Easter has come early to my heart

A friend, with the gift of encouragement, emailed me this morning...

I believe in you. I always have. You are truly gifted, and you are a woman of God through whom God speaks. Cry and pray. Cry all day long. But please try not to feel discouraged. This is the BEGINNING of a powerful, impactful, exciting ministry! Interesting, don't you think, that this dream "died" on Good Friday. Easter is only two days away!!!!

As I was working to not compartmentalize, recognize the disappointment, but not wallow in self-pity, God was already working a plan that far-exceeded my dream.

A little while ago, an email arrived in my inbox from Le Ann at P31...

Would you please email me with a phone number for you? (Sorry to be mysterious but… it’s a good thing!)

I emailed her back right away, and then a short while later, a phone call came. It was Lysa Terkeurst. Through the years, I've received phone calls from Susan Wise Bauer, Annie Moses, and even Elisabeth Elliott Gren (this one before caller i.d.), and while I'm not impressed by fame, there is still something thrilling by having a person whom you respect and has mentored you from afar be right there on the phone callling for you. So, anyway ...

Lysa tells me that while I had not won the scholarship, I had been one of the finalists and this morning an anonymous donor called and wanted to pay my way! Would I accept? WOULD I ACCEPT?!?

As mascara ran down my cheeks, I said, "OF COURSE!"

Now, this donor didn't know where I live, but offered plane tickets if needed. This donor had connected with my blog through the scholarship entries. This donor had been impacted through God's adoption story playing out in our lives and wanted to make it possible for me to come. Can you just say that I am blown away?

Now sweet donor, I have no idea who you are, but THANK YOU! You are displaying the lavish love of the Lord to me. You are bringing Easter to my heart a bit early. If you would care to contact me and tell me a little bit about yourself, I won't go public with your identity or heap man's praise on you. I would just tell you "Thank you," and want to hear a bit of your story. For you, and anyone else, here's my email address: cfinley@evergreenchurch.com

Another thing that is so cool about this is that if I had won the scholarship, somebody else wouldn't. So, as the Good Friday disappointment of the morning has cleared away to the hope of Easter dawning, would you rejoice with me?