Who is helping you fight?

Although I've got another 2 years before I walk across the stage (graduation), my mind is already in create-work-opportunities mode.  Part of this is just my natural go-getter attitude, the other part is because I really never stopped "working" since I left to come to school. In any event, the wheels in my head are constantly churning and I am open to new and innovative ways to use the skill set and giftings that I have been blessed with.


At church over the weekend past, we read from Exodus 17 and even after coming home, I found myself revisiting the scripture for further personal study. What I have come away with is a template of sorts for one of my 'big dreams': Mercy House Bahamas. 


For those that are not aware, my plan is to establish one of the first residential treatment facilities in The Bahamas. This is not a boot camp, it is not a juvenile detention center, it is a place where adolescent girls can go for intense one-to-one attention to work through issues and learn coping skills so they can be equipped to face the challenges of life. There is too much to tell but hopefully within the next two months, I should have it legally established so that I can fill in the many empty spaces on the website.


So what did I learn: Well I learned that I need to have at least two people who understand and support my vision. My Aaron and Hur, as we see them functioning as Moses' left- and right-hand men during the war (v. 10-12). These two individuals will be able to physically support the development and day-to-day running of the organization but also will be able to support it (and me) spiritually and emotionally. These individuals will most likely work full time, in some capacity for The Mercy House, but I am not going to narrow their role(s) at this time. While I think I have an idea of who my Aaron and Hur are, I am specifically praying for God to bring confirmation or redirect as necessary.  


While the Bible gives us way more detail about Aaron and his exploits (not all good), little is said about Hur. What we can deduce is that Moses trusted him. In two of the occasions Hur is mentioned, he is in "the inner circle"...you know, like a bestie...one of the 3 people on the mountain during the big war (Exodus 17) and then one of the two people left in charge of the Israelites when Moses goes up to commune with God (Exodus 24:14).


Aaron was not only a 'bestie' but he was Moses' brother (by blood). He requires a post all of his own but what is relevant to my lesson, is that he was with Moses from the beginning. Even after they were separated at birth, when Moses goes back to take his role as "deliverer", it was Aaron that we see by his side through most of the early events when Moses has to face Pharaoh and the Egyptian Army (Exodus 4). God invited Aaron up on more than one occasion to commune with Him and Moses on the holy mountain and Aaron was one of the High Priests.  What I can deduce, definitely a man that Moses trusted.


While some endeavors may be "smaller" in size, this does not negate the need for an Aaron and Hur. We are built for community and there is strength in numbers. Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 states


"Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."


If you don't already have an Aaron and/or Hur identified for your "missions" (i.e. business, ministry, organization)...go ahead and begin praying about who those individual(s) are. You don't want to just pick "friends"; these people must understand the fullness of the vision and be able to commit to supporting it (and you).


Grace, peace, and love...
Gia


stay tuned for the rest!

Prayer without expectancy = unbelief

I stumbled upon this quote in my journal this morning and smiled because over the weekend, I was faced with this reality...the reality that I sometimes pray, asking for various things and somehow still do not EXPECT God to answer the prayer.

As I am a big proponent for self-development, I consciously make an effort to identify areas of my life to work on. This is an ongoing thing...one of my personal values is that if I am living, I am growing (not just physically but in every aspect I can). Typically it is through various situations, that I am able to identify my "growth areas". One of the growth areas for this year, has been about being a good steward of my finances. I took it a bit further after reading a book, Living on the Third River, and asked God to literally stretch me in the area of giving so I can truly become a conduit as it relates to my finances.

This past weekend, while in Chicago, I visited an awesome ministry, All Nations Worship Assembly, and while there are literally about 4 blog posts from my experience there, the one for this post, had to do with giving. At one point in the service, toward the end (I think) the minister said (paraphrase): "I declare that we will be without lack, that we will stumble upon money, we will open wallets/drawers and find money that we didn't know we had...we would open our car doors and look down and find bills..." you get the point.

My response: an emphatic "Wooooo yes Lord, Amen!" in agreement with the declaration that the minister made. 

Fast forward about 3 hours later, I am at lunch with a fellow Bahamian who attends that church while my friend attended the wedding (reason for the road trip) and this is where the "object lesson" began. So even as I had come into agreement less than 5 hrs previously, I call shame on myself for literally being surprised when I stumbled upon $20 in my wallet! :gasp: This, unfortunately, was after I had already had to use my credit card to pay for my food, since the bill was slightly more than the cash I had. Nevertheless, I quickly thanked God for the blessing and left it in my wallet, smiling to myself about how amazing my God is. In line with my submission to being a conduit with my finances, this Third River living, God quickly provided me with an opportunity to bless someone else with my blessing.

Without going into detail of that story, let’s just say that I was obedient.....and then it happened again (twice). This is how the scenario unfolded- I checked my wallet, accounted for the bill(s) inside, only to open it again at a later point (the same wallet) and find another bill added to what I had previously seen. Woah!!! It could be that I can't count or I am careless but I honestly think this an object lesson that God has allowed as it relates to asking with expectancy, particularly since there are a couple of big ticket requests (well big ticket to me) that I have made and have been struggling with the how and if "it" will come.  Nonetheless, by the second incident, I began praying (and continue to do so), that my faith would increase, and with it, my sense of expectancy as I pray, so that I will not be surprised when God answers but just grateful for His provision and faithfulness.

I encourage you to take inventory of your expectancy level toward the prayers you have surrendered. Have you asked and forgotten to look out for the answer/response/blessing? Have you asked as the "thing to do" as a Christian but do not truly believe? In the spirit of transparency, I had to revisit my request (you can find the story here) and assess what my expectancy level is. Am I really waiting to receive the blessing of the funds needed to get Mercy House a formally established non-profit organization in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas? Not sure what my answer was last week…but now it is a  "Wooooo yes Lord, Amen!"

There is so much more to be said as it relates to financial stewardship and the like as I continue to trust God and grow in this specific area but this is it for now...

Grace, peace and love,

Gia

Wordless Wednesday (A Father's Love)