The Corvette Raffle Adventures

The Corvette Raffle Adventure is over for A Ray of Hope, but it continues for the winner!  I know everyone with a ticket in that bucket had hoped to drive that vehicle home, but one blessed person got to do it.  I meant to drive that vehicle at least once before we turned it over, but never got around to it.  Procrastination costs!

 In last month’s newsletter, I shared how discouraged I had been with the task of A Ray of Hope selling the remaining 280 tickets at $100 each in the four-week period we had remaining.  Our goal was not to get as much money out of this donation as we could.  We were finding valuations of the vehicle were all over the board, less than the donor and our staff had hoped.  We spent time discerning what to do, as our hearts concentrated on bringing the best value for the generous donation, honoring the donor.  Our focus was not on the money, but the honor.  The Lord has a way of multiplying beyond our hopes.  He multiplied the honor and the money, as well as His people, who came far and near, to fulfill and glorify His vision.  The Lord raised far more money than the Corvette was worth, which has to be an amazing blessing to the donor, in seeing the multiplication of his donation and, even more so the fruit this drawing will bear through A Ray of Hope.

 When a second donor offered to match, plus time and a half the raffle amount (turning $40,000 into $100,000) if we sold all of the tickets, I was emotionally conflicted.  While I was thrilled at the thought of such a large contribution to A Ray of Hope, I was also overwhelmed with the task and prospect of reaching that goal.  Do you see what happens when we take our eyes off of the Lord?!  Guilty!  The next morning, I got alone and sought out the Lord’s guidance, asking Him what to do.  His Spirit spoke to me and said, “Blow the trumpet!”.  As I thought this through, I was reminded of the nation of Israel, marching around Jericho, blowing the trumpet.  They obeyed the Lord and the Lord brought the victory.  I’m sure this was somewhat outside their comfort zone, but it was the Lord Who brought the victory, not Israel.  Upon hearing from the Lord that morning, I knew the Lord was going to bring this endeavor to pass.  He never fails!

I shared this with the staff and they were thrilled.  We were all inspired to blow the trumpet, and we were all inspired, in faith, to believe that the Lord would sell the tickets.  It was exciting to see you, the Body of Christ, come out from everywhere to step up and make this vision a reality.  People were stopping by the shelter throughout each day, buying tickets.  It was inspiring and humbling to see the Lord work and was reminiscent of Israel, in days of old.  When He moves His hand in power, you can’t help but take notice.  Early on, tickets were not selling, which the Lord allows, at times, to encourage us to turn to Him.  Then, He moves the hearts of His people, and all we can do is step back and marvel- and marvel we did!  There were people asking for tickets even after they were all sold! 

Thank you, lovers of the Most High and helpers of those in need. Isaiah 58:10-12 says;   “And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat [strengthen] thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” [Brackets added]                                    

Believe His Word!  Claim His promises!  Receive His blessings!  Thank you for responding to His call; thank you for being a part of this miraculous adventure.  We can do our work- and that is good- but when He works in His miraculous ways, it gives us something to marvel at and talk about.  Never a dull moment with the LORD!  Amen?  Amen!  Dave