Over the last month, the Lord has given reassurance after reassurance in unexpected and, honestly, quite breath taking ways.
Through people that I don’t even know that want to pray with me and for my fellow teammates.
Through members of the church supporting, loving, caring, praying, contributing, and living life with me.
Through a fish fry fundraiser coming together through donations upon donations and the love and hard work of so many family members.
Through a couple offering to equip me with almost everything I will physically need on this trip.
Through a family whose efforts are continual and their prayer and love for me is overwhelming. I love you all.
Through the constant love that the Lord our God shows through His disciples here on Earth.
It’s taken me a while to understand the concept of fundraising. It seemed not only daunting to raise $11,900 to go on this trip, but unattainable. I began praying immediately; asking God to bless this spiritual journey. I also requested that if this was in His will to give my mind peace and my heart content.
God has provided in every aspect of this trip! These reassurances have given my heart such joy in knowing that He is Lord over all and that His power is greater than anything or anyone that could stand against us.
And here is a realization that I’ve had this past month:
I was created with purpose.
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
His grace is sufficient. And I was created with purpose. The Lord is working so rapidly in me and my fellow teammates. Sometimes I just cry over the abundance of His love shown through all the people I’ve interacted with over this last month, this last year.
And now I praise Jesus with this hymn that has been in my head all week!
"I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood."
