If you have been reading any of my blog posts thus far you know that I am in a pressing situation at the moment trying to raise funds for my studies and living expenses in New York while studying at the New York Film Academy. In this post I want to tell you some great things that I have witnessed throughout this stressful time and also share some encouragement.
Well, at this stage of the year I was hoping that all my financial obligations for this NY journey would have been met, but alas they have not. Three weeks ago, when I realised that I'm cutting it pretty close, I had a choice to make: either sit down and wait for God to do a 'miracle' or actively use my brain and exhaust all the resources available in order to accomplish this mammoth financial task. The former is easy and assumes that you have faith while the latter is a lot more difficult and proves that you have faith in God.
"For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead." - JAMES 2:26 (AMP)
So I took the difficult step and started Project 177 which I blogged about in my previous post. However, with little time left it hasn't all been a smooth emotional and mental journey to undertake. Until this past Sunday, that is.
Early in the morning while sitting 'backstage'at our church I distinctly heard the spirit of God telling me that I need to get rid of my beggar's mentality. While our pastor was busy preaching on key life principles from Romans 8, God was dealing with me simultaneously on a very personal level. At first it seemed as though He was telling me that I shouldn't approach people for contributions to fund my study, but then as I sat there listening, it became more clear to me.
It is so easy for us as people to have an apologetic attitude when something good happens to us or when we are blessed with success. It's almost as though we don't know that we were actually created and destined for greatness so when it happens we don't know how to react. The first emotion that society teaches you to have is that of humility or, should I say, false humility! This is exactly what God was dealing with in me on Sunday morning.
There are two distinct things that got me during this little meeting on Sunday:
1) "Stop apologising for my blessing!"
2) "If I didn't keep heaven's best from you when I sent Jesus, then what is money that I may keep it from you"
The second one is actually taken from scripture (paraphrased a little) and the first one was actually a direct reprimand to me. Where do we get off feeling sorry for ourselves when God blesses us with his favour and with good fortune and with success? Yes we might not deserve it, but hey we get it anyway. The cool thing is that we need to realise that because God has blessed us, other people around us are automatically also blessed. You are blessed to be a blessing so there is never an opportunity where you need to put on a beggar's mindset and feel you don't deserve the blessing. Receive God's blessing with boldness and joy because there is something that God wants to do through you with that blessing... It NEVER ends with you!
The thing I changed in my mind immediately was the notion that people are paying for my tuition or getting me educated. I am EXTREMELY grateful for everyone who has supported me financially and those that continue to do so, but I have realised that God is the source. Even if He uses people, He is still the source and that glory will NOT be shared with anybody. Thank, honour and respect people, but never think in your heart that it is people who get you where you need to be in life.
By now you might be bored or very intrigued. If it's the former then tough luck because that concludes only my introduction. What I really want to divulge since my previous post is the mighty hand of God that has been working in my financial situation. I am not where I need to be with my obligations as yet, but I have no doubt in my mind that all my needs will be met.
From the day that the very first person deposited money into my account, this scripture has been ringing in my
heart 1 Kings 18:41-45 (NLT):
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” 42 So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. 43 Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. 44 Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” 45 And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.
Elijah saw a miniature cloud and told his servant, Ahab, to tell the leadership about the coming rain. In other people's mind's it might not seem enough to justify rain because everyone wants God to show them a HUGE sign, but Elijah saw a cloud as small as a man's hand. This cloud was by no means the miracle, but it was a 'sign and wonder'of the miracle that was to come i.e the terrific rainstorm.
Similarly, i see the same daily, I wake up with a couple of deposits for R177 reflecting on my account and it doesn't seem like much, but this is just the cloud. Other clouds that I have witnessed is that, just yesterday, the New York Film Academy has decided to increase my scholarship from $4000 per year to $10 000 per year. No that was not a typo! Additionally, I was approached by a friend who freely offered to contribute $300 per month toward my living expenses. These are just signs and wonders that assure me that God has been in this from the very get go. It also excites me to see that I have grown so much in faith that I can trust God for these great amounts of money.
There is about two weeks left for me to meet my targets and pay all outstanding fees in. I would like to ask you to continue to share Project 177 on Facebook (facebook.com/project177), Twitter (twitter.com/project177), Youtube (youtube.com/project177), and the latest addition IndieGoGo (indiegogo.com/project177). Project 177 has managed to raise $3000 so far. Thank you once again to all that have helped out so far and all that will still contribute in the future.
I think there is a lot of good news that can be taken from the stories I have told, but this testimony is not even complete. In two weeks time I'm going to have one of the coolest stories to share so check back in then.... or earlier... you never know!
Thanks peeps!
