Without a minute to spare, just in the nick of time, at the last minute.
Perhaps the most famous example of this expression is during World War I as the soldiers wore thin as the harsh winter settled into their bones. With over 8 million killed and 21 million wounded, WWI ruthlessly claimed its victims. Then, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 the official ceasefire of World War I took effect on the western front.
Almost 100 years later, August 18th is my 11th hour to visit 11 countries in 11 months.
This is the deadline for all September route racers to have $10,000 raised in order to launch on the World Race. As I write this I have raised $8400, praise the Lord! Words are not enough to express my deep gratitude to everyone who has chosen to partner with me on this adventure. I am truly blown away by the Lord’s faithfulness and how much He continues to teach me on this journey.
However, I still need to raise $1600 in the next 10 days. My mind has been racing non-stop about who I need to follow-up with, who I can reach out to at the last minute and what fundraisers I can still think of in the nick of time. But what I’ve realized is my thoughts have only focused on how I can still earn more as time ticks away and not on what the Lord, who exists outside of time, is able to do when I express my need to Him and others.
Of course I want to be diligent in stewarding the call of the Lord on my life to go on the Race and fundraising is a huge and beautiful part of the growth process and kingdom journey. The Lord is not opposed to effort, He is opposed to earning. He already paid the highest price by sending His beloved son to die for us and freely offers salvation as a gift that cannot be earned. It takes a lot to express our vulnerability, to say that you need help, to admit that you can’t do it on your own.
During this past month, the Lord has been teaching me more and more about my identity in Him. The book Captivating by Stasi and John Eldredge has taught me so much about what it means to be a woman. They write, “The more His own we become, the more ourselves we become; more our true selves.” When we become more our true selves, we understand our true value and realize that we can stand firm in His affirmation and provision.
When I become more my true self, daughter of a King and His beloved, the easier it is to be vulnerable and say I’m struggling to meet this second deadline of $10,000, the easier it is for me to ask for your help to send me on the World Race by donating before August 18th and the easier it is for me to admit that I can’t do it on my own, I need God and I need all of you!
God is notorious for 11th hour situations: sparing Isaac’s life with a ram without a minute to spare, parting the Red Sea for the Israelites just in the nick of time and shutting the lions’ mouths for Daniel at the last minute. He is never late. His timing is always perfect, even at the 11th hour…
Would you consider meeting me in my 11th hour by donating today and helping me meet my $10,000 deadline by August 18th?
