She Works Hard For The Money

I am currently in my 2nd year of teaching and receiving a "big girl paycheck." Before I had a job, though, I was like any typical college student without much of anything. My parents were frugal when I was growing up and I have followed in that pattern. So pretty much as soon as I started having a regular income, I set up a monthly budget with savings included.

Let me also say that I don't actually like money very much. It can be very dangerous. Money has the ability to shift priorities so fast that we don't even realize a change has occurred. I think that one of satan's main tactics for sneakily keeping us from Christ is materialism. Think about the things we think we need. The way that money can cause an argument between husbands and wives. Or why we pursue jobs that pay more but keep us away from our families and the people we should be loving. And debt is bondage. But I'm sure that you, like me, are not caught in satan's snare. (Yeah, right!)

A little over a year ago I was the victim of check fraud. This did not help with my distrust of money and I have to be really careful to not make hanging on to what I have too important. See, I don't so much spend too much money, I tend to think I need the security of having money in the bank. And even though the fraud was a huge mess, I received some good financial advice from my bank and ended up with a separate savings account devoted solely to travel.

So, as mentioned in an earlier post, when faced with the prospect of going to work in an orphanage this summer, I realized the Lord had already been providing a way for me to get there! When I had finally settled on Romania with Projects Abroad, I immediately filled out the application. But in order for the application to be complete, I had to make a deposit. This was a big step of faith for me because the website looked great, but what did I really know about this organization? Could I trust them?

I sent my information for the deposit anyway. So you can imagine the thoughts that started racing through my mind when I received a call a couple of days later from a Projects Abroad employee telling me that the card number I had given them wasn't working and I needed to call them back as soon as possible. Doubt. Is this just a scam? You see, satan knew that money was the easiest way to make me start questioning what I was doing. I was going to have to send a check to Projects Abroad. A check! I hesitated for a little bit, but did some more praying, and some more research on the organization and once again stepped out in faith and sent the deposit.

While I was waiting for them to process everything and get back to me about being accepted into the program, I was talking with one of my coworkers about the trip and she asked who I was going with. When I told her it was called Projects Abroad she said, "Oh, that's who my daughter went through!" What a comfort to hear! Just when I needed it, Christ spoke through my coworker who had no idea the doubt I was experiencing.

And, of course, everything has turned out fine. I am growing more and more excited as the days go by. God is doing a great work in me and I cannot wait to see what He has in store for the summer. Today, in particular, I have been reeling with thoughts of all the possibilities of what might happen. When doubts creep in, I am reminded that we have the power to destroy arguments and every lofty opinion... and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) I can joyfully say that all I have belongs to Him.