im going home aril 15th for 3 weeks to help take care of my mom. shes having a serious surgery, and i have to be here for her. as many of you know its super expensive to travel round trip from west africa. usually runs me about 17-1800 a time. its not everyday that i can afford a ticket home. yes, i have a job here, but they only pay me a stipend. its nothing really. most of the teachers here raise additional support, but not me. so, i knew that i needed to come home and i knew i didn't really have the money. i felt the lord asking me to test him and watch his faithfulness. ive raised money before and its not hard for me to ask people to help me. its biblical and i find that many people are willing to help.
...but this time i was sensing a different direction. i felt the lord telling me to ask it from him and trust in him to provide. we can all so easily put our faith in each other, as clearly im struggling with. i find myself putting my faith in man instead of him quite a bit. im always praying for more faith and trust. so i started praying, serious praying and journeling. asking the lord to provide the money i needed to come home. asking him to put me on someones heart and that person would give without me asking. and do you know what happened. ive been praying this for about 5 or so weeks...and yesterday a substantial amount of money came to my parents house for me. from and friend out of the blue. someone who knows the direction of my life and just wanted to bless me. WHAT?!?! i started balling my eyes out when my dad told me yesterday. its like i felt the lord telling me "i told you" i was so blessed and convicted at the same time. why did i doubt him?? seriously, wow, i have such little faith, and i was straight blown away by the faithfulness of the lord. its one thing to receive money when you've asked for it. its another to blindly put your faith in the lord and trust that he will provide. and he does and he will time and time again. yall, i URGE you to put your faith and trust and hope in him. its the most incredible rewarding thing you will ever do. our lives are not ours, and we are meant to live for the lord, not ourselves. the bible is serious and literal, not to be taken lightly.
we were created to bring glory to his name and show people the love of christ. when i find myself in a season of wandering i have to refocus my vision. i have to refocus on the kingdom. and remember that all things in this life will soon pass away, and when i refocus my priority to kingdom focused i remember how serious it is. more serious than we see it.
the blessing i received form the lord thru this person grew my faith. the lord will bless this person greatly i know. and it makes me praise god for this persons willing spirit. it makes me wonder how may times im prompted by the lord to talk or give to someone and it goes undone. i try all the time to be in tune with the spirits prompting, so i can also be used to bless people. nothing that i have is truly mine. the longer im here the harder it is for me to save money, because of the need so many other people have. why would i keep it in a drawer when i can help someone today? i urge you to listen to the lords prompting in your life. a simple cup of coffee, a dinner or even a friendly conversation might be the biggest blessing you can offer to someones day. we are to be a light in this world...now go shine jesus on people.
i am obediently following him by being here in ghana and i will do whatever it takes to be in the center of his will for my life. even though it looks crazy its the best life ever. people ask me, cant i just teach in texas and help people there....and yeah i could, for sure....but that's not what the lord has for me right now. right now he has me in this incredible place in west africa, where the faith of these people moves mountains. and right now, there is no place id rather be.
everything i have and everything i am is his. total surrender. period. my life is his. nothing in this life is greater than a relationship with christ. if you don't have it, please seek him. allow him to be your all. there is no other way.
thanks for listening to me i hope you are blessed and encouraged. now, go be a light!
