This week I have been sick - bad head cold and feeling just not quite with it. But I have had one of the most amazing weeks in experiencing the hand and provision of the Lord in multiple ways.
First, I was given contact information for people at the Alabama Women's Soccer Foundation back in September or October from a coach at Vestavia Hills Soccer Club (who also coached me in ATL when I was playing club soccer). He said they were interested in supporting NorthStar and for me to give them a call...well I didnt quite know what I was doing at the time, nor did I know the needs I had for the ministry so I put the name/number on a sticky note and stuck it to my wall above my desk...
Last week, Morgan (one of my best friends) got a job at the Clotheshorse, a consignment shop in Vestavia Hills, through meeting the owner "randomly" at a Pilates class at Gold's Gym. She called me Monday afternoon with excitement relating to her new "bosses'" desire to support NorthStar after she shared the ministry with them.
So Tuesday afternoon I had two people on my list to call:
1) the Alabama Women's Soccer Foundation people from the VHSC coach
2) Morgan's boss at the Clotheshorse
It didn't take long to figure out that the two people I had to call were really the same person! The Clotheshorse generates revenue from its two locations (the other being Isabelle's, which is purely donated clothes rather than consignment). The money goes to the Alabama Women's Soccer Foundation, which was started years ago by people involved in the club Alabama Attack (merged with Birmingham United Soccer Association- BUSA). Attack owed BUSA money on soccer fields down Hwy 280 that they purchased, which led to the start of the Clotheshorse and Isabelle's to help pay off the fields. Now that the fields are paid off and the Alabama Women's Soccer Foundation is established with funds to donate, they have been looking for a soccer ministry in Birmingham that is reaching those most in need through the game....NORTHSTAR!!!
The story blows my mind....
- they've had all this money and "tried" to give it away to other soccer-related causes but the process seemed to fall through every time
- this money is rooted from the rough situation of paying off those fields down 280 (God causes ALL things to work for good - He had NorthStar in mind when Attack was struggling financially to pay off fields to BUSA!)
- I had the contact information for at least 2-3 months before I called...how cool is it that the connection through Morgan led to the actual call!
- Ive been working relentlessly on tournament/program sponsorships over the past 2 months, and this one literally just fell into my lap...humbling :)
- It seems the store owners/foundation people are more excited about GIVING NorthStar money on a regular basis than I am about receiving it (and I a REALLY excited about this!!!)
So all that being said, our lives - every relationship, situation, work, play, etc. - is under the sovereign control of our God, "who causes all things to work TOGETHER for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to HIS PURPOSE." (Romans 8:28) I believe that He has purpose and plans for each of us...
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and hope...you will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.'" - Jeremiah 29:11 & 13
Both these verses seem to be thrown out frequently in the "Christian community," but they have taken a personal place in my life after this week.
On top of all this, I got to "preach the Gospel" to Eastern China Buffet in Trussville Tuesday night...one of the girls from Juvenile last spring randomly called me to hang out because she is "trying to find her faith." She was so open to hearing the Truth and wanting to see change in her life. While we were talking, people from booths on either side of us came up to our table relaying the encouragement they were receiving from overhearing our conversation. I had no idea anyone else was listening while we were sitting there...again, the Lord's detailed ways are beyond what we could plan or make happen. He just "does" with us as He sees fit...our role is not for us to determine.
"My grace is sufficient for you; my power is made PERFECT in your weakness." - 2 Corin. 12:9
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