God Raises Up

Last night our team had the privilege of sharing with our church family about our mission trip to Uganda.  We cooked a sampling of Ugandan food for them to try: posho and beans, cooked nuts, fresh sliced pineapple and hot Ugandan tea.  We even had lukewarm water.

Then we took turns sharing about what we did in Uganda and how it personally impacted each of us.  As I listened to my team members share, it took me back...back to our trip...back to Africa.

And I thought, as I have so many times, what if we hadn't went?  What if we had missed it?

Because we almost did.  We almost missed it.

Last September when Joshua, Sophie and I committed to going, we had absolutely no idea how we were going to pay for it.  The financial aspect of it seemed so overwhelming, so big, that it nearly kept us from even trying.  

We almost didn't chance it.

Just as Peter had to step out of the boat in faith before he could experience walking on water, we had to step out in faith before we could experience God's monetary provision.  

I wish I could tell you that I had complete and utter faith in God alone.  I didn't.  I experienced great times of doubt and frustration.  But this happened only when I took my eyes off of God and focused on our circumstances--that is when my mood sunk down low and doubt and discouragement reigned.  Kind of like when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus.  When he looked down at his circumstances, he no longer was able to skim along the surface of the water.  Instead, he sunk down into the deep abyss.

Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that 'Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see'.

Faith is walking forward even when all that you can see with your human, naked eye appears to be insufficient.

Not only did I struggle with doubt regarding raising the money, I struggled with doubt about whether it was good stewardship.  This happened after reading several different excerpts from a book written recently that raises questions about whether or not short term mission trips are beneficial.  Over and over, the question plagued me: would giving $6,000 to the ministry be wiser than spending it on us to go?  

Stepping out.  It felt risky.  It felt scary.  It felt vulnerable.  And sometimes--in light of the prior paragraph--it felt maybe wrong.   What if it really wasn't good stewardship?  Oh, how I worried and fretted more than I ever should have!  Thankfully, God only requires faith as small as a mustard seed.

Between September until March--the amount of time we had to come up with the money--there were only three things we could do: offer up the little we had, pray for God to multiply it, and then sit back and wait for Him to do it.

Sounds a little bit like the feeding of the 5,000, doesn't it?  When Jesus asked his disciples to provide food for the crowd of thousands, all that the disciples were able to scrounge up were two loaves of bread and five, measly fish.  Interestingly enough, it wasn't even their own food!  They had to borrow it from a boy in the crowd! 

Our 'meager offering' came in the form of fundraising and my small, part-time job.  The rest would be up to God.  The Great Mathematician.  The Great Multiplier.

As the months ticked away and the mission trip got closer, I began to witness God's math at work.  Our team held a 5K, hosted a spaghetti lunch, and provided food for a business.  Then, we watched the balance that we owe begin to decrease.  

After much prayer, Joshua, Sophie and I sent out support letters two months prior to our trip.  We asked people to 'sponsor' us as we worked here locally on behalf of orphans and widows.  Our 'offering' this time was donating our time towards mission work here in Paducah.  We prayed and hoped that doing so would take care of our remaining balance.  

God indeed provided for our remaining balance through our letter writing efforts as well as a few generous 'out of the blue' donations. We were (and still are!) so very appreciative of everyone's generosity.  Each check we received left us speechless.  We felt so unworthy, yet so grateful... 

Kind of like the cross, isn't it?

On this side of our mission trip, I am blown away by God's provision.  He raised up every single dollar.  He solely raised it up for such a time as this, to accomplish His kingdom work.  What God raises up, no one can tear down.

As far as my worries that our short-term mission trip might not be good stewardship?  While, yes, I believe we should always weigh the benefits of going versus giving, I also believe there are transactions that occur in people's hearts on mission trips upon which a price tag can't be put.  Sometimes, you must witness things in person before it can penetrate your heart.  Sometimes going first births an outpouring of giving later.  The results of experiencing it makes it a part of you and forever changes you.  The bottom line is that mission trips birth further action.  


Stepping out and going was another lesson in trust for our family and believing even when we can't see.  It was a lesson in not putting boundaries on what God can do and believing that the Cattle Owner on a thousand hills is completely able.  

God is in the business of doing the impossible and accomplishing God-sized dreams.  His eyes run to and fro among the earth, looking for people who are fully available to accomplish His plans.  Our mission trip--it seemed like such a tall order at the time, but it was just a glimpse--just a glimpse--of the All Sufficient One.  

Glimpses of His Glory...In the Starfish 5K that only expected 300 runners at most, yet had over 700 show up.  In my close friends/family who are seeing God provide extravagantly as they step out in faith and adopt.  In the donor who wants to make our FCA Power Camp this summer completely free to every single participant...Glimpses of His Glory.  

I don't know about you, but I'm not settling for watching front the sidelines.  Until He returns or calls me home, I want to be a part of those glimpses.

Twelve reasons why your teenager needs to go to FCA Leadership Camp this summer!

{I wrote this blog-post last summer right after we came back from attending FCA Leadership Camp.  I wanted to re-post this in hopes that some of you will read it and consider sending your teenager this summer to this amazing, life-changing camp!}

It has been seven days since we got back from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' Student Leadership Camp.  Seven days to ponder upon and unpack those 'mountain-top' days.

My husband became the FCA representative in Western KY a little over a year ago.   As we get FCA up and running in the schools here, our hope is to send many athletes to this life-changing leadership camp.   I have been to many student camps over the years, yet none really compares to this one in my opinion.  It uniquely combines athletics, leadership skills and Christ all in one camp.  It teaches students to be leaders for Christ on their school campuses.  Oh, how I love this camp!  In the next several paragraphs, I will attempt to give you a glimpse of what FCA camp is like.

First, when I think of FCA Camp, the picture that comes to mind is of the one below.  The worship is outstanding.  There is just something about seeing a bunch of rough and tumble athletes praising the LORD with everything in them.

Second, hearing college athletes share their testimony of God's work in their life is both inspiring and moving.  As they authentically share their failures and successes, this roomful of ball-handlers, runners and jumpers can relate all too well.

Third, the preaching each morning and evening was challenging and from God's Word, straight up and non-sugar-coated.  The word of the week was 'Relentless', based on Hebrews 10:39:

Every message hammered in on an aspect of being 'Relentless' in your walk with God.  I especially love the part of this verse that says  'We are not of those who draw back.'  Another version uses the words 'shrink back'.  When I think of not shrinking back, I see a football player fearlessly barreling through the defensive line.  The Lord has reminded me of those words all week: 'do not shrink back...do not shrink back...do not shrink back...'

Fourth, the atmosphere at camp from the first moment that campers arrived was one of servitude.  Steve Wiggington, FCA dude-in-charge, had a separate meeting with the male campers from the get-go, emphasizing the fact that they were to go out of their way to be gentlemen to the ladies, opening doors, taking their plates, letting them eat first, etc.  Oh, how these boys rose to the occasion!  All week long, I got pampered and spoiled, as men young and old took my plates and opened doors.  It was a precious thing to witness in mass.  It also made me sadly realize how rare of an occurrence it is to see this these days.

Fifth, the Faith Walk on Saturday (when campers divide up in small groups of 3-5 and go door to door, politely requesting the homeowners if they can ask them a few spiritual-type questions) began with much timidity and hesitancy, but ended with students overcoming their fears as they realized that it is not difficult to ask stranger's questions that often ended in sharing their faith!  




While many think this kind of Gospel-sharing is not effective, I would have to disagree.  God cannot be nailed down and put in a box--He moves and works in ALL kinds of ways, including short conversations with strangers.  Indeed, God shone in unbelievable ways that day, as students came back and shared how they saw Him work... including an older couple in town going out of their way to come on campus, find some of our staff members and share with our whole group of students how God used the students that came to their son-in-law's door that day...that their conversations with him had ultimately led to this young man making the decision to surrender his life wholeheartedly to the Lord.   This day was my favorite by far.  It seemed as though something changed in the demeanor of those students that day...a 'joyful seriousness' overtook the atmosphere.

Sixth, the cardboard testimonies on Saturday night were powerful. I don't think I will ever tire of cardboard testimonies!  The last testimony of the night was by one of the students that we brought:

As campers whooped and hollered, I am  pretty sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house.



Seventh, the competitions that went on all over campus were just down-right fun.  And--well, competitive!  Not to mention, we couldn't have ordered better weather right in the heat of summer!

Eighth, walking around campus and witnessing students in groups praying, reading their Bibles and sharing their struggles with one another was a beautiful sight to behold.  Each camper is in a  huddle group which is led by a college student.  The groups spend time discussing real life struggles the teenagers are facing and what the Bible says about it.  

Ninth, the FCA Bible every student leaves with is enough in itself to go to this camp each year.  I got one this year and I am LOVING it so much.  We have spent many mornings this past week as a family using the questions that are sprinkled through the text as conversation starters during our family devos.  It has much added commentary and thoughts specifically related to the teenage student-athlete.  



Tenth, the campers had sessions in which they are given ideas on how to go back to their school campuses and be leaders for Christ on their sport's teams, at their schools in general, or in the community.  They brainstormed ideas and ways to start an FCA Huddle at their school.   

Eleventh, Eric and I got to spend some wonderful, quality time with other staffers--people I am sure we would be best of friends with if we lived in the same town.  I enjoyed all of them so so much.  Also, the kids of the staff members had a 'kid's camp' each day.  They got to know all of the other staff member's kiddos.  It was so precious.  At the end of the week, they performed a 'rap' for all of the campers, with break dancing and all!  My boys loved kid's camp, especially my youngest!

Future Camp huddle leaders :)

Twelfth, while this is not entirely important, I can't help adding it. The food at Campbellsville University is INCREDIBLE!  It is not like regular cafeteria food at all.  If you don't go for any other reason, go for four days of yumminess! :)  

As we were packing up to come home, one of the students we brought looked at me and said, 'It's going to be hard to go back to the real world.  Everyone here is so nice.'  

It's true.  It's a cozy, friendly, inviting environment.  There is a supernatural presence working, weaving, and pouring in for the four days of FCA Camp.  Student-athletes make friends with other student-athletes from other schools--often resulting in future college roommates.  It makes leaving a bit difficult, to say the least.

You don't have to live in Kentucky to come to this camp.  We had many students from surrounding states--some from as far as Georgia!   So my last few words to you are--if you have a teenager, make it your goal next year to send him or her to FCA Leadership Camp!  You and your teenager will not be disappointed!