Community // Provision // Acts 4
On Tuesday, we have community group. It's a weekly occurrence that my husband and I anticipate. I am so often reminded of how utterly blessed we are to be a part of a community of believers who build up each other, support each other, and encourage each other in their walks with God. As blessed as I have been by individuals in other Christian communities that I have been a part of in the past, there is a distinctness of character within this community. I have found a church with a body of believers who are united by a likeness of heart and mind.
On Tuesday, we read and discussed Acts 4. This is a well-read passage that despite its familiarity felt new in the context of my current situation. I was called to boldness and prayed for boldness, so this is my bold declaration of what the Lord can do.
The Lord unites what man cannot
"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul" (Acts 4:32, ESV)
I see the Lord working within our church of to unite our body of believers towards the purpose of bringing others closer to Christ through their actions and words. I see the Lord uniting us with servants hearts. I see the Lord stirring generosity in ways that make me feel so blessed and so little to be a part of this plan. I see the Lord using little people and little churches for big things for the kingdom. I see a desire for healing within our community and around the world. I see a united vision of sharing Jesus with the world through individual interactions and corporate service. I see united praising of the One who is faithful in all things.
The Lord multiplies what man cannot.
"And no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common" (Acts 4:32)
I see the Spiritual Gifts the Lord has given being fully utilized. I see a congregation who knows that their talents are not their own. I see a church desperate to give back the gifts they have been given. I see a people who are eager to serve. I see the Lord empowering us to do more than we could separately. I see the Lord blessing the lives of those who serve Him. I see the Lord being glorified for the gifts of individuals. It is not a communist community where each person is forced into material equality, but it is the Lord working in individuals and convicting their hearts to fill individual needs. It is sometimes as simple as the sharing of a meal and sometimes the grand gesture of a gift that cannot be repaid. It is the knowledge that every good gift comes from the Lord and because of this they are not our own, but should be given back to the Lord.
The Lord provides.
"There was not a needy person among them" (Acts 4:34)
I see constant generosity from the community we found at church. A few weeks ago we had a dodgeball tournament at church, and I was helping run the concessions. A man came up and gave the woman taking cash a twenty. When she asked how much change he wanted, he said, "Oh, this isn't for me. I'm sure that a few people here tonight couldn't pay for their dinners, so this is to cover a few of those". This is the kind of generosity that is common place at our church. This generosity is also seen in the service. Well over half the congregation serves in our church (I think it's 75% or more). The Lord provides for the church and uses individual abilities to serve the greater community around us. Each person who serves contributes to making every Sunday, every community group, every event run smoothly. Whenever there is a need for people to serve, God provides.
So often, we don't feel like we are giving enough back and maybe if that is the conviction of the Spirit, then you aren't, but I have found that God gives us everything we need and He equips us to give what others need. Recently, our 10% hasn't felt like much, but we have been able to give back to God by serving in His house. Sometimes God calls us to share wisdom that He has given us because someone else needs to hear what we experienced before them. Sometimes God calls us to share money. Sometimes God calls us to share talents. Sometimes God calls us to share time. Often, we do not know or see the ways God uses us, but if we are faithful to give back what God has provided us with, then He will use us in huge ways. I've been on the receiving end of this so often in the last few months and I can testify that there are so many little ways that God uses individuals to bless in ways that are not always evident. Our generosity can and must extend past our material possessions. It is often that the gifts God gives us are the exact gifts that someone needs us to give.
I want to testify to the Lord's provision. Two Mondays ago, my husband and I weren't sure we had the money to buy groceries. The very next day, we received payment for a canvas commission and the day after, we received our tax refund. On that Friday, I was offered a temporary full-time job. On that Saturday, Crown Group had the privilege of working with a local business owner for a photo shoot. Monday, I started my job. Tuesday, we received a canvas commission. Wednesday, we received our first cake commission from a referral. Friday, Kevin had two job interviews. Today, we completed a logo for a customer. Though each person who contributed to this story of provision may not have been able to see the bigger picture of the way they were working in our lives, God working through them to carry us through.
After months of feeling incredibly helpless, God has been showing me that he has given me gifts for a reason and that I need to use them and give them back to Him. After months of feeling insecure in my ability, God has shown me it is not by my power that I succeed, but through His provision.
Since Kevin lost his job, we have both been praying and clinging to Him, trusting that He has a plan. Without fail, every time a bill is due or we are running low on diapers or groceries, the Lord has provided through family and friends with the specific needs that we had. When it was bills due and we didn't know where the money was coming from, God provided cash. When it was Ephraim running low on whole milk, God provided whole milk. When it was diapers, God provided diapers. The Lord used the people in our lives to provide for our needs in unimaginable ways. Though each person who contributed to this story of provision may not have been able to see the bigger picture of the way they were working in our lives, God working through them to carry us through.
Throughout this trial the Lord has been faithful. He has shown Himself to us in ways I didn't know that I didn't know Him. In the middle of this trial, I see the Lord. I see that He will carry us through. Even in our darkest hour, the Lord has reached down and provided comfort for us. It is only through the fire that we may be refined. When Kevin lost His job, I felt powerless. I was sure the abilities God had given me were useless to help, but God has gently encouraged me to use my abilities and passions, even if it is just working in the preschool class at church or if it is something more daunting like baking for strangers. The Lord continuously provides exactly what we need both to provide for our physical needs and to provide for the needs of others through our abilities.
We may not be through this trial yet, but I am so grateful for the Lord's provision so far and grateful for the story He is writing in our lives. I'm grateful for the way He uses the little man and seemingly insignificant things to drastically change the world.
"Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength" (Isaiah 40:28-29, ESV)
On Tuesday, we read and discussed Acts 4. This is a well-read passage that despite its familiarity felt new in the context of my current situation. I was called to boldness and prayed for boldness, so this is my bold declaration of what the Lord can do.
The Lord unites what man cannot
"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul" (Acts 4:32, ESV)
I see the Lord working within our church of to unite our body of believers towards the purpose of bringing others closer to Christ through their actions and words. I see the Lord uniting us with servants hearts. I see the Lord stirring generosity in ways that make me feel so blessed and so little to be a part of this plan. I see the Lord using little people and little churches for big things for the kingdom. I see a desire for healing within our community and around the world. I see a united vision of sharing Jesus with the world through individual interactions and corporate service. I see united praising of the One who is faithful in all things.
The Lord multiplies what man cannot.
"And no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common" (Acts 4:32)
I see the Spiritual Gifts the Lord has given being fully utilized. I see a congregation who knows that their talents are not their own. I see a church desperate to give back the gifts they have been given. I see a people who are eager to serve. I see the Lord empowering us to do more than we could separately. I see the Lord blessing the lives of those who serve Him. I see the Lord being glorified for the gifts of individuals. It is not a communist community where each person is forced into material equality, but it is the Lord working in individuals and convicting their hearts to fill individual needs. It is sometimes as simple as the sharing of a meal and sometimes the grand gesture of a gift that cannot be repaid. It is the knowledge that every good gift comes from the Lord and because of this they are not our own, but should be given back to the Lord.
The Lord provides.
"There was not a needy person among them" (Acts 4:34)
I see constant generosity from the community we found at church. A few weeks ago we had a dodgeball tournament at church, and I was helping run the concessions. A man came up and gave the woman taking cash a twenty. When she asked how much change he wanted, he said, "Oh, this isn't for me. I'm sure that a few people here tonight couldn't pay for their dinners, so this is to cover a few of those". This is the kind of generosity that is common place at our church. This generosity is also seen in the service. Well over half the congregation serves in our church (I think it's 75% or more). The Lord provides for the church and uses individual abilities to serve the greater community around us. Each person who serves contributes to making every Sunday, every community group, every event run smoothly. Whenever there is a need for people to serve, God provides.
So often, we don't feel like we are giving enough back and maybe if that is the conviction of the Spirit, then you aren't, but I have found that God gives us everything we need and He equips us to give what others need. Recently, our 10% hasn't felt like much, but we have been able to give back to God by serving in His house. Sometimes God calls us to share wisdom that He has given us because someone else needs to hear what we experienced before them. Sometimes God calls us to share money. Sometimes God calls us to share talents. Sometimes God calls us to share time. Often, we do not know or see the ways God uses us, but if we are faithful to give back what God has provided us with, then He will use us in huge ways. I've been on the receiving end of this so often in the last few months and I can testify that there are so many little ways that God uses individuals to bless in ways that are not always evident. Our generosity can and must extend past our material possessions. It is often that the gifts God gives us are the exact gifts that someone needs us to give.
I want to testify to the Lord's provision. Two Mondays ago, my husband and I weren't sure we had the money to buy groceries. The very next day, we received payment for a canvas commission and the day after, we received our tax refund. On that Friday, I was offered a temporary full-time job. On that Saturday, Crown Group had the privilege of working with a local business owner for a photo shoot. Monday, I started my job. Tuesday, we received a canvas commission. Wednesday, we received our first cake commission from a referral. Friday, Kevin had two job interviews. Today, we completed a logo for a customer. Though each person who contributed to this story of provision may not have been able to see the bigger picture of the way they were working in our lives, God working through them to carry us through.
After months of feeling incredibly helpless, God has been showing me that he has given me gifts for a reason and that I need to use them and give them back to Him. After months of feeling insecure in my ability, God has shown me it is not by my power that I succeed, but through His provision.
Since Kevin lost his job, we have both been praying and clinging to Him, trusting that He has a plan. Without fail, every time a bill is due or we are running low on diapers or groceries, the Lord has provided through family and friends with the specific needs that we had. When it was bills due and we didn't know where the money was coming from, God provided cash. When it was Ephraim running low on whole milk, God provided whole milk. When it was diapers, God provided diapers. The Lord used the people in our lives to provide for our needs in unimaginable ways. Though each person who contributed to this story of provision may not have been able to see the bigger picture of the way they were working in our lives, God working through them to carry us through.
Throughout this trial the Lord has been faithful. He has shown Himself to us in ways I didn't know that I didn't know Him. In the middle of this trial, I see the Lord. I see that He will carry us through. Even in our darkest hour, the Lord has reached down and provided comfort for us. It is only through the fire that we may be refined. When Kevin lost His job, I felt powerless. I was sure the abilities God had given me were useless to help, but God has gently encouraged me to use my abilities and passions, even if it is just working in the preschool class at church or if it is something more daunting like baking for strangers. The Lord continuously provides exactly what we need both to provide for our physical needs and to provide for the needs of others through our abilities.
We may not be through this trial yet, but I am so grateful for the Lord's provision so far and grateful for the story He is writing in our lives. I'm grateful for the way He uses the little man and seemingly insignificant things to drastically change the world.
"Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength" (Isaiah 40:28-29, ESV)
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