No Regrets

So she did as she was told.  2 Kings 4:5 (NLT)

The widow in our story today was in a desperate situation. Her husband died and left her with a lot of debt and no inheritance. Back in those days, if you couldn’t pay a debt your family would be taken as a servant to work off what was owed. In this case, it would be her two sons that were taken. Possibly, this was the only family she had left.

She went to Elijah and told him of her predicament. He told her to gather as many empty jars as she could. I wonder if any sarcastic thoughts were running through her head. Excuse me? What am I going to do with jars? How are jars going to help me? Empty jars are empty!

But the Bible says “She did as she was told.” Her sons gathered as many jars as they could and God worked a miracle to save her family. She sold all the olive oil, paid off the debts and had enough to live on.

What would have happened if she’d thought “This is crazy! What are jars going to do? And what will it look like if we are running around town asking everyone for spare jars? What will they say about me? It’s going to look like I don’t know what I’m doing.” Or maybe she could have gathered a couple of jars, not put a lot of effort into it. She could have rationalized that she was still doing what the prophet said.

In either case, whether she didn’t do it at all or if she did it half-way, she would have lost her sons. She would have lost the good gift God wanted to give to her.

How often do we do this? We may not be in as desperate a situation as the widow was, but God still wants to give us good gifts. When he asks us to do our part and we don’t because we don’t want to look silly or it’s just not logical or we do it half-way, we miss out on the good gifts he wants to share. What would happen in our lives if we listened to what God was telling us and followed, no matter what it looked like? I bet, just like the widow, we’d experience the good gifts of a loving Father.

I bet the widow never, for one second, regretted collecting all the jars in her village. I would also bet that if we “Did as we were told”, we wouldn’t’ regret it either.

Whisper In The Wind

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13 (NLT)

Elijah was tired. He had just prayed down fire from heaven; prayed for rain to start again; fought the prophets of Baal and faced down King Ahab. He suddenly felt alone and afraid. And he ran away from all of the things that were overwhelming him.

After he got to Mount Carmel, God showed up. Funny thing though, God did not show up in the windstorm, the earthquake or the fire. God showed up in a very quiet whisper. And in that whisper, he started a conversation.

So many times when things are going all wrong, we want God to show up in something huge and miraculous. We want him to come in and “fix it” for us. But more often than not, God shows up in a soft voice whispering to our hearts. We tend to tune it out because we want to see God’s power. What we don’t realize is the power of that conversation.

There is power in a whisper that tells you he sees. There is power in a gentle thought that shows he understands and there is power in the fact that the Almighty God of the Universe has chosen to draw very near to one of his kids.

Don’t discount the whisper. There is more power and love in that gentle whisper than there is in all the windstorms, earthquakes and fires that you encounter. Because God is the one whispering to your heart. Listen for him and like Elijah, come out of the cave and talk to him.

Faster Is Not Always Better

But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.
Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.”
The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.”
Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”
Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” 1 Kings 18:42-44

Just before Elijah went to the top of Mount Carmel to pray, he prayed one prayer and immediately fire rained down from heaven totally demolishing this sacrifice, the wood, the alter, the dust and all the water that had been poured over it.

I think to myself….”WOW, to have answers to prayer like that.!”

What happened next? Elijah went to the top of Mount Carmel and prayed again. The Bible says he was bowing with his face between his knees. He prayed. Nothing happened. He prayed again. Nothing happened. This happened seven times. Seven times he prayed and God did not answer until the seventh time!

I wonder if Elijah became frustrated in those prayers. The Bible tells us in James 5:17 that he was a man just like us. Do you think that he was praying and complaining that God answered so clearly at the battle of the alters but now took his time? I might do that.

A couple of months ago, I was praying for something and I got the answer as I was standing there praying. I began to wonder why God didn’t always do that. Then a question popped into my mind. If God always answered us immediately, would we still seek him? Would we still try to be in a relationship with him? Or would we come to him only to get an answer?

I know his timing is perfect. I know he has reasons for not answering right away. And I do trust his plan….but honestly, if he had always answered everything exactly when I wanted, there would be no need to trust, would there?

A Minute In It - Would They Know We Are Christians?

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Read through the Bible text and ask yourself the questions at the bottom of the post.

1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!”5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John. Acts 3:1-11 (NLT)

Do you have a lot of money to share with people?
Do you share it if you do?
If you don’t, what can you share with others that would show them Jesus?
If you were a stranger standing outside your church and you started talking to the folks as they exited, would you know from their actions if they were Christ followers?
Would you know that about yourself?

Prayers Of The Master

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. John 17:20 (NLT)

Last night in Bible Study, we did a study of all the ways/times Jesus prayed. If you’ve never done that, I highly recommend it. It reminded me that he prayed is all types of situations, for all types of people, including himself. Jesus is our example in everything.

One of the things I especially liked was today’s verse. In John 17 Jesus is praying. He’s talking to God, pouring out his heart, and guess what is on his mind? Us. You and me! He says “I am praying for all who will ever believe in me.” That’s us!

And guess what? He still is praying for us.

Romans 8:24 says “Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”

And Hebrews 7:25 says “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”

This Jesus, our Jesus has lifted us up in prayer and is still lifting us up to the Father.

There is something wonderful about knowing that someone is praying for you. If you can give that gift to someone, I encourage you to do so. Praying for someone is like wrapping a warm blanket around them. But know this, you are being prayed for as well. Jesus is wrapping his arms around you and lifting you up. He’s interceding for you. Why? Because he loves you. Always has. Always will.

Who Would Imagine That?

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

Whenever I am up against a problem, I think about this verse. In my humanness I want God to use his power to do more than I can ask or imagine. That’s the part we focus on, right?

But, didn’t he already do that?

Who would have ever thought that someone, someone I never met or knew, would give up unimaginable beauty to walk hot, dusty roads? Who would have thought of leaving the comfort of home where everyone around adored you to live in a place where jealousy and pride abound? Who would have thought that a creator/artist would limit himself so he could lift up other people? Who would have thought that there was a love so deep, so profoundly unthinkable, that he would leave safety to be in harm’s way every day? Who would have thought that someone would love me so much that he would give his life for me knowing I may not choose to love him back?

God has already accomplished more than we can ask or imagine. And because he did, there is a power at work in my life and my heart…..all for his glory.

Jesus, I bow before you and praise you. And while thank you doesn’t seem like enough, I know you hear my heart. Amen

One Size Doesn't Fit All....On Purpose

Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:38-40 (NLT)

David was sent by his father Jesse to bring food to his brothers. They were fighting the battle against the Philistines. When he got there, he heard Goliath shouting insults at the army. He was jeering and taunting them. And the Israelites were afraid.

David’s was incredulous. Why was Goliath allowed to insult God’s army without consequence? Didn’t he know that they had God behind them? In essence, he was insulting God. He went to King Saul and said he wanted to fight the giant.

King Saul was not easily convinced. David was so, well, small. How could he possibly fight Goliath? And David’s reciting of his experience didn’t help. Sure, you may have killed lions and bears but this is a GIANT! Finally, Saul gave in. He handed David his armor and said “Wear this.” David put it on. And then he took it off.

David knew that he couldn’t fight anything trying to be something he wasn’t. He wasn’t Saul. He didn’t look like Saul. He didn’t fight like Saul. He was David. He had to be who he was. A man that trusted in God.

How many times do we try to fit in where we shouldn’t? How often do we compromise on our core values, our beliefs, in order to accomplish some goal? How many times do we try to put on what is not ours to wear in order to win?

God created you. You are his masterpiece. And even if you haven’t fought lions or bears, your experience matters. God never wastes anything. He will use you, where you are and with what you have. If you have to go face a giant today, trust God. He’s in the battle with you and he knows what he’s doing. And, do you know the best part? He won’t make you wear someone else’s armor.

If You Could Have Anything....

Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 
“Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” Mark 10:46-52 (NLT)

In this story, doesn't it seem odd that Jesus asked "What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked this question multiple times. Once, when he asked it of the disciples, they said they wanted to be elevated in his kingdom. 

Maybe Jesus asks to draw out our true intentions. Do we want to receive material comforts? Do we want relief from stress and burdens? Do we want a miracle for ourselves or someone else? All of these things are not necessarily bad. We can definitely ask for them! But, then we have to ask ourselves another question.  If you don't receive what you ask for, will you still love Jesus? Will you still seek him?

Sadly, some of us would not. And that is the most important reason to reflect on the question He asks.

What is it that you really want?