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It keeps Pouring

2 Kings 4:1-6 (NRSV)

“Now the wife of a member of the company of prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but a creditor has come to take my two children as slaves.” Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house, except a jar of oil.” He said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not just a few. Then go in, and shut the door behind you and your children, and start pouring into all these vessels; when each is full, set it aside.” So she left him and shut the door behind her and her children; they kept bringing vessels to her, and she kept pouring. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” But he said to her, “There are no more.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your children can live on the rest.”

Six short verses with much impact. What do you do when you can’t do anything else? You get to one that can help. I like how this shows us - us at times. We all have been there- needing help. 

Elisha asked what could he do for her? That’s a big ask. And then he narrowed it now to what did she have. Can you see how she would be able to participate in her own aid? She just needed Elisha’s guidance. Yes, his miracle, but when we begin to see miracles all around us, they become everyday occurrences.

She got the jars from her neighbors, that’s conversation- relationship. We need that in life. But when it was time to work she had to close the door with only her and her sons. You know I think that had some of the neighbors came to see what would happen - it would not have happened. I’m thinking too many skeptics. Too many with no faith. Anyway. .  

So yes, the oil kept pouring as long as there were jars.  My my. The widow was to sell the oil, pay her debts, and they would live on the rest.

That’s the promise. When we have faith in God, it keeps pouring. Your ‘it’ keeps pouring. He allows us to participate in our healing. The participation is our faith. As long as we believe we see what God is doing. And we can trust even when it gets hard- because it will. enough for now.

God Chaser

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile” (Jer. 29:11-14 NRSV)

Let’s revisit this passage. Yes, he knows his plans for us - but it’s hard sometimes to allow him to show us. I think that’s why he gives us pieces at a times. And we must listen - we must learn to listen. Oh but when we do- then we have an assurance- that no matter what- God already has it covered. 

So what do we do with this? We watch for what God is doing in our lives. We seek him. Bottom line. It all lines up. We seek God- above anything else. Everything flows out of our seeking God. We seek him with all our heart. And when we seek him, he allows us to find him - over and over. In the book, the “God Chasers,” by Tommy Tenney, he says We chase God, he allows us to catch him, and then he lets us go, and we chase him again. The things is that he will always let us catch him. My my. 

God restores us. There is nothing more to say. We are restored. We are the  restored. Spend time today to watch what God is doing. Look at how it connects. enough for now.

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Who then?

Psalm 124

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side

—let Israel now say—if it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us, then they would have swallowed us up alive,

when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away,

the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters.

Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken,

and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

This is thanks for Israel’s deliverance. But this is also thanks for our deliverance. “If it had not been for the Lord on our side- where would I be?” Take time today and thank him for all he has done, is doing, will do. 

Blessings of joy and peace to the fathers!! And yes! Thank you to the Father for keeping us. If not him-who then? enough for now.

Time

Ecc.3:1-11 NRSV

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 

What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”

Just as we all have a life season - our time to be born and to die, there are so many seasons intertwining our lives. Yes, it is wise to recognize the season and when it is over, recognize that in order to move on. 

We can’t keep pouring into a season that is done- you know trying to revive it. Trying to make it fit.  The seasons are indeed a mystery and each one serves a purpose in our lives. 

I like how Henri Nouwen likens the season to God as a trapeze artist. He swings us out and lets us go- to soar! And as we are soaring just when we begin to wonder- he catches us!  Oh the soaring. And then he swings us again- to again soar- and he again catches us. 

Here’s the thing- when he lets us go to soar, we can’t soar if we grab him at that point, if we can’t trust what he’s doing with us at that point. And yet he catches us. 

This is a season of transition for some of us. Let’s go with it is and watch what God is doing. enough for now

Bless Him

 Psalm 33:18-34:3 NRSV

“Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, 

on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield. 

Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, 

even as we hope in you. . . 

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Although these are two different Psalms I love how they fit. Oh yes, it feels good to know that God watches and keeps us. He gives us favor. Not that he favors us alone but each of us has his love, his divine favor. 

When we can recognize that alone, then we can bless the Lord at all times, praising him continually. Watching him move and thanking him in the good and bad. Loving him not as he loves us, yet because he loves us. We can’t love him like he loves us- we don’t have the capacity. Aww, but we are mighty thankful of all he does. Let’s keep a praise on our hearts and our lips. enough for now.

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