Just in time, ... this time.

"I hope I can find twigs to build a fire. I'm so weak. This is it for us." The widow drags herself along the city wall, frail and starving. She has enough food for one last meal for her son and herself.

There is no more after that.

She's sold what she could, scrounged off everyone she knows, and the bit of grain left in the bottom of the pottery is their last food. Elijah the prophet had called on God to prevent rain. Crops had failed. All her neighbors were in the same bind.

A man suddenly approaches her. The Bible tells the story: He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 

He has nerve, this older fellow. Asking for water in a dry land. For food in a place where everyone is starving. “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die. She's not happy with God, Elijah's God. What has he ever done for her? And Elijah, well, isn't hes the cause of all their troubles in the first place? He has nerve, asking her for help when she has nothing left. 

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.’"

She went away and did as Elijah had told her.  So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.

Elijah got hungry, along with everyone else. When his own food and water ran out, God sent him to ask for help. His request became a miraculous source for himself and others.

Both he and the widow found provision through their obedience. Yet, their story is not smooth from here on out. The son dies (dies! dies?), yet God... (well, read the rest for yourself in 1 Kings 17).

When God miraculously supplies our needs, we expect to sail into a fantasy future of peace, joy, and abundance. We forget that this world contains many other people. God gave each of us the privilege and responsibility of determining our life course, and that affects everyone around us. 

The daughter who gets pregnant out of wedlock touches her mother, father, lover, and that newborn forever. The addict hurts those watching the downward spiral with pain and scarcity. The philanderer tears the heart, breaking the security and trust of the spouse and family. The careless investor or splurging shopper plunges the family into financial ruiin. So none of us are "safe." What is safety, anyway?

The gospel says that in good times or bad, we have utter security. God, who gave humanity the freedom to choose right or wrong, is sovereign... when we gather a few sticks for our last breakfast. When we cry at the deathbed of a loved one. When our coffers are empty and the cupboards are bare. God can send an Elijah. Or he can walk, sits, and sleep alongside us in our suffering, knowing the decisions we have to make.

Scriptures have no easy answers to life's big questions. It shows only that the pattern of obedience to God, whether times are easy or hard, allows us to access God's provisions.

As Christmas approaches, I hope yours is merry and bright. I wish you GREAT joy and peace in 2012. And in times of trouble, my prayer is that God gives you a heart quick to turn to him, so that you recognize Elijah when he approaches you to ask for help.


Read more: (thanks, Tillie!)

*The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God. Psalm 14:2

*Jesus asked the disciples, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." Mark 8:29

*I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. John 12:46 NASB

Hymn by Philip Bliss:

The whole world was lost

In the darkness of sin,

The Light of the world is Jesus! 

 Like sunshine at noonday, 

 His glory shone in. 

 The Light of the world is Jesus!

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;

 Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

 Once I was blind, but now I can see:

 The Light of the world is Jesus!

No darkness have we

 Who in Jesus abide; The Light of the world is Jesus!

 We walk in the light

 When we follow our Guide!

 The Light of the world is Jesus!

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;

 Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

 Once I was blind, but now I can see:

 The Light of the world is Jesus!

Ye dwellers in darkness

 With sin blinded eyes,

 The Light of the world is Jesus!

 Go, wash, at His bidding,

 And light will arise. The Light of the world is Jesus!

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;

 Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

 Once I was blind, but now I can see:

 The Light of the world is Jesus!

No need of the sunlight

 In Heaven we’re told;

 The Light of the world is Jesus!

 The Lamb is the Light

 In the city of gold,

 The Light of the world is Jesus!

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;

 Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

 Once I was blind, but now I can see:

 The Light of the world is Jesus!

Philip P. Bliss

*Psalm 145:17-21 Haggai 2; Revelation 17:9-18

Moravian Prayer: Stir around us, over us, and through us, sweet Spirit, to carry us closer to the manger. Inspire us to seek all that is good, all that is pure, and all that is holy. Amen.

Just the right time

"Don't leave things until the last minute." I know, I know. But I'm pretty happy about mailing off a grant proposal with 10 minutes to spare on the dated postal stamp. I've been waiting for one official, sealed transcript from a college, and it hadn't come. 

I called Mom and asked her to pray. She did. Right then and there. I printed an excuse note for not having the transcript and slipped an unofficial copy into the envelope. I didn't seal it. God's done miracles before, I figured.

I called the post office to make sure they could put the date stamp on the envelope. "Sorry, ma'am. We've just sent the 2 o'clock mail out, and though we're open until 3, the rest of the day will be stamped "Monday." Great. I tried to call another post office, but their phone was constantly busy. I got through to a fax machine and checked the time. Oh oh. No minutes left. Take my chances.

I wasn't tense or upset by the time I got in the car. Whatever will be, will be... I had tried my best. 

As I backed out of the driveway, I looked over my shoulder to see if the UPS delivery had left it on the back porch. There was "a white envelope! I wonder..." I exclaimed, jumping out of the car. Sure enough. They had left it in the wet at a door no one uses ($32 overnight delivery last week) but at least it had arrived.

I got into a long line at the post office, but they gave me a confirmation slip that it went out the correct day. I made it home about the time they were closing. Whew. Life can be funny but things often work out in the nick of time.


Read more:

*Have you given the horse its strength or clothed its neck with a flowing mane? Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust? Its majestic snorting is terrifying! It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength when it charges out to battle. It laughs at fear and is unafraid. It does not run from the sword. The arrows rattle against it, and the spear and javelin flash. It paws the ground fiercely and rushes forward into battle when the ram's horn blows. It snorts at the sound of the horn. It senses the battle in the distance. It quivers at the captain's commands and the noise of battle. Job 39:19–25 NLT

*For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT