Well friends, the last month has definitely been a crazy, hectic busy one. I'm working full time at my job I've had all year in Manhattan and then fundraising every night/weekend. One would think I'm used to this schedule from studio, but this is almost a different busy.
I felt I just got started with raising support when I went on my family vacation for 10 days. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved my vacation and enjoyed the time with my family as we drove through 10 states to/around the east coast and back for a family reunion. I had every intention of fundraising while there and sending out letters. I even had an entire duffle bag full of supplies that we took with us. However, God apparently decided I needed a break already. I was able to get on my computer the first night of our excursion, but when I went to turn on my computer the 2nd day I only got a black screen no matter how many times I tried turning it on and off. Ummmmm...needless to say I freaked out. I tried day in and day out to get my computer screen to turn on (it would have been the 3rd time I had to have my computer fixed within the last semester). So I went through the next 9 days without the use of my computer that held all my addresses I needed. (Lukily, I had backed it up on my external hard drive...that I left at home). My mom even let me download the TntMPD software I needed onto her computer in case I needed it when we got home. I was frustrated and upset. How did God expect me to be able to fundraise without my computer and database? Well, as soon as we hit the KS border on our way home, I texted my best friend's husband, who has built his own computer, to practically beg him to help me fix my computer when I got home. As he was telling me what I needed to do, I tried turning on my computer one last time.....Guess what worked!!! Really?!! I could just hear Jesus telling me I needed to rest and actually enjoy vacation. Thank you!
Another thing that Jesus started showing me on vacation was what it meant to have faith like a child: simply knowing and trusting He is there, no questions asked. My three yr. old cousin was in the car with us many times during our adventures, and by adventures I mean just that. We will just say that driving in new places is stressful in my family even with a GPS. Well in the middle of one of these "stressful" moments my cousin, who doesn't like stressful moments, decided to start singing "Jesus loves you" at the top of her lungs. My family just stopped and listened. This only adds to the list of reasons why she brings joy to my life no matter what mood I'm in or what has happened. She brings smiles!
The other way that Jesus showed me the faith of a child recently is by two girls at my church. I spoke at my church a week or so ago to try to gather interest in what I will be doing and to schedule some appointments and only three people responded. Two of which were the sisters, probably around the ages of 6 and 13. The older one came right up and handed me her interest card because she was interested in being a part of my prayer support team, which I couldn't be more excited about because children oftentimes pray big, and just believe its going to happen! Her younger sister came up to tell me how excited she was for me because "she had tried to share Jesus with a boy at her school and he didn't believe her" Say what?! This six year old is sharing Jesus with people at her school, and I am semi nervous about how people will react on campus?! Talk about convicting! The third I'm also excited to add to my prayer team because we so often talk about the BIG number of funds that we are raising, but what about the BIG goals we have for our campus'? They can only be reached through prayer!
Since returning from vacation, I have found it harder and harder to get back into the swing of making calls and meeting with people. I find the thought of calling people uncomfortable, and finding the courage is barely available. God also had something to say about that...The other night on my way to get coffee with a good friend, I was flipping through radio stations trying to find something to listen to when a sermon caught my attention. It was a gentleman (I didn't catch his name) talking about Deut. 20.
"When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: 'Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.The officers shall say to the army: 'Has anyone built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may dedicate it. Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoy it. Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her.' Then the officers shall add, 'Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too.'"
The Officer wants all of the soldiers going into battle. No half way. If their mind will be elsewhere, back in their comfort zone, they should just go back. The speaker then went on to say: We can not accomplish the great plans God has for us, unless we leave our comfort zones. I need to leave my comfort zone in order to bring Jesus to those around me. I am less.
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