“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” – Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)
I like the NLT translation of this verse because friendship has been an important and life-defining aspect of my walk with the Lord.
I also like that strangers can become friends in a matter of minutes, speaking volumes to how God intended for us to live. Not alone, but as a body.
To befriend (according to Google at least) is to act as a friend by offering help or support. In that sense, a few strangers became friends this week: the ICU nurse with scripture tattooed on her forearm who did everything in her power to make mom feel comfortable. The physical therapist who stopped in to take mom for a walk and asked to pray over her after the walk was over. The customer at my garage sale fundraiser who joined hands with me and my grandparents as she prayed in tongues over mom for healing and over me for the World Race. Let’s all just take a moment to LOSE OUR COOL OVER HOW GOOD OUR GOD IS. He doesn’t waste pain, He doesn’t waste a moment.
Megan describes the same truth in the next part of this blog.
Megan is another dear friend of mine who embodies the friendship described in Proverbs 27:17. She messaged me yesterday to let me know she had typed up a “guest blog” for me to upload. Just think of it as a virtual guest appearance.
With our second fundraising deadline coming up, Megan wanted to update you all on how I’m doing with fundraising and how you can partner with me in bringing the love of Christ to the nations. Megan’s boldness, positivity and unwavering faith has impacted my life more than she knows, and I’m so thankful to share this journey with her. Please take the time to read Megan’s “guest blog” and consider partnering with me in sharing the Good News across the globe. 🙂
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“Hi everyone! My name is Megan Small, I love Mexican food and long walks on the beach.
Joking. 😉
I am a fellow Racer and squadmate of Nichol. I have been blessed to know her for almost 10 years. We met each other back in high school and have shared many ups and downs in our lives. I call her my sister because even though we don’t share blood, we share the Spirit of God.
Over the years, we have joked about how God had set us on symmetrical paths at the same points in time. We both went to the same Girls Retreat and began our serious walks with the Lord. We both lead bible studies in college, went to the Passion Conference, and applied to the World Race. Whenever we chose to do these things, we were always shocked to discover that the other person had made the same decision. I have had a front-row seats to Nichol’s growth. She is someone who always inspires me with her faith in Jesus and her wholehearted devotion to loving others, because He loves us. In her, I see a perfect example of how the love of Christ fills a person so much that it overflows onto everyone around them. She understands that in order to follow Christ, I mean REALLY follow Him, into the hard and difficult places of life, it often costs you something dear, like leaving your life for 11 months.
These similar paths have previously amazed us, and brought us laughter because it seemed to be so coincidental but with no real consequence. Now it’s a source of comfort and camaraderie as both our moms are fighting cancer. Although this part of life is not something I would wish on anyone, I don’t know what I would do without her constant prayer and support. I only hope that I am as much of a blessing to her as she is to me.
We don’t know why we seem to have mirror walks in our life, but we know for certain that nothing God does is wasted. He has a plan for our story, even if we don’t see it yet. Even if we never know why He constantly calls us to the same paths at the same time, we know we are not alone.
In order to go on the World Race, we have to raise $17,017. Luckily, we don’t have to raise that all at one time. We have certain goals to meet along the way and we’ve already passed our first one (yay!! Congrats to us!), but the second goal is quickly approaching.
We have to raise $10,000 by July 21st.
Nichol currently has $6,600 in her account. It might seem like that’s a big deficit, especially when you think about raising it in only 2 weeks. But let me tell you why I’m not worried: God. I know that may sound like the cliché, cop-out Christian answer, but it’s so TRUE. I know these two things:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
and
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
I know He has called Nichol to the World Race, to this team, at this time. I know that as Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” I know that 1) God promises to provide for us and 2) that His promises are as good as done the moment he speaks them, because He is FAITHFUL. He does not lie, and He doesn’t change His mind.
I also know this from experience, as I have seen Him continually provide above and beyond my expectations as I fundraise.
So I write this today, not to beg you for money. Not to try to guilt you into giving. But to simply raise awareness and to claim with conviction that $3,400 is NOTHING compared to God. If He can calm the storm with a simple word, I know He can accomplish this. I am actually EXCITED to see what God has coming around the corner. Because the greater our shortcomings, the more we get to see God’s power at work, and I LOVE getting to see Him work!
If you feel called to partner with Nichol on this journey, I want to encourage you that you are doing more than “helping Nichol.” Through Nichol, you’re helping all the men, women, and children with whom she will be sharing the love of Christ. She might be comforting a crying orphan, or helping a woman escape human trafficking, or maybe sharing the gospel with and praying for a homeless man. This isn’t just her story, or their story, it’s God’s story. Please prayerfully consider if He is calling you to be a part of the story too.
Please join me in prayer, as we thank God for how He has already provided and wait with eager anticipation for how He will help Nichol meet this goal!”
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