O, how I do love my blog. I really do. It's just we find trouble meeting. For those of you who don't know, my new husband and I just moved into our first place! It's a really cute downtown apartment that is just too perfect for words! The location, the size, the love that is growing inside of it! It has it all, except internet... Which is actually nice in some ways. We do not have cable or internet and I really appreciate it most days. As a couple we try really hard to stay away from the constant stimulation of screens. We try and eat dinner at our little table and spend the nights on the futon just talking. I don't think we'd be as successful if we had the tv and the internet to distract us. You should try it one day, turn off all your technology. Turn off your phones, tv, internet, iPads, ps3s, xboxes, ds, and even the family fun Wii, and just enjoy each other without batteries and plugs. I should stop, this is another post for another day.
The life without the net is wonderful until I find the urge to blog. For now, I am at the mercy of the local coffee shop and the odd hours it keeps.
Lesson #8: If it's God's will, He will find a way
God is amazing! His plans are way better than mine could ever be! So many times I have thought, this is not possible, there is no way that this will work out, or this will take so much work, is it even worth it? But, if it's God's will, He will find a way.
What triggered this lesson, today? It has been proven to me so many times before. But, today is special. First, I wanna share my past experiences.
I am a third year student at Georgetown College, newly married, just moved into an apt, just got back from Haiti, and I love to be independent. That all sounds wonderful and beautiful. Until you step back and look at how much it cost! Georgetown College? You can look up that expense, but to spare you the time it is an arm and a leg to go there. Scholarships help, but there is always the remaining balance. And since I love being independent, the remaining expenses fall on me, I do like it that way. Newly married? Everyone who is reading this can probably guess the expenses that come with that. Our new apt? Very nice, but that comes with a cost. And going to Haiti? Not cheap. There are those who have said, outloud to my face, "You are crazy. You are insane. How is that going to work?" Or there are those who have just looked at me with the, okay, it's your life, look. There were a few times last semester that I thought, why am I such an idiot?
But it worked. It all panned out. Because me going to Georgetown College, marrying Matt, and leading a team to Haiti was all a part of God's plan. It made who I am right now, and I am thankful for it. I did not do it by myself. It was all God. Each month I worry about paying the loan payment that lingers over my bank account, but every month there is enough. Around March or so, I started to worry about my team and the money we still needed to raise. I couldn't think of a fundraiser big enough to cover the remaining need. An anonymous donation was given, the exact amount of the remaining expenses. The end of May, beginning of June I was in the mind set of calling off the wedding. Just running away to Vegas and tying the knot with Elvis. I had no idea how it would all come together. The entire month I had so many phone calls offering help, time, an ear, a comforting voice.
My mamma once told me that if my intentions were in the way God wanted them to be, I would be blessed. God would look down on me and make sure my needs were met. I'm not even sure if she remembers the conversation, but it has stuck with me. See, my mother taught me to tithe, ever since I was in first grade. I got an allowance of $5 a week. 50 cents went to my savings account, and 50 cents went into the offering plate. She read it in some Christian mom book and she was determined she'd follow through. And she did. Until I had a job, I got $5 a week, 50 cents to savings, 50 cents to church. That is when she told me. She told me that if I kept this mindset throughout my life, God would lead my life.
So many people have shared stories with me.
When I was in 8th grade, I went to Inez, KY with my youth group. We went to Haven of Rest, a place where families who were visiting loved ones in prison could sleep and rest from their travels. The woman who opened it did so because her son had been in prison for a long period of time. When she came to visit, there was no where affordable for her to stay. So, she decided to take the problem into her own hands. She built a wonderful place that people could come to, support each other, and know they weren't alone. She didn't know where the resources would come from, where the help would come from, or the money. When we arrived, we helped build a new building. The new building would provide more rooms because her small place was getting too small for the growing amount of visitors. She had needed to expand for a while, but $10,000 wasn't pocket change. So, she prayed for God's help. And do you know that one day out of the blue a man came by and said that he felt he had been called to donate to the Haven of Rest. And he handed her a $10,000 check. Just handed it to her! And with groups like ours, her building was built. Now more families could stay at the Haven of Rest and find peace they desperately needed.
Today, my dear friends experienced something similar. A need was met by someone they barely know. A burden was lifted and the smiles on their faces were priceless. In a selfish way, I feel a small burden off myself. I have often spent many times praying, how can I help? I do not have what they need. I am often frustrated by the amount of need I am surrounded by, and the small amount I have to give. But, then God shows me He is not small, and neither are those who follow Him.
Well, I could keep going but the odd hours of my internet provider have turned on me and they are closing down. I would love to hear stories of how God has worked in your life, shown you the way, and shown you the impossible is possible. God teaches lessons in unique ways.
