Sunday, November 8, 2009

Giving it my all

The gospel lesson for today's worship service came from Mark 12:41-44.  Basically Jesus was in the temple with some others.  These rich people were pretty much showing off by how much they were giving the church.  Then in came a widow who had very little, just two little coins worth less than a penny.  She gave all that she had to the church.  Jesus then says to his friends that this woman who gave so little gave much more than those rich men who gave so much.  He encourages us to give all we have to God.

Is he really asking us to give all of our money and worldly possessions?  Of course not!  This passage says to me that I am to take all that I have an honor the Lord.  Everything I have comes from the grace of God, so it's only right that I give back to others with not just my money, but my time and tallents. 

A little over four years ago we were trying to buy a bigger house.  Five kids and two adults were rather cramped in the 1000 sq ft bungalow that we used to call home.  We found a house that was perfect for us in a great neighborhood.  I drove past it often and hoped it would work out.  We made an offer on the house and waited for a reply.  I then parked in front of the house and prayed.  "Please, Lord!  Please help us to get this house.  If we get it, I will dedicated a whole room to You!"

Less than two months later, we had sold out little house and moved into the larger house.  You can't even imagine how much I love having four toilets with five daughters!  But then my promise came back to me.  A whole room dedicated to God???  What was I thinking?  I wasn't!  I can't have a room with crosses everywhere.  A large picture of Jesus on my wall?  That wasn't me!  I can't believed I promised my Lord that I would build a shrine in my living room!

But then it hit me...  Honoring God is not done with bling.  Honoring God comes from the heart.  Honoring God comes from serving others.  I would honor God by creating a welcoming home.  A home where visitors would feel welcome, where they would feel love, where they would feel God. 

I'm not sure if our visitors have an epiphany when they walk through our door, but like the woman with the two small coins, I'm going to give it my all!

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