Tag: humility

Faith, Jesus

The Widow’s Offering

meghanewhite

I had a moment the other day. A moment of feeling less than. I usually try to keep my eyes on God, and just focus on what is in front of me. In my weakness, I looked around and saw everything that I wasn’t. Lord, how am I going to do what you’ve called me to do? I don’t have some huge sphere of influence. I don’t have thousands or millions of followers. I will never be that. My gifts are small.

Immediately the Holy Spirit said, “The Widow’s Offering”. I knew exactly what that meant. Right away I pictured a woman with two coins in her hand giving her small offering. This is not a Bible story I have read recently. I’ve never even given it much thought until now.

The Widow’s Offering

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Mark 12:41-44, NIV

When Jesus was watching all the people leave their temple offerings, He knew each person’s heart. Jesus knew how much money each one gave and why. Jesus noticed what no one else did. While everyone was probably looking at the wealthy throw their money into the temple treasury, Jesus noticed the widow. 

The wealthy were impressive with their large amounts of money being deposited. It made a lot of noise as it went into the box, and made them look great. But Jesus paid close attention to the widow, not to the wealthy. That does not mean the wealthy do not matter. In that instance the widow stood out. Her offering was everything she had. When the widow dropped those two coins in, only Jesus noticed.

Why?

Because Jesus knew what she gave and He knew her heart. She was poor and a widow. That’s a double whammy in that world. Yet, with everything against her, the widow gave her two small coins. The widow had great faith, so much so that Jesus said, “she put more in the treasury than all the others.”

God always sees what we do not. The widow’s tiny offering was counted as more than all the others. She gave sacrificially, out of love. The wealthy were giving out of ease and obligation. It was no real sacrifice to throw in large amounts of money. 

The widow had big faith. She could have easily held on to her last two coins, but she didn’t. She gave her best. The widow gave it all to God. She trusted God to take her insignificant offering and do something great with it. 

I want the faith of the widow. So many times I take my two small coins, shine them up, and hand them to Jesus. He never turns them away. Then there are days and moments, like I had the other day, where I doubt myself. I doubt that God can use my tiny offerings of my writing, my prayers, my time. I drop my coins in thinking they are unnoticed. 

What I consider a meager gift is seen as a treasure in God’s eyes. He knows our motives. He knows our hearts. He also knows what abilities, and resources we’ve got. He gives to each of us differently. My best for God may look completely different than yours. 

The widow was a woman in need, yet she gave God everything. I want to give God my best. No matter how small that may look. No matter if all I’ve got to give Him is two small coins. I want to give God my best when it’s all I have left.  

God will take what looks like not enough and make something beautiful. 

Love you all,

Meghan 

 

Father God,

Thank you that you see things we cannot. Help us all to give you the best of our time, our money, our gifts and talents. May we glorify you in all that we do. Take our best, even if it’s two small coins and make it something great in your Kingdom.

Amen

 

Photo by Javon Swaby on Pexels.com

Faith, Trials, Uncategorized

It’s Not Easy

meghanewhite

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Wouldn’t it be so nice if life were easy peasy? Smooth sailing. No valleys, only mountain tops. No trouble, only good times. No sadness, no heartache, no trials, no pain of any kind. Wait a minute, I just described heaven. Life is not easy. It’s not meant to be. There are days when I want it to be easy. Then God gently reminds me that this is not my home. And yes, it’s hard on this side of eternity.

I’m tired this week. Processing my mom’s death and trying to get back to “normal” (whatever that is) has been challenging. I hit a breaking point the other day. I woke up overwhelmed. Exhausted emotionally, and spiritually. I had to step away from everything. Take a breather, and ask God to start me over again.

The great thing about coming to the end of ourselves is God meeting us in our weakness. We don’t like it. I know I don’t. I want to always feel strong, always feel full of faith. When everything slips out of my grasp, the Lord is there waiting to catch me. He gives me the rest I need. He listens to me as I pour out my heart to Him. He never loses patience with me, or shakes His head in disappointment.

My weakness draws me to my Savior. I am reminded again how much I need Him. I really can do nothing apart from Jesus.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (john 15:5, NIV)

He is the vine, I am just the branch. And if I’m in the pruning phase, then I need rest. This little branch is tired, but still here.

It’s not easy, but God is always good. He never changes.

“For I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6a, ESV)

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, ESV)

My goal as a Christian, is to daily surrender all to Him. To take up my cross. (Luke 9:23) Most days I’m pretty bad at surrendering. I’ll get there, one day. Probably my last day on earth. Hahaha! I’m so glad God is running things, and not me.

If you’re having a not easy time lately, like me, be encouraged. As difficult as life can be, we are right where we are supposed to be. So much good can come come out of the hard times, if we allow God to work in our lives.

God is on our side, and working ALL things out for our good.

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, HCSB)

The world tells us to be strong. Be independent. Just do it, yourself. The Bible paints a different picture. Weakness in ourselves, means strength in Christ.

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10, NIV)

There’s no place I’d rather be, then strong in Christ. It takes my weakness to get there. So, I accept my limits. I accept my weakness. I accept that it’s not easy. And I gladly surrender myself to Christ. With Jesus, I’m strong.

Love you all,

Meghan

 

P.S.

If you need prayer please go to my contact page. I would love to pray for you!

Faith, God, Obedience, Uncategorized

Cast Your Cares On Him

meghanewhite

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Anxiety. Depression. Fear. Worry. I see the same issues over, and over again on social media, and all over the internet. Friends and family are struggling with these things too. I’ve had my own issues with worry over the years. I am quite good at it at times. We are all dealing with problems. As Christians we are not immune from trouble. Jesus tells us we will have trouble in this world, but to be encouraged since He has overcome the world (John 16:33). The trouble will come. I know that sounds like bad news. It is the reality of living in a fallen world. So how do we deal with the anxiety and worry about our struggles?

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”

Cast in Hebrew is from the root word shalak, and it means to throw, cast, hurl, fling. This changed everything for me years ago when I understood what cast really meant. This was a new revelation for me from the Holy Spirit. I had read this verse so many times over the years. Now, it has taken on a whole new meaning. If I throw, hurl, or fling my cares on the Lord I don’t have them anymore. He’s got them. And, even better, He will take care of me and won’t let me fall. But first, I have to throw my stress and worry on Him. This is not a question, or a suggestion. This is a command.

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Cast in Greek is epiripto. It’s definition is to throw upon, cast upon. Same meaning as the Hebrew word for cast. In the New Testament, the message repeats itself. Again, this is not a question, or a suggestion. This is a command. The verse just before this tells us to humble ourselves first, and that God will lift us up in due time (1 Peter 5:6). So an important part of throwing, or casting our anxiety on the Lord is humbling ourselves. It takes humility to let go of our fears and give them to God. This act means we are trusting Him to handle our anxiety His way. This can be scary.

Do I trust God to sustain me? His word is clear that He will never let the righteous fall, yet I hold on to my cares and burdens. For me, it’s about control and letting go. I want God to answer my prayers exactly how, and when I say. I have been a Christian long enough to know that it doesn’t work this way. I have to fully surrender to His plan every day. His plan for me is for good, and He always takes care of me. Always.

This is why it is so important to be in the word of God daily. Feelings and emotions can trick us into thinking God has abandon us. That is a lie. God is perfect. He will never let the righteous fall. We have to cast our cares and anxieties on Him. In fact, He tells us to do so. Throw, hurl, toss your cares on the Lord today! Now that’s a sort of shocking image. Tossing and hurling our troubles on the Lord. Once we cast our cares on Him they are His. Wow! God loves us that much! He is unbelievably good! Praise Him!

Now, I know this can be difficult to do. I can cast my cares on Him and then moments later take them right back. There is no limit to how many times we are to cast our cares on the Lord. If we have to cast our anxiety on Him every moment because the burden is heavy and the pain is so deep, then do it. No one on this earth can care for you the way God can. He’s telling us to throw our burdens on Him. Let’s take Him at His word, and do it!

Love you all,

Meghan