Unexpected Plunder

There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!  
2 Chron. 20:25

Jim shook the bank statement at his wife. “How is this possible?” he asked. “We’ve both been out of work for nearly a year, but look at this. We’ve actually got money left over this month. In fact, our balance is higher than it was when we were working. How can that be?” Jena glanced at their balance and shrugged. “I don’t know. You lost your job when you wouldn’t lie for your boss, and my company folded. Since neither was our fault, maybe God is just taking care of us.” Jim nodded. “…and then your aunt died and left us a little money, and those odd jobs that came out of nowhere…” They stared at each other until Jena broke the silence. “Only God could do this! He has provided for us even better than we did when we were working!”

When God gave victory to His people, He wasn’t stingy with the profits. Not only did they defeat their enemies, but God heaped treasures on them as well. Since God owns everything (Ps. 50:9-11), provision is nothing for Him. He also loves to be generous with His children, when He knows we won’t make idols out of His gifts. His provision often comes in unexpected ways, because He enjoys reminding us that He is working on our behalf. Those “coincidences” that came along at just the right moment were not accidents: that opportunity to make extra money, the medical bill that registered an unexpected zero balance, the sudden change of heart in someone you were praying for. God is creative in the ways He provides, even working through what we consider “natural means.”  But when God gets involved, the natural becomes the supernatural. 

  

How has God provided supernaturally for you? Take time to remember and thank Him for it.

Did I Miss Something?

“But we will be shipwrecked on an island.” Acts 27:26

 

It happens all the way through the Bible. God gives someone an instruction, they obey, and then Bam! Everything goes haywire. God called Abraham to leave his home and county and go to the land God would give him. Abe obeyed, and the next thing we know, there is a famine in that land (Gen.12:4,10). An angel told Mary she would be the mother of the Messiah, which must have incited pastel visions of glory, respect, and joy. Next thing she knows, she’s a pregnant single mom starting labor on the back of a donkey (Luke 1:31). When God promised Paul that no one would die in the storm, He did not promise a helicopter rescue. His next words were, “Oh, and Paul, you’re going to be shipwrecked on a foreign island.”

We often have the mistaken idea that obedience to God will result in a stroll through the rose garden. We have adopted the false idea that following God means our life here on earth will be easier. Many times, the opposite is true. What if Mary had said, “No thanks” to the Son of God because her obedience would result in heartache, embarrassment, and pain? If Paul had rejected the shipwreck idea, the entire island of Malta would have missed the gospel. We are only responsible for our obedience to God, not the results of that obedience. God is working behind the scenes to paint a bigger picture than we can see. When obedience is our goal, we don’t have to settle for human-sized results. We get to experience God-sized results.

 

Our question at the end of each day should be this: “Lord, was I as obedient to you today as I know how to be?” When the answer is “yes,” our part is accomplished. The results are up to Him.

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Whose Terms?

He twitched across the short lobby and shot me a grin.

I followed him into the counseling room and shut the door.

His hands shook and his knees knocked together as he tried unsuccessfully to hold my gaze.

"How high are you?" I began.

"Oh," he laughed and wiped a boney arm across his forehead. "No. I know how this looks, but I'm not high. No, I'm' always like this. Jis' nervous, I guess."

I lifted a brow and we took a seat.

He coughed. "I-I c-can see why you'd think that..."

"Are you clean?" I continued.

"Well, I'm gonna be honest with you, Ma'am. No, I-I did take a hit last night. Just one. Really small."

"Thank you for your honesty," I said. His continual jerking was making me tired.

I studied the blank page before me while he tried to fill out the intake sheet. I didn't need to write down my observations. I would remember this clearly when I typed up my session notes.

Meth addict. Heavy denial. Convinced he was fooling me and convinced he could have a beneficial counseling session while under the influence. He wanted what I had to offer, but he wanted it on his terms.

We spent a fruitless hour-and-a-half as I unsuccessfully urged him to get serious medical help. He shook his head patiently, as though he was speaking to a small, dim-witted child. "I can stop taking this any time. I just t-took a little to help with my depression."

"You are a man in shark-infested waters with a shark chewing off your leg. I am the Coast Guard. How smart is it to argue with the Coast Guard?"

He left with tears in his eyes. "I g-guess I hoped you could help me, tell me why I do this. Give me some tools. But I don't need no doctors, de-tox, or Celebrate Recovery. I know God can help me without all that."

I watched him stagger away, miss the door, and try to open the plate-glass window. My heart cried after him: Why won't you listen? I'd love to help you, but I can't like this.

We've all been like that meth addict at some point in our lives. We find ourselves in a pickle and cry out to God for help. He shows us His plan, His requirements for healing, the steps we must take to get back to sanity...and we balk.

"I want your help, God, but I want to do this my way."

It doesn't work like that. God watches us stagger away, miss the door, and try to open the plate glass window. And His heart breaks.

Satan convinces us we can hide our pet sins, our selfish choices, our willful goals from God and He won't care. After all, God is love so surely He will rush to help me when I call. Won't he?

And when He doesn't, we get angry. Pride calls the shots. Mankind has been trying to get to God on his own terms since the Garden and it has never worked. God offers all the hope, health, and healing you need. But only on His terms: drop the willful sin, humble yourself, stick to it, seek Him with all your heart.

It's easy to roll our eyes at the meth addict, but are you sitting there twitching and trying to convince God you're not as bad as He says you are? If you want help, it only comes His way.
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Are You Overwhelmed Yet?

The job is overwhelming!

A thousand things to do and only one YOU.

How can I...?

I can't possibly...

But...but...

Ever look at the task ahead and quake in your boots?

Inadequacy taunts as you gaze wide-eyed at all that lies before you.

If you are in the season of life when the job God assigned you seems waaaay bigger than the gifts he assigned you, then this post is for you.

Hope is found in the famous story of Jesus feeding the five thousand in John 6. I was singing the Inadequacy Song one evening when I came to this story. As I began to read, God spoke:

"Pay attention. I have something to say to you."

With each verse, the meaning became clearer.

The crowds who came to hear Jesus were hungry. It was late. There was nothing to feed them but one little sack lunch--bread and some little fishies. The disciples complained to Jesus: "This is all we have, but what is it among so many?"

"Do you understand?" the Lord asked me.

Yes. I'm the bread and fish. And I'm not enough for this job You've given me.

"That's right. You're not."

Jesus told them to bring the lunch to him. He took it and gave thanks.

"Are you thanking me that you are not enough? I made you that way so that I can do it through you. Thank me even when it looks overwhelming. It is then I am about to do My work."

And after giving thanks, Jesus broke the bread and fish and began to pass it out. It kept going and going until the thousands had not a taste, but were completely filled.

"You must stay humble and broken in My hands and when you do, I will flow through you. All those I bring to you will be filled. Their needs will be met. They will not go away empty."

I blinked at the words on the page, comprehension and gratitude filling my heart.

"Keep going."

After Jesus had done such a miracle, the people wanted to make him king right then. But knowing what was in their hearts, he slipped away to meet with his Father.

"Do you understand? When I give you success, the world's way is to exalt that success, capitalize on it, expand it, publicize it. But that is not My way. When you see it coming, slip away and meet with Me. Keep doing only what I've given you to do and then I can bless it."

I understood.

And ever since, He has done just that.

As I stay broken and humble in the hands of Jesus, He accomplishes far more through me than I could ever do by myself.

If I want Lea Ann-sized results, I can try to feed the multitude with what I have. But if I want to see God-sized results, I have to stay pliable in His hands, trusting Him to do everything through me.

He did it on that hillside and He continues to do it every day.

What size results do you want?
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