I type this only because I’m afraid that in my joy, I will scribble down even more eligible nonsense than my normal handwriting resembles. This is my note of gratitude, and of love.
Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, whom can turn all things to good, and eternally blesses us! In the 34th Psalm, we read “Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” Oh, how true this is! In the 84th Psalm, we read again “LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in You.”
Isn’t it amazing how, when we fall back into the arms of our God, we can always depend on Him? And, isn’t it greater still, that when we depend on Him, He never fails to bless us over and above our wildest imaginations?
He is a great God! However, He seems unfair. Why in the world would He choose to bless me so much? What have I done to deserve this unfair love, this unfair blessing? I’ve called out to Him, asking this question before. And He told me. “Because Christ died for you.” Yet, a fool, I still cried out, “Why did He die for me?”
“Because I love you.”
Ah, the glories of Heaven! Don’t you look forward to seeing those beautiful gates, but, greater still, the light gleaming off the Father’s face, which illuminates His entire Kingdom? I look forward to only two things with more delight: Seeing first those who I have assisted on the way, and finally seeing the face of Him who died for me.
Those around me will take me, and embrace me. They will thank me for assisting in their path here, but I will be unable to hear their voices. I will look upon Him who took the nails for them. And in that moment, I will fall more deeply in love with my Savior than I have ever been. That seems so strange, for I have loved Him so greatly!
He blesses and blesses and blesses. And when He’s done, do you think He simply stops? No! He wouldn’t be a limitless God if He did, would He? Our God is one of infinite power, infinite love, and infinite blessings!
Now, I must share my blessing with you!
I have to admit, occasionally I struggle with faith. Not my belief in God, or my love for my Savior, but the simple trust faith requires. I’m a bit of stickler, especially with other’s money, and so I sat, without stamps, unable to send my last letter to you. Finally, one night, I said to God, “Alright. If its Your will for me to send these letters, I can depend on You that You will deliver the money to cover the stamps.” I buy the stamps for a whopping eight dollars, still feeling a bit guilty, but sent the letters. The following day, I receive a letter that had been somehow delayed for three days. It was a check for 200 dollars. Irony? No. Coincidence? Doesn’t exist. God? Is a wonderful, wonderful Master.
Over the course of the next day, I hear about check after check coming in. This was extremely surprising, because I had thought that my last letter was a bit harsh, and I was actually expecting to have to apologize for it. What did the total come to?
Within ten days, just a little more than eight-hundred dollars.
Wait... where is that verse about blessings one-hundred fold?
Our God is a wonderful God. Give me an Amen! No, literally say it! Shout it! Wake up the neighbor’s cat! Praise our Lord with me!
His blessings are overwhelming. As I write this, I can’t breathe very well, not from sickness, but from holding back the tears of joy.
Occasionally, I’ve looked at these numbers for the mission. I’ve always felt in my heart of hearts that I was to go... but it always seem impossible. I didn’t have enough time, it seemed. The deadline was so close.
In reality, God is the Master of Time. If He wanted to, He could stop the Earth’s rotation, and then reverse it, just to mess up our calendar. In fact, He has reversed the Earth’s rotation. Remember that old Bible Story? It still applies! It isn’t just a sign of God’s power or miracles. It’s a message: “Stop worrying about time. It’s in My hands. Calm down, silly human.”
I finally let it go, completely into His hands. I knew and know that whatever happens, He is in control. Last Sunday, I had stayed up late into the morning working on my mission letter which was scrapped shortly after church... not because it was bad, but because I didn’t need to ask for any more support. A woman from the congregation came up, and sweetly handed me a card. I was confused, and wondered for a moment if someone misprinted the bulletin and told everyone it was my birthday. I opened it up, and it read “Congratulations”. I asked her what it was, and she just smiled at me. I opened it up, and there was a hundred dollar bill... paper-cliped to nine more just like it.
I turned, and I hugged her, and then I let go, and I hugged her again, several times. I went to my seat, trying to ready myself to project the worship music, trying more so to fight back the tears.
With that, all the funds to go to China are gone; all I need is a few hundred dollars for my plane ticket to Chicago.
Glory to God! Praise be to Him! When we surrender our lives, see what great things can be accomplished? As a child, I read books of people who were saved by God in the final moments of their need... but I wondered how they did that. The one thing the books seemed to keep out was that they simply fell back, into the arms of their Saviour!
Thank you so much for your prayers, your donations, and your letters. They mean so very much to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
You’ll hear more details of the trip, and how to pray for me, in the other letter. But this letter is specialized for those who’ve been with me on this journey so far, praying, donating, and loving the Lord with me.
Thank you again for everything you’ve done for me, and, more importantly, for Him.
Sincerely,
Following the Father,
Filled with the Holy Spirit,
Helping others Find the Son,
Micah Furlong
Update: All the China funds have been raised! I'm so excited! The ticket to Chicago, the entire mission, my passport, everything!
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