The Widow's Mite - It's not just about two coins

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.  Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.  For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”   --Mark 12:41-44 New Living Translation
 

 Do you remember the story mentioned above?  Until this morning, I hadn't really considered its meaning beyond the aspect of financial giving out of lack. Yet today with a weary body, I found myself calling out to God for strength to complete an agreed upon task.  The story of this widow came to mind along with these words:

"You might come in (to an activity), "crawling", with only a little bit of energy or   " life"  left, but if you give it - without expecting anything in return, not requiring praise or payback - HE HONORS IT!"

Many of us today are on a "Widow's Mite" journey.  We may not have the gifts and talents of the "Big Timers", but we are giving what we have, a SACRIFICE  out of our need.  HE HONORS IT!

We might not have an abundance of resources, but we are giving out of LOVE because we see the need and desire to meet it! HE HONORS IT!

We might not have a lot of time- but we are giving our time, or "taking time out to do a thing" out of  OBEDIENCE.  HE HONORS IT!

What is your "Widow's Mite?".  What are you giving that only you can give that would please HIM? Don't hold back - push forward!

It's not just about two coins.

JESUS REVEALED!

This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. 1 John 3:16 The Message

So I had to run into the store quickly to pick up a few items and I heard a teenage girl joke with her dad about how she antagonized her mother on a visit to her house by purposefully using Jesus' name in vain and saying things like, Jesus isn't here, he never was, Jesus doesn't care, He doesn't CARE about US.   Hearing this made my heart sad and I prayed to myself that HE would reveal himself to them in such a way that they would know he cared about every aspect of their lives. 

I got in line with a cashier who appeared to be in her "own world" so I greeted her super cheerfully by the name on her tag and put my little basket on the rack behind me.  When I turned around she was looking at me inquisitively.  As if she knew me she asked, "is everything going okay today?"  When I responded, she looked at me  again with that same wondering expression and asked, "Do I know you?"   I said,  "No, I just thought I'd greet you by name!" and she said, "Thanks, that was nice.  Not many people do that, you know not many people really CARE anymore. You know how that is." I agreed and she went on to compliment my cross bracelet and told me about burying her husband of 50 years one year ago yesterday.  I then expressed my sorrow for her sorrow and told her that I would be lifting her up in prayer.

picture copied from www.riverbankva.org

 

 
What is my point in sharing these stories?  I was reminded that Jesus' presence and CARE isn't just revealed in some supernatural, out of this world "you - know- that- had - to - be - God" moment all of the time (although that does and can happen).  He is  most often revealed, through  US who claim to know HIM, who claim to be HIS followers. 

Driving home thinking of this, I wanted to run back into the store and go to that dad and daughter and apologize.  I wanted to apologize as a representative of those who CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIAN and say, " I am so sorry that we have lived our lives, or used our words in such a way that you think that Jesus isn't here or that he doesn't care.  Jesus really does care about you, and so often he uses his followers to reveal himself to you.  SO if you are disappointed, please be disappointed in the people...but don't be disappointed in JESUS, because he truly loves you and cares for you more than you know!"

So now the challenge is for ME and for YOU - Let us live our lives in such a way that JESUS' presence, love and CARE is revealed. SO much so that others would want to make him the center of their lives.  That HE would be the source of their HOPE. That HIS NAME would be revered.

"For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.  It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.  - Romans 14: 10b - 12

Despise Not the Journey

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
    He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
    for the Lord holds them by the hand--Psalm 37:23 -24


As I prayed tonight, what kept coming to mind was, "Despise not the Steps I have ordered".  I considered this in light of this  promise filled verse in the Psalms that I have thought of many times.  I have stood on and trusted this promise.  I have prayed and believed this promise for others, especially for those seeking to "walk in God's will."  As a matter of fact, this entire Psalm 37, is one of my favorites.  It is chock full of amazing promises one might hear seasoned Christians proclaim.

Nevertheless, I realized tonight as I prayed, that I and perhaps many of you, often only look at the portion of this verse describing how he directs or orders our steps - as though it were only talking about the "good steps", the encounters we enjoy.

Yet the truth, the promise, is contained in the remaining verses as well -- "He delights in EVERY DETAIL...Though they STUMBLE, they will NEVER FALL." (emphasis mine)

How many times do we become disheartened on the journey, feeling as if something is amiss because it isn't perfect?  How many times do we question the path, and even our own ability to "hear HIM" well enough,  to trust that this difficult path IS a part of the journey- guided by HIM?  "Did God really say....?"  

Do we still live thinking that only the good things in our lives are a part of HIS blessings and forget that " He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5: 45 ? 

I wonder.  I wonder how many times we have missed out on a breakthrough, because we decided to change the direction of a path we didn't like, that we despised because it failed to meet our expectations?

Tonight, I was reminded to NOT despise the steps he has allowed me to take on my journey.  EVEN if I have "mis-stepped" for some reason, HE IS STILL IN CHARGE and is able to turn my blunders into amazing exploits.  EVEN IF I have been deceived by the ENEMY of MY SOUL, GOD in HIS mighty power was aware of it, and even ALLOWED ME to experience the turmoil.  For what purpose you ask?  I can't begin to say I always know.  But I do know, many times these trials have lead me to depend greatly on HIM and reveal to me HIS GLORY and POWER in ways I would not have known had I not experienced, or taken those "steps". 

Such experiences make relevant what we read in James 1:2a - 4 "...count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

So with that said, I take heed his reminder to me to "Not Despise The Steps I Have Ordered" and I rejoice that I have  such a colorful journey.  I rejoice that I have learned to appreciate the good and the bad.  I rejoice that I get to learn that that I have so much more growing to do.  I rejoice that I am going to be the recipient of some wonderful and glorious promises.  YOU will, too!

The Gardener Came; The Pruning Has Begun

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful....John 15:2

Major storm hit my yard on Friday.  I came home to this scene after work.  Surreal.  Friends came by the next day to start the clean up and as I spoke about the "beauty" I saw in this destruction, someone mentioned God's pruning.

I thought to myelf pruning is pretty "painful", yet beauty - fruit - comes from it, if we allow it.


“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  John 15: 5-6

I am imaging the pruning THe Gardener is doing in my own life.  The Branches that are being cut off, that very much feel like they are being "torn off" by a great and mighty wind.  

Then I imagine how much  more useful I will be for HIS use...the potential of the fruit yet to be.

I don't want to be fruitless.  I willingly submit to the pruning the Gardener wishes 

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:7-8

PRACTICING what I am PREACHING

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
^4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
⁶ Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience.
^7-8 Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
^9-10 So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.  Galatians 6: 1 - 10  THE MESSAGE


Wow, many many times I realize that God's WORD speaks for itself.  I had some thoughts in my mind to blog about tonight...but as I read this passage from The Message Version, I realized that there really isn't more I can add to this. I will say - I had this "sowinig and reaping" passage on my mind this morning, and was considering a future "message" that I could share with the youth/young adults about reaping what they sow.  As one might expect, after developing the ideas in my head, my day proceeded in such a way that I was challenged to consider my own planned exhortation to them - I had to intentionally practice what I was preparing to preach.


I realize how often GOD does this to/for his children.  It's like the "joke" about praying for patience -- Don't Do It!-- for as sure as you do, you will be placed in circumstances where you will have to practice it. 
This is exactly what happened to me today - and when I realized this, I just thanked GOD for reminding me how very HUMAN I am, and how much work HE still has yet TO DO IN ME!  I often tell people, we all wear Human Suits, and sometimes our skin get's caught in the zipper!  Well, I have a few zipper burns today!!!


God Bless You on you fantastic and exciting journey!!!  Keep Living!

Amazed

Tonight is one of those nights when I glance back at what has been going on around me and I realize that I am just AMAZED!


I am AMAZED at the way God is moving - in spite of me!  There was an excitement 'in the air' with the youth tonight.  I know GOD is up to something good!  I love how the youth are bringing visitors - and my prayer is that they will stay and become really involved.  That they will bring their families and that as a result, our whole congregation will grow - not only numerically, but "spiritually" and with great excitement! 


I am just focusing on HIS leading and not my own.  This is not about me, nor has it very much at all to do WITH me.  It's HIS time and HIS hour to shine.  May I be that willing vessel and tool that HE can work through to bring others to HIM. OH, how aware I am that many prayers for many years have been the foundation for what I might get to "reap" --- these lives are precious seeds that were sewn, not by me, by so many others.


We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. 1 Cor 3:6 The Message


Lord, if I get to be a part of this harvest for our youth group -- I thank you! Not forgetting the foundation laid, I pray that you enable me to stay in line with your WORD, YOUR TRUTH, YOUR WAY!!!  Looking forward to YOUTH SUNDAY, this week!  It's gonna be a blast

Thoughts for Today

Lots going through my head today.... I will share a bit of what I have been thinking

* The battle waging in Indiana today will reveal the intolerance of Biblical Christianity.

* Those sitting on the fence will be left and found sitting when Jesus Returns,

* Doing the right thing doesn't always "feel" good.

*Doing the right thing can result in some bad things happening 

*Jesus didn't win any popularity contests, why would we expect to?

*The separation has begun and is becoming more evident -- sheeps and goats

*The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray  1 Peter 4:7

and this is what I have been doing so much more lately.  My heart is breaking as I see the word of God maligned and HIS FOLLOWERS belittled because

*They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.  Romans 1:25

Father,In Your Son's Name -JESUS- I ask you to forgive them for they do not know what they are doing!  Use me to be your instrument of truth and love, to maintain YOUR standard and present myself blameless before you.  May they see YOU first in me, and may I be ready to proclaim your WORD to them and make you known.  May they want and be compelled to serve you.