Sunday, September 5, 2010

Words of LIFE: Small Things, Big Blessings

 
 
Words of LIFE

Small Things, Big Blessings
By Dwayne Weehunt

Sometimes it is hard to wonder how people can live in the kind of suffering that we encounter in the slums of the world. We ask God, "What do you want us to do? The need is so great."

Sometimes we see pictures of children smiling and laughing amidst all of this, but God revealed something to my heart once -- and this is the miracle of working in the nations: God will increase any gift given in His name.

Years ago on a trip to Haiti (with Terry and Rhonda Redmon, James' son-in-law and daughter), we spent some time with our interpreter, who grew up in Cité Soleil, one of the largest slums in Port-au-Prince. It was a massive slum and because it was under sea level, it filled with water when it rained. It was just nasty.

All week long, as we were out doing small crusades, our interpreter kept telling me over and over how God had given him a new house and how blessed he was. He described it in a similar way that you or I might describe it if someone had given us a house in a very affluent area. He was so, so blessed.

On the last day of our trip He invited us to come visit his house. We went to a large mansion compound that once belonged to some kind of land baron. But instead of leading us into the big, beautiful house, he lead us to this jail area where, in times past, they locked up their slaves. He was staying in one of these rooms and it still had bars on the door!

This guy stood in front of his home with his arms spread and the biggest smile on his face. He said, "Brother, welcome to my home!" I am not kidding you, it was like God invaded my heart and said to me, "You know, Dwayne, you could live here, but you would be suffering for me. He lives here and he worships me. He's blessed."

I was so impacted by this and thought, "God, do you really want me to live in a place like this?"

We have seen time and time again how people in India are so blessed by even the smallest gesture of love. It is not about what you give them, but about the heart with which you give it. It is all about the Father's heart and the expression of the Father's heart. How much more will they not be blessed when they realize that Jesus did something far greater than just giving them a meal, providing fresh water or educating their children, but that He loves them and cares about them personally!

We know that God wants to do something about the suffering. That is why He makes every outreach possible despite persecution and through the challenges the enemy devises to discourage His church.

I firmly believe the scripture in Psalm 12:5 where the Lord says, "I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do." And I firmly believe John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

God wants to bless all nations beyond our wildest expectations, and He wants us to be a blessing to others.
 

Dwayne Weehunt is LIFE's mission partner to India. He gave his life to the Lord in James Robison's office in November 1981. He and Leslie, his wife of 25 years, have 4 children.

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Thursday, September 2, 2010

Fw: Today's Upper Room Devotional

 
 
 

Thursday, September 02, 2010
Celebrate with The Upper Room Celebrate with us on Sunday, November 7! In 2010 The Upper Room daily devotional guide observes two milestones: 1 billion copies printed and 75 years of dynamic ministry. We invite your church to celebrate with us on November 7. Please visit our 75th anniversary web site to learn more.

Igniting Our Faith


Suggested Bible Reading
When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

-Matthew 17:14-20 (NRSV)


Today's Scripture

Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

-Matthew 17:20 (NRSV)



EARLY one afternoon my nine-year-old son asked me to cook hamburgers for dinner. I told him we could have charcoal-grilled hamburgers, and he was happy because he wanted to help light the charcoal. After 30 minutes, he was frustrated. He said, "Mom, I guess we won't be eating soon, and I'm hungry."

I told him, "Don't worry. All we need is to light a small piece of charcoal to get it going. It won't take long after that."

Lighting that small piece of charcoal reminded me of a spiritual retreat I had attended. I reflected on all the problems I'd been experiencing that had pulled me away from God, tested my faith, and stamped out the hope in my heart. The retreat was the spark I needed to ignite my faith and to confront the difficulties in my life. As a charcoal fire gets its start from a small piece of charcoal, our faith can be ignited by a small dose of love and the confidence that God will not abandon us.

Gabriela Marquez Gomez (Distrito Federal, Mexico)

Prayer
Faithful God, grant that in our love for you we will find the spark that ignites our faith. As Jesus taught us, we pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."* Amen.

Thought for the Day

Grill hamburgers and invite your neighbours for a meal.

Prayer Focus


Those who have lost their faith in God


*Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV).

Related Reading
Time Away

Discover the value of TIME AWAY. Exhale, rest, and spend time re-kindling your faith in God. Learn more about or purchase this book.



The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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