How do we know what God wants with us? What is it that He has created us to be, to
do?
How do we find His will, His desire, His vision for our lives?
These questions seem to constantly rouse Christians’ hearts,
sometimes with anxiety and concern, sometimes with hope and excitement. Whichever reaction you find yourself
experiencing,
it’s related to your belief about God. It might even be the
difference between
knowing about Him
and truly knowing Him.
Take the parable of the talents for an example.
Matthew 25: 14-30 is a story about
investment.
We’re told that “a man”
gathered his servants and delegated responsibilities to them depending on their
varying abilities.
Then he went away on
a long trip.
Upon his return he met with the three servants to settle accounts. The first
servant, who was entrusted
with 5 talents, doubled those assets.
The second servant was given three talents
and he likewise doubled the endowments.
Both were rewarded with
“entering into the joy of their master.”
The third servant… Well,
his end turned out different.
Let’s look at what he believed about the
master.
He judged him to be a hard
man.
This belief caused him to fear so
he hid his talent.
When the master asked
for an explanation he made excuses and returned what he had been given without
appreciation.
All was removed from his
cautious life and given to those
who were willing to take risks for the
master.
That third servant then lived in
outer darkness,
far removed from the master’s joy.
How does this apply to the questions of future and destiny that
rumble in our hearts?
1. God’s entrusted to you His best gift – life through Jesus Christ. He longs for you to live it with abandon.
2. When you don’t trust the Lord and live in fear of the unknown, you miss the opportunity to
fulfill the dreams of God.
3. When you risk a challenge in Jesus name,
invest your life in something beyond yourself,
you find you’re living in the Master’s joy.
This doesn’t guarantee liberty from suffering and trials.
On the contrary, it might even invite such hardships,
but your focus is not the outcome of your investment.
Your center is completely Jesus – a fulfillment that goes beyond human measurement of success.
Knowing Him defines “meaningfulness.”
So today,
invest you talent in simple, yet profound ways.
Look for God in the lives of those
who need His touch.
You might ask, “Who’s that?” Well, continue reading in Matthew 25; this is
a good place to start…
Instead of avoiding the hungry,
give them something
to eat.
Instead of ignoring the thirsty,
give them something
to drink.
Instead of walking passed the stranger,
invite him
to join you.
Instead of buying more clothes,
clothe the naked.
Instead of preserving your health,
serve the sick.
Instead of being selfish with your freedom,
visit
those in prison.
If
your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But
if you forget about yourself and look to Jesus, you'll find both yourself and
Him. Matthew
10:39
Love mercy,
do justly = His will, His
desire,
His vision for you.
Thank you for investing to help us show mercy to widows
and bring justice to orphans.
Below are photos capturing the meaning of our lives...
Teaching the lesson you just read to widowed moms.
Mark and one of our widowed mom's
lead a time of worship.
Prayer, encouragement and plans for serving the
fatherless with the widowed moms, church leaders and pastors.
Jacquline, a single mom
of six children from 14 to 4 (2 sets of twins)
sells mandazi on the streets to provide for her family.
It was a sacrifice for her to attend the DIG training
but she's committed
to know God and serve Him.
She's continuing to come to training;
she wants to keep learning.
Carole, a widowed grandma,
provides for her nephew's children.
She sells household linens on the street.
She graduated from the DIG training
with the dream to serve Jesus
by caring for orphaned children,
raising them to know their Father God.
Sharing the love of God with the
forgotten victims of this culture.
Now they see themselves as
citizens of God's kingdom, ready to take
the challenge of moving forward with Jesus.
A small orphaned boy that struggles with autism,
disconnected from those around him...
takes Tavin and Taleah's hands.
Jennifer, a feisty, four year old
orphaned girl with withered legs,
gets some big brother time with Tavin.
Moses, crippled and left abandoned in a ditch,
delights in blowing bubbles with Tavin.
Henry, abandoned because of cerebral palsy
has special time with Taleah.
They love playing together.
Discussing the future of 20 abandoned babies and
how to build an adoption network among churches.
Stopping on the streets
to share Jesus with a little one.
We appreciate your prayers, encouragement and support.
hugs from the haugers oooo
