Faith and Fundraising

         Fundraising is such a time to cling to God, and strengthen your faith. This last month has been such a faith building process, as I have watched how God has been actively involved in gathering my funds. I have seen first hand how God can intervene on His children's behalf in such obvious ways that I cannot help but to praise God for what He has done.
       Yet despite seeing Him at work, my flesh often starts to fear, stress, or become anxious. In such cases, I can do nothing but silently pray, thanking the Lord for how He is at work and asking Him to fill me with peace, and renew my faith. The Lord always answers these prayers, either through scripture and people, or even a more obvious work of His hands. My faith has grown so much since starting my fundraising, and I know that when this is through, I will emerge as a victor in faith, having gone against Satan and having brought glory to my King.
       I know that I am a vessel of the Lord's and that His will is my future. I rejoice in the fact that I can play this tiny part in bringing praise, honor, and recognition to my risen Lord and King!  It is my joy to honor Him, and let my life be used by Him and for Him! After all, our life is not our own, we belong to Him. We were created by Him and for Him, to love Him, serve Him, honor Him, glorify Him, and live for Him in that we do! It is our blessing and honor as Christians, to be called to the great commission. It is gift from God, to be counted worthy of spreading the good news, and being called as representatives for the King of heaven and earth!!! Amen!

 Some of  the verses the Lord has used to strengthen and encourage me when I have wandered from the peace of God.

"For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall."

Psalm 18:29

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:13

 "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Psalm 18:2

Concerns about Zambia

         Due to the numerous concerns that have been voiced by friends and family, I decided to dedicate this post to, Lord willing, calm those fears and quiet those concerns. While I appreciate and am touched by the concerns that many people have brought to the surface, I did want to say a few things about what the Bible says about such fears. 
         Even though I'm not totally certain as to the safety of Zambia, I can say without a doubt, that I will be safe. It is far more dangerous for me to be out of the Lord's will, living in disobedience to His call, then it would be for me to go to an uncivilized, dangerous, disease-infested jungle...(which, I can assure you, I will NOT be doing.:) I know without a doubt, that upon the promises of His Word, the Lord will protect me while I'm doing His work in Zambia.  Physical danger is a state of this world. It is not a thing of the spirit, but of the flesh. However, if the Lord did by some chance allow my physical body to be harmed, I would still rather be in the Lord's will, suffering for His sake, then to be content and happy in a life apart from His blessings.(1 Peter 4:12-19) I am a vessel for His use, a tool in the hand of God. What He chooses to allow into my life, I will gladly accept, knowing it's far better to please Him and suffer, then to turn from His will. Anything He allows in my life He will work for good. (Romans 8:28-29) I live to please my Father and glorify Him with my actions. If that means, having my physical body harmed, then so be it. Suffering for Christ leads to blessings. ( 1 Peter 3:14) I would therefore, rather suffer for my God, then suffer for going against my God.
        I firmly believe, that when someone makes the choice to follow the Lord wherever He leads, there will be nothing that can harm them, if it is not in God's will for them. Jeremiah 29:11 states that He knows what plans He has for us, and that His plans are not plans to harm us, but to give us hope and a future.  Since that is true, how then can this trip be harmful to me since it is His plan for me? We are called to obey the Lord in all things  ( 1 Peter 1:14, John 12:26, John 14:15, 23 24)  Not just the things that we want to obey. In doing so, we will be blessed with peace and protection! (Deuteronomy 28:2,  Genesis 35:1-15)  Further more, obeying the Lord leads to a life of blessedness. If we are blessed when we follow the Lord, how much more so when we serve Him and obey His will!!!
      Therefore, I can rest upon these promises, knowing that through His hands, I will be safer then I have ever been before! I have an absolute peace and serenity in the thought of my Great Father protecting me, because I know His protection is greater then any protection I can ever have receive! We, in our sinful state are weak and fearful, and prone to falter, but my God is great and mighty in strength! He is everlasting, with unwavering energy and power! "By you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall" (2 Samuel 22:30). "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"  (Philippians 4:13).  This is true, and so much more! I can therefore, go out by His strength, to do His work, without fear or anxiety knowing that I am in the care of the Great Shepherd Himself.

He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to keep that which he cannot lose.

Jim Elliot

Poem for Orphans

Neglect

by Michael R. Burch

What good are your tears?

They will not spare the dying their anguish.

What good is your concern

to a child sick of living, waiting to perish?

What good, the warm benevolence of tears

without action?

What help, the eloquence of prayers,

or a pleasant benediction?

Before this day is gone,

how many more will die

with bellies swollen, wasted limbs,

and eyes too parched to cry?

I fear for our souls

as I hear the faint lament

of their souls departing ...

mournful, and distant.

How pitiful our "effort,"

yet how fatal its effect.

If they died, then surely we killed them,

if only with neglect.

 

      We all have choice to make, and a part to play in lives of the desolate, and abandoned orphans around the world. The choice is ours: to make a difference in their lives, or ignore their desperation. Every day, hundreds of children are orphaned, and thousands more die of starvation. All because they didn't receive the help they needed: the help we could have given them. Not all of us are called to forsake all and follow Christ to far off places, but each one of us is charged with the duty to defend the fatherless, and feed the hungry. (James 1:27)  If we have an ounce of humanity, we will do what is right. We will step up and make a difference.  So, we have to ask ourselves: "am I willing to obey the command of God in regards to the orphans? Or will I sit around, forgetting their trouble?" I for one, will not sit around! I am taking that call seriously. Will you? Are you willing to make a difference in the lives of children around the world? Seek God, and ask Him how He wants you to help. He has a plan for all of us, and a place to help in His world. We can help from right where were are, in our own home, if that is how He calls us. Pray, pray, pray, and His plan will be revealed!

Life Lessons from Fundraising

            Over the past few months, I have truly seen the mighty hand of God at work in my life, stretched out to aid me and guide me in even the most simplistic situations. Ever since fundraising started, I have become busier and busier, making it increasingly difficult to seek time with the Lord. However, these past two weeks I have been in daily communion with Him, and I have to say, the things He has revealed to me have been amazing!  Among other things, God has totally revealed to me how much this fundraising is of Him and for Him, and how He will get the funds for me in sufficient time. ("For My ways are not your ways, nor My thoughts your thoughts.." Isaiah 55:8) The Lord has also revealed to me how much He is in control of each situation and how He is working behind the scenes to get the jobs done. Thus far, my Lord has not yet failed me in helping to get orders done by their due date, nor failed to supply me with all the peace and serenity a girl could ever ask for! These last two weeks have been huge faith builders, and have helped me to establish a closer walk with Him, while growing to recognize even the smallest gifts and acts of God in my life. I am continually in awe of how He is working in my life and paving the way for me, as He slowly places the puzzle pieces on the board, and unveils His ultimate plan for my life. We serve a  great God of many wonders that stretch far beyond this world!!! As a result of all that He has, and is, showing me, I have developed a new love and appreciation for the majesty of our God, as He reestablishes my knowledge of His wonder and power in my life. He truly is an amazing God, that is full of grace and mercy! A great Shepherd that is slow to anger and abounding in forgiveness for His wandering sheep! Praise the Lord!

"That's My King"

       The other day I read this amazing piece of sermon by Dr. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge, and was really impacted by it. I wanted to share it with you in the hopes that you will be as touched and impacted by it as I  was.                   

                                      

      Isn't that amazing! That is our King!  The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! The only One who can sustain us and supply all our needs! Such a neat sermon to sum up all that our God really is. Hopefully you enjoyed that as much as I did.