THE WIDOW’S WEALTH

DAILY READING: "He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others.' -- Luke 21:2-3 (NIV)

The two coins were small, hardly anyone’s treasure, but she clutched them tightly as she stood in line at the temple treasury. For they were all she had. Her husband had died, and she was poor and alone. When her turn came, the poor widow placed the coins joyfully in the offering, knelt and prayed. Jesus and the disciples marveled at her smile as she walked away. Jesus knew the depth of her sacrifice and He was touched. Counted by percentage, hers was the largest gift of all.

How do our gifts measure up? Do we give gladly or begrudgingly? Are our steps joyful or full of dread? Do we just give leftovers or do we give our all? Jesus gave His all, how can we give less? It’s so easy to forget His sacrifice amidst our own greedy longing for more and more.

Sometimes we’re tempted to think what we have is ours. Other times it seems worth so little, it could hardly matter. We forget that Jesus’ measures are different than out own. The willingness of our hearts and the act of giving mean as much as the amount to Him. Let’s remember always that our gifts are the least we can give back to the One who’s given so much for us.

PRAYER: Father God, help me not to begrudge you my meager gifts. Help me to always remember that all I have is a gift from you. Amen.

Following The Plan

Daily Reading: "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD, "plans for your welfare, not to destroy you, but to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

This is one of my favorite passages of scripture, and yet sometimes it is also one of the most overused. But just this past Sunday, a member of my worship team was headed off to college and I was asked to give her a word of scripture/advice. I couldn't think of a more appropriate passage.

The time a young person first heads off, away from home for the first time, is an incredible time of discovery. So many new experiences, so many expectations, and so many changes all come together. And so, knowing this, and remembering my own experiences, I wanted to tell my friend this and remind her that the only way to come through well would be to make sure she walked with God every moment of every day. I reminded her that her expectations are good but God's expectations for her are far superior than anything she can dream up for herself. Therefore, as she takes each step, to place it in God's hands, is the best thing she can do. That way, when she arrives at the destination and finds it different than her expectations, she still knows she's arrived where she's supposed to because she's in God's will and he led her there.

So often when our expectations are not met, our tendency is to blame God, instead of thanking Him. It's ironic that we know He is omnipotent and omniscient and therefore far more capable of making a great future for us than we are ourselves capable of, yet when we don't get what we expected, God gets the blame. I know God has great surprises in store for my friend, and rather than see her disappointed, what I hope happens is that by committing her plans and thoughts to the Lord, she will instead come through praising. For God's plans for her are so much better than hers, and they are meant to create a hopeful, joyful future, overcoming sinfulness and a fallen world. I can't think of a better future for anyone, can you?

As we walk, let's commit our expectations and plans to the One who is always faithful and will never let us down, when we trust in Him. And we can rest assured we will always end up where we're supposed to be, in a far better place than our limited human perspectives could ever imagine.

PRAYER: Father, I commit my hopes, my dreams, and my plans to you. Please help me to walk where you would have me, and not be distracted by own stubborn will and limited expectations. Take my life and let it be yours. Amen.

Daily Reading: "10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
"Praise be to you, O LORD,
God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.

11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.

14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you." 1st Chronicles 29:10-17

I love rediscovering scripture I had forgotten about. This is one such passage. What a great expression of praise, thanks and recognition of our place next to our heavenly Father. Everything we have comes from Him, and yet when we give back, we should give with gladness. We are just visitors here, and yet God allows us to make a home for ourselves. Some have royal palaces compared to others. Do we recognize, whatever our position that God has placed us there?

Reading this passage after a long time away from it so reminded me how precious are the many gifts we have been given. There are so many things we take for granted that are given us each day. We need to have hearts full of gladness every moment, because even the air we breathe itself is a gift. The more comfortable our lifestyle, the easier it is to forget what God has done for us. The easier it is to start thinking we somehow deserve the many blessings He's given us, as if we earned them somehow.

Pride can be a real burden for us as human beings. We don't like to acknowledge we need anything or anyone, sometimes. Yet when we do acknowledge it, we tend to forget God. "I need my wife," "I couldn't make it without my kids," "I am so fortunate to have this nice home to live in." What happened to God?

David's prayer of praise is a reminder that we are here because He put us here. And all we have with us are gifts from God Himself. Let's take the time today to thank Him for all He does for us daily and acknowledge how much we truly need Him.

Prayer: Oh Lord, help me to never forget that I need you. Help me to constantly remember all you've done for me and be thankful. Thank you for your love and care for me. Amen.

The Lord Looks On The Heart

Daily Reading: "but the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'" 1st Samuel 16:7 NIV

We are such a judgmental lot, humankind. Constantly sizing everything up and passing judgment. "He's too short." "She's not pretty enough." "That car is old and run down." "That house is too small and messy." I'll bet you could keep adding to the list.

Thankfully, we have a God who doesn't judge the way we do. He can see far more than just surface impressions. He can look deep inside and see what we never see. As an artist, I have dealt with this kind of quick judgmental assessment as a daily occurence. It has determined my career trajectory, my income, my publicity. It has been either a major boost or major thorn to my success on numerous occasions. That's why I long ago gave up artistic success as a life goal. Instead, I decided I wanted to make a difference by helping people.

Dedicating myself to training artists and bringing others to teach where such teaching was out of reach has brought opportunities I never imagined. I have gone places and seen things I never could have dreamed of. And in the process, God has revealed my heart and changed who I am in ways I would have never conceived in my wildest artistic fantasy.

I hope the Lord likes what he sees when he looks on my heart. I have a feeling he likes what's there now a lot more than he liked what used to be. I'm still a sinner, still fallen, and still stricken by temptation. But my heart's desires are much more focused around serving others than serving myself. In knowing the ultimate servant who died on a cross for all who believe, I think the heart of a servant is much more pleasing than the heart of one who's seeking his or her own glory.

What are your goals? Whom are you striving to please? What fame or recognition do you seek and from whom? If the Lord looked on your heart today, would He see what He saw in David or would He turn away to look for someone else?

Prayer: Dear Lord, help my heart be pleasing to you. Though I am a sinner, let my life be focused on pleasing you and not on pleasing myself or the fallen world. I give myself to you today as your instrument. May you be glorified. Amen.

New Commitment

I have been lax in updating this blog as often as I should. Not that anyone is reading it. Since no one comments, I really have no idea if anyone does, but in case anyone out there is being blessed by this, I have made a personal commitment to start blogging at least every Monday. I even put a reminder on my Outlook calendar so I won't forgot. Life is so busy right now, I doubt I can do it daily. I wish I could. But for now, I hope you will tune in Mondays for new content.