Rationing my Offering!

As the collection plate was being passed around at church, I pulled my wallet out to get my offering. I was deep in thought about how much I could afford. When I felt a tap on my arm from my friend sitting next to me. As I turned my head towards her, I saw her handing me two dollars. ” Is this your offering? ” I said. She nodded and said, ”Yes.” Praise God for using my friend to show me how to give. You see my friend is homeless and lives on the streets. She has no income at all. The two dollars she gave was everything she had. But she gave it with no hesitation. She knows that God will supply all her needs.

Dear Lord, Please forgive me for rationing my offering by what I thought I could afford. Help me to give freely and generously knowing that you will always provide my needs. I claim your promise Philippians 4:19; My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.

Love all

Lately I’ve been feeling pretty selfish. Worrying about the struggles that are happening in my life and not showing much love to others. This time of year is when my family and I share the most love with others and I haven’t been so cheerful. God asks us to love everyone including our enemies and I need to get on the ball. God needs to be my focal point and today that is what will happen. Being selfish can bring us down and not want to share with others, and through this time of year believe it or not most people get depressed. Past deaths in the family, not having someone to share the holidays with, plus financial difficulties and many more problems. My goal today is to spread as much cheer as possible with others in mind and less of myself. Praise God! Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. Heavenly Father, thank you for a brand new start every day. Help to put me in the paths of people that can use some help and inspiration today. Guide me in making the most out of every day. In Jesus precious name Amen!

Strength in weakness

When I am physically weak, it can be hard to believe that God will give me strength. A couple of days ago I wrote about my physical strength failing me and how much it hurts. God heard my prayers and read my writing. Later that evening my family and I had gone out to eat at a buffet. As I was fixing a plate with a perfect mountain of food I was interrupted. I overheard a woman asking a waitress franticly if she could help her husband that had fallen in the parking lot. I suddenly spoke up forgetting all about my ailments, “Can I help”? She agreed and we headed out to the parking lot. Her husband had his feet up on the curb but his body was in the street and he was attempting to get up. He had to have weighed around 250 pounds but the thought didn’t cross my mind that I couldn’t do it. It was like God had just blotted it out of my mind. I wrapped my arms around him and almost threw him straight up, almost to fast. He was ok so him and his wife went into the restaurant and sat next to us. We all had a great conversation about God and was a wonderful evening. God gives you the strength even when you cannot find it within yourself.

Undeserved Grace!

www.bible.com/111/tit.2.11-12.niv

God came to save All People! You don’t have to be wealthy, beautiful, intelligent, or come from a famous family. God made each one of us in his image. He knows all our failures, weaknesses, and our struggles, but his love for us never wavers.

On Tuesday, a new homeless person joined our Bible study group at the Oakdale Rescue Mission. She said that she was stranded and needed to get a ride to another town. I told her I could take her halfway, and another person gave her a bus ticket so she could get to her desired destination. As she got in my car, she immediately started sharing with me how her family won’t help her because they don’t like her right now. Her parents are raising her children, and they don’t want her around. I asked her if she uses drugs, and she said, ”yes, I need to go to rehab. ” As I listened to her excuses, my heart broke not only for her, but her children, and parents. She is 49 years old, searching for something in this world that will fill the hole that only God can fill.

God’s love endures forever; all we need to do is accept it, it’s a free gift. That is true, undeserved GRACE!