It seems most of the time, God reveals and provides opportunity without warning…

I was in Starbucks minding my own business, when a lady shows up with a couple large empty covered plastic containers.  A Starbucks employee proceeds to give her all the dated pastries for her containers and she hangs around at a table in front me sorting things out.

After a while, i get up to leave and go to work.  I stop in front of her and make comment that i bet she is going to make some people happy. She explains she is from the Saint Assisi or something catholic church and these pastries will go to feed the homeless.  As we are chatting about the local homeless shelter, i am doing a heart check and i think God is saying give her money.  You have to understand there was a time when giving from my excess was not challenging at all.  Today, i give from what i don’t have and i am very aware to give without God’s direction is stupid.

So as she is talking, i am thinking, “God.  Do you want me to give? i am not sure and i want to be responsible with the little i have.”  i am confident this thought was from God.  “Whether you give or not, you will know my will when you walk out the door.”  It reminded me of the times, i heard God and chose to ignore the opportunity to be used by Him.  I get that really sick feeling in my stomach that i just blew it.

Today, i was not going to blow it.  i reached in my pocket and pulled out the exact amount God had impressed on me (without counting).  I handed it to the lady and without a word, began walking out.  She yelled, “What’s your name?”  I wish i had said, “Jesus.”

“Today if you dare, tell me how a worm infested hungry aids child in Africa experiences abundant life.”~priest

Jamie Longoria

ouch Archie!!  You have just inspired my prayers with a new purpose…just a thought, according to your definition of abundance “God’s perfect will and purpose in one’s life” is it possible that their illness and starvation is part of the abundant life..in that it calls the attention, breaks hearts and motivates God’s people into action so that we can be transformed by the impact. In this case, it wouls seem, dispite human logic, that abundant life really has nothing to do with happiness. Still contemplating though..thanks for the food..

I posted this comment to my status in Facebook and in wonderment received these replies.  Click on comments and enjoy the dialog…

“Revelation presumes action seems certain,” ~priest

Some things are certain in life.  The thought that revelation presumes action seems certain.  Why else would God reveal truth?

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God’s Word is meant to be shared.  There are limitless venues from which God’s Word is propagated.  Sometimes, it is shared in traditional worship services.  Sometimes, it is shared “one-on-one” in personal relationship.  God’s Word is even shared by those yelling it from a street corner.

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I was in Honduras years back, helping to build a missionary compound.  We took a break and went into the small town near by.  There was a man standing on a street corner proclaiming God’s Word at the top of His lungs.  From the raspy sound in his voice, you can tell this was not the first time he had been out.  

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Jesus tells us that there are those who proclaim the Word and there are those who hear the Word.  For those that hear the Word, their life is forever impacted.  

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With revelation from God, action follows and life begins.  Satan goes to work attempting to destroy any good thing God is in the process of creating.  Many times Satan is successful in stealing the blessings intended for you and I.  

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Uniquely when we are steadfast in our walk with Jesus, we are blessed to produce fruit some thirty times, some sixty times and some one hundred times.  

 

As we begin the new year, hear God’s Word.  
Keep your eyes focused on Jesus.  
Believe He will walk with you through the storm.  
In Jesus name, bind satan.  
I pray God’s protection on you and your family.  
There is wonderful fruit just waiting to be picked.  

 

“The farmer sows the word. 

 

4:15 The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 

4:16 These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy. 

4:17 They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble. 

4:18 Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word, and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 

4:20 Those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times.” ~Jesus

 

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