"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:25-27, 34, 33
God knows you. He knows what you need. He knows what you're wrestling with. He knows everything about you, and he is committed to walking with you in every season of life.
This has definitely been a challenging season for our team. Felicia and I (Joe) have been adjusting our lives to two children, while pursuing a third through foster care. Isaiah has been working, graduating high school, preparing for college, and learning everything he possible can about ministering to Japan. Preston and Lily have built The Beautiful Feet Project website, planned and executed a beautiful wedding, and managed the 2019 Japan trip financials.
There have been plenty of things for us to worry about.
Yet the Holy Spirit has enabled us all to seek his kingdom and seek his righteousness.
During the past month we have seen God's faithfulness to meet our every need in miraculous ways.
He gave Felicia and I discernment that the pacing of this year's vision trip in Northern Japan would not fair well for our son Hezekiah (2.5 yrs). This led us to drive to Chicago where Felicia would stay with family and the two kids while I minister in Japan at a faster pace. Felicia will do all the English prep for the team, send out blogs updates to our rope holders, and share vital prayer requests in real time to fuel our ministry. I will equip and direct our team in Japan and focus on building new connects with vulnerable churches. This approach has reduced the Isosaki trip cost from $12,000 to $3,500.
After the team had purchased tickets, there were two people in my network that felt called to give to me even though I was fully funded. I remember one of them asking, "Joe... the Winowiskis still have $4200 to raise. What happens if they don't make it?"
I responded, "They already bought the tickets. They are all in on ministering to the Japanese, so they're going. If they come up short...they just won't eat".
As ridiculous and snarky as my comment was, my friends response was pure and kingdom minded...."Well ... we can't have that." In less then 24 hours I was able to forward on $1600 from two kingdom minded donors to the Winowiskis.
Something incredible happens when we push aside our worries concerning things of this world and focus on the kingdom that God is building through us.
I'm pleased to say, that team Winowiski is 89% funded. They only need $1200 to cover food. I trust that if God call more people to partner with us, then my projections on rail, lodging, and food were correct. If not, it just means lodging and rail will be cheaper than I calculated.
Either way, God will be faithful to Matthew 6. The Winowiski will eat, as they seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. Thank you for partnering with our team, as we step out in faith.
Continue to pray for God to move in a mighty way as we begin curriculum planning for our trip.
~The Beautiful Feet Project
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:25-27, 34, 33
God knows you. He knows what you need. He knows what you're wrestling with. He knows everything about you, and he is committed to walking with you in every season of life.
This has definitely been a challenging season for our team. Felicia and I (Joe) have been adjusting our lives to two children, while pursuing a third through foster care. Isaiah has been working, graduating high school, preparing for college, and learning everything he possible can about ministering to Japan. Preston and Lily have built The Beautiful Feet Project website, planned and executed a beautiful wedding, and managed the 2019 Japan trip financials.
There have been plenty of things for us to worry about.
Yet the Holy Spirit has enabled us all to seek his kingdom and seek his righteousness.
During the past month we have seen God's faithfulness to meet our every need in miraculous ways.
He gave Felicia and I discernment that the pacing of this year's vision trip in Northern Japan would not fair well for our son Hezekiah (2.5 yrs). This led us to drive to Chicago where Felicia would stay with family and the two kids while I minister in Japan at a faster pace. Felicia will do all the English prep for the team, send out blogs updates to our rope holders, and share vital prayer requests in real time to fuel our ministry. I will equip and direct our team in Japan and focus on building new connects with vulnerable churches. This approach has reduced the Isosaki trip cost from $12,000 to $3,500.
After the team had purchased tickets, there were two people in my network that felt called to give to me even though I was fully funded. I remember one of them asking, "Joe... the Winowiskis still have $4200 to raise. What happens if they don't make it?"
I responded, "They already bought the tickets. They are all in on ministering to the Japanese, so they're going. If they come up short...they just won't eat".
As ridiculous and snarky as my comment was, my friends response was pure and kingdom minded...."Well ... we can't have that." In less then 24 hours I was able to forward on $1600 from two kingdom minded donors to the Winowiskis.
Something incredible happens when we push aside our worries concerning things of this world and focus on the kingdom that God is building through us.
I'm pleased to say, that team Winowiski is 89% funded. They only need $1200 to cover food. I trust that if God call more people to partner with us, then my projections on rail, lodging, and food were correct. If not, it just means lodging and rail will be cheaper than I calculated.
Either way, God will be faithful to Matthew 6. The Winowiski will eat, as they seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. Thank you for partnering with our team, as we step out in faith.
Continue to pray for God to move in a mighty way as we begin curriculum planning for our trip.
~The Beautiful Feet Project