"God-enomics"

So today, I'd like to tell you a God story.


Once upon a time there was a family with 4 children.  The parents were 2 very hard working people who loved and served Jesus with all that they had and all of the children loved Jesus very much. They were blessed!


One day, the church that they were so very devoted to announced that they felt God leading them to multiply the ministry that they were doing so that others could hear about Jesus. This would take money. Of course this family was going to help, but you all know how expensive 4 children can be, especially when 2 are in college and the teenage boy eats you out of house and home. How much could they "afford" to give?


The pastor of the church challenged everyone to "wrestle with God" and really ask Him to direct their giving to the new adventure they were all on together. So, the mother and the father began to wrestle and asked their children to do the same. To do this well, everyone would have to give something.


The mother and father wrestle separately and the mother came up with one number (that she was comfortable with) and then one night god told her to double that amount. Not having talked to her husband, she was not sure how he would take the news. The husband, however, was doing his own wrestling and when they finally shared their numbers, his was double her doubled number. Quadruple the original number that she was "comfortable" with. With a gulp and a prayer, they committed. If God wanted that much, surely He would provide a way for them to give it.


The family agreed to less meals out, PB&J was their new best friend. They agreed to buying the "store brands" instead of the name brands of food, and to cutting off their over abundance of TV channels. They would make it work and give happily to make sure more people knew the Jesus they loved so much.


The mother pondered how they would ever get out of the debt that they had, when they would be giving to the church the money that would enable them to do so. But God assured her she could trust Him with that as well.


One day, not very long after they committed, the husband called the wife with some news. he told her that even in an economy that was not treating his business well, his bosses had recognized the hard work that we was doing and they wanted to give him a raise. They raise that he received would almost cover the amount that they felt led to give to the movement to multiply.


Well, with tears of joy, she realized that God had a plan all along and had provided a way for them to not only give beyond their means, but to start working on their debt. God-enomics at work again. She praised Him for His goodness and faithfulness in their lives.


So, the moral of this story, trust God with everything that you have. All of it! He can be trusted and has a wonderful plan to be glorified if you will give it all.


And if you are reading this and have been in the wrestling process. Maybe you have come up with a number you are "comfortable" with. God doesn't call those that love him to be "comfortable", He calls them to follow Him with reckless abandon and to trust Him. You might want to wrestle a little more and then be still and listen to how He is calling you to respond.


Not that I'm looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity. Philippians 4:17 (the message)

Ministry is Hard!

My bible reading right now is taking me through the journey of the Israelites through the desert. Man, Moses and his other leaders had a hard job! They tried their very best to follow the will of the Lord as He was guiding them to the Promise land, and yet the people complained. They saw the evidence of God working in such tangible ways and still they chose to gripe and rebel. 


I have felt for a very long time like I am called to be like Aaron and Hur in Exodus 17, when they held up Moses' arms in the desert to help the people fight the battle. Moses was asked by the Lord to keep his hands raised high in the air as Israel fought and every time he dropped his arms they would start to lose the battle. So as he got tired, Aaron and Hur came to his side to hold up his arms and give him strength. I feel like God has called me to that roll in support the senior leadership of several churches I have been in over time, including the one I am in now. I feel very protective over the leadership God has placed over me and will do what ever I can to lift them up and help them. That part is easy for me. 


But some days I feel like Moses. Lately, I have been doing it a lot! I want to cry out the same way that Moses did when he told God he was not strong enough to lead the people God place in his care. I want to remind God that ministry is to hard some days, as if He didn't know this already. I want to beg Him to take the target off my back, until I remember He asked me to take up my cross daily and follow Him - His cross was not easy to bear and He didn't call me to a life of "easy." 


I guess when I take a step back and look at things a little removed, I am not surprised I have been feeling this way. God is moving in a powerful way and doing amazing things at our church right now. Of course Satan will try to derail and distract - especially people in leadership positions. 


A dear friend emailed me last night and asked if I had been experiencing any spiritual attack as I prepare for a fairly significant night coming up soon. I hadn't thought about it until that very moment. Hadn't seen it for what it was. I was content to have my little pity party (not unlike Moses sometimes).


So today, I have decided to change my prayer. Today I will pray for God to open my eyes to see every situation for what it is and to keep my focus on him. I will pray for Him to give me wisdom to lead those He chooses to put in my path. I will pray for wisdom and ask Him to help me have as much grace for others as He has for me. But most of all, I will pray that He use me up for His glory no matter how hard it is and tired I get. And if my arms get tired of the fight, I pray he will bring me people like my dear friend who will lift me up and help me to keep moving forward in the task that God has laid before me.


If you read this today, remember to pray for your leaders in ministry. They have a hard job (far more difficult than most people know). I am praying for mine right now.