promises

I am so blessed by the contributions I have received towards my trip.  God is strengthening my faith in what I know He has promised me.  I know He is sending me to DIVE school even though I wasn't sure how it would happen.

Last night, I still needed $940 to be able to afford to go.

I sent DIVE school an email updating them on how much money I still needed, but confirmed that God was going to make it happen and that I was ready to book my flight and pay the tuition on my credit card regardless.  This was a big step in faith for me...I have always been anxious about money, wary of debt, and have let myself doubt God's provision and promises when things seem financially impossible.

Then, the Lord sent me $500 total in the mail this morning.  What an absolute confirmation for my doubting heart!  I can almost see him smiling at me..."Do you need me to remind you I've got this one?"  YES!  Apparently, I do. :-)  Thank you, Jesus!

Last night I was working at our church clearing out a neglected storage closet and doing some much needed decluttering.  In the process, I discovered some additional valuable equipment...some of it was even brand new, unopened in its original box.

I think this is a good analogy for what I believe DIVE school is going to be for me.  I think God has given me an abundance of resources and gifts He wants me to use, but a lot of them have been buried in a closet, or maybe haven't ever been opened yet.  That is why I like Rita Springer's vision statement so much--it is God's revelations to our hearts that change our lives, and "if we live changed, our creative expression is limitless."

I also received what I believe to be a prophetic dream over my trip.  I dreamed it the same morning I found out I was invited to DIVE school.

In the dream, my hands were bound by strips of cloth that were unwrapped to reveal healing wounds.  I was aware that I had received some sort of procedure and that my hands were in the process of recovery.  I was asked "what do you see?", and as I looked down at my hands, I noticed one of the wounds was not healing correctly.  "This one needs to be redone," I said.

I remember seeing a surgical knife inserted into my unhealthy hand.  It wasn't even painful; it was just the process that needed to be done.  Afterwards, my hands were rebound and I held them up triumphantly, declaring victoriously, "In the name of Jesus!"

I believe there are things to be revealed and spiritual surgery waiting for me at DIVE school.  I know God has something amazing planned and that this is one step in my part in it.  I believe Jesus is going to move within His church in BIG ways and I want to be ready for the limitlessness of Him.  I want to be in the middle of it when God unleashes His glory upon earth!