One hundred dollars each week. That was the goal my coach and I talked about in our last zoom meeting.

According to our number crunching, to be able to teach the fall semester at RVA, I need to gain one hundred dollars of monthly commitments each week, in addition to one-time commitments, between now and June for “clearance to leave.”

Impossible.

It is an insurmountable task, especially while working full time, not wanting to give up every commitment, or exhaust myself to depletion.

One commitment I’ve continued to prioritize is my Monday night Bible Study-  Right now we’re studying Nehemiah. God always knows what my heart needs, and this week was no exception…

In chapter 4 amidst opposition to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem comes verse 14:

After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

What struck me was the order of action steps Nehemiah commands the people:

• Do not be afraid
• Remember the Lord
• THEN Act

And so, I prayed to reorder my heart and perspective, telling myself to remember…

REMEMBER: How long have you been actively meeting with friends and family to invite them into your ministry? Six weeks.

REMEMBER: Where are you at? Let’s see… 59.86% of my monthly funding committed. FIFTY-NINE POINT EIGHT SIX PERCENT. In six weeks. God is great and awesome.

REMEMBER: I already have 56.23% of my one-time costs committed. God is great and awesome.

When I look forward at what I need to do and think about doing it in my own strength- I am paralyzed by the seeming impossibility. Then God reminds me: Do not be afraid. Remember. I am great and awesome. When I look back, I rejoice at the greatness of my God who has made it abundantly clear: I am not the one doing the work- He is.

While the dollar amounts still loom over my analytical numbers-minded head, when I shift my perspective to look backwards and at God , instead of forwards and at the numbers, I am reminded that it isn’t about me trying to reach that one hundred dollars a week- it is about following a great and awesome God. When I set those number oriented goals, I forget that awesomeness, and place the task and burden of getting from here to Kenya on my own small shoulders. It is then God reminds me to trust Him to provide and move in people’s hearts, and only then, can I continue to diligently work towards reaching those looming goals.

Prayer Request:

I’m am hoping to hear back from two churches I’ve been in contact with in this upcoming week. Pray God would move favorably in their hearts towards me and that they would decide to partner with me in my ministry!

Praise Note:

I just received word from my home church this week, Highland Park Baptist, that they will be partnering with me in my ministry! I am so excited to have this church family around me that I can come back to as a place I can truly call “home.” For those of you more familiar with “missionary-ese” they will be my sending church! ❤