Why am I here? What exactly am I accomplishing in this season? Why am I coming back to CGA for the second half of the program? These are questions that I’ve been pondering as I finish out my first semester at CGA.
After sitting down, reflecting on what I’ve learned, and asking the Lord what He has planned for the upcoming months, I found seven reasons why I will be coming back to CGA:
I’m coming back to CGA, first and foremost, because it’s where God called me to be in this post-race season. Sometimes we don’t understand where He places us and for what reasons, but it’s our duty to follow Him wherever He leads. He leads and we follow, that’s how it works!
I’m coming back to CGA because it challenges me. And when I say that it challenges me, I mean that the Lord has used every single speaker, class, and person that I have interacted with to push me and point me towards Christ in the most loving and challenging way. It’s is so incredibly hard but so insanely good at the same time!
I’m coming back to CGA because it grows me. The Lord is using CGA to stretch me and grow me into a bold and confident women of God. He is giving me people to call out boldness in me and push me to really live it out. Growing to look more like Christ will always be a lifelong pursuit, but CGA has already provided so many opportunites to dive in.
I’m coming back to CGA because it’s giving me the space to walk through brokenness and into healing. I believe that one of the reasons the Lord has me here is because it’s a safe space and time to work through stuff that needs to be healed before I can move on to leading others. Looking at scripture, we see that the Lord lead David in a similar way. God gave David a long period of time where he was able to walk through certain levels of brokenness before He could lead as King in a healthy way. It’s so clear that God knows what we need and when. His plans are perfect.
I’m coming back to CGA because of community. On the race, community was something that we were put into without much of a choice. But here, I am learning how to choose to be a part of community. Living life as the body of Christ has become a valuable thing to me and I’m practicing how to do that well. I want to live out the church that the book of Acts describes.
I’m coming back to CGA because I’m learning to walk as a Christ-like leader. This is so important to me. As the Lord is leading me into leadership in the upcoming seasons, I want to hold any responsibility I’m given with the humility and boldness of Christ. I’m learning to walk in confidence as a leader and use all authority given to me from the Holy Spirit. I’m being pushed to to lead with the gifts the Lord has given me, specifically through serventhood.
Lastly, I’m coming back to CGA because I desire a deeper intimacy with the Lord. Pursuing closeness to the Father’s heart is the most important reason I’m coming back to CGA. This will forever be my number one priority. All things flow from intimacy with the Father, including: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control. Intimacy bring about abundant life and overflows into the lives around you. And here at CGA I’ve had to choose to prioritize intimacy with the Lord over busyness, distraction, and other commitments. Life is about intimacy with Him!!
There you have it: seven reasons I am coming back to CGA! But to summarize those seven things into one reason: I’m coming back to CGA because of Jesus!
In order to come back for my second half of the program, I need your help!
On December 16th I need to have a total of $6,000 fundraised or I will not be able to continue in this program. Currently I have almost $2,000 raised. That means that I need $4,000 in the next 6 days!
Moment of vulnerability: To be honest, this is one of those times where I worry and doubt that I am going to find enough support. My faith waivers and I forget that I have a good and loving God who will always provide for my needs and come through on His promises. $4,000 seems like a lot of money to me, but I remind myself that for God, $4,000 is so small. This is one of those times where I need to remember that God’s character is predictable and constant, but the way He does things is totally unpredictable. I don’t know where the money is going to come from, but He already does!
If you believe that the Lord is working in my life through this program then please spend some time in prayer and ask the Lord if He is prompting you to support me through a donation!
Every single dollar matters so much! I can’t emphasize that enough! Please prayerfully consider either a one-time gift or a monthly donation. Every donation makes a huge impact on the ministry I’m currently doing here in Gainesville and the future ministry that I’m being discipled and trained for!
Thank you so much for reading this blog, following my journey, and for supporting me. Also, thank you to those of you who have already supported me financially! It means so much to me!
Blessings,
Carly
If you would like to give, click the orange “donate!” button at the top of this page.
