Offer What You Have

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." Colossians 3:17

The night before Micah’s class party, I noticed an unread message in my Inbox.  The Class Mom was thanking me for volunteering to bring the Carrot and Celery Turkey Cups…

Turkey Cups? UGH! I thought I’d signed up for carrot and celery sticks.

Apparently, I didn’t scroll down to the bottom of her previous email. I’d missed the Pinterest example she’d attached. How could I make such a rookie mistake?!

If having elementary school kiddos has taught me anything, it’s ALWAYS scroll to the END of email messages. For real. Read. The. Whole. Thing.

If you don’t, you’ll miss crucial sentences:

"Please have your child dress like his/her favorite super hero." 
"RSVP yesterday or your kids won’t get a party favor." 
"Shhhhh! It’s a surprise!"

It was too late to make a frantic Michael’s run. A crazy-lady-mental-inventory would have to suffice:

Plastic cups...
Brown paper...
I THINK I have orange paper...
But those eyes…no way was I cutting teensy-tiny circles this late.
I’m pretty sure I have sticky googly eyes in the closet. Although, I’m not sure why…
Ah, yes…I had googly eyes. But not one was the same size!

I was at a Mamma crossroads: Do I use what I have, or just throw in the towel?

Isn’t life like that? We don’t have the ‘perfect’ thing to offer, so we’re tempted to offer nothing.

If it’s not mismatched googly eyes, it’s... 
a house that’s too small for gatherings...
only an hour a week to write...
or lasagna that’s not as good as mom’s.

So why help in the classroom?
Why invite people over?
Why write a blog?

It’s hard to give from areas we feel "less than." The enemy hisses in these shallow spaces, "God can’t use this, don’t even bother."

"Really, Satan?"

 Because, I remember a boy who offered five small loaves and two small fish. Jesus used them to feed multitudes. (John 6:9)

I know a story about a widow who offered a little oil and a handful of flour. God never allowed her jars to run dry. (1 Kings 17:7-16)

There once was a man slow of speech and tongue. He was hesitant to offer his voice. God used him to stand against Pharaoh and set his people free. (Exodus 4:10)

As a Mamma, sometimes all I can offer is a pile of dirty dishes, never-ending laundry, sick kiddos and pets I forget to feed. We all have moments like Moses saying to God,  Are you sure you want this? I don’t have much to offer you.

Offer it anyway.

He sees every scrap of bread, shaky insecurity, dirty sock and mismatched googly eye we raise up to him.  He’ll use it!

He delights in making small things significant.

God gives us joy when we give from our shortage, rather than our supply. 

This creates space for God to show up, not only in our lives, but in the lives of others. Jesus fed hungry masses in response to a boy’s meager offering. He provided security for the widow’s child when she presented a handful of flour. Moses set people free, laying bare his shortcomings, trusting God to use them.

The kiddos and I giggled late into the evening finishing those silly cups.  Life isn’t always dramatic. Those awful turkeys didn’t set any captives free, but God handed us back layers of laughter that overflowed into the classroom the next morning.

We used what we had. It was enough for God to turn into joy.

by Jenna Masters

Prone To Wander

"But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the LORD your God, walk in all His ways, obey His commands, hold firmly to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul." Joshua 22:5

The fighting was over. The land had rest. Now Joshua was sending the warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh "home"--not to the land God had promised the descendants of Abraham. They were going to the land they thought was a better fit for them. God's best for them would have been within the boundaries of the land He had chosen for them. However, He allowed, through Moses, their choice of the land east of the Jordan River.

Until now they had followed a commander they could see face to face. As he said goodbye, Joshua reminded them what they needed to do to remain in fellowship with the LORD their God. It required commitment and effort. It wouldn't come easy, but there was a reward for their obedience.

"...if you obey all His decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD the God of your ancestors promised you." Deuteronomy 6:2b-3

Think of it. No more moving. No more marching to someone else's orders. All their lives they had either been wandering in the wilderness or fighting alongside their brothers to establish the borders for each tribe. For the first time they were going home to work their land and raise their families--in peace. 

After seven plus years, did their families even know them? Would they accept the authority of these strangers who were coming home to take over? The Bible doesn't speak to it, so we have no way of knowing the answer, but I wonder if Joshua provided opportunities for these men to go home once in awhile and reacquaint with their families. 

What about the spiritual condition of those who had stayed behind to tend their flocks and the land? It wasn't until the fighting was over that Levitical cities along with the cities of refuge were established. Had it been up to the women to raise the children in the knowledge of the LORD without a place to gather for worship?

Joshua has a valid concern for their spiritual well-being. God spoke to the warriors through Moses and Joshua. The High Priest had also been with them every day and God's will was made known through the casting of the sacred lots. They were every day reminders of their relationship with God.

When they arrived home they would need to make the effort to be diligent in worship, and remember the commandments so they could obey them. Without individual diligence, a lax attitude toward God could (and did) develop.

We have similarities to them. Like them we are raising families, seeing to their needs, engaging them in activities, perhaps working outside the home as well. However, we are so fortunate to be under the covenant of Grace.

We have the Holy Spirit indwelling us and leading us into truth. We have our Bibles and Bible Apps we can take with us wherever we go. We have moment by moment access to Bible teaching and Praise music. We live (fairly) close to our churches and we can initiate fellowship when we want to. 

Maintaining a close relationship and fellowship with God wasn't easy in Old Testament times. Every time God gave them rest, they wandered away from Him. Their rest came mostly from peace and prosperity. They were still subject to sin and needed to return to the altar for forgiveness.

The rest we have is internal--spiritual--given us when Jesus said "It is finished." The work was done. A single, perfect sacrifice provided once-and-for-all forgiveness. It's ours to accept and remain in His rest.

"God's promise of entering His rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it...only we who believe can enter His rest...For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest...since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe...let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:1, 3a, 10-11a, 14, 16

Let us not wander, but come boldly to the throne. Let us worship the LORD our God through His Son, Jesus Christ. His promises of mercy and grace are ours. He provides rest.

by Marilyn Allison

 

Fountain of Life

"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light."  Psalms 36:9

The Lord alone can refresh and renew the weary sinner. He gives life that overflows with His love. He shines His light and chases away the shadows that cause fear of the unknown. The Light that is Jesus Christ allows us to see the brash, the ugly and the invasive; ugly distractions that try to draw attention away from what is good and lovely and the everlasting hope we have in Jesus.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  John 8:12

The Light of Jesus shines, helping us to see ourselves the way our Savior sees us--as His Beloved. Nothing in our past--no matter how haunting-- or the present--that seems daunting--or the future that is yet unknown--will ever dim His love for us. It illuminates who we are in Him.

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

Jesus shines His light on us and also gives us Living Water that springs forth--washing us clean, fresh, new, life altering. He changes us from the inside out--overflowing every area of our life. It washes away fear, confusion, doubt, shame and self.

“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Do you know what it’s like to live under the Light of God? Are you thirsty or feel dirty? Come and drink. Bask in the light of Jesus. He died for you. Don’t ever forget that. Nothing will change the past, but He can change the future. So...won’t you come? Walk in the Light that reveals, not the ugliness of sin, but the beauty of His presence.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. Psalms 36:7-8

by Eve Montano

He Is Faithful; His Promises True

"Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything He had spoken came true." Joshua 21:45

For two weeks I've been pondering this declaration. The preceding verse indicated the LORD gave them rest on every side, and that none of their enemies could stand against them. Yet, we know they have never defeated all of their enemies. Some of them remain in the land to this day. 

Time is a confusing concept. We live within the limits of time...a beginning and an end. God does not. He is Omniscient, all knowing, without beginning, and without an end.

"Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish." Isaiah 46:9-10

He knows the end from the beginning, so when He makes a promise, in His eyes it's already done. We see things as they play out in time and have no idea what tomorrow looks like. We need to remember the events and people described to us in the Old Testament are there for our examples. They show us the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. That was the choice God gave the ancient Hebrews.

"Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the LORD your God and turn away from Him and worship gods you have not known before." Deuteronomy 11:26-28

We can see the truth of that pronouncement throughout the Bible. God tells us the truth. He does not lie, nor mislead.

"God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through? Numbers 23:19

Pastor David Guzik wrote in his commentary on Joshua 21:45, "God was completely faithful in regard to the Promised Land, but Israel was not. Any failure to fully possess was not because God had not made adequate provision, but because Israel had failed to fully follow the LORD."

They claimed the land during the first few years of their sojourn, but possessing it would take the rest of their lives. God told them He would drive out their enemies "little by little" (Exodus 23:30; Deuteronomy 7:22). That was His design. God brought the battles when they had the strength and spiritual fortitude to manage them and win.

Through Jesus Christ we have the same promises--exceeding great and precious--purchased for us on the cross at Calvary. They are given to us so Christ's divine nature will live and thrive in us.

"By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires." 2 Peter 1:3-4

Two things kept the Israelites from claiming and possessing the Promised Land. The same two things keep us from walking in the promises we have received. Unbelief and disobedience. Unbelief causes us to disobey. It is faith that pleases the heart of God. Faith produces obedience.

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see....By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen...And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him." Hebrews 11:1, 3, 6

Faith produces patient endurance. When we trust God in our faith, everything eventually turns out right. How can it not? For our God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

I'd like to share some words of Jon Courson, from his commentary on Joshua 21:45. "God has kept every promise He's ever made to me. Without exception, He's done everything He said He would do. Mix the word with faith. When Satan attacks your faith, tell him, 'I believe creation was accomplished by my Father. I also believe Jesus rose from the dead." I couldn't believe either one of those things had not the Father given me huge, colossal-sized faith. He has given me faith for the big issues, and everything else--health, finances, relationships--are minuscule by comparison."

Mix the Word with faith and patiently endure. Hold on to His promises even when it doesn't look like they will be fulfilled. His plan is perfect and is being worked out in our lives every day. Be encouraged in what He's already done. One day soon we will say:

"Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD has given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything He has spoken came true." 

by Marilyn Allison

 

 

When You're Not Strong Enough to Climb

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety." Psalm 18:2

If I look down, I’ll fall!

And then…my kids will tumble off.

If we survive, we’re doomed! I didn’t pack any snacks or hand sanitizer!

Welcome to me--unhinged in a National Park. Fear of heights is a relatively new "blessing." Something short circuited when Aaron and I were newlyweds. On top of the Sacred Heart church in Paris, a strong wind blew. I stopped. Dropped. And rolled into the fetal position.

We kept the shovel he used to scrape me off the floor as a souvenir.

Ever since, I imagine myself plunging to my death at the slightest height. My sweet husband thinks I’ve lost my mind. I don’t even allow the kids to walk next to the railing on the second floor at the mall.

It freaks me out.

What if they decide to climb over and jump to Santa?!

It could happen.

If anyone fell off this cliff in Sequoia, Santa wouldn’t be there to catch us.

I decided the best way to prevent a tragedy, was to glue my face, arms, legs and stomach to the cold stone; like a flattened fruit roll up. This offered room for other hikers to push past.

Yes, it was a good idea

"Mommy! Aren’t you going to the top with us?"

"Nah…Mommy is going to smell this rock for a bit."

People were staring. Many stopped. "Do you need a doctor? A tissue? Essential oil?"

I don’t reminisce over this snapshot often. However, I’m a visual learner. I’ve been asking God to teach me by showing me. During worship on Sunday, God brought this distressed picture of me to the forefront of my mind. 

There I was, clinging to the side of the cliff.  When I looked down, I was seized with fear. When I looked up, the clouds were crushing me. But, just like in Sequoia, if I kept my face towards the rock, I knew I would be OK.

He was clear.

"This is what you look like, Jenna. You’re panicking. Stop looking away from the rock." 

We’re living through a season of great unknown in our adoption journey. I don’t know how to stop shifting my gaze in every direction. I’m looking for answers.

Will this break me, Lord?

Will any good come out of this?

God is the fire by night, the cloud by day. But he is always the rock.

"...there is no Rock like our God." 1 Samuel 2:2

King David was protected by the rock,

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge." 2 Samuel 22:2-3

The Israelites were pursued by the rock,  “…for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-4)

God’s people were given sweet provision from the rock,

“He nourished them with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag” Deuteronomy 32:13

There’s no shame in taking a season to stop and grasp to the rock…the rock that is Christ.

We were made to climb with Jesus.

Honestly, there are days when all I can do is cling to Him.

God knows. He gives grace if we’re not ready to forge to the top. But, it’s those pesky what ifs that pry our fingers from our stronghold. We glance down and imagine our broken bodies at the bottom--even more--our shattered expectations of what God should’ve done.

I have a choice. I’m learning to train my thoughts to press back into the solid rock. My arms wrapped tight around Jesus.

Yes. This is a good idea.

I may look like a crazy-lady-pancake fastened to my faith. I’m not ashamed.

God answered my question. Can any good come from this?

Yes.

God’s protection...
God’s pursuing love...
God’s sweet provision.

This time, I’m not gripped by fear, but faithfulness. I’ll be brave enough to climb again soon.

For now, I’m just going to hang on.

by Jenna Masters