No Big Deal?

 

Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. 

Mark 12:42

 

I admit, when I was a child and heard the story of the "widow's mites" I wasn't impressed.  After all, she only put two tiny coins into the offering.  I remember thinking her offering was no big deal.  That is until I was put into a situation where I didn't have much to offer either, then I understood what a real offering she had made!

  

Have you ever thought or told Abba something along the lines of "I really don't have much of anything to offer"?  I have.  It was a lie from the pit and it stank!  The truth of the matter is that Abba gives us what He wants us to offer!  Think about that for a minute!

 

Remember how Jesus fed the 5000 people?  Remember the Disciples gathered 12 baskets full of left overs? All this from sardines and biscuits that Abba made sure the boy had for his lunch.  

 

Take a minute to think about what Abba has provided for you and gifted you with.  To us, it may not seem like anything that would make a difference, but when we turn it over to Abba...miracles happen right in front of us!

 

 

 

 

Revolutionary Prayng!

 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.  

1 Timothy 2:1-2 

 

No, this will not be any sort of expression of my personal political views.  Today, I want to merely point to God's truth.  If you read today's verses, you will notice that the Apostle tells us that it is our responsibility to Abba to pray for those who have been put in authority over us.  Notice the Apostle does not say "pray for those with whom you agree" nor does he say "pray for those whom you like."  Paul tells us, as is his fashion, directly that we are to pray for ALL those who have been put in authority over us!

 

In Romans 13:1, Paul spells it out for us: "Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God."  Remember, absolutely nothing happens outside of Abba's plan and attention.  Therefore, like it or not, agree with it or not, Abba is the one who put leaders in place.

 

When Paul wrote this, he was chained to two Roman Soldiers awaiting trial. Yet he tells us to pray for those who have been put in authority...even his guards!  When we turn our leaders over to Abba, let Him deal with them.  We have been called to pray, because it is through prayer that change comes...either the situation will change or our perspective will change.

 

Think about that. 

 

It's A Struggle~

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor 

and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."

Ephesians 4:31

 I've been struggling of late.  An event occurred in my family over Christmas which brought back to my mind a lot of negative memories from my past.  The more I remembered, the angrier I became.  I know in my heart of hearts that I cannot change anything in the past.  I also know in my heart of hearts that holding onto my anger and resentment is not only sinful, but it also destroys my joy.  This I openly confess: I've been angry and resentful about things I can not change or alter.

Having said that, Abba has reminded me, in His ever so gentle poke between my eyes, that the reason I entertained the anger and resentment was due to my own lack of faith!  In my own weakness, I listened to the whispers of the enemy.  You see, that is one of the ways our enemy works...waits until we are weak and then whispers to us to "remember when...?".

When Oliver Cromwell died and the monarchy was restored, the powers that be were so angry with Cromwell that they supposedly had his corpse exhumed, had it whipped, hung and beheaded.  Why do this to something that was already dead?  The same reason I brought to my own mind those "corpses" of past events...namely because I wanted to. It's just that plain and simple.  I listened to the one who does NOT have my best interests in mind and wants to keep my focus off of the ONE who does.  And I fell right into that pit.

Therefore, I am learning and will continue to learn to leave the past in the past.  Let it go!!!  Turn EVERYTHING over to Abba, and let Him deal with it!

 

God Provides

 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 

 

Remember when Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness for FORTY YEARS?  The Israelites were quite the bunch of complainers...weren't they?  They complained about not having water, so God provided water. They complained about not having food, so God provided manna.  Then they complained about having to eat manna every single day.  It sounded as though they weren't happy unless they were unhappily griping. To be honest, I would not be able to continue providing for that bunch. Yet God provided them with protection for them anyway.  

 

Over and over God provided for these ungrateful people.  Granted, God provided manna instead of a Taco Truck and He provided water instead of iced tea, but God never ever promised that He would grant our every desire, just out needs.  Finally, Moses reminded them of a couple of God's provisions they hadn't gotten around to complain about: "For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell" - Deuteronomy 8:4. Think about that!  For FORTY YEARS their clothes NEVER wore out! And all the walking they did during those FORTY YEARS, their shoes never wore out and their feet NEVER gave them trouble!

 

You see, God always provided their NEEDS, but not their "wants".  And He does that for us as well! The things we need, He provides!  Shouldn't we focus on being grateful for that? 

 

So This Is What Happened On Christmas

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:14 

 

Have you ever contemplated what REALLY happened on Christmas?  A baby was born in a barn, put in a feed trough, and shepherds came to visit... We know that story from Luke's Gospel.  But what REALLY happened?

 

Think about this: When that baby was conceived, Jesus left Heaven!  Did you get that? Jesus walked away from Heaven!  Not only that, but Jesus CHOSE to become one of us . And if THAT weren't enough, Jesus CHOSE to live among us!  Jesus left ALL the glory of Heaven, because Abba knew that we need Him!

 

Let me be brutally honest...If we were living in Heaven (the ONLY Perfect Place anywhere), what would your response be to the people of earth?  We may have "holy thoughts" and believe we would do exactly as Jesus did, but my response would most likely be something along the line of "Y'all are on your own."  

 

Aren't you glad Jesus is the one who made the decision?

 
 

Not "If", But "When"

"Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, 

for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do."

Joshua 1:9 

 

Have you ever wondered why Abba told Joshua to be strong and brave?  Guess what? Abba wasn't speaking just to Joshua!  He is speaking to us as well. 

 

Not only did Abba tell Joshua to be brave and strong, He told Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor."  Abba had already conquered and Joshua just had to go in and take the land Abba had already provided.  Joshua didn't have to wonder IF he would win, Joshua knew that Abba had ALREADY won.

 

Isn't this the same thing Abba has done for us through the sacrifice of Christ? Abba has ALREADY won, so we don't have to wonder IF Abba will help us overcome our challenges because He has. Life will ALWAYS bring challenges, if there were no challenges we would have no reason to believe that Abba will ALWAYS give strength to face them!   

Grace? Can It Really Be?

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves,

 it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 

 

Grace.  It's rather a little word that carries enormous meaning.  Charis is the Greek word for "grace" and it means: "the merciful kindness by which God."  Think about that!

 

We sing:

"Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God's grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin"

 

But what does that REALLY mean?

If you're like me, you have wasted years of life. You have made poor choices. Yet God answers the mess we've made of life with Grace!   God's Grace isn't a feeling. It isn't a vague concept. God's Grace changes us! It shapes us! It strengthens us! It will soften our hardest heart! God's Grace drenches us! God's Grace comes after us and takes us from insecure to God secure! 

 

God's great grace calls us to change and then gives us the strength and power to change!