This morning at church was basically geared towards sharing the journey of faith through our Imagine Campaign at church. This was a 3-year commitment towards our church expansion. One man in particular spoke to my heart as I could identify with his journey. He had been unemployed and underemployed for a while and when he heard about making a pledge, he thought about a modest sum based on what he could see. He was flabbergasted when his wife came and proposed a sum 3 times the salary he had earned in the past 3 years. His response was appropriately spiritual "Are you nuts?!"
Anyway, God spoke to him, and he went ahead. Soon after, he received a small cheque from an unexpected source and thought, "OK, small cheque...small faith...". Then a little later, he received a call from a former colleague who offered him a contract worth ten times more what he had received before. "Let me think about it..YES!" He is a freelance cartoon animator and contracts end. Now what? The cycle continued. But so did the teaching of God.
He discovered his journey all had to do with cleaning up his heart of the tyranny of things, of trusting in the visible vs. the Invisible. He learnt that by global standards they were doing quite well, even though vacations meant visiting Grandma. He learnt to live simply. He learnt cleaning is not a momentary issue. God does not do 'drive-by cleaning'. His cleaning is a lengthy and painful process and requires you to come close to Him, and stay, and be ministered to. That part that is cleaned, is then polished and people can't help but see the 'shine' of God's glory.
Then in our small group discussion, it was apparent that many of us were being hit quite hard by 'financial insecurity'. I suspect that this is the tip of the iceberg. Fear is beginning to crop up everywhere with the ripple effect of the economic downfall south of the border. Do you remember who is the 'father' of fear? No other than Satan himself and he is working overtime. Now I look at how our family has struggled financially for so long and I know it is that we will know how to minister to those being hit by this. We have learnt to live 'without' much. The world has placed its hope on money. So when the money disappears, their hope dissipates. Our Hope is in God, the unchangeable One, the Miracle Maker.
In my prayer time today, I put out my hand to God and said, "What is my cup today, Lord?" And I looked at all the concerns that faced me this week and said, "Thank You, Lord. Now just do your thing!" Now is the time to stand up and not be afraid. Now is the time for the world to see Who reigns. Let us lay aside the the sins of fear, anxiety and unbelief that so easily entangles us, and let us run with abandon and perseverance the race marked out (thoughtfully planned) for us, with our eyes fixed on the joy set before us, His glory. And let us do it together. As a Body, let us uphold each other faithfully.
"Lord, Reign..Reign in my 'cup' of concerns today..reign in the cups that You have offered to Your children You placed on my heart today...show Yourself faithful all around this globe today, Lord....for Hallelujah, You Reign!"
5 comments:
Sita:
There is such a panic down here...South of your borders! We see it everywhere. We most notice it at the pump and at the grocery. Since we have very little investments, we don't seem so anxious as others; I do agree with you in that we can use our "less" to minister to those with "more" and who are now in danger of losing that "more".
God's provision is so perfect. The fact that we are here today, breathing and living after "x" number of years is testament to his provision. He's carried us thus far. He will continue to do so.
I'm so thankful for my faith that expects much from the only God who can deliver!
peace~elaine
Sita,
Your sweet heart just shines through this post. I can just see you lifting up your cup and looking toward the Lord and saying "do your thing".
Blessings to you today, sweet sister.
Times like these really are those times when it is revealed where our hope is. Is it in money? Is it in man? Is it in ourselves? Or will we hope in the Lord...the Creator of Heaven and earth, the Beginning and the End, the One Who holds all of our days in His mighty and more than capable hands.
Wonderful post! May we all trust in Him!
Blessings!
Hi Sita you asked about the YWAM kids, they are a mixed group from Korea and India.
I 've got some more news about Orissa and a video too which is heart wrenching.
Oh yes, the fear has really set in around here. I love your post, and this is one of my favorite worship songs. We have motions for it in our kids' ministry, and I am up to lead it tomorrow. God is good, and I must need the reminder. What an anointed post!
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