capable the two) to take over and get me to where I need to go. Get down on my knees and surrender everything to Him and allow Him to steer. He wasn't telling me to stop fundraising, but He was telling me that I had to take my main focus off of it. Allow it to remain in my peripherial vision, but to make Him my nimber one focus. I had taken my eyes off of the number one thing that would get me through this journey (not just the World Race, but LIFE) and had tried to accomplish things on my own, And where did doing things "my way" get me?!? Curled up in a ball on my mom's bed, a slobbering mess of snot and tears, with mascara streaking down my face, surrounded by a pile of kleenex. Doesn't sound like a very pretty picture now does it???
And so it goes, I repented of my lack of faith that My Almighty Father would get me through just as He promised He would, for attempting to take the wheel out of His able hands, of my pride, and of trying to do things on my own.
It was then that things started to change…..I had ordered Threads of Hope (for those of you that don't know it is a Christian organization based in the Phillipines that helps to support impoverished families. These families are given work that they would not otherwise have making beautiful friendship bracelets and bookmarks, they then take orders and send them to people like me who are fundraising for a cause. I sell them here, and send 50% of the money made back to them. It's an amazing deal, and a win-win situation for all involved) and received my huge package in the mail a day later.
I immedately started selling them! I took them into my bank and sold them to all of the employees (most of whom I know…lol), posted them on facebook, and even had one of my beautiful youth and also a good friends amazing daughter volunteer to take a bunch to school to sell them to all of their friends. Wow….God is good! And then at church this Sunday one of my youth girls ran up and asked me if she could see them because she wanted to buy a few…..HOLD UP! Chain reaction! Every female within range was suddenly rifling through the bracelets looking for ones that they liked and comparing them with each other. And then God worked even more……I had a few people come up to me that had said they would support me and hand me cheques and money……HOLY SHMOLY! When you surrender yourself to God and allow Him to work amazing things happen! All together just with the funds given to me on Sunday the gap has been bridged and I have received enough to make the 1st deadline on October 1st.
PRAISE THE LORD AND HALLELUJAH!
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
I want to thank everyone that is backing me through their encouraging words, prayers and financial generousity, I really would not be going on The World Race without you and your generous support. Your love and belief that I will not only be changed through this experience, but will also change the world, means more than you know. I am so grateful that God has put you all in my life.
xx
