Give It Away

Finances-
One of the challenges for this year is to give my money sacrificially for a specific purpose.  I have been trying to use all of my bank account each month on things that glorify the Lord so that there is no money just sitting around that could be used for ministry.  For the last three months (this one included) I have reached the point of having nothing left to give, which is really cool!  Last month in particular, I was worried about how I would have enough the next month to really be able to give things away again, but the Lord faithfully replenished the funds.  This month, I have started planning a wedding, so things are getting harder.  I have a choice- I can continue to live in this radical way and view my money as something that does not belong to me, or I can abandon my goals of ministry and start focusing inwardly instead of outwardly.  I want to do the first, but it is easy to do the second.  In the midst of all of this, I am learning that my specific purpose is simply to understand the true value of the money I am given.  The purpose for me- what I need to learn- is to not hold so tightly to things of this world.  I want my heart to be willing to give and not hesitant.  Even when expenses are unexpected or not part of my plan, I want my first response to be thankfulness for the blessings the Lord has given me.  This money is not my own.  God has provided and will continue to provide.  I'm so thankful that He continues to teach me and refine me.

2 Kings 3-4:17
The kings of Israel and Judah unite, along with the king of Edom, to go against Moab.  On the way to Moab, there was no water for the armies or animals so the kings thought they would be delivered to Moab, but Elisha came and told them from the Lord that He would fill a dried up stream for them and give the Moabites into their hands.  So, they had water and then victory.  Then Elisha speaks to a widow who is miraculously able to fill up many jars with oil from one single jar so she can sell the oil and provide for her family.  There was a woman who would take Elisha in and offer him a place to stay as he traveled.  She even went so far as to make him his own room on the roof.  Because of this he inquired what could be done for her.  Her husband was old and she had no children, but after Elisha spoke with her, she conceived.

Acts 14:8-28
Paul and Barnabas are traveling and sharing with all people.  In Lystra they healed a man, but then the crowds of people began to worship them and praise them as gods.  P and B were devastated.  They tried to make the people understand that these things happened by the power of the Lord.  Then, some Jews came and the people stoned Paul and drug him out of the city because they thought he was dead.  Can you imagine, being stone to the point of death?  It makes the things I "suffer" seem pretty insignificant!  But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went with them.  They encouraged and spend time with the disciples and it is really cool to see how the early church interacted and worked.

Psalm 140
David is asking for deliverance from and wrath upon his enemies.

Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.