The Last Meal

“For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’ ” – 1 Kings 17:14 (NIV)

The Texas sun beat down on Maria’s head as she walked to the only convenience store in her tiny town. She was just about to step inside the store when a man who looked homeless reached for her arm.

She stepped back, feeling wary at first. But there was something about the look in the man’s eyes that relaxed her.

“Please, a bottle of water, I beg,” he said.

Maria reached into her pocket and felt for her change. The last bit of change she’d been able to scrape together. She’d spent over an hour searching for it.

“Perhaps a slice of bread, too,” the man said hopefully.

Maria sighed, her heartbreaking for the stranger. Tears filled her eyes and she whispered, “No, I’m sorry. I’m here to buy a final meal for my son and myself.” She pulled the crusty change from her pocket. “These are my last few cents.” Her voice trembled.

“Don’t be afraid,” the homeless man said softly. “Bring me a cup of water and a loaf of bread. Then go feed yourself and your son—for God Himself will provide for your family.”

The widow’s act of faith was also an act of love. She gave what she must have thought was the last of her food to Elijah, a stranger she hardly knew. She chose to trust that God saw her loving sacrifice and would provide for her.

God, let me be generous with every resource You’ve entrusted to me. I hold nothing back from Your hand. Everything I have is Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

New Places

“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” – Joshua 1:5-6

Joshua had spent years, learning from his mentor, Moses, and protecting the people of Israel. But the day came when Moses passed away and it was time for Joshua to lead the great nation that God had created.

God starts his instructions to Joshua by reassuring him of his holy presence. Then he goes on to command Joshua to be strong and courageous. It’s not that Joshua was cowardly, he was quite brave.

But God knew the difficult tasks that would lie ahead for Joshua. So, He promised his presence and encouraged him. He wanted Joshua to know that his nation was about to enter into the Promised Land.

It can be hard when God calls you out of the familiar. Joshua was comfortable living in the desert lands with the Israelites. He was accustomed to being a nomad. But God had bigger plans and longed to move His people.

When God calls you into new places, you don’t need to fear. He will be with you just as He was with Moses and Joshua. So take courage, precious one, God will guide you on your journey.

God, sometimes, new places are scary. It’s easy to feel small and want to hide out. But give me faith that’s bigger than my fears. Lead me in Your paths. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

My Cup Overflows

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” – Psalm 23:5

Tamara never knew her father. He was a first responder to a horrible disaster. Although he saved many lives, he was killed in action. This left her mother alone and pregnant with her first child.

Growing up, Tamara’s family struggled in many different ways. The biggest one was financial. Without a second provider, Tamara’s mother couldn’t afford a lot but she always found a way to give back to those in need.

Once, Tamara watched her mom give money to a homeless man. When she asked why, her mother simply responded, “Because my cup overflows.”

It wasn’t until years later that Tamara realized her mom’s perspective allowed her to give despite her own struggles. “She always had this way of looking at life. She was thankful for everything, both the big and the small.”

Tamara says her mom’s generosity has influenced how she thinks about her own money, time, and energy. “It’s hard to give sometimes. It’s not my first instinct. Then I think about my sweet mama and I find myself repeating those four words: because my cup overflows.”

Giving back even when you don’t have a lot comes down to perspective. If you view everything as a gift from God, then it’s easier to share your own resources with others.

God, help me to have a thankful spirit and a willingness to give. I thank You for all the ways my cup overflows, both big and small. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Led by the Spirit

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” – Psalm 143:10

Gina had always heard about Christians doing something simply because they were led by the Holy Spirit. But she’d never experienced this for herself and she wondered why.

Then one day, Gina was on her way to work when she thought about the position at her company that was just about to open up. One of her favorite co-workers was moving away and management hadn’t found a good replacement yet.

She’d often thought that Anne would make a great addition to the office. But she was busy raising two kids.

Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she should stop by Anne’s home and tell her about the job. So she did a U-turn and went back to Anne’s home.

When she arrived, she found Anne looking pale. When she asked her what was wrong, Anne answered that she’d just come from a doctor’s appointment with her husband.

The doctor had just informed Anne that her husband would need several surgeries and would be unable to work in the coming months. “I’m scared,” Anne whispered when Gina hugged her tight.

After listening to her fears and comforting Anne some more, Gina shared about the position at her company and promised to talk to her supervisor about the spot that day.

When she shared the experience with her ladies group, one woman beamed at her. “Gina, what you experienced was being led by the Spirit. You didn’t know how or why but you knew to go to Anne.”

God, help me to be led by Your Spirit. Make my heart sensitive to Your leading so I can hear and respond to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

A Bold Decision

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14

Esther had spent years being told to hide her Jewish heritage by her Uncle Mordecai. She knew she’d be in danger if she revealed to the king her true background.  So when King Xerxes put the crown on her head and declared her queen, she still held back her family history.

But the day came when all of the Jews were to be sentenced to death. Her uncle encouraged her to go to the king and plead her cause.

Esther’s stomach must have dropped when she heard her uncle’s words. She explained that she hadn’t seen the king in over a month and she could not enter his presence unless she had first been called into it.

Mordecai again encouraged her to go to the king, pointing out that God may have set her in the royal palace for just this very reason.

So, Esther told her uncle and the Jewish nation to pray for her and fast. She would do the same and afterward, she promised to seek out the king.

Up until this point, Esther’s silence had guaranteed her survival. But she made a bold choice to stand up for her nation. Not only did God reward her bravery by rescuing the Jewish people, but He also destroyed their enemies.

God, when it’s hard to speak up, please give me the courage to stand. I want to be brave and bold, just like Esther was. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Extending a Warm Invitation

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew11:28

Robbie checked the weather on his smartphone and his heart sank. At nineteen, he was an employee for a local hotel and he dreaded seeing the low nightly temperatures. The hotel where he worked was in a downtown area that had a large population of the homeless.

He’d made friends with Austin, a military veteran who had spent the past few months sleeping on park benches. “Life just kind of fell apart all at once and I couldn’t put back together,” he had explained.

When he clocked in to work that night, Robbie checked the logs and several of the rooms would be open for the evening. He gathered his courage and hurried to his manager’s office before he could talk himself out of it.

Robbie opened the door when the older man barked permission. He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans, “Record cold temperatures are expected tonight.”

The manager kept playing a game on his smartphone, “I have a weather app, too. Spit it out.”

“Well, I checked the log and we have more than a few empty rooms. I—can I book them in my name? You can take it out of my paycheck.”

Robbie’s manager stopped the game and leaned back in his chair. “Are you havin’ a family reunion in the middle of this mess?”

Robbie shook his head, “I know a couple of guys. They don’t have any place to go.” He flushed, “Jesus was homeless once.”

The manager considered his request for a minute before finally blowing out a breath. “Keep it quiet, kid, and don’t get me in trouble.”

Robbie was almost to the door when his manager called out, “Oh, and put me down for half of the rooms.”

God, help me to be invitational when it comes to others. Show me how to be a blessing to someone else this week. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

God Reigns

“God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.” – Psalm 47:8

Kelly felt the familiar pit in her stomach as soon as she saw the office manager. As a nurse, she worked for Dr. Benson, who had hired his wife to run the office. Although Dr. Benson was pleasant, his wife rarely was.

She was always cornering Kelly and sharing her latest conspiracy theory or a negative report she’d seen on the news. Kelly tried to leave as early as possible but today, she’d stayed late to educate a patient about her diabetes diagnosis.

As she clocked out, she saw Dr. Benson’s wife head straight toward her. Taking a deep breath, Kelly plastered a smile on her face and listened while the other woman prattled on. When her phone notified her she had a text message, she managed to leave.

Later, Kelly reached out to a friend. “I see her and I get all these knots in my stomach,” She explained. “She always shares these doom-and-gloom prophesies and I don’t know what to do anymore!”

Her friend shrugged, “Just listen. I’ve learned to let people rage and focus on the fact that God reigns. He ultimately decides how each story will end. You don’t have to let her negativity color your attitude.”

It’s hard to deal with a gloomy Gus who never has anything positive to share. But that doesn’t mean you have to be dragged down by their negativity. Instead, turn your eyes to Jesus and keep your gaze there.

God, don’t let me absorb the negativity of those around me. I want to be a bright light shining for You. Let my gaze be fixed on You and only You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.