Purposeful, not random

The return we reap from generous actions is not always evident. (Francesco Guicciardini)

Give freely, and you will profit. Help others, and you will gain more for yourself. (Proverbs11:25)

The actions of sowing and reaping are well-established. The seed is put into the ground, the harvest is tended, then it is reaped, allowing for provision today and into the future. If the one sowing stopped sowing, would the harvest end? Eventually, for natural 'reseeding' occurs to some extent, but to yield a sustainable crop for generations to come, one must purposefully plant. 

The purposeful actions of today will produce a harvest well into the future, but all that is sown must be tended. We might share the hope of the gospel, but are we always the ones to tend it? No, there is usually some 'tending' done by someone other than us - perhaps the Holy Spirit alone, or perhaps he will engage another who will refresh the soil of the heart time and time again until that 'seed of faith' is properly germinated. Either way, the seed only germinates because it is tended.

We can give a lot out of our lives - what gets tended will yield the biggest 'crop'. It may not always be evident how much we are tending the crop in another's life, but when there are purposeful actions to love one another as Christ loves each of us, there is sure to be a germination of grace and love in the process. What is reaped will not always be evident for the 'purposeful seeds' we plant, though. Sometimes we see a harvest way different from what we expected!

God trusts us to be 'generous in our sowing' - he gave grace so freely, so we give freely from that position of grace. Let there be purpose behind your actions, my friends. When there is purposeful giving, there is purposeful reaping. Random 'seeding' is fine if we want a 'random' harvest. Purposeful planting yeilds a predetermined harvest. Just sayin!

Give just a little more

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t fight back against someone who wants to do harm to you. If they hit you on the right cheek, let them hit the other cheek too. If anyone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let them have your coat too. If a soldier forces you to walk with him one mile, go with him two. Give to anyone who asks you for something. Don’t refuse to give to anyone who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. (Matthew 5:38-44)

There aren't too many of us who haven't heard the teaching of "turning the other cheek" whenever someone wrongs you - like we needed to actually be hit twice! Yet, in the breadth of this teaching, Jesus is really laying out the path he will walk during the next several years of his teaching ministry - continually allowing the criticism, forgiving the hateful words of others, and refusing to strike back when deliberately opposed by those who would seek to shut down his ministry on this earth. In the Old Testament, if a man killed your donkey, he was to restore it and something extra in return. In making restoration of the one thing which was lost, he was also to make some type of restitution for the lost item. Steal from someone and you had to not only repay what you stole, but a portion more. Maybe God was trying to help us see the connection between sin and that there was always a cost associated with sin. Or maybe he was just trying to help us see the distress sin brings into our lives. It doesn't really matter why he established those rules in the Old Testament, because Jesus was about to blow the minds of those listening to his sermon when he tells them they should turn the other cheek, give a coat to one who steals their shirt, and hate their enemies! A totally radical thought for a generation who had grown up under the Law! 

The first lesson we can learn from this teaching: Give more than you are asked to give. Most of us understand what it is to have some kind of "debt" we might owe to someone. When we go to the grocer, we fill up our baskets and then head to the checkout.  At the checkout, a bill is produced for all of the items in the cart. This becomes a debt we must pay if we are to remove these groceries from the store. Until the debt is settled, we are not free to roll that cart out to the car and make our way home with those delectable treats. We understand that we have to pay for what we put in the basket, but how many of us actually would think to give the grocer another ten dollars at the end of the transaction, just because we wanted to give something to recompense the grocer for the debt we incurred? I daresay we'd point out if we were over-charged by the clerk or the dispenser didn't give us the right change, but would we actually leave more than what we owed? If we are to live out this principle, then we have to begin to ask what it is we do that is just a little more than what we are asked to do. It may not be much, but if we always just go through life giving exactly what we are asked to give and never anything other than what is asked, we will live kind of empty lives. Learning to bless another is to be a way of life for us. We need to see the "value" in giving sacrificially - not just when something is demanded of us. Just sayin!

A laden soul

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

John Maxwell reminds us, "People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude." What does your attitude say today? Does it reveal your tiredness or frustration? Does it shine forth with encouragement and hope? We actually 'choose' our attitude, but we would like to blame our attitude on others or circumstances. If it is bad, we blame it on the bad stuff happening in our lives. If it is jubilant, we attribute it to the good stuff going on around us. Spoken words reveal much, but our unspoken thoughts often come across in our attitude. Don't believe me? When was the last time you looked at your posture when you are in the depths of thought about something that is giving you a bit of trouble? How is your posture when you are well-rested versus weary from a lack of the proper rest? Your posture might just reveal a bit of that 'inner thought' attitude you have going on right now!

When both our spoken words and unspoken thoughts are influenced by the Spirit of God within us, we are more likely to reveal an attitude of grace, love, and forgiveness. Those three things go a long, long way toward elevating one's attitude! They can unburden even the most laden of souls. Holding onto a grudge - the feeling that you have been wronged - will just lead to a 'laden attitude'. Your inner thoughts will betray your outward facade. What you believe about the other person will eventually come through loud and clear even when you don't say a thing! Love generously, forgive freely, and give grace where it is least deserved - then see what that does to lighten your burden. 

In closing today, I'd like us to each answer the questions posed by clergyman Henri Nouwen: "Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come." What fruit will you bear today isn't just revealed in your spoken words - the real fruit may be hidden in the recesses of your unspoken thoughts. Let the Spirit of God lead you into those recesses today - bringing to light any area where you are holding onto things that only serve to burden your soul. Then let go. Just sayin!

Never walk away

Everybody wants to do something to help, but nobody wants to be first. 

(Pearl Bailey)

Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time” or “Try me tomorrow” when the money’s right there in your pocket. Don’t figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor when he’s sitting there trusting and unsuspecting. (Proverbs 3:27-29)

Your hand is God's hand - can we just ponder that one for a moment or two? What was the last thing your hand did for someone other than yourself? It goes without saying, we may deny ourselves very little, all the while oblivious to the need that could be right there next to us. Never walk away - that is a pretty direct command, but I will be the first to admit, I've done it. If it is within our ability, why don't we take the next step and meet the need? Maybe it is like Bailey said and we don't want to be the one to take the 'first step'.

I know some will focus on the words "deserves help" in this passage but let me be the first to warn us against judging who 'deserves' our help. Yes, I am very sensitive to the fact there are a lot of people with signs on street corners who are neither homeless nor out of work. Perhaps I am a little 'skeptical' that every 'reported need' isn't really a reality these days as there are many who have found this 'panhandling gig' pays better than getting a 9-5 job. There are ways to meet the needs of those with genuine need - we may just have to be a little more sensitive to hear God's urging and a bit more willing to do what he asks of us.

If our hand is God's hand, where should that hand be 'employed' today? This is the real question set forth in our passage. It isn't 'if we see a need' - it is 'when we see that need'. There will always be needs we can meet, but we may not immediately recognize them. Have you ever received a note from someone telling you how much your words meant to them when they were going through something in their lives? How about hearing someone recount something you had done kind of 'spur of the moment' and telling you how much that met a specific need? You were being God's hand and probably didn't even know it.

We might not think of this passage as one of God's 'major commands', like the Ten Commandments outlined in the Old Testament. Love your neighbor is a pretty consistent command throughout all of scripture and was the one command Jesus modeled as he walked this earth. Love God and love others - worship God and help others. This is the crux of all the commandments. Just sayin!

Free to be

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin reminds us, "The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of one's self to others." He also reminds us that growing old is like being punished for some kind of crime we definitely did not commit! While he is best known as a philosopher of an era gone by, he obviously had a pretty good sense of humor, as well! I don't know about you, but 'giving myself' to others has become easier as I have grown older. I think we get a little less 'self-important' as we age. We find the value in others and we see how much they are a tremendous blessing in our lives. It isn't that we need to 'put ourselves out there' any longer - we are content to be a blessing in the lives of another.

Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that. (Luke 6:31-34)

What part of yourself have you given away lately? Your time? Your talent? Your elbow-grease? We can all think of times when we have been 'called upon' to lend a hand or be someone's ride to an important appointment. I am asking you to consider the actions that are not those you have been 'called upon' to do for someone else. Consider those you did without ever having to be asked - those are the ones that really reflect having given yourself to another - not out of duty or obligation, but out of love and service. God is most honored by these actions.

In our youth it was very easy to be so 'self-consumed'. We found our need to advance in our careers, create a solid family unit, and even 'get places' in life took a whole lot of our focus. I think God gives us so much energy and creativity in our youth because he knows we have the stamina to back up that drive. In our older years, we take time to actually enjoy what has been created. Retirement doesn't have to be a time to just sit back and relax. I know a good many retirement aged individuals who still are quite active in their community and are giving back in ways they couldn't even think about in their youth.

I am soon to retire from a very rewarding career in nursing and in looking back over the years, I see how God has used my talents and my drive. Others that know me well think I am a little bit crazy to retire 'so young', but I have to admit - - - I am looking forward to a new era in my life. I hope to explore some areas of interest such as photography, web design, and my woodworking skills. As you can imagine, my days will be 'different', but they won't be empty. I won't be 'driven' to accomplish things - I will be 'free' to accomplish them. Maybe this is the difference God is looking for when we think about how we can be a blessing in another's life - not being 'driven' or 'compelled' to do it, but doing it because we are 'free' to do so! Just sayin!

Everyone's got talent

Each of us is given a measure of talent - scripture refers to it as NEEDED talent. It has a purpose - even if it is a small one. It may not be the 'biggest' or 'brightest' talent of all around you, but it is uniquely yours and you are designed to use it. Look at the widow with the one tiny mite (not even a penny). She gave it all - though it was nothing compared to the "sizable" financial offering of the wealthier or more well known individuals who came to the temple that day, it was EVERYTHING to her. Faithful hands and a yielded heart is all God ever wants. I have heard many a person hopelessly announce, "I don't have anything to contribute." The problem is they are comparing their 'talent' to another's talent and if they don't think it measures up quite as well, they discount their talent. We each possess a NEEDED talent - uniquely our own - specifically to be used by us in the blessing of those around us - in small ways or large, it doesn't really matter - we just need to use it!

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, "He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out." This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. (2 Corinthians 9:8-11)

How does faith begin to arise from within us - to grow, multiply, and become a blessing for others? Certainly, it comes as we begin to yield our lives to God in total surrender - no longer choosing to live by our own stubborn choices. As we "center" our thoughts on him, we begin to feel the "settling" influence of his Spirit deep within our lives. This very "settling" of our emotions (fears) begins to allow us to "rest" in him - to finally be at peace within. This "rest" becomes the place out of which we begin to "give" out of what he has given to us. At first, the "giving out" from what God has given us may seem like it is small, and even insignificant, but it is a SIZABLE thing in God's eyes! The more we give, the more we seem to see that NEEDED talent become a blessing of SIZABLE proportion!

Don't every forget - God can pour on the blessings - and he does it in ways so astonishing we may not fully be able to comprehend it! I have learned God seldom meets my need in the exact manner I imagined he would. In fact, he often has some other awesome way of meeting it that I would never have considered! One thing I know for certain - God is not limited by our imagination! His presence in our lives makes all things different. His very presence is what gives us the ability to stand when we are weak, trust when all seems to be falling apart, give when it hurts, and reach out when retreating to a place of refuge would be much easier or more comfortable for us. It is God's unique way of blessing us - give and it shall be given is the principle being taught here. Truth be told, God knows no limitations - not like those of us who think there are limits to just about everything. I rarely get to the place of "throwing all caution to the wind", yet it is commonplace for God to do so in our lives, not once, but over and over again until we are head over heels in blessings! He delights in pouring into our lives - his presence, his peace, his love. Whatever the need - he is ready. 

What he gives, he desires to use as a blessing not only for us, but for those whose lives we will touch in turn. I honestly believe this is one small way he is able to show his limitless love and power in this world - through us! He uses his blessing in our lives to touch the lives of others (no matter how small it may seem to us, it is huge when we do it in obedience to him). We always have something we can give away. I frequently get the calls from the agencies who run the various thrift shops in town. They are seeking donations of used goods they might sell within their various stores. The concept is simple (and it is kind of biblical). It is in the giving of what we have that others are put to work in a productive manner. As the donation is made, the truck drivers have a mission (a purpose). The donation is sorted by others who needed productive work. The items are distributed to the various stores to be resold. In so doing, even this small gift of what we saw as no longer useful in our lives becomes a huge blessing to many, many others - including the one who will 're-purpose' that item in their lives. The one who purchases the item is only the recipient of it after it has been a blessing to many others along the way!

Throw caution to the wind, my friends! God wants both the things of our abundance AND of our need! He delights in seeing us give from our abundance, but he is overjoyed when he sees us giving from within our 'talent' that he has gifted in our lives! In so doing, we are blessing him - but we also see the many blessings of others being touched by what God is doing in our lives. In learning to give in such a way, we are learning to live "robust lives" in God's goodness and grace! You may not think you have a talent today, but look at where you flourish - what you enjoy so much - chances are that is the place God has placed your talent. It could be you are a baker, wonderful cook, or even a seamstress. That 'small' talent in the hand of God can be a blessing to others. Fideos for a recovering friend, chicken soup for the one with the sniffles, banana bread for the shut-in who loves a little something with her afternoon tea, and even the gentle hug you give - all are a 'talent' when used by God to touch the lives of another! Just sayin!

The luxury of giving

One must be poor to know the luxury of giving. (George Eliot)

The luxury of giving - have you ever thought of giving as a 'luxury'? I like how Eliot frames this thought because it points to the extreme need and the appreciation of what is given when it is received. You do realize there is nothing good or noble about giving if there is no real need for what you are giving, don't you? You could give away free trash cans till the cows come home, but if there were no cans or boxes in the pantry to fill the trash cans when emptied to fill a hungry stomach, those trash cans would merely be dust catchers. There is indeed a 'need' - but the need is different from what we are giving, making what is given pretty senseless in the end. For giving to be 'spot on', there must be an awareness of the need - just like when God saw the need for our forgiveness and didn't think twice about providing exactly what was needed to meet that need - his Son.

Those who go to him for help are happy, and they are never disgraced. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles. The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear God, and he saves them. (Psalm 34:5-7)

Those who go to him - this suggests that the way to have our need met is to actually take it to the one who is going to be able to meet that need. I would not call a brick-layer to fix my garage door opener anymore than I would go to a mechanic to reset a broken bone. The need must be 'matched' with the one capable of meeting the need, right? We 'go to him' and in turn, he responds with what we need the very most - grace. The thing about grace is that it comes in all kinds of forms. Today it could look like a box of groceries to fill your empty stomach, but tomorrow it could look like the touch upon your soul that bolsters your spirit and gives you the courage to step out into new experiences. Grace doesn't have just one 'form'. It comes to us, but first we go to him for it. 

There is a conversation about our need - we sometimes forget that acknowledging our need is the first step in getting the help to actually do what needs to be done. I shared that I am in the place of redoing a few things around the house. These projects have been astronomically large - larger than I really wanted to undertake on my own. To say the least, moving all the furniture to get the walls painted is hard enough, but then putting everything back in its place, cleaning up all the 'over-spray dust' left by the paint spraying, this is way more than I can handle alone. So, I reached out to my kids and grandkids to help. Do you know what? They helped me make short order of the 'tearing down' part of the job and I am confident they will help me make short order of the 'putting together' part of this job, as well. Why did they come? I acknowledged my need. There was a day I would have been too stubborn to do that, you know - but I am no longer afraid to ask. 

What changed? I think it is the realization that my need and my pride oftentimes are in direct conflict with each other. I need something, but my pride keeps me from asking. How about you? Do you ever have that conflict - afraid to ask because you don't want someone to know how deep your need really is? It took me a long time to get past my pride in life - to ask for help when I needed it - to fully appreciate the 'luxury' of giving and the 'blessing' of receiving. Yesterday, my BFF brought me enchiladas, rice, and an apple-cinnamon muffin. I could have nuked something for my meal, but with all the chaos in the house, she knew I needed that hot meal and that I needed it right when she brought it. Do you know what? The 'luxury' of giving is a blessing. The 'need' we have isn't going to be met if we never acknowledge it. Allow others the 'luxury' of giving - your life will be blessed when you do. Just sayin!

Such as I have

Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much. 

(Erich Fromm)

I have asked individuals what they have to 'give' in life - what it is they could share with others - only to find they don't believe they have anything 'worth' giving. That is indeed a sad state of affairs, isn't it? To believe one has nothing worth 'giving' - nothing they can invest in the life of another, nothing that would help the situation, nothing at all that they would deem of 'worth' to anyone else. It isn't 'what' we give as much as it is 'how' we give. God always reminds us that it is the attitude of heart behind the 'giving' that matters - not so much the thing that we give. We could give our time, but if we do so grudgingly is it really a gift? We could give our finances, but if we do it with a stingy heart because we don't think someone really needs it, is it given in love? 'How' is much more important than 'what', but trust me on this, we all have a 'what' that God is calling us to give!

Good will come to the man who is ready to give much, and fair in what he does. (Psalm 112:5)

Look at what our passage says again. Does it say that God comes to the man who is always giving much, or giving at all? No, it says God comes to the man or woman who is 'ready' to give much. In other words, God is concerned with the heart motivation - the ability may be there, but if the desire is wrong, the giving is really not what matters. God always focuses on the heart, because man's heart can get so fickle at times. We can get wrapped up in all the wrong things at times, making our heart a very mixed up and messy thing. Giving begins in the heart - there is more to giving than possessing something that someone wants or needs. There is this attitude of giving without strings - giving because it expresses the insanely large amount of grace and love God has lavished on this hard heart of ours!

Readiness to give is key here. We need God to help us move our attention away from the 'what' and help us to see more the 'how' of giving. As you may recall, there was a beggar by the waters one day as the disciples approached. He asked for a little hand-out of some coins because it was the only way he could support himself - his debilitating condition kept him from earning a day's wages. That moment defines very well the concept of the 'how' and not the 'what' of giving. Peter had been deeply touched by Jesus - his life had been transformed. His heart was grateful and filled to overflowing with the grace of Jesus. In that moment, he shows us that we don't have to possess the 'silver and gold' to give. "Such as we have..." is all we need! (Acts 3:6)

Readiness to give is a heart thing - it is more than what we possess in time, talent, or treasure. It is even more than our ability or capability. It is perhaps more about our availability to God than anything else. Our heart is only available to others when it is first available to God himself. When we open ourselves to him first, he leads us into opportunity after opportunity where it is clearly not 'what' we possess as much as it is 'how' we are possessed. It is the filling of Christ in us that makes us ready to give - get him in the right place in our life and we will be read to give no matter what we think we possess. Just sayin!

Get a little Biblical - why don't ya!

Contributions vary depending upon talent, time, or treasure - or at least that is what we'd like to think.
I have heard many a person hopelessly announce with a finality to their declaration, "I don't have anything to contribute." In considering what they "have" in the light of how they may compare to another, they see their own talents or treasures as "deficient". This is totally not true of any of us - we all have something to contribute! I believe scripture plainly addresses the issue. Each of us is given a measure of talent - NEEDED talent. It has a purpose - even if it is a small one 'compared' to someone else's. Look at the widow with the one tiny mite (not even a single penny). She gave it all - nothing compared to the "sizable" monetary offerings of the others who came to the temple that day, but it was EVERYTHING to her. Faithful hands and a yielded heart is all God ever wants. He isn't going to turn anyone away who comes with those two things!

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, "He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out." This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. (2 Corinthians 9:8-11)

Faith begin to arise from within us as we begin to yield our lives to God in whole-hearted surrender. As we "center" our focus and thoughts on him, we begin to feel the "settling" influence of his Spirit in our lives - first a little, then a little more, until we become 'solid' in our footing and beliefs. This very "settling" of our emotions (fears) begins to allow us to "rest" in him. This "rest" becomes the place out of which we begin to "give" out of what he has given to us. At first, the "giving out" from what God has given us may seem like it is small, and even insignificant, but it is a SIZABLE thing in God's eyes!

God can (and does) pour on the blessings - and he does it in ways so astonishing we may not fully be able to comprehend it! I have learned God seldom meets my need in the exact manner I imagined. In fact, he often has some other awesome way of meeting it which I would never have considered! One thing I know for certain - God is not limited by our imagination - and thank goodness for that! His presence in our lives makes all things different. His very presence is what gives us the ability to stand when we are weak, trust when all seems to be falling apart, give when it hurts, and reach out when retreating to a place of refuge would be so very much easier. It is God's unique way of blessing us - give and it shall be given - give again and it comes back in even bigger measure. God knows no limitations. I rarely get to the place of "throwing all caution to the wind", yet it is commonplace for God to do so! He delights in pouring into our lives - his presence, his peace, his love. Whatever the need - he is ready. What he gives, he desires to use as a blessing not only for us, but for those whose lives we will touch in turn. I honestly believe this is one small way he is able to show his limitless love and power! He uses his blessing in our lives to touch the lives of others (no matter how small it may seem).

We always have something we can give away. I frequently get the calls from the agencies who run the various thrift shops in town. They are seeking donations of used goods they might be able to sell within their various stores. The concept is simple (and it is kind of biblical actually). It is in the giving of what we have so that others are put to work in a productive manner. As the donation is made, the truck drivers have a mission (a purpose). The donation is sorted by others who needed productive work and income for their daily needs. The items are distributed to the various stores to be resold to those looking for that bargain find. In so doing, even this small gift of what we saw as no longer useful in our lives becomes a huge blessing to many, many others. The one who purchases the item is only the recipient of it after it has been a blessing to many others along the way! Throw caution to the wind, my friends! God wants both the things of our abundance AND of our need! He delights in seeing us give from our abundance, but he is overjoyed when he sees us giving out of "need"! In so doing, we are blessing him - but we also see the many blessings of others being touched by what God is doing in our lives. In learning to give in such a way, we are learning to live "robust lives" in God's goodness and grace! Just sayin!

Connect

There are those who feel they have very little to offer in this life - as though they have come to believe that if the contribution cannot be great, then the little doesn't matter. The very thing we have at our disposal may not be much at the moment, but in the hand of God, it is great! Over time, the small things add up - in the hands of God, the tiniest of things yielded to him can become the most magnificent things.

One day at three o'clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, "Look here." He looked up, expecting to get something from them. Peter said, "I don't have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked. (Acts 3:1-8)

When we live in such a way that our lives are a testimony to a hurting world around us, we will always be in contact with those in need - our paths will PURPOSEFULLY cross with theirs - because that passing is an opportunity for God to use what we have to be a blessing in their lives. God gives his people a sensitivity to the needs of individuals - not because we are better than others, but because we are connected to the one who can meet that need. We may not even know the one we touch - but the connection with Jesus that occurs in that touch is what matters. The beggar was taken to the temple daily in hopes that he would gather just a few coins from those going into worship that day. Those coins would sustain him another day - probably not long term, but definitely what he needed in the moment. He had no means to get there under his own power - reliant on others to bring him to his "place". In that placement of his cot on the ground at the temple gate, he was in the place where he constantly had to declare his "need". Daily, time and time again, he would declare his need. We would do well to take note of the heart of the beggar - not too prideful to express his need, not too complacent to do it again and again. It is his consistency and his boldness that gets him noticed!

The disciples are on their way to daily prayer - a practice they had developed that they were consistent to engage in. They had one "mission" in mind as they were walking that path that day - yet, the Lord had another "mission" in mind. They likely did not set out to find a beggar or take notice of his need. They set out to find some time with Jesus and in turn, came face-to-face with one in need. It is not uncommon that when our "mission" is to seek Jesus, our path will be intersected frequently by those in need. The disciples are also consistently aware of their environment - they heard the request of the beggar asking for something to get him by another day. The beggar's expectation was that his cup would be filled just a little - God's plan was to fill his cup so full that it would spill over! It is often the case that we expect to see our need met one way while God has a completely different way of meeting that need. There were likely hundreds on their way to prayer that day - the potential for a few "mites" being dropped into the cup was definitely a possibility for the beggar. The disciples probably had no idea that they were on their way to a miracle service and the beggar likely had no idea that this was his day for a miracle!

It took only a moment to connect the beggar with the source of all authority and all the resources for his need. Yet it took both the sensitivity of the disciple's spirit and the desperation of the man's heart to make that connection. We often call this a "divine moment" - the moment when God reaches deep into the place of a man's need and changes him forever. The words of Peter, "Look on me", required the obedience of the beggar. I imagine he had been so accustomed to begging that he probably did not really know the faces of his benefactors. Today would be different! His attention is turned expectantly toward the voice of the one he believes will meet his need. Imagine his impending disappointment when Peter began with, "I don't have a penny to my name..." BUT...imagine his rising faith when he heard, "But what I do have, I give to you!" Oh, I am so overjoyed for those moments when God connects our seeming "lack of resource" with his great storehouse of power! All God ever asks of any of his disciples is to put to use what you DO have. We can bemoan all we think we DON'T have - but God wants us to delight in sharing what it is that we DO have! In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk! Those were miracle words to a lame beggar. Those were "connecting" words for a yielded disciple and an expectant heart in need. In that moment, God's power was released. We cannot avoid the moment of connection - it requires our sensitivity, our willingness to yield, and our obedience to make the connection with that one in need. It is our calling as his disciples to bring those in need into the place where they "look expectantly" upon Jesus for the provision of their greatest need.

You may not have silver or gold. You may not have amazing glamour or glitz. You may not have PhD or college degree. BUT...such as you have, give! Just givin!