I can't restrict God

God is so good to continually set up chances for us to see him, to know him more and to grow to trust him. This weekend, God gently and mightily showed me and taught me more about himself.

We had the Parker Outreach this weekend and I definitely felt very uneasy about what would come of it. I felt God really put on my heart a vision to encourage Prairie View and to spur them on. Although the majority of the church consists of older, married couples with far greater responsibilities in life and are probably all far more mature than myself, I felt like God really wanted me to go and to bring others to add a little fuel to the fire they already had burning.

I was expecting more people to come. Plans switched from 20, to 12 and then we ended up with 8 on the first night. It was a busy weekend, and I know a lot was going on in Fort Collins with school starting in just a week, so maybe I should have been expecting a smaller group, but my thought was, "God, you gave me this vision, and I've made plans to accomplish this vision, if you gave me this task, why won't you provide what I need to do this?" Well, I'm sure you can see from this what God taught me this weekend.

God did so much more than I have time to record in this blog. He encouraged me and showed me how he takes just a few fish and loaves of bread, and does glorious things with it. Several times people tried to encourage me, trying to relate all of this to what God had Gideon trust him with, but my heart was hard to see the truth and to take my eyes off what I wanted, what I planned. This morning I realized this- God is not restricted by my plans. God accomplished what He had planned, and I stand in awe of him.

One more thing I praise God for and hope to encourage all of you with.

I love how God stuck with me through it all. I went out Thursday night and poured out my heart to him, shedding really painful tears. I felt so alone, and without much fellowship in Parker, I was. I was so fearful that the weekend would be a total bust and afraid that all the effort would go to waste and in the end I would look like a fool for even trying such a thing. With everything God totally knew my sorrow. I know he even wept with me (John 11:35). I experienced the truth of Psalm 34:17

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles"

Continue to pray for Prairie View. They continue to face many trials, but pray for their joy! Pray that they would celebrate their salvation and that their names are written in the book of life. Pray that people would come to Prairie View and draw close to God and fall head over heals in love with Him.

I love you all, I look forward to seeing you.