Support Update and Reflections on the Month

Hello Everyone!

So as you can see on the graph above, I have officially reached 65% in committed support! The Lord's faithfulness never ceases and His people have been gracious to give. I am once again completely humbled to think that the Lord chooses to use small means to accomplish His big plan. He uses the weak, the needy, the insignificant and weaves it into a beautiful story of provision and intimacy with Himself. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who have given. Whether it seemed like a lot or a little to you, it was and is exactly what the Lord has chosen to provide through your gift and I am simply overwhelmed by your generosity. So, thank you. I need about 20% or around $6,000 to move to campus. I feel so close but I know that I still have a little way to go! If you haven't given already, I ask that you prayerfully consider supporting me. You can donate at www.ruf.org/donate or you can send in a donation. There is more info on the "Support RUF" page if you are unsure how to go about giving your gift.

This summer has definitely been a unique one. Coming home after graduating college leaves you feeling a little displaced and ready for the next step. Of course, in my case raising support for the internship, the next step requires a great deal of trust. Almost every single one of my friends is dealing with the same stage of transition, the transition out of something familiar into something new. We are all learning what it looks like to trust and obey a God who has promised to never let us out of His hand. My friends and I have talked a good deal about the idea of "manna" or "our daily bread" that the Lord provides both in our daily needs and ultimately in Christ, the bread of life. I have seen my tendencies to try and manipulate God's provision or store away his blessings in case He "falls through" at some point. However, just like the Israelites in the desert, I find that the manna spoils when I try to keep it to myself or create a safety net of my own sorts. I am not made to have a fallback plan for God. He is all in all and all providing. I have tried so hard during this process to set up some sort of fail proof system so if the Lord doesn't provide, speaking out of my own ignorance here, I can still make it work. Fortunately, we serve a God who is constantly searching for the lost sheep and constantly providing manna for the grumbling Israelites. I have seen my identity in both of these easy targets for Biblical reproach and can now say I deserve to be called both more than I deserve to be called precious or righteous. The funny thing is, I have no idea just how precious I am to my God and just how righteous I am in Christ. The other underlying theme that has risen is the obviousness of my own hunger. I have such a hunger for stability, faithfulness, and consistency that can only be satisfied in Christ. However, I find myself expressing these hunger pains and feeding on my own inability, the empty promises of the world and ultimately self-glory. God will be glorified above all else and He also promises that one day we too will be glorified, but not on this Earth and definitely not in a way that worships our sinful heart above a perfect and holy God. These trials and revealings of my heart are simply put the most faithful thing the Lord can do for His children: sanctify them and make them like Jesus. This is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory, too great to comprehend with our finite minds. One day all of my ugliness will be washed away forever by the blood of the Lamb and I will praise the One who was faithful, forever and ever.

Praise the Lord. His mercies are new every morning.
Anna

Lamentations 3:21-24
But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him."

Prayer Cards

Just ordered these to send out to my supporters! 

Support Update!

Hello friends!
It has been a very stretching few weeks. I am starting to really see the mesh between being obedient to ask potential supporters to become actual supporters and trusting God in His providence to soften hearts towards this ministry. It is a strange balance but the best balance no less. It is so much like everything else in our lives, trusting a sovereign God while responding in faith and obedience. Our ability and motivation is rooted in our identity through Christ and it is His love that compels us. I won't lie, I have been so tempted to become complacent, stubborn, prideful and anxious. These are all very present in my day-to-day. However, I have also been shown goodness and mercy through the hands and feet of Christ. I pray when all of this initial support raising process concludes I will look more like Christ and realize the depth of my dependence on Him.

Here are ways you can pray for me:
1. Opportunities to share about my future with RUF at A&M
2. That the Lord would give me the words when I have the opportunity to share and that I would not be tempted to rely on my own ability
3. That my heart would remain in a position of humility and repentance during this process and throughout the internship
4. That people would support this ministry

Breakdown of the Chart:
As seen on the chart above, I am currently at around 56% (This is including verbal commitments). That means I am predicting that about $16,180 is raised. I am so incredibly thankful for all who have committed and who have already given. The Lord is using your gifts in such a mighty way to encourage me and give me a picture of the role of the Church. As you give in faith that the Lord will work, I wait for the days when we can rejoice in fruits of your gifts that the Lord will surely provide.

Here's the next step: I still need a little over $8,000 to move to campus. I need about $12,289 to provide for an entire year on campus, meaning I would be able to stay all year and not step off campus to raise support. Please pray with me that the Lord would move people to give and to pray. It has become so obvious to me that I cannot do this on my own. God is doing this for His glory and my good. HIS glory, not mine, is the most important thing now and forever so I pray that this support raising process would be nothing less than another opportunity for His name to be lifted up.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21

By His grace-
Anna