I meet with some students to talk about Jesus. Essentially it is a Bible study but I think that Bible study has a specific meaning behind it that often is negative or has to be a certain structure. We meet once a week, talk about our lives, look at scripture to see who Jesus is and what he is all about, talk about how this translates to our lives, pray and hang out. It is beautiful and the girls that I meet with are wonderful.
Today, we were looking at two passages, Luke 9:18-26 and Luke 18:18-30. The last part got me. I almost cried.
"'Truly I tell you, ' Jesus said to them, 'no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.'" Luke 18:28-30
This was a reminder to me. Nearly four months ago, I left everything I knew to move to Indiana to work with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. It has been a beautiful and wonderful journey. I am constantly excited about my job. I truly love it and can't believe I get paid to do what I do. It's amazing. But there are times that have been difficult. Being here for four months means that I have been away from my family and my friends, the people who know me, familiar. I have experienced homesickness for the first time in my life. Everything is new. Everything is a learning experience. Sometimes I just want to be in a familiar place with familiar people who will hug me and smile at me.
Reading this passage today was God's reminder to me why I moved in the first place. He has called me here. I followed Him here. This is exactly where I am supposed to be. I will be rewarded for my obedience. I am here to help further the Kingdom.
Jesus often says in the Gospels, "come, follow me." I am curious: are you following him? In this passage, Jesus is telling a wealthy man that he must sell all he has to enter the Kingdom of God. Are you willing to give up everything you have to follow Him? I am not saying that God is asking you to give up everything, but would you be willing to? It's all about our hearts and the attitude that is there. This is your heart check for today: What are you willing to do to follow Christ?
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
God's Provision
Since April 2011, I have been working on Fund Development for my job with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. I have learned a lot and have many stories regarding that journey. There is one specific story I want to share with you this evening.
Back in December, I had a really interesting conversation with my 84-year old Italian Grandfather. He is a great man whom I love dearly. I do not know if he believes in God, but I think he does believe, at the very least, that God may exist. Regardless, he was not thrilled about my decision to work for InterVarsity. This is because he wants to make sure I am taken care of and have an ample amount of money. He wants me to live a "good life", which for him means to be incredibly wealthy in monetary riches. I tried to explain to him that for me a wealthy life is so much more than money but I don't think we connected well on that level. When he heard that I had to raise $44,000, he couldn't fathom how I would be able to raise that amount of money. In this economy, who could? Our conversation continued back and forth about many things and finally I told him, "Grandpa, I will call you when I am fully funded." He responded, "I hope you do, Jessica. I hope you do." (in unbelief)
In February, I had around 73% of my budget. I knew that March 12th I would get to see my Grandfather over spring break. I prayed to God and prayed big. We generally don't pray big enough. If we really believe God is who He says He is, why do we say such meager prayers? Anyway, I asked God to provide my full budget by March 12th so that I could tell my Grandfather that I was fully funded. I knew it was a stretch and I knew it was only possible with God, but I believed that it could actually happen even if other people around me didn't.
February 27th, I went to a staff meeting. On the way there, I was talking to my roommate who is also on staff with InterVarsity. We were talking about Fund Development and in particular this excel document that we have to fill out in order to figure out at what percentage we are currently. She was explaining to me how she was filling it out and I noticed that it was different than myself. We got to our staff meeting and asked our superior how it was supposed to be filled out. I was was filling it out incorrectly... This meant that I was probably at a much higher percentage than I thought! I could not wait to get home to fix it on my computer to figure out the percentage. I had to wait what seemed like forever to do so. I finally got home and immediately fixed my mistake.
The percentage ended up being 101%.
Not only was I fully funded, I had over the amount that I needed for this year. I cried. I was so ecstatic. I could finally share with my family that it was possible and that God provided my full budget.
March 12th rolled around and I went to visit my grandparents with my boyfriend. We got there and had a splendid time. Right before we left, I told Grandpa that I was fully funded. He looked at me and said, "I am so proud of you. God bless America!" and proceeded to give me a hug. It was a special moment for me. I don't know if my Grandpa really understands the significance of what God did, but I am encouraged and pray that God would continue to open up doors of conversation with my Grandpa.
Thank you for your prayers. God has heard and responded greatly. Fund Development is not over. It is a continuous process and I will have to raise even more for next year. I have no doubt in my mind that God will provide my need. He is our ultimate provider. :-)
Matthew 7:7-8 says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
So what do you need? What aren't you asking for? What do you think is too big for God to handle? Ask for it and see what happens.
Back in December, I had a really interesting conversation with my 84-year old Italian Grandfather. He is a great man whom I love dearly. I do not know if he believes in God, but I think he does believe, at the very least, that God may exist. Regardless, he was not thrilled about my decision to work for InterVarsity. This is because he wants to make sure I am taken care of and have an ample amount of money. He wants me to live a "good life", which for him means to be incredibly wealthy in monetary riches. I tried to explain to him that for me a wealthy life is so much more than money but I don't think we connected well on that level. When he heard that I had to raise $44,000, he couldn't fathom how I would be able to raise that amount of money. In this economy, who could? Our conversation continued back and forth about many things and finally I told him, "Grandpa, I will call you when I am fully funded." He responded, "I hope you do, Jessica. I hope you do." (in unbelief)
In February, I had around 73% of my budget. I knew that March 12th I would get to see my Grandfather over spring break. I prayed to God and prayed big. We generally don't pray big enough. If we really believe God is who He says He is, why do we say such meager prayers? Anyway, I asked God to provide my full budget by March 12th so that I could tell my Grandfather that I was fully funded. I knew it was a stretch and I knew it was only possible with God, but I believed that it could actually happen even if other people around me didn't.
February 27th, I went to a staff meeting. On the way there, I was talking to my roommate who is also on staff with InterVarsity. We were talking about Fund Development and in particular this excel document that we have to fill out in order to figure out at what percentage we are currently. She was explaining to me how she was filling it out and I noticed that it was different than myself. We got to our staff meeting and asked our superior how it was supposed to be filled out. I was was filling it out incorrectly... This meant that I was probably at a much higher percentage than I thought! I could not wait to get home to fix it on my computer to figure out the percentage. I had to wait what seemed like forever to do so. I finally got home and immediately fixed my mistake.
The percentage ended up being 101%.
Not only was I fully funded, I had over the amount that I needed for this year. I cried. I was so ecstatic. I could finally share with my family that it was possible and that God provided my full budget.
March 12th rolled around and I went to visit my grandparents with my boyfriend. We got there and had a splendid time. Right before we left, I told Grandpa that I was fully funded. He looked at me and said, "I am so proud of you. God bless America!" and proceeded to give me a hug. It was a special moment for me. I don't know if my Grandpa really understands the significance of what God did, but I am encouraged and pray that God would continue to open up doors of conversation with my Grandpa.
Thank you for your prayers. God has heard and responded greatly. Fund Development is not over. It is a continuous process and I will have to raise even more for next year. I have no doubt in my mind that God will provide my need. He is our ultimate provider. :-)
Matthew 7:7-8 says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
So what do you need? What aren't you asking for? What do you think is too big for God to handle? Ask for it and see what happens.
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