Hello Hello faithful readers of my little corner of the internet!
{{Insert wave}}
Wow, here we are in June.
So this week, the birthday girl (that’s me ;)) welcomed 34.
I was never more excited about a birthday honestly and was not sad to see 33 go as I’m so excited because the year ahead is going to be epic and life-changing. It is going to be a game-changer and turn my whole life upside down but in the best way!!! I’m going to be spending a majority of age 34 TRAVELING THE WORLD!!! But importantly get to spend a year sharing about my GREAT God and loving on people starting in the Philippines all the way to Ecuador and everywhere in between. I’m humbled and grateful. I ended this birthday with a full heart.. for what this city (Chattanooga) and it’s people have come to mean to me. The community of friends I have made here I couldn’t have even dreamed of. My life is taking a crazy wild turn and I have no idea what it looks like after leaving for a year and coming back from World Race and who knows where I will end up but man so glad Chattanooga has been a part of my journey. Life is a crazy beautiful thing.
Birthday dinner:
So much love surrounding me. What more could a girl ask for? 34 is already looking pretty darn good.
As much as I have to look forward to in the year ahead, the last month or so of 33 ended with some pretty amazing God moments. Happening so frequently that it got to the point where people were telling me “I hope you’re journaling this.” So it’s about time I got to that. I don’t want to forget how real and tangible God was in these moments.
God moment #1:
Let’s talk about the penny.
One Saturday towards the end of May I was at city serve day with my church. I believe and my heart is too serve and honor him in every capacity he sees fit. Whether that be in kids ministry or going out into the community as we did that weekend. At the ministry we were serving I found a penny on the ground as I have many times before but there was something different about this one. He so clearly spoke to my heart and said “Take that penny, deposit it into your world race account and see how far I’m gonna take that penny.” I’m not joking when I say other than saying yes to this missions trip I have never sensed his voice so clearly. I went to the bank that week and said “This is gonna sound bizarre but I need to deposit this.. ” So stay tuned on the story of the penny… (Funny thing, since this I have come across MANY pennies on the ground but none of them stood out like this one.)
God moment #2:
I need to tell you this…. A while back I gave support letter for my missions trip to a particular person… something just told me to. At the time he clearly let me know he wasn’t a believer and we kind of left it at that. It was a few Sundays ago I was going into work and I saw this person; and they said “You know what I just found? The letter you gave me months ago.” (back in January I think). They pulled out wallet and gave me money on the spot and said I am not a Jesus believer and just want you to know that. But I believe in you and I LOVE YOU.
||cue tears||
Sooooo many God moments like this during this fundraising process!!!
God Moment #3:
I was working this past Sunday again. I got a table, they left. And this is what I found…
I was so perplexed but amazed because I never once mentioned my trip to the guests at this table as I was serving them and I’m just like how is this even possible. But then I later found out this was a person that I only knew through social media and have NEVER met and just happens to be from Chattanooga, but no longer lives here and was visiting. She never once said a word while I was with her. Only later found out when she was long gone. But she paid me more than what her meal cost and it blessed me to the core. I can’t make this stuff up if I tried.
God moment #4:
Oh it gets better. So one of the biggest things I’m in need of for the trip, among many things, is a camera. A way to adequately take pictures and document my trip. But honestly, my phone is my camera, so I have NOTHING. It was a long shot but I put it out on social media to see if anyone had an old camera or go-pro they had laying around and not using that they could lend/donate.
Welllllll…….. the day before my birthday I got a text from a friend who works out of state at Target. She was asking me for the address for my local Target and needed other info. I’m like hmmmmmmm….. and then she texts “Okay, you can pick up your new camera tomorrow morning at your Target.” I’m sorry, let me clean out my ears. What did you just say? LOL. SHE BOUGHT ME A CAMERA PEOPLE. And it videos and it’s perfect size and everything I could possibly need. Mind blown does not even begin to describe. So I picked it up on my birthday.
God moment #5:
Happened on my birthday. I get a phone call from my manager wishing me a happy birthday and saying she had a cool story for me. A regular at our restaurant came in asking for me or if I worked there, not sure which, but she had saw on Facebook the birthday fundraiser I was doing. One of those things where we’re not friends but think she was friends with my manager on there or something and saw where she had liked my fundraising post. Her daughter’s birthday happened to be on my birthday as well. She said she felt like God was telling her to give me money, so she gave towards my fundraiser on behalf of my birthday and her daughter. AND I DO NOT KNOW HER. Does that give you goosebumps or what?
I know there are so many moments like this in between that I am failing to mention but these are at the forefront of my mind. Guys, God is HUGE. He is a GOOD GOOD God. He is actively working on your behalf. If you are in a season of want and need and you need a suddenly, oh it’s coming. I don’t doubt for one second that he is in every single detail of this journey. He cares about me so so much, and YOU. He sees the need before you even ask. Brings me to tears.
I encourage you. Seek him. Chase him. Pursue him. And watch him move.
