I’ve been thinking about the end of our time of fasting and the efforts we’re making to reach our community. As of now we’ve raised about $6,000 in our offering for the poor and I am once again blown away by the faithfulness and generosity of our tribe. It has been one of the joys of my life to serve such a brilliant and compassionate community and I really believe God is just getting started.

If I can be really honest though it can be hard sometimes when we look at the scope of the need. Even just in our own community with the opioid epidemic, the lonely and lost living in isolation, the families that need hope – there is so much to do and if we’re not careful we can be overwhelmed. “What can I do to change it?”can become our answer in the face of such great need.

Today I was reminded of Moses speaking to the Lord at the burning bush in the Sinai. He had come to a similar place. He even tried to do something, albeit rashly, to stop the injustice he saw and it got him nowhere… run out of town! Until he encountered the Lord. As he met with the Lord, he was drawn into the purposes and plans of the Creator, and it scared him to death. I’m pretty sure if we had the same experience we’d be shaking too.

Moses makes his argument to God – “What if they don’t believe it’s you sending me?!”, “I’m not so special and I can’t even speak well!” God’s response is one we see so often in the pages of scripture. It is simple… it is truthful… it is all he requires of us.

“What is that in your hand, Moses?”

You see God wanted to show Moses that even though his strength was small, God could use it to do much. As he told the Apostle Paul, “My strength is made perfect in your weakness and my grace is sufficient for you.” We don’t have to know all the answers, we just have to trust that when we’re walking with him, even our meager lunch can feed 5,000. It’s not about our abilities or having all the answers. I mean, we don’t even know all the right questions to ask! But over and over we’re confronted in scripture with His ability:

• To the people we’ve been studying in Zechariah, building the temple, He says “Let your hands be strong.”
• To the hapless Gideon who couldn’t take care of himself, let alone save a people, He says “Go in the strength that you have.”
• To Joshua who took on an overwhelming mantle of leadership, He says “Be strong and courageous. Tomorrow I will do amazing things in your midst.”

I want to challenge you to never hold back from where God is leading. Will it cost something? You bet it will. Will you gain Him in exchange? Absolutely. Let’s keep pushing to follow Him in everything and trust him for the results.

As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 in the Message “It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving.”

Let’s continue to do all things unto Him who is worthy of our best, even when we can’t see how it will all play out. Let’s live with great faith for His promises to come true!

Blessings,
Pastor Ryan

If you wanted to join in on our offering for the Poor, there is still time. We will be accepting donations this weekend in our morning service at 10:30 AM Sunday, or you can us our online giving form and select the “Alms” fund to donate to this special offering.