#Faith
Deer damage, Chilhowie, VA
For those of you who have wondered how we are doing this, we have one word: FAITH.
Not money, not confidence in ourselves, not past success, not great connections or even great skill. No. It is only possible through the gracious gift of God’s spirit within us, wrapped up and seeped in faith in Him!
October 12, 2019 we set out on a trip that we could not afford. Unforeseen expenses had depleted half of our trip savings in the weeks prior, leaving us with enough to venture forth... but not enough to come back. How terrifying that risk was! But the Lord is good and faithful, and this risk paled in comparison to denying His call on our family. So instead of fear, we chose one word: FAITH.
October 16, 2019 (4 days later) we hit a deer driving at night in south Virginia. Legendary. Our van was no longer drivable and we were on a mission trip from Florida to Maine! Talk about inconvenient. Did we have savings? No. We had already poured it all into this fundraising trip. Did we have insurance? Yes, but with a costly deductible and no rental car insurance. Did we have the guarantee of a paycheck coming in the following week? No. We worked for the Lord now and His pay schedule seems to be summed up with one word: FAITH.
October 19, 2019 we rented a new (to us) van, left ours in a good mechanic’s hands in Virginia and continued on our way to Maine. Risky? Absolutely. What right did we have to continue our trip? What money were we to use? How would we get back home? Pay for our van? Pay for anything at all? Who did we think we were??? We clung to the truth in our hearts that says we are children of the Most High, the same people who were promised: “do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” (Luke 12:22-24). We continued our mission trip on the strength of one word: FAITH.
October 31, 2019 we arrived back home safe, exhausted, and taken care of. Our God had provided for us as he did the Israelites by providing “manna” just enough for each day. Oh but how naked we felt to be home without our trusty mode of transportation! Grateful now for our rickety old jeep which was quickly approaching 300,000 miles but still (mostly) getting us around town! We hit the ground running for the 7 days we were home, taking care of business and all the while praying for provision to buy our plane tickets and get back to our van once it was fixed. FAITH.
November 7, 2019 we drove to the airport for our flight to Charlotte, NC. We picked up our next rental car and after a few more events & unpredictables, we made it back to the mechanic’s shop in Chilhowie, Virginia. FAITH.
November 11, 2019 we picked up our beautifully restored van. Hallelujah! Now to be clear, we literally had to give the mechanic all the money we had at that moment. It was so hard! We knew God had provided, but again, only enough for that day! But what about tomorrow? How would we get home? We looked at one another and paid the $2,000 through one word again: FAITH.
November 16, 2019 we arrived home once again. Safe. Taken care of. Grateful. Poor in money yet rich in spirit! One word, upheld by the Most High, had not failed us: FAITH.
Now we are preparing ourselves for the last leg of our fundraising trip, out west. Living on “manna” just enough for today. We have a half-tank of gas, $102, and an empty fridge. We are doing a few small jobs this week in addition to full-time Ride Nature ministry to help provide for what lies before us. We know that as we do our part God will be faithful to do His - even if it is only for today. We are exhausted but filled with the type of vigor that comes from fighting for what you believe in. The type that comes from living by one word alone: FAITH!
We share with you these intimate details because we desperately want you to be encouraged that this one word, FAITH, really is sufficient. We are not special! We are simply willing. If our Lord is who He says He is, than He WILL do what He says He will do! Oh ye of little faith!!! “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Is.43:19)
Not everyone is called to take their family into ministry full-time as we are. But according to the scriptures breathed out by God, ALL who claim His name are called to serve, sacrifice, and surrender. We share these details with you because we want to proclaim out loud the truth: It is not lack of finances that hold you back, it is lack of FAITH.
That was hard to write, but we say it out of love for you. What work or action has God placed in your heart that you are putting off because of finances? If you are a child of God, then his promises are sufficient for all of your needs. So friends, do not live a limited life with limited works because of a limited faith! We are not guaranteed tomorrow! Your bank accounts, your jobs, even your health and your life can be taken in the blink of an eye. Our hope and security are not meant to dwell in these things because they are volatile, deceptive, and outside of our control. Do not waste your days chasing vapors of this world. Challenge yourself. Test your faith in the God you proclaim! Are you called to give away your money? Are you called to open your home to hurting people? Are you called to quit your current job in pursuit of a different direction? Pray today for wisdom first (the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, Prov. 9:10), pray for wisdom second (if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all, James 1:5), pray for wisdom a third time (whoever trusts his own wisdom is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom from God will be delivered, Prov. 28:26), and then take action on what is revealed to you regardless of your finances. All that you need for your journey will be given to you as you seek to honor and serve the kingdom of God, according to his purposes. For you were not called into a spirit of fear, but you were called into the same simple word that we are: FAITH.
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” 2 Cor. 9:8
“Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:22-34
Lord, may we have hearts set on you, and you alone. Amen.