Thursday, March 27, 2008

Spying out the Promised Land?


I think I have a better understanding as to how Joshua and Caleb felt in the early hours of their mission to spy out the promised land.


I am just praying that the giants in the land don't scare us off.

I don't think it is just a fluke or even a coincidence, that both my husband and I have been reading about the promised land in our morning devotions lately. You see, we are leaving this morning with our oldest daughter Meghan, to drive six hours to a private Christian college that is impossible for us to afford right now. Since she is a junior in high school, she will be applying to colleges in the Fall. We need to spy out the land.

We promised our oldest daughter from a very young age that we would send her to whatever college she wanted to go to when she grew up. All she had to do was work hard in school and get good grades, we would do the rest. I have no idea why we would say something like this. My own husband attended junior college his first two years of his education. I was raised by parents who said that if we wanted to go to college, we would find a way to go ourselves. Why would we tell her she could go anywhere?!?

What in the world were we thinking?

Meghan made good on her end of the bargain...now it seems financially that we cannot.

So after much discussion and even more prayer, my husband and I have decided to take a trip that we pray will not only boost our faith, but teach Meghan something about our Lord. She knows that we are taking a "Promised land trip". She is about to find out that if it is truly His will for her, if this is truly something that the Lord has put on her heart, then He will make it happen.

For nothing (NO-THING) is impossible with God. Luke 1:37


15 comments:

Cheri said...

Oh I love that you're doing this trip. Nothing is impossible with God and what a great life lesson for your daughter.

Terri said...

That's great. Who knows what may happen. My daughter got a lot of scholarships from her Christian college which really helped her out. This college may do the same thing.

Amy said...

You HAVE made good on the bargain. You have raised her the best you can, and have encouraged her to suceed (and stay true to her faith). If there is a will, there is a way. I know things will work out.

You inspire me.

Kim@Seasons of My Heart said...

Joanne~
WOW...your post today gave me HOLY GHOST bumps!!!!!

We currently are walking a similar road with our oldest...and you are SO RIGHT...when God puts something in our hearts...he can move,regardless of our situation, or circumstances.

I'll leave you with this quote I shared with my dh yesterday...I hope it encourages you as well:

S.A. Keen said,

"No desire will ever be placed in you by the Holy Spirit unless HE intends to fulfill it. So let your faith rise up and soar away to claim all the land you can discover."

The provision of His grace, which helps us along the way to the fulfillment of His promise, is actually tied to the inner vision God has given us. He who puts the natural instinct in the heart of a bird to fly across a continent in search of a warmer climate is TOO good to deceive it. Just as we are confident HE placed the instinct within the bird, we can be assured HE has also provided balmy breezes and springlike sun to meet it when it arrives. And HE who breathes heavenly hope into our hearts will NOT deceive or fail us when we press forward toward it's realization.

I'll be praying for you my sweet friend.

Kim~

AlaneM said...

I'll pray that your promised land trip is a blessed time together. What a wonderful lesson for your daughter to learn!

Mari said...

I think this is going to be a great life lesson for her. You are stepping out in faith. She is learning that not everything is humanly possible and that we need to follow God's will for our lives. If he wills it, it will happen. I'll be praying for you all.

Fran said...

WOW!! What a beautiful lesson for everyone! I so can't wait to find out what God is up to! Enjoy the land.

Hugs and prayers~
Fran

Shelly said...

I hope you have a wonderful trip and that eyes will be open as to what to do and maybe comfort and knowledge. My daughter is doing the same as she a junior and looking at colleges too. She is thinking of Cornerstone in Grand Rapids and that is a nice Christian college and expensive. I feel that if this is what the Lord is putting on her heart now, then things will open for her later.
God Bless!

elizabeth embracing life said...

Joanne, my son is now his second year of that promised land. Oh, how we struggled internally and financially at the time he was to off to school, but God provided in ways that even today we do not understand.

He was $4,000. short, but we put him on a plane. We could not even afford for me or my husband to take him to school. Two days before the final funds were due, my husband called me. The exact dollar amount was deposited into his school account. A grant that we had no idea was out there. Right down to the minute God watched as my son's desires were realized.

What you said was so important, in that your daughte has worked hard. God is going to honor that. If ths situation does not work out, she can be even more excited knowing that God wants to give her the desires of her heart and there is an even more awesompe plan for her.

I will be praying over this. I truly believe God is going to bless you where the need is.

Rebekah said...

have a 'blessed' trip. God does work in mysterious ways, I hope she is encouraged with whatever the results.

ElizabethMThompson said...

Joanne,

I look forward to hearing how God provided for your daughter's education! I believe He will empower you to keep your promises to her, regardless of the "giants in the land." They are not so big to God.

Aly said...

Joanne ~

How absolutely faithful you and Paul are to take this trip with Meghan. You both made me well up with tears for you both have truly placed your trust in God...you've been teaching my kids in Sunday school the phrase: "You can't dream dreams big enough what God has planned for your life," so with that said, let us watch with wonder at the works He puts in motion for precious Meghan. I can't wait to see it unfold. What a true blessing and inspiration you are in my life. God bless!! Aly

Angela Baylis said...

Hi, Joanne.

I found you through someone else and I'm very glad I did! I love your blog. It's beautiful, really! I have a daughter named Meghan too! She graduated last year from Michigan State University! I had to pay for 100% of my college education and as I look back it was such a blessing. I had to learn to trust God to find a way! I will keep you all in my prayers! I want to read more of your posts!

Are you reading the Bible chronologically? I am too and am enjoying it so much. I have never read it cover to cover! It makes SO much more sense to me. I just finished reading about the promised land and Joshua and Caleb!

Much love,
Angie xoxo

A Stone Gatherer said...

Have a great trip and may God reveal His awesome plan for your lovely daughters further education! Remember it only took one stone to knock out David's giant!

Chelle' said...

Are you home yet? I can't wait to hear all about it.

Post when you get a chance... praying the Lord revealed Himself and His will regarding Meg's education to you all this weekend.

Love ya.
Chelle'

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