Posted in Life on May 24, 2016| Leave a Comment »
I am taking a short break during the next few weeks as we try to close on a house, finish the school year, attend a few conferences, and move. I will post when I can and hopefully be back on a regular schedule in July!
Thanks for all your support and words of encouragement. I can’t wait to return the favor!
Blessings,
Rachel
Posted in Blessing, Economy, Generosity, God's plan, Money, Plans, Proverbs, Trust on May 16, 2016| 1 Comment »
The first lesson of economics is scarcity: there is never enough of anything to fully satisfy all those who want it. The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics. Thomas Sowell
God has an economic plan, but it’s not like the economy we are used to or even comfortable with. For a general description of God’s economic plan read: Proverbs 11:24-28.
God’s system of economics seems backwards. Supply has nothing to do with demand. Yet, He promises that for those who seek Him first, His righteousness, and His way, that all the things we need will be there (Matthew 6:33).
God is rich in all things good and He is completely generous. He has modeled His own system for us. We know this because He gave us Jesus. And Jesus gave up everything, He gave it all away – He made himself nothing, He completely emptied Himself. He took on the plight of humanity, and ultimately our death. The result of this undeserved generosity? God exalted Him to the highest place and at His name we bow (Philippians 2:5-11). And because of Jesus, we have access to everything good. Because of His emptying out, we have God’s blessing, and we have life to the full (John 10:10).
God’s acting on His own economic principles has graciously afforded us salvation, hope, and life to the full. In faith, we receive these incredible blessings. Why not, in faith, also entrust our meager resources to God. Not simply to receive the promised blessings. But also so that we might be a blessing to someone else.
Here are some principles of God’s economy to ponder over this week.
“Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3:10
Dear God, Help us to live in the light of your “inverted” economy. Help us to trust that your economy is best. Amen.
Readings for this week:
Day 2 – Philippians 2:5-11
Day 3 – Matthew 6:19-24
Day 4 – Matthew 6:25-33
Day 5 – 1 Timothy 6:9-11, 17-19; Hebrews 13:5-6
*Thank you Pastors Steve, Ryan, and Dion, as well as Emily and my father for their collective insights that made up this study.
Posted in Acts, Blessing, Early Church, Foreigners, God's plan, Guidance, Life, Lydia, Ministry, Plans, Trust on May 7, 2016| Leave a Comment »
@anormanwalker
Reading for today: Acts 16:6-15
In general, our plans don’t always go as intended. Yet God is always directing us to the people, places, and circumstances he has planned for us.
For Paul, Silas, and Timothy, their plans to work in Asia were stopped more than once by the Holy Spirit. Not because their plans were bad, but because God’s plans were better. God had a very special woman and her family in mind. Lydia and her family were waiting to hear and ready to accept the amazing words that Paul and his friends had dedicated their lives to share.
Lydia and her purple cloth, “Purple Girl” photograph by Barry Perks
Some of us, like Paul and his friends, may be fortunate enough to glimpse God’s reasoning behind an unexpected or unwanted life-turn. Others of us can only trust that God has his best, our best, and others’ best in mind with each turn in the road.
My favorite moments, though, are the ones when I get to see the blessing. Every time that happens, I thank God for directing me when I would have otherwise walked away.
Recognize God’s directing. Life will become deeper and fuller as you learn to see the people, places, and circumstances around you as strategically positioned in time and space by God himself and for his better will.
Oh God, I want to want your will to be done. Give me trust. Give me wisdom. Give me strength. Guide me according to your best plans. Amen.
Day 2: Psalm 139
Day 3: Jeremiah 29:11-14; Psalm 138:8; Psalm 143:8
Day 4: Proverbs 19:21; Psalm 33:10-12
Posted in Anxiety, Jesus, Life, Luke, Seminary, Trust, Worry on May 1, 2016| 2 Comments »
Some Bible passages need to be read on a regular basis. Luke 12:22-34 is one of those passages. If you already know this passage by heart, you and I could probably be friends. But even if you haven’t set Luke’s passage to memory, you can appreciate its importance. Let’s read it and while we do, take your time and deeply breath in these words of Jesus.
Reading for today: Luke 12:22-34
When you are struggling with worry or anxiety and the Holy Spirit is leading you to trust God, there always seems to be someone or something telling you to pick that worry back up again.
Part of the problem with worry is that we live in a world where it is almost socially acceptable to worry. It is your responsibility to worry. Worry, in this sense, is the precursor to taking things under control. If you are not worried about a situation, then you either don’t understand the seriousness of the situation or you aren’t taking care of things.
It’s as if total trust in God is irresponsible. But Jesus responds to worry by saying, “And which of you by being so anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?…O you of little faith” (Matthew 6:27, 30).
To encourage your trust in God today, I’d like to share a story about a woman I once knew. (I’ll call her Megan.) Megan and her family of five had just moved to seminary and were on an extremely tight budget. She shared that, at the time, they felt they had most of their finances under-control, except for gas money. They weren’t sure how they were going to pay for gas.
After they were assigned to a fieldwork church almost an hour away from seminary, Megan’s family sadly realized that their gas expenses would be even higher than they expected. As they drove to their church for the first time, Megan explained that there was a sinking feeling in her stomach as they saw how far of a drive their fieldwork church was from campus.
Anxious and upset, they finally arrived at their new church. As they walked into the unfamiliar building, however, a little, old lady greeted them and immediately handed them $50. Surprised and confused, Megan and her husband asked the generous stranger what the gift was for. The elderly woman replied, “I want you to use it for gas.”
Megan explained that this little, old lady handed them $50 every time she saw them in church, and her Spirit-led gifts covered their gas expenses for their entire time at seminary.
Isn’t that amazing?
Dear God, You know what I need even before I ask (Matthew 6:8b). Thank you. Amen.
This week, I challenge you to read Luke 12 everyday. See if by Friday these words from Jesus haven’t brought you closer to trusting the God who loves you and promises to take care of all your needs.
Day 2 – Luke 12:22-34; Proverbs 3:5-6
Day 3 – Luke 12:22-34; Philippians 4:4-7
Day 4 – Luke 12:22-34; 1 Peter 5:6-7
Day 5 – Luke 12:22-34; Isaiah 30:18-21
Cup Overflowing 