I was sitting here reading the following Scriptures: Isaiah 55:1-5, Luke 9:1-3, 23-25, as I received an email today from a friend who is on the board to open a girls home in Albania. They are within 25k of having the reserves that the government requires for them to begin serving children. Over the last 12 years, God used finances as a tool in my life. It is a constant reminder of my need for HIM. The U.S. economic climate is being used for those same purposes as well. Our stock portfolios do not hold the same since of security that they once did. They never should have. We place our security in many things. Even in leading this ministry, oftentimes God ranks too low on the list. "It is up to my abilities, my contacts, my hard work." God says that HE shall provide ALL our NEEDS (not wants), according to HIS riches and HIS glory in Heaven. That does not negate my need for good stewardship and commitment to excellence. However, HE is the principle investor and shareholder in my life and this mission. God operates on a different economy. An economy where moth and rust does not destroy. I want to be invested there. That investment in not payed in a dollar amount, but with surrendering my life to Him. I become a Living Sacrifice for God. Living means that I am active and moving at His direction, not my own.
I have trouble being a Living Sacrifice. The problem is, Living Sacrifices often climb off the alter. I wander off and do my own thing. Or do God's thing my own way. God is the One who is at work. He is funding the projects here at WSBR and Albania. It is not natural for me to be concerned for the needs of Albania. I am swimming in daily and monthly needs of our own here at WSBR. But when my focus is on others and God, amazingly our needs are supplied. I got a phone call this morning from a friend that said that God had specifically put WSBR on his mind and he wanted to help. This happened with a 4 color newsletter, a banquet dinner, or a telemarketing campaign. I had never talked to this person about getting involved in what we do at the ranch. It was God prompting him to get involved in what God was already doing.
We are called to be available and obedient to God, for His good works and His glory. I am praying for God to show up. When He does, He gets the credit. When I show up, I tend to take credit for things that I played a very little part in. God is supplying ALL our needs,...here at the ranch and for what He is doing in Albania. All of these events today have been a good reminder of where I play my security.
ISAIAH 55
1 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
LUKE 9:1-3
1 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.
LUKE 9:23-2523 And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
