Monday, November 5, 2007

God has done it!


I did nothing.

God did it all.

In one week, God raised over $10,000 for His work in the Czech Republic. And all I have to do is go along on His great adventure and simply do what He gives me to do.

On October 9th, I suffered a massive blow: I was discouraged beyond any hope that God would provide for me to go serve Him as a missionary. But He showed me that by only being able to see the "impossibility" of the situation of having to raise all that support myself, that I was leaning on my own understanding and not trusting Him. He brought to my mind the words of Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

He began encouraging my heart with those words, and the following day, He provided that my pastor here in Lincoln and at home in Cordova began setting up appointments with me to speak to my congregations about my work that they might be able to raise support for me.

And here, less than a month later, before I have even spoken to half of the congregations that I have made appointments with, He has provided ALL of my support.

On Saturday, I learned that He had, in one week, provided $7,360. And then last night, I learned that He had provided the rest of it. God has called people to provide $10,000 for His work that He has prepared for me to do in the Czech Republic.

Incredible!

And so, in thanks, I speak to those who have supported me and will continue to do so with their prayers and their contributions with the words of Paul in his letter to the church in Philippi: "I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Philippians 4:18-20)

Praise the Lord, for He is good, His mercy endures forever!

2 comments:

Andrew said...

It's amazing what can be done when we turn things over to God.

AshleyEffken said...

Indeed! Thank you for reading my somewhat boring blog, as I rarely update the thing. I'm sure that I'll be better about it once I'm actually serving in the Czech Republic.