Posted in General Posts by Laura Webb on 1/9/2011
How amazing is our God!
Some days I am just so overwhelmed by His awesomeness!
For the past few days I have been really struggling with my complete inadequacy. I read posts by my fellow racers and I am so excited for their realizations and growth and amazing stories of how God is moving mightily in their lives!
But then a sense of uneasiness hits me.
I don’t feel like I am a good enough Christian to be going on this journey:
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I am not prepared; some days I am overwhelmed by how little I have actually accomplished!
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I am awkward talking to people! Most of the time I have to force myself out of my comfort zone to strike up a conversation, and this trip has already caused more face-to-face conversation then I thought I could handle! (And talking on the phone??!! AHHH!) I really have trouble making the words come out the way I want them to!
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I’m not really studied in the Bible. I mean I was raised in church and have been digging into the Bible more in depth as of late, but I’m no scholar. I am easily tripped up when people argue against me.
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I am not an amazingly charismatic person that can make friends with anyone and everyone! I am best hanging with the lonely as a listener, a shoulder to cry on, and a person to pray with.
So God, why me?
I am so thankful that God chooses to work through those who don’t seem qualified! He chooses fishermen and tax collectors and sinners and day care workers and people in general who, by outward appearance or on paper, don’t seem to have a lot going for them.
And I know that this seems crazy. It’s sounds crazy that I have the confidence to know that I will succeed. Crazy to know that I will raise $15,500 (extra crazy considering I have, currently, a little over $400 raised!) But it isn’t crazy because this confidence is in God, not in me! He knows every little detail of how this is going to end and, although some days I try to convince Him otherwise, it is going to happen in His good and perfect timing!
So basic synopsis:
God is amazing.
I am not worthy of His love and mercy, or the task of bringing His precious plan of salvation to the lost.
God is amazing!!!
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Posted in General Posts by Laura Webb on 1/4/2011
The New Year started off pretty mellow for me. I was with a group of friends watching episodes of a fabulous TV show on DVD and just hanging out. We didn’t have any way to watch the ball drop so one of the guys dropped a bouncy ball at midnight.
Amazing how much difference a year is going to make! It’s only the first week of 2011 and I am already excited to see how I will ring in the beginning of 2012!
It still hasn’t hit me that I am potentially leaving for almost a year in 6 months…
I really wanted to steer this blog away from the financial aspect of preparing for this trip but, honestly, that is what has been on my mind the most. It fascinates me that even though I know God is going to provide, I still worry! I don’t have control and that is scary!
28 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
That being said, I am so excited for what God has done and is continuing to do!
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He has provided me with many brothers and sisters (fellow racers) who are facing some of the same obstacles as me and we are growing with and praying for and encouraging each other!
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He is growing my faith- For example; I now refer to things regarding the Race with “when” instead of “if”! (As in, “WHEN I raise $15,500…” as opposed to “IF I raise $15,500…”)
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He is raising supporters all around me. Whether that is financially, emotionally, or spiritually!
On another note, some ways I am planning on fundraising (and how you can help!):
For those of you in my area:
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Mega Garage Sale!: Hopefully to take place at my church. I need items donated and probably help on the day of. Also, help in getting the word out is certainly appreciated! Date: TBD (More info to come!)
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World Race T-Shirts: Fabulous way to help me raise money and get the word out! Date/Price etc: TBD
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Threads of Hope: Amazing bracelets that will not only help me raise funds but also help support people in need (http://www.threadsofhope.com.ph) More info to come!
And beyond…
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Speaking to groups: Whether that is whole churches or youth groups or small groups or bible studies. If you know a group that I can talk to please send me their information!
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Change drive: Easy as pie! :D Help me by collecting spare change and then donating it!… I have been doing this for a while and it is amazing how fast it adds up!
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Giving it all! (AKA Shaving my head!) Beginning stages of planning, but the gist of it is if I can raise a certain amount in a certain time frame I will shave my head!
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As always, donations are always welcome! Just click the “Support Me!” tab.
This is just what I have planned as of right now; many are in the beginning stages of planning. Info will be added as I figure it out. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated!
If it would give you joy, please consider giving!
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
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Posted in General Posts by Laura Webb on 12/20/2010
I sometimes have a hard time being honest.
When people ask my opinion on an outfit or an idea or whatever I tend to tell them something non-committal or what they want to hear, instead of what I actually think. I know this is lying but I don’t want to disappoint them.
The Holy Spirit has really been convicting me of this lately. If I can’t answer a friend honestly about an outfit, how can I possibly think I will be able to prayerfully confront a brother or sister in Christ on an area of sin in their lives? How can I expect to be able to be accountable to others?
I say all this because I started writing this blog update not so honestly. I wanted to come on here saying that fundraising is going amazing and I am super pumped and I have complete confidence in what is going on. But I don’t. I've raised almost nothing. I am discouraged. I doubt myself. I know that God will provide where He has called, but some days I just get so overwhelmed!
It is so amazing how God works!
I know for a fact that I cannot do this on my own, so God will get all the more glory when it happens! Even though it seems like I am just spinning my wheels, trying everything I can for nothing, I know God has a plan! This is going to happen in His perfect timing!
That being said, would you consider supporting me? I have faith that God will move mightily and I will be fully supported before I leave!!!
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Posted in General Posts by Laura Webb on 12/15/2010
It is amazing who God will use to encourage you!!
I have a little sister named Heather, who is 9. About a week ago, I got out the box I was collecting change in and decided to go cash it in. Heather asked me what the change was for and I told her it was for my missions trip. She went to her room and got all the money she had, about $2, and put it in the box. I told her that this was her money, she didn't have to give it to me. Heather shrugged it off and went about her business.
My 9 year old sister gave what she could, and I know that God use it to His glory!
God is already overwhelming me with His provision!
I pray that God will send me more and more people to partner with me and give me more amazing stories to tell!!
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Posted in General Posts by Laura Webb on 12/9/2010
I’ve always felt a pull towards missions…
(My mom likes to tell a story about when I was little and I cried because my friend across the street didn’t go to church.)
Honestly, I don’t have a specific moment that I can pinpoint as the moment I knew I was supposed to go into missions, it has always been a thought in the back of my mind. I’ve always had a passion for kids and have wanted to teach, so why not teach orphans halfway around the world about a Father who loves them (for example)? For a long time I wished, and prayed, for a sign from God; a booming voice from above to affirm that this is what I was REALLY supposed to do. I felt like people who had an amazing story to tell of how they were called were somehow better or more qualified. God showed me that He did call me. He gave me this passion for Him and for those that are lost. And while He can speak through a booming voice from the sky, He chose to speak in a whisper to my heart.
So why The World Race?
In short: I read blogs of the World Race website and God opened my heart.
Long version: A friend of mine went on a short-term missions trip with AIM and told me I should check it out. Amidst my Googling, I stumbled onto the World Race website. I checked out the “About” section and I remember thinking, “I want to go.” I was 16 at the time and obviously too young but I put this race on my proverbial checklist of things to do someday. (And I also remember thinking… wow… 21 is such a long ways away…)
About a year ago, God placed the World Race on my heart. Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it much since the day I first read about it but I thought I would check out the website. I ended up pouring over it for hours! I kept going back day after day reading blog after blog. I remember feeling the Holy Spirit open my heart and I just knew that this is what I was supposed to do.
So after much deliberating, I applied and was accepted!
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Posted in General Posts by Laura Webb on 12/6/2010
Many people have been asking me what exactly I need to raise/ when I need to raise it by! And here is the answer:
Total: I need to raise $15,500.
(It may sound like a lot of money but it's pennies to God!!!)
Broken down, I need to have raised:
3,500 by training camp (Which should be sometime in May)!
6,500 by launch (July)!
11,000 by 3 months into my trip!
15,500 by 6 months into my trip!
I would love to be fully funded before I leave. It would be comforting to know I don't have to worry about being sent home!!!
Would you please prayerfully consider supporting me? It's super easy and every little bit helps!! (Just click on the Support Me tab!)
Thank you!!!
If you would like any more information please feel free to contact me!!!
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
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