September 26 2018

Out of Her Poverty

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; “for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” Mark 12: 41-44

This is a story about a widow who gave her whole livelihood, two mites, into the treasury. 
Jesus pointed out that because she gave out of her poverty, it amounted to more than all those who gave out of their abundance. 
But this story is not just about money. 
It is about giving out of what you have; no matter how little it is, in every sense. 
We all have giftings.
We look around and see that some are greatly gifted and do great exploits for the Kingdom. Sometimes in looking at others and their great giftings, we may feel as though what we have to offer is not as good as others; that it is not enough. 
But Jesus pointed out that when we give out of our poverty or lack, what we give amounts to more than those who give easily out of their abundance.
 It is easy enough to give out of great giftings. 
It can be more of a challenge to give out of giftings that you are still building. 
It is not that your gift is lacking, but sometimes, the gifting requires more courage and self-sacrifice to put forward for others to see.
But Jesus says, “But she out of her poverty put in all that she had.”
Are you ready and willing today to give to the Lord everything you have- out of your lack, out of your poverty, to stand up and be courageous and declare, “
It may not look like much, but it is everything I have and it is Yours!”
The Lord will bless it!

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September 26 2018

Out of Her Poverty

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; “for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” Mark 12: 41-44

This is a story about a widow who gave her whole livelihood, two mites, into the treasury. 
Jesus pointed out that because she gave out of her poverty, it amounted to more than all those who gave out of their abundance. 
But this story is not just about money. 
It is about giving out of what you have; no matter how little it is, in every sense. 
We all have giftings.
We look around and see that some are greatly gifted and do great exploits for the Kingdom. Sometimes in looking at others and their great giftings, we may feel as though what we have to offer is not as good as others; that it is not enough. 
But Jesus pointed out that when we give out of our poverty or lack, what we give amounts to more than those who give easily out of their abundance.
 It is easy enough to give out of great giftings. 
It can be more of a challenge to give out of giftings that you are still building. 
It is not that your gift is lacking, but sometimes, the gifting requires more courage and self-sacrifice to put forward for others to see.
But Jesus says, “But she out of her poverty put in all that she had.”
Are you ready and willing today to give to the Lord everything you have- out of your lack, out of your poverty, to stand up and be courageous and declare, “
It may not look like much, but it is everything I have and it is Yours!”
The Lord will bless it!

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September 25 2018

The Necessity of Prayer

So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. Luke 5:16

He is Jesus.  
He, the Son of God, the Messiah of the world, separated Himself from the people that followed Him around and got into the presence of the Father. 
Often.  
Not just now and then or when He needed something, but often.  
If the Son of God felt it important to take time from teaching and healing the people, to separate Himself, go into the wilderness and pray, then I suggest that we need to do so even more. 
“But I’m so busy,” we say.  
Yes, Jesus was busy as well; the crowds followed Him everyone.  
But He still made time to pray.  
“But I’m doing a good work,” we say.  
Yes, Jesus was healing the multitudes.  
But He still made time to pray. 
I believe it is the difference between finding time to pray and making time to pray.  
When we find time to pray, we look at our schedules and squeeze the time in.  
When we make time to pray, it becomes a priority.  
We prioritize our prayer time and book our schedules around it.  
Prayer is a necessity.  
In it we develop intimacy and relationship with the Father.  
In it we find peace and comfort.  In it we receive guidance and direction.  
It is a lifeline that we cannot do without and be whole and effective in the lives we have been called to live.  
Begin today – stop finding time and begin making time for prayer!
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