Feeding of the 5,000

The current economic crisis has made support raising seem like an impossibility to many - who can raise $3,462 in monthly commitments in less than a year? I can't. But God can.

During missions conference and the week following, God supplied nearly 100% of my out-going support (which buys my plane ticket, shipping of earthly possessions and furniture once I get there, like a bed, dresser, etc)! Only God could do something of that immensity in that short period of time! In this way God showed His blessing and reconfirmed that this indeed is what He has called me to.

This is one way I know that God has called me to this. How else could I have gotten over $700 in a one-day garage sale? That day the most expensive thing we sold was $30 and we only sold 3 or 4 things near that price. It was as if the dollar bills multiplied in our fanny packs like the bread and fish did in the hands of the disciples! And that was only one day of five that God provided for this ministry.

God provided nearly double the amount I need on a monthly basis (which is $3,462) in six days - don't you think He can can provide half of what He did in six days on a monthly basis? Do you believe it for your own life?

There were five days out of eight where I received one-time gifts. These gifts help me to physically get situated in Italy. But without monthly commitments, I'll never get the go-ahead from the administration at Avant to actually buy my plane ticket. 

God really does provide. I've seen it with my very own eyes. And recently. 

And this is God's will for me. To go. To keep fixed on this plan. He has given me no reason to think differently, and, as a matter of fact, given me more reason to KNOW that I must keep moving forward. Even though I linger below 50% of monthly commitments (I need 100% to get the go-ahead!) - I know that God's timing is perfect and He indeed has the resources to get me there... now it is a matter of finding those through whom God will provide and waiting for Him to move in their lives. 

5,000 men, not including women and children were fed a total of five loaves and two fish. And TWELVE BASKETS FULL were left over (Mt 14).

Do you believe God multiplies His resources even in "a tough, economic crisis"? I believe He provides and sees His will be done! He's done it even now!

Set Apart & Sent Away

Saul was on his way to kill Christians. It was his goal in life, to wipe Christianity off the face of the planet. And from man's perspective, it would not be such a hard task, considering this schism faith had only been around a few years.

But then, on that fateful trip to Damascus to kill more, "suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground a heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' It was then that Saul met Jesus and believed.

A vision came to both Ananias and Saul, but the message to Ananias had more information. What the Lord told Ananias and had not yet told Saul was this: "This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentile and their kinds and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

And so Ananias went to Saul and placed his hands on him, prayed over him, and Saul regained his lost sight, received the Holy Spirit and was commissioned on a new task.

Paul, after some time, joined the church of Antioch, where Barnabas also was. And the Scriptures say that while they were ministering God there, "the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Countless times people from the church have been called out by God to a task and commissioned by the church.

This time, it's my turn. 

On Sunday, March 8, in a four of New Testament Baptist Church services, on missions emphasis Sunday, the elders and deacons of the church will lay hands on me and pray over me, commissioning me to that which God has called me to - to His work, and His church.

And then I shall be sent away to Italy, in just three short months!