I wanted to take the time on this blog to give God all the glory, honor, and praise for how He has provided everything needed to go on this mission! Officially fully funded as of 11/14!!! It’s been such a wild up and down journey through the process, but honestly, even though I would doubt and question God, He did far more exceedingly and abundantly than what I could ask for. Gratitude is the word that describes the thing I feel when I reflect on God’s hand weaving all the ins and outs of this process; it was entirely out of my control, and He was so faithful in showing me that where He leads, He provides. The writing of support letters and the speaking at churches were new to me and led me to trust in God more. There were times where I felt like, “God, how is this possible” but time and time again, He kept giving me Strength as I called upon His name to trust Him. I’m also so thankful for friends, family, and my church New Hope Philly who has been such great support in encouraging me in the call God has for me and sending me out! It is honestly overwhelming because I don’t deserve His provision and grace in my life and know that nothing is possible without Christ, but all things are possible with Christ. A couple of scriptures have been ringing in my head lately; I’d like to touch on them.
- James1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change
- Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Even in the shadows and trials of life, God remains good, and every good thing we have is given from Him. He isn’t good one minute, and bad the next; I’m reminded of this in my own life when the trial comes, which it will, to look at God’s goodness that flows like a river from the throne of God right in the middle of my doubt and questioning. Things like God is this possible, or God, am I qualified or called. Gratitude happens when we take our eyes off ourselves and place them on God and His goodness. Looking at what He’s done for you, not what you can do for yourself or what you don’t have.
I’m also reminded that God works all things out for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. I know this is a famous scripture that we like to throw around a lot, but it is hard to believe when you’ve experienced crazy trial/pain, loss, or trauma in your life. To believe that God is working that out for your good. How can God be good if my cousin has just lost the battle to cancer? How can God be good if my Uncle, who loved Jesus, takes His own life? How can God be good if my friend overdosed on drugs and is no longer here? I’ve been reading an Advent devotional by Ray Pritchard called Great Joy, and He talks about Romans 8:28 and says how we only see bits and pieces of God’s plan, and sometimes those bits and pieces don’t make much sense to us. Then he begins to write how He’s found comfort in the words of Alva J. Mcclain: “From the fall of a raindrop to the fall of an empire, all is under the providential control of God.” I’ve found much comfort myself in this quote/ devotional, bringing the reminder that God is a good God in control of all things, and He provides in all that we need cause He loves us and has a purpose for us.
Luke 12:28, But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
He Provides the physical things and the supernatural things we need(Joy, Peace, Patience, Strength, etc.) He’s the giver of all good things! He allows these things to happen in our lives to draw us closer to Himself to be transformed into the image of His son Jesus and glorify our Father in Heaven. He has a purpose for each one that is called, and we might not understand why all these things He has worked together for good happen, but if we believe in Gods providential control and His sovereign will for our lives, we don’t Have to worry because He loves us and loves what He’s created. To end, there is a hymn that has been flowing through my mind and ministering to my heart as I’m writing; it is the first verse and chorus of Great is Thy faithfulness:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
