Well, today was the day that the loan needed to be turned in. God is faithful and has provided $943 this week! So that puts me down to $1,322.48. My parent's decided just to add $1,000 to the school loan, so that means I still need to raise $322.48, but God is good and I have faith that He will provide. There is still 10 days before all of the funds need to be in, but if God can bring in that much in a week I don't doubt that He can bring this in. I will keep praying and believing.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Jehovah Jireh (The Lord who provides) and a Lesson in Faith
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:7-11
This past week has definitely been a lesson in faith and learning how to completely rely on Jesus. Last Monday I talked with my dad about the reality of my finances for my trip to Mali. At that time I still had
$2,2278.48 to raise by the end of January. I had no prospects of more support to come in, so that left us with the option to add the amount to my school loan, which my parents are paying for. My dad responded, "I knew you couldn't raise all of the money and that we would have to pay for the rest of it. This is how it's going to be the rest of your life. This is why you need to find a job where you make an income." We have had several talks about my future and how I will not be able to support myself. I have told my parents several times that God will provide for me and I firmly believe it. But for my parents I think they need to SEE it. After he said this God came over me and I knew I needed to take a step of faith and ask Him to provide the rest of the money before the loan needs to be turned in. I immediately messaged friends to ask them to pray and believe with me. I want my parents to see God's power and provisions.
God began working already that night! I talked with a friend that I haven't talked to in almost year and she said that I have been on her mind lately, mostly at night when she goes through her prayer list. She asked if I needed prayer for anything, I replied YES and told her what was going on. She began to pray for me and my family. Then a few days later she called me and said that God did not put me on her heart for no reason, so she is sending me $300! What a wonderful God we serve, He knows our needs even before we express them. I have several more stories of brothers and sisters stepping up and supporting me. It has been incredible to see God working. I am so overwhelmed by His love and favor, He is a good Father.
The passage I posted at the beginning of this entry has become truth for me. You know how you can read something several times, but until you experience it it doesn't take on the same meaning? That's how this was for me. Sure I have asked God for things before, but never something this big. Asking Him to provide in this way made me really exercise faith and believe that He would. I felt completely vulnerable, but He loves when His children ask of Him because it shows dependence on Him. As Jim Yost, a missionary in Indonesia, said, "we need to live our lives in such a way that if God doesn't show up it's not going to work." I intend to live like that.
As of today I have received $513 and there is more coming! I am excited to tell my parents of all that God has done. All the glory goes to Him!
This past week has definitely been a lesson in faith and learning how to completely rely on Jesus. Last Monday I talked with my dad about the reality of my finances for my trip to Mali. At that time I still had
$2,2278.48 to raise by the end of January. I had no prospects of more support to come in, so that left us with the option to add the amount to my school loan, which my parents are paying for. My dad responded, "I knew you couldn't raise all of the money and that we would have to pay for the rest of it. This is how it's going to be the rest of your life. This is why you need to find a job where you make an income." We have had several talks about my future and how I will not be able to support myself. I have told my parents several times that God will provide for me and I firmly believe it. But for my parents I think they need to SEE it. After he said this God came over me and I knew I needed to take a step of faith and ask Him to provide the rest of the money before the loan needs to be turned in. I immediately messaged friends to ask them to pray and believe with me. I want my parents to see God's power and provisions.
God began working already that night! I talked with a friend that I haven't talked to in almost year and she said that I have been on her mind lately, mostly at night when she goes through her prayer list. She asked if I needed prayer for anything, I replied YES and told her what was going on. She began to pray for me and my family. Then a few days later she called me and said that God did not put me on her heart for no reason, so she is sending me $300! What a wonderful God we serve, He knows our needs even before we express them. I have several more stories of brothers and sisters stepping up and supporting me. It has been incredible to see God working. I am so overwhelmed by His love and favor, He is a good Father.
The passage I posted at the beginning of this entry has become truth for me. You know how you can read something several times, but until you experience it it doesn't take on the same meaning? That's how this was for me. Sure I have asked God for things before, but never something this big. Asking Him to provide in this way made me really exercise faith and believe that He would. I felt completely vulnerable, but He loves when His children ask of Him because it shows dependence on Him. As Jim Yost, a missionary in Indonesia, said, "we need to live our lives in such a way that if God doesn't show up it's not going to work." I intend to live like that.
As of today I have received $513 and there is more coming! I am excited to tell my parents of all that God has done. All the glory goes to Him!
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