Trusting God for Tomorrow

     There are very few people who I trust completely, but I trust God more than I trust myself. Which is a really good thing, because we don't always have the same plans or ideas and we definitely don't have the same timing (I like everything to be done yesterday and He always works in a way that shows His glory, i.e. much later than I am usually comfortable with). In fact it's only because I trust Him so much that I can walk or sometimes jump into the unknown. But that is how it should be. The fact is that Africa has always been His plan for my life and not mine. Yes, I am on board now but He is still leading the way, and that's how I want it to stay.

     In the past five months (since He told me to "Go") He has provided for my every need and in ways that I never could have imagined. It is so comforting to know that I do not have to worry about today let alone tomorrow because He has already made a way. Five months ago I needed about $20,000 to go to Gabon and Uganda for about a year and a half. Through the generosity of others I've been able to buy my tickets (4 tickets actually) and send off for my visas. What has been amazing for me is seeing how God works. He could easily have had given me everything at the very beginning but instead I've have experienced more support and love then ever before. Because honestly, it isn't about the money, what God is doing is a lot bigger. This isn't even about me really, again God's plan is much bigger. I am just someone who is going, God is the one who is doing everything.

     This has been my mindset for the last few months, I've been surprisingly worry free (you'd think I'd be freaking out) and have had so much peace the whole time. I know God will provide for today and when tomorrow comes He will provide for that, what could I have to worry over? Today, is April 24th. A month from now I'll be flying to Gabon, Africa. Today, is also the day when I need to pay for all of the expenses regarding the Gabon part of my trip. That is $2,700. Well, today is here and I am waiting expectantly on God to show up and provide in His perfect way. I'm not worried, $2,700 is nothing for God. I'm actually excited, I can't wait to see how God works!!


     If you'd like to be a part of my journey to Africa and support me, click the Donate Through The Stirring page under the banner.

Psalms 138, Luke 12:48, Matthew 25:23

Psalms 138

Thanksgiving for the Lord's Favor

¹I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing praises to You before the gods.
² I will bow down toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.
³ On the day I called, You answered me;
You made me bold with strength in my soul.

 ⁴ All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O LORD,
When they have heard the words of Your mouth.
⁵ And they will sing of the ways of the LORD,
For great is the glory of the LORD.
⁶ For though the LORD is exalted,
Yet He regards the lowly,
But the haughty He knows from afar.

 ⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
⁸ The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

         This is one of my favorite scriptures. David knows how greatly he has been blessed, he knows what the Lord is doing and what He will accomplish; he is thankful for those Victories.  I love the Psalms in general; the passion, the honesty, the brokenness, the redemption, the faith, and the relationship between David and His Father. From the depths of his heart David knows the Lord. I cannot help but think that all of our hearts were meant to cry out to the Father in this way. We were created to declare who He is, to proclaim His glory, to shout out to Him with our praises. This is how I want to live my life, from this place.
        As I think back on 2011, I can see the same things occurred; the passion, the honesty, the brokenness, the redemption, the faith, and the relationship between my Father and I. It starts when God gives us a deep burning passion for something greater than ourselves. When we accept it fully it forces us to be honest; honest about ourselves, honest about the world, honest about our fears. When we are being honest it brings us to a place of brokenness, broken and so far from the passion that is weighing on our hearts. In our brokenness we question, we fight, and finally we call out in desperation. And our Father hears us, He redeems us; He redeems our lives and He redeems His plans for us. From His grace we are able to take a step in faith, knowing He redeems. God can do great things with just the smallest amount of faith, and through faith we are brought closer to Him. He has always given us a choice and when we finally chose to trust Him, He blesses us and draws us closer to Him. Our relationship with our Father is strongest when we have given ourselves completely to Him, and it grows stronger when instead of making a choice in faith we willing act in faith out of  love and trust.
       I believe that the Lord loves each and every one of us with an unfathomable love, but I also know that He bless some with favor. It's not something you can earn but something He freely gives when He pursues you, before you even know Him. He gives you a different set of eyes and a small piece of His heart, so that you might know what love is. Yet by knowing what true eternal love is, we have a responsibility. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more (Luke 12:48)". Whenever I read this passage I cannot help but be completely convicted; I have been given much, much will be required of me. It's a conviction that hold my life, and fills me with joy and hope and eagerness. I am ready to give everything. I know that my life is what is required of me and I could not be happier to give it. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’(Matthew 25:23)". Someday, I will be entrusted with many, but for today I will try to be faithful with the few I've been given; for they are just as important as the many. I know that great joy comes from being faithful, especially during the hard or unexpected times and it is one of my greatest hopes, to learn what faithfulness truly is and to live by it. I want to just be many things, but for now I struggle; struggle to be faithful, struggle to be obedient, struggle to be selfless, struggle to be generous with everything. This year I know I'll be struggling with all of these even more, but I know that with the Lord's mercy and His never-ending faithfulness I'll learn how to be just a little more; a little more faithful, a little more obedient, a little more selfless, a little more generous with everything. So, I'm okay with the struggle because it's means that this year I'll be relying on God even more, and that is exactly where I want to be.
    
     

Some Thoughts...

 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

-Romans 8:24-25

There is so much that I wish I could change, about world, how people think, how we live, but really I can only change those things in me. I can choose to give and do everything I can to make the world a better place; a place without hunger, sickness, death, and judgement, but love, hope, compassion, and generosity. It's not easy to live in a third world country, but I've found that it's even harder to come back from one. I've been home for ten days and each day it has only gotten harder to justify how we live, and how I live. When I go to sleep at night I know that I've wasted another day and wish that I could change that. It's not enough for me to just go through life being nice to and helping people. My life is supposed be SO much more than that. I want to fully give myself again to serving people who others overlook, to making someone smile who has been mistreated and abused, and to encourage and bring hope to those who have nothing else to live on. I want to make a difference and be part of something bigger here just like I was in Africa. Yes, I really, really, miss Africa; the work, the people, and the Hope House children, but it didn't end there. And like what I was doing in Africa didn't stop neither do I want what God is doing in and through me to stop. It is harder here to live every moment with purpose but I feel like if you can, you bless SO many people. I want use everything that I've learned through struggles and blessings and fight with all the strength that I've gained. I will continue to serve, love, and support what I was a part in Africa. In fact, God has already given me so many dreams of what He can do with me here in America for them. But it's not just about Africa anymore, I back here and I know God wants to use me where I am as well. I want to serve, love, and support my community as well. Because, looking around the brokenhearted, hopeless, and abused people are everywhere. I want this year to be everything that God can make it, and I know that is so much. So, while I'll look back on my trip with a little sadness knowing it's over, I am looking forward with so much joy and excitement! Because, nothing is really over, it's all just beginning! And as I remember a few of my favorite passages from the Bible I know nothing can stop what God is going to do, for I am called according to His purpose and nothing can stand against Him (Romans 8:28&31).

 

Before, I ended this blog I wanted to share a few of my favorite pictures of my time at Hope House and of the precious children. 

 

 I also want to encourage and ask you to help by supporting them. Because they are not supported by the government the only think that keeps the Hope House going and gives all the children a home is the generosity and support is us, their christian family. I'd would love to give you to all the opportunity to be a part of what they are doing at Hope House, because God is certainly there!

If you'd like to donate, this a link through the Christian Missionary Alliance's online giving to the Hope House. Thank you all!!

Supporting Hope House 

Love,

Shannon