Stick 'em up!

In our Bible study this morning we covered Exodus 17-20. Every day we choose a scripture passage, write our observation, an application, and a prayer based on what we read. I chose as my scripture this morning, Exodus 17:1-13:

Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sword.

Prayer is the foundation of our work as believers, and especially as leaders in the kingdom work that we do. To start a day without prayer is to start with at least two strikes against you. To end a day without prayer, it's your third or thirtieth strike. For that reason I urge pastors and pastor-parish relations committees to take seriously the role of prayer and how we need to enlist others to help us pray. If every PPRC would join their pastor in his or her prayers, the work of that pastor would be greatly blessed.

Some pastors form an Aaron and Hur Society, a group that meets weekly to pray for the work of that pastor. They know that as pastors our work is blessed when we lift our hands and hearts in prayer, and like Moses we sometimes we can't hold our hands up and we need folks on all sides of us to hold our hands up with their prayers.

My prayer is to be a part of that work that you do, to the point you will find those who will join you in praying for you and the work you do.

Be blessed!

Stewardship as Worship

As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the Temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," He said, "This poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."(Luke 21:1-4)

OBSERVATION: Giving is a spiritual matter between God and us. It is a part of our worship life and reflects, or should reflect, the love and trust we have in God. We should give eagerly and excitedly, with joy, gratitude, and with love, the first of what we receive.

A modern example might read: Jesus is sitting by the electronic kiosk set up by the church that will sound out electronic tones to match the size of the gift, much like the loud startup music of the old Pac-Man game. Here comes Warren Buffet. Wow! The sound is overpowering! Here comes Carlos Slim, again, electronic heaven with his gift. Then comes Bill Gates, and Red McCombs. A concert of heavenly music triggered by their gifts. Then comes an unknown little lady, whom everyone knows had lost her husband many years ago. She has no credit card nor bitcoin; she has two pennies, and the kiosk is not geared to receive coins, and so places them in a tattered box that used to have a sign that said, "Need a Penny? Take a penny! Have a penny? Leave a penny!" It is her gift that triggers the symphonic rich sound of God's Son, Jesus, as He says, "We have a winner! This lady gets it! She has out given everyone. The others gave out of their wealth, and they'll still be all right; this lady gave everything she had, everything she had to live on."

APPLICATION: Our true worship with our finances will reflect where we stand, and whether we walk or not, with God.

PRAYER: Loving God, let my faith grow to live and give as I should. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.