the best day

This has been the best day. Truly. I just want to go climb a mountain (maybe somewhere outside of Nebraska) and shout it to everyone. I am so restless at work, and I think everyone is wondering why this huge smile is plastered to my face. I can't help it. God is so good. I hope He's really shining through me today. And the fact that it's 95 degrees + humidity outside should add to my radiating glisten.

I don't want to say that I was stressed, but if there is some mega-spiritual, cool and collected way to say it... well, that wasn't really me either. I have been learning trust and patience on a whole new level. In any logical mind, when trying to raise $5,000 in 3 months, one would work hard, save money, spend sparingly and ask for as many donations as possible. But I have learned that God might just have a better plan than mine. He's a pretty smart guy. Instead of working and saving, I have quit my (part-time) job and spent my time volunteering. While volunteering sounds grand and selfless, that whole $5,000 goal was not getting any closer to grasp. Weeks were passing, and my 3-digit funds account was not looking too promising.

Oh, but God is so faithful! My amazing friends, when starting to catch on to my almost panic response to fundraising, have done some extreme praying on my behalf. If I take nothing else away from this experience, I will be full knowing with affirmation how powerful prayer truly is, and that it's not something to be taken lightly! They prayed, I prayed. They prayed some more. And I waited. Waited to see my next move from the big guy upstairs.

I got two things. 1) Trust me. hmmm ok, check 2) Sell your car. WHAT? When, now? To who? What about when I come home, God? What's going to happen then? I realized quickly that I couldn't really check off the first instruction I was given until I truly let go. And wouldn't ya know it, I got the when, the who, and the what next... well, He'll probably let me in on that plan later.

Now back to where this story began, the best day ever. The best day ever is the day you see from the overcomer's perspective. The best day ever is the day you realize and even appreciate why you went through what you did, and really receive the reward for your trust and faithfulness. That 3-digit funds account, well it's overflowing. How does one go from $730 to $2,280 overnight? Why on that very same morning do I receive a call, crediting my bank account another $2,000 for a personal stock investment? It is rising to the top, by means that I could never have figured or constructed on my own. It's making sense. When I let go, and let God (as cliche as it sounds) these amazing days happen. I'm starting to think that a life of purpose and direction and just all out love for Jesus is full of these "best day ever's" Yea, there's struggles and tests and not every moment is destined to take your breath away, but wow. When God moves, how can you go on pretending like you didn't feel it? I'm seriously going to start looking for a mountain to start shouting from when I get home!

and maybe, just maybe, I'll even have a savings account to come back to so that I can pack up and start my cross-country adventure! (that blog will have to wait for another day)

"Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices... Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains" - Isaiah 42:11