Giving ALL You Have

When I was a younger mom in the ministry, it was very difficult for me to give. It was hard because we had small children, Gabe was in full-time ministry, and it seemed like there was always something that we needed. My husband would encourage me to give, despite our lack of finances, and I did it grudgingly. However, God continued to provide for all of our needs and take care of us. Through the years I have learned to give, not out of my abundance, but out of my lack. The same rings true not only for my finances, but also for my time. You see, the Lord desires us to give all that we have. He doesn't say to give when we have more than enough, but to trust Him and give Him the little that we have. I will never have enough time to sit at the Lord's feet and make Him a priority in my life. There will ALWAYS be something that has to be done. I just have to stop and make time. In the same way, I probably will never have enough money to give it away, but I desire to give what I have. 

I love the many stories in the Bible where God uses someone's little in a BIG way when they give all that they have--- the little boy with the small lunch, the widow and her two mites and so many more. I especially love the story of the widow that gives to Elijah... There was a famine in the land and God directed Elijah to a widow who would supply him with food. However, this widow had only a little flour and oil, and it wouldn't be enough to even supply an adequate meal for herself and her son. Even though this widow only had a little, Elijah asked her to make him a piece of bread first, before even feeding her family! This woman and her son were on the brink of starvation, yet she was obedient to the word of the Lord. Imagine if she wasn't obedient. Because of her faith in God and her generosity, her flour and oil never ran out, even in the midst of a drought!

I want to charge you today (and myself) to give all that you have, even if it is not much. God will use it and bless your obedience. HE is more than enough!

Mark 4:40

"Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly and relying trust)?"

This passage of scripture is from Mark, when Jesus calls to his disciples and beckons them to go with them to the other side. All of a sudden, as they were going, a furious storm came (of hurricane proportions). The waves beat on the boat so ferociously, that the boat became filled with water. What was Jesus doing during this time? Sleeping!

During this storm, the disciples were not in rebellion. They had followed the voice of the Lord. They were doing what He had called them to do. So often, like the disciples, we face storms as well, even when we are walking in obedience to His direct word. 

What I find assuring in this passage of scripture is that when the storms come, I don't have to be panicked or fearful, but I can relax and be sleeping---like Jesus. 

Where is my firmly relying trust? Is it in finances? Comforts? Or is it established in Him? He has taken me through so much. He has brought me through many storms in my life. How can I not trust Him? 

I encourage you today, to choose His peace instead of fear. Whatever you may face, or whatever comes your way, He is worthy of our TRUST! And, may we find ourselves sleeping in the storm!

Psalms 32:8

Sometimes I wonder, "Are we crazy?" or "What are we doing?" when we are following the Lord. It just doesn't make sense to me most of the time! My natural mind cannot compute the ways of God. It seems that I haven't been the only one, too! Moses questioned God's leadership as well. He had difficulty speaking, and he was supposed to speak with a mighty ruler! Gideon didn't understand why God would use the least of all the tribes of Israel to save His people. Most of the time, God's ways are contrary to our thinking: Why would God send an educated Jewish scholar (Paul) to the Gentiles? And, why would he send uneducated men to teach the sophisticated Jews? 

I look at my own life and wonder, "God, why are you calling me overseas? I am just a mom. I am uneducated and untrained to go to people of different culture and religion with the gospel of Jesus. My natural mind cannot understand the reason why. But, in Psalms 32:8 it says,

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."

When I meditate on this scripture, I am reminded of the deep relationship that I have with my husband. I am constantly looking at his eyes as he tells me the things that are on his heart. He can give me a certain look, and I know that I should probably stop talking! I can also watch him during a worship set, and just by looking at his eyes, know where he wants to go. 

In the same way, as we regularly spend time with and fellowship and commune with the Father, we know what is on His heart. We know where He is leading, just by looking at His eyes. So, though it may not make sense, I want to follow wherever He is going. I want to do the things that are on His heart. I want to be so focused on His face, that I know where he is going, just by looking at His eyes.

I WILL GO!!! :)

As I sit and ponder the life of Jesus (our standard), I am reminded of how "radical" He was, and it encourages me to set the standard in my own life. Think about it, He lived every-single-day for the will of His Father! He didn't have His own agenda, drive, ambition or dreams, but only to carry out and to do what the Father was saying. While it was still dark, He would draw away, because He lived for this one thing only! He was obedient (unto death), determined, committed, abandoned, sold out, and completely dead to self (a martyr). 

Jesus said it Himself, "Unless a seed goes into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest." I pray that I, like Jesus, would be dead to myself (yikes!) so that I can live entirely for the will of the Father.

This song came fresh to my heart this morning:

Verse1: I will abandon my life
For the sake of the call
For the sake of love

Chorus: I will go onto the narrow road
I will go where few will dare to go 
I will go to the depths of the unknown
I will go down the unfamiliar road

Bridge: I'll give my heart in complete surrender
I'll lay my life down on the altar

Verse 2: For you will come again
And all of the vanities and chasing the wind 
Will be swept away
And one thing will remain...so...(Chorus)

Live Dead

I wrote this song a couple of nights ago. The words just kept coming to my heart, and I couldn't write fast enough! The lyrics sound a little rough, but as followers of Christ, it is our calling: to live a life poured out. To live dead.

My heart is on fire

And I'm your burning one

I cannot be silent 

Or hold back your great love

My heart is on fire

A radical, laid down lover

I'm devoted to this cause of Christ by living dead

I will live dead

Devote my life and sacrifice

Hungry for nothing less

I will live dead

At the cross at Calvary

You paved this road for me

And, I'll follow in your steps by living dead

I will not love my life, until the very end

I will not save my life, even unto death

I will live dead

I pray that this song empowers you to live a radical life for Christ!

God, Our Faithful Provider

I am convinced that God is the best provider that there is.

Since we have been back from Mozambique, we have continued to see the miraculous provision of our God! We came back empty (with only 8 pieces of luggage to our name), and ever since, God has used men and women to pour out His blessings on us.

As many of you may know, we lived with Gabe's parents for 3 months while we looked for a place to rent downtown. We were getting a little anxious because nothing was opening up. As we kept praying and seeking the Lord, God opened up a 3 bedroom house with a spacious backyard and a room for homeschooling the kids (exactly what we wanted). There was only one problem: we didn't have the finances to move in. But, God! God provided all the money that we needed just in time! Not only that, but he also provided furniture, clothes, dishes, pots and pans, and much more!

I am overwhelmed by the faithfulness of God, and by the generous giving of those around us. We serve an awesome God!

No Place That I'd Rather Be...

There is no other place that I'd rather be, than right in the center of God's will. Whether it be in a tiny house along the sand and heat in Mozambique, or a small house in the inner-city of Atlanta, it doesn't matter, as long as I am right where God wants me. 

As we were searching for homes to rent in Atlanta, I became quite discouraged because I didn't really care for any of houses that we were looking at. I prefer a spacious, modern, and beautiful house with an extra room for homeschooling and a fenced backyard, all for an affordable price. YEAH, RIGHT! Not in the inner-city of Atlanta! 

After searching for about 3 months, we finally found a small house located right in the heart of Atlanta. It has a beautiful backyard with two patios outside, and is in a safe neighborhood. But, it is so small for a family of seven! I was not  thrilled about having to  squish 5 kids in a 1400 square-foot home. So, I started doubting and got discouraged. Then, I asked God to speak to me (again) about our family moving to downtown Atlanta. I hear nothing. Then, as I continue to seek the Lord (and surrender my will again), he reminds me that He already DID speak to me, and that I just need to be obedient.

In the next few days, we will be signing a lease for our new home! And, there is no place that I'd rather be than right where He wants me. So, I am really excited, not because the house is everything that I want, but because it is such an adventure to follow God!