It's All For Him

Prayer reminds us that our need of Christ is not partial-but total!

So I woke up at 5:30 am this Sunday and just knew I needed to be with the Lord. I spent time in the word and journaling and then arrived very early (while it was still dark) to the church to play my guitar in worship and prayer to God. I felt my view of him increasing as I sang and felt him saying, "ask me". With a doubtful heart I said, "God, I know you are able to care for my needs and it would be really amazing if you could provide as much this week as you did last week?" And friends, before the sun set he had almost done it. Then today I opened an envelope that was from a friend who has been giving me small checks when she can. It had $300 in it. That means in two days from the time I "asked God" he has almost doubled my request. And all of it was nothing that I did and everything God did.

Captured by the face of Christ all else falls to the wayside.....

My heart is so fastened to this world and money often sinks it's teeth and control into our lives. It taints every good motive and every desire. It keeps us from depending on God because we think we have earned it ourselves. I think that if we have food, clothes and shelter we are rich in the world's standards. Anything else is "extra's". So I've asked God to help me see every single thing in my life as his direct provision. I have a ways to go but I know it's why God has me standing here.

"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." (1 Tim.6:9)

God's Economy is not in crisis!

So yesterday was quite a day. I'm not sure what prompted my anxiety but I woke up feeling panic. The economy is hurting and I'm fundraising and I don't have a job on January first. It all just felt a little overwhelming and my thought felt like this: "Oh my gosh, what have I done?" I started thinking I needed a back up plan and began visualizing myself getting a job as a Barrista at Starbucks:) Throughout the day I would check my e.mail and cell phone only to realize that I kept missing contact with a friend that is local. She was hunting me down but I kept missing her. I met with a staff member here at VBC and left our meeting a little more discouraged. I left the office in the rain and felt the Lord asking: "What has changed? I haven't changed....have you? I am your back up plan!" On my way to Albertsons I finally got a moment to call back my friend and these were her words: "God is blessing us and we sent a check to GRM today to double our contribution to you". I almost dropped my phone. God was just testing me again and reminding me of his provision for me. Not only that, but he knew my thought from the beginning of the day and like my friend who was hunting me down, God was persuing my heart....calling me and just trying to break through the panic. He knows the good news at the end of the story and he wants me to trust him!

Fundraising Status

Just to give you an update this is where I am with funds.
Total Needed: $43,101
Total Raised: $16,652
Deficit: $26,449

The goal is for me to be at 85% ($36,000) by the time I leave Venice. I'm hoping that can be around February but it's always up in the air. Please keep praying for my faith to be in God's economy and not the world's.