I just wanted to post a fundraising update so that all my incredible supporters can see where I am with funds.
Right now, I have $5352.32 left to raise by January 1, 2013!
I am honestly overwhelmed by all the support and how God has provided for this trip. I really couldn't have done it without the support of faithful people like you guys, so thank you so much!
If you have been wanting to support me and haven't yet, now is the time! I am believing God for BIG things, and I fully believe that by the time I leave in July I will be completely funded.
Thank you again for your support and allowing God to use you to make this happen.
This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. - Lamentations 3:21
I love this verse. My pastor preached a message from this passage last summer, in a series called Treatment. The message he taught can be found here. Since then, this verse has become one of many that I continually find myself leaning on, and learning from.
This I call to mind.
God's goodness in the face of adversity. When I find myself looking a seemingly impossible situation in the face, or just stuck in a seemingly endless cycle, I look back a specific times in my life where I have seen God work through those times. I find peace in knowing that he has always been at work behind the scenes, and he is, even now.
Therefore I have hope.
Being able to look back at specific situations in their entirety, and seeing God's hand at work through them, that gives me hope.
I am so thankful for how he leads me, always, right into His arms.
One Sunday last year, my church handed out little blue cards with 'Faith Confessions' written on them. These are 12 confessions of faith that they encouraged us to speak over our lives, promises of God.
I typed them up and hung them over my desk at work, and I glance at them occasionally, but not often enough. Lately, I have had a lot going on in my head. Sometimes it is hard to process what God has called me to do. How much He loves me as His child. That He has plans for me, plans for me to prosper, to have hope and a future. Plans to meet the desires of my heart, plans for me to glorify Him through my life here on earth.
Sometimes the devil gets in there, and tries to tell me that NO ONE loves that much. Of course he is wrong. I know someONE who does. My God does. Sometimes I just need reminding.
Today I looked up at the faith confessions, and I saw in black and white HOW MUCH God loves me.
I am fully forgiven and free from all shame and condemnation.
I act in audacious faith to change the world in my generation.
I have no fear or anxiety, I trust in the Lord with all my heart. I am able to fulfill the calling God has placed on my life. I am fully funded to do everything God has called me to do.
I have no insecurity because I see myself the way God sees me.
I am a faithful spouse and a Godly parent; our family is blessed.
I am completely whole physically, mentally and emotionally. I am increasing in influence and favor for the Kingdom of God.
I am enabled to walk in the sacrificial love of Christ. I have the wisdom of the Lord concerning every decision I make.
I am protected from all harm and evil in Jesus’ name.
What glorious promises from a God who loves us beyond measure!
He has CALLED me according to His good purpose. He has fully funded me to do ALL that He has called me to do (yes, my support account may not be full yet, but He will fill it!). He is increasing me in influence and favor and giving me His wisdom with every decision I make. He has promised to protect me from all harm and evil in the name of His Son.
The countdown to July continues! I cannot believe that in just 5 short months I will say goodbye to the US of A for 11 months! I cannot wait to see how God moves overseas and here at home.
I wanted to share a couple of different fundraising opportunities with everyone, because I love finding creative ways to bless you if you want to be involved in this ministry.
1. My friend Katie Hilborn is a Mary Kay Sales Associate. She was kind enough to offer 20% of the sales via her online site until Sunday noon to my race fund! If you like Mary Kay products, here is an easy way to support! Just visit Katie's site:
20% of everything you purchase will go directly to my fund.
2. My sister Linden is a very talented photographer. She is offering a special on lifestyle photography sessions to raise funds as well. You can visit her facebook page HERE.
She is offering 1.5 hours of shooting at the location of your choice (Charlotte area!) and a disc of the edited images. The special price is $200 per session with 50% of the price going directly to my World Race fund.
Much thanks to these girls for offering these great opportunities!
As the year comes to an end, I can’t help but look back and see how God changed me.
2011 was a huge year of growth for me. Below are just a few of the highlights that acted as a catalyst in that change.
At the end of 2010 I got involved volunteering at my church. I found a team that pushed me out of my box, but also fit my talents perfectly. I grew where I was planted. I sought God in ways I hadn’t, and as I saw life change in those around me, I began seeking it for myself. I wasn’t comfortable being a ‘Sunday Christian’ any more.
In the spring of 2011, I heard a message from Andy Stanley. It was under the name of New Rules for Love Sex and Dating, but it was more like New Rules for Life Change for me. In it, Andy challenged the audience to one year of no dating, and told the story of a girl who had taken him up on the challenge previously. When he issued it, I realized I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. I was supposed to take the next year off from dating.
I expected it to be difficult, but what I didn’t expect was for God to pursue my heart so fully. He used this past year to mold me, change me and shape me into the person he knew I could be. He constantly has surprised me in the things he has shown me, entrusted me with and taken away from me.
I also read a few books over the course of the year. One was Christian Atheist, by Craig Groeschel. Another was Crazy/Love by Francis Chan. These books challenged me to quit living the ‘easy’ Christian life, to get off the bench and get in the game.
God brought new people into my life. I started hosting/leading a small group bible study in my living room once a week. These girls that I barely knew at the beginning of the year have become some of my closest friends by the end. We support each other, cry with each other, laugh with each other, celebrate with each other and pray for each other. Only God could have put us together, and we acknowledge that frequently.
Looking back on the year, I feel like a completely different person than I was in 2010. It’s so much better, in fact, that only God could have warranted this change. I want to look at 2012 the same way, a year where God took me, stretched me, grew me and blessed me beyond measure.
Would He really ask me to do this? Travel the world, love people, be His representative? I doubt my abilities. I question who I will be without my family, my small group, my church family, my friends. Who will I be when it is just me and God? When everything else is stripped away, when I am in the streets of Thailand, or Romania? When I am asked to preach, and I don't know what to preach about?
When I really have to trust, what I am going to do?
Will I trust?
No doubt, trust will be the most difficult part of the journey for me. To every day, be trusting God in every single aspect of my life.
Here in the American church we have so many choices. In Charlotte alone we have hundreds, maybe thousands of churches. If I don't agree with the teachings of one, or I don't love the young adult ministry or it's too far to drive? I can find another. We say we trust God, but in the back of our minds we know that we can manipulate the outcome to fit our plan. Do we really trust God?
I feel God preparing me for this even now.
For the last two years I have been part of an amazing church here in Charlotte, and as I left last night from my volunteer shift, I was just struck with sadness. How much I will miss the people, the community there, the team I serve with every other Sunday night. The support of the pastors, the encouragement from everyone that I talk to. The fact that they believe in me one hundred percent.
I can only trust.
Trust that God has planned my path, that he has given me this community to prepare me for another. That he has given me people that believe in me one hundred percent so that I can believe in myself. So that when they are not with me physically, they can support me prayerfully.
Trust that God gave me this life, so that I can make a difference. That he put me in my family so that I could grow up with morals, values and belief in something bigger than myself.
Trust that in Him, I can do anything. For without Him, I am nothing, but with Him all things are possible.
Trust that He is before me, He is beside me, He is behind me, He is in me.
That has become somewhat of my mantra lately. When I feel doubt, or fear or any of those things that devil throws at us, I repeat to myself: God before me, God beside me, God behind me, God within me.
As I repeat that phrase, an overwhelming calm surrounds me, and I know. God is before me, beside me, behind me and living in me ALL the time. In Him alone will I know my true self. When I strip away all the things surrounding me now, I will only have Him left. I will have to go to Him for advice when I would normally call my mother. I will have to look to Him for validation where I would normally look to my boss, friend or pastor.
He alone surrounds me and when all else is gone, He will be there.
God before me, God beside me, God behind me, God within me.
Satan says I am not good enough...
but God says I am.
Satan says I am unloveable...
but He calls me His daughter.
Satan says I am dirty, filthy, a sinner...
but God says I am washed clean.
Satan says God doesn't want YOU to do his work...
but God says I chose you. Go.
You are my daughter. I chose you. Go do the work I have called you to.
I chose you.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16
