Simply Trusting

I am praising God for His marvelous provision today!! As of now, I have 70% of the support I need. Praise the Lord! However, in order to depart for BFA I need to have 80% of my monthly support pledged. I am currently in need of 10% more, which is $200 per month.  This could be 20 people at $10/month, 10 people at $20/month, 5 people at $40/month, 4 people at $50/month, 2 people at $100/month, or of course 1 person at $200/month. If you are interested in giving, or know of someone who is, please contact me: laurenholland25@yahoo.com. As soon as the last 10% is pledged, I can buy my ticket and make plans to leave. God's provision is awesome, and I am very excited to see how He is going to provide for this next stem. For information on how to give and giving options Click here:  Donate Today! God is so good, and I pray that more people will continue to catch the vision and partner with this ministry!

'Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." John 14:13-14 We serve a God who created the universe, sent His Son to save us, and works in our lives daily, and yet we doubt His ability to answer prayer. Sometimes when I pray, I have this "if you're able to" mindset. I ask God for things, or to do things, but for some reason deep down, I don't acknowledge that He's truly capable to answer. I don't know about you, but I have a hard time trusting, especially when I can't see whom I am trusting. The more proof I see that the person is really there, the more inclined I am to trust. However, in the verses above, all it tells us to do is ask, and He will do it. No fleece, no strings attached. Just ask. "I will do it." That's not an "If I have time," or "I'll try." It is "I will" from "I am." The ultimat...

I am overwhelmed by the response to support letters.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed!! What I never realized before this experience is how humbling it is to be in this position. To see how people have given so sacrificially is indeed humbling and a rebuke. One week from yesterday is October 1st. When I think of what God has done in the past month, I am again in awe. When I think of how we will see Him work in the month to come, I am excited.  To anyone that may happen to read this that is older and more mature, you maybe be thinking, "how naiive!" But to have as my only choice to lean on Christ is a thrill indeed. Though I trusted Him to a degree before, I am learning to trust Him in new ways. Each day is another opportunity to exercise this new trust.  For example, the other day I was praying about a new camera. My dear old Kodak of 5 years finally stopped working, and I was trying to rationalize spending 2 years abroad with no pictures to illustrate what I wa...

Today is September 20th, which means that October is a mere 10 days away. My goal is to be in Germany in October, and I currently have about 10% of the 80% pledged support needed.  God has provided already in  many humbling ways, and I know that He is able to provide the rest.  If you are interested in joining the support team, please see the links at the bottom of the page, or email me personally at laurenholland25@yahoo.com. There is a definite need here, and the sooner I can leave the better. Please pray with me that people will give as God leads them, and that I will continue to trust.

I am overwhelmed with the incredible care God provides. Several new supporters joined the team this week, and I am extremely grateful! Pray with me that God will continue to provide!

While the weather is nice, I've taken to having my devotions outside in our front yard.  Today, as I sat thinking and praying about support, noticed the sparrows. There had been one or two hopping around all week, but this morning there was a whole flock of them foraging through the grass and evidently gorging themselves on something very tasty.  "I wonder if they are even aware of their needs," I thought. The same God that cares for them, cares for me, and yet I sit here and wonder if He remembers I'm here sometimes.  "Are not five  sparrows  sold  for two  cents ? Yet not one  of them is forgotten  before  God.  Indeed , the very  hairs  of your head  are all  numbered.  Do not fear ; you are more  valuable  than many  sparrows." Luke 12:6-7   God, grant me a bigger picture of Who You are, and a greater measure of faith to believe Your promises to me are true.

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14 I find myself returning to this verse throughout this process. It's exciting to know that the same God who empowered Paul and worked in him so mightily is my God too!  Last night I received notification from TeachBeyond about new supporters! Praise the Lord! Support is coming in His time and His way.  Thank God for His Sovereignty!

Just wanted to share the chorus to a hymn we sang in church yesterday. I had mindlessly sung the words many times before, but yesterday they embedded themselves in my mind. "Oh the height and depth of mercy! Oh the length and breadth of love! Oh the fullness of redemption, Pledge of endless life above!"  As we sang, I realized that this, above all, needs to be my power-source. God has given us everything, and what does He ask of me in return? That I live my life wholly for Him, a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) for His complete honor and glory.  He doesn't leave us unequipped, but gives us,  "all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:3)   As I thought about the words to the song, all that I have been given, and the ministry I am joining, I was greatly humbled.  He has given me so much, and now I want to give back by pouring into the lives of others the love the He has gi...

Once again, I am reminded that God hears our prayers.  This morning as my mom and I went on our routine walk, I was feeling kind of down and out. My confidence in the fact that God could and would provide was pretty low.  We prayed as we went, and I am ashamed to admit that mine was an attitude, of "Please do, though I don't see how it's possible." I was immediately remorseful, and asked Him to strengthen my faith. This afternoon with the mail came a monthly supporter. Praise the Lord! This is His work and doing, not mine. Proverbs 3:5-6