What's In YOUR Hand?

 A national credit card issuer has a television commercial with a memorable catch phrase.  "What's in your wallet?" has a sing-songy appeal that manages to stay with you long after its thirty seconds of airspace has evaporated.  That is the great thing about catch phrases or jingles. For years, America has learned "There's always room for JELLO", "Don't leave home without it", and "It's everywhere you want to be".  Burger King said in the seventies, "Have it your way!" and America can remember it thirty years later.

Catch phrases, slogans and jingles are a vital part of commercial life because they serve to burn permanent communication onto our memories.  They in essence, write their words upon our hearts.  Isn't it amazing that once again, the natural world looks to spiritual principles to accomplish life altering purposes in the heart of man.

Actually, my reason for bringing this up reaches farther than the obvious - that we should be as quick to let the word of God become the life-changing catch phrases of our hearts.  There is also an element of God that comes forth as Rhema word to mankind.  Occasionally, the Holy Spirit will teach you a biblical principle, and then give you a creative thought to help you activate that principle in your life.  He will give you a catch phrase to keep you in remembrance of that principle. 

For example, there was a certain season when I have found myself praying for God to bring financial increase, to our church but also to my household.  Both arenas have a specific kingdom vision and purpose.  The major slowdown to that purpose is a simple matter of finances.  I am at that place where money answers all things.  I actually began to complain to God about the fact that He placed this huge vision in my heart.  He has given me all sorts of direction on what I am to accomplish and also what this church is to accomplish.  He just hasn't seen fit to finance the project at his point.  I even allowed myself a moment of comforting solace in the catch phrase,  

"Where God guides, God provides".  

  

After all, when God told Noah to build the Ark, He provided for the animals to gather together at the launching point.  That makes it easy.  I can rest in the comfort of knowing that when God is ready for me to do something, He'll make the way! AAAHHHH!!!

The question is, "Did God make the way, already?"  Throughout two decades of full time ministry, my wife and I have experience the hand of God at work in our financial provision.  He has brought forth many miracles in our life.  We have learned to trust Him with to provide for that which He asked us to do.  This fact frustrated me when all of the sudden I began to notice a decline in our usual financial position.  Such a decline has often proven to be the result of a missed or an ignored instruction from God.  I always look at such declines as a test at first.  They often prove to be just that.  However, when they continue, I begin to backtrack and determine whether or not I “missed the mark”.  I began to pray and ask God, "Where is the provision?"  His answer surprised me.  The Holy Spirit asked me a simple question.  "What's in your hand?"  In my head-strong state, I came back with a quick reply.  "Nothing!  You're God! Couldn't you have noticed that fact?  It is actually the reason I am having this conversation with you!" 

I am so glad that God is love.  He gently chastened me and informed me that although it is the reason I think I was having that conversation, He had created a much stronger reason.  He was looking at what was in my hand when I would not see what was in my hand.  He took me back to the place where the financial changes took place.  Looking back at that moment, He had led me into a specific opportunity - a business opportunity that I acted upon.  Shortly after I acted upon it, I encountered a distraction in another area of business.  In my frustration, I laid this opportunity down.  In the simple phrase, "What's in your hand?", God let me know that He had already answered a prayer for me but I ignored the answer and did not lay my hand upon the provision of that answer.  It opened the door for bitterness to enter my life.

How could that happen?  One of the most frustrating things that can happen to a kingdom citizen is to see and have purpose but have no way to approach that purpose and fulfill it.  God continued to open every door that He wanted me to walk through, but the provision to walk through those doors was hidden.  It was most frustrating to me.  I even felt like I was somehow failing God because I was not fully activating the ministry He had written in my heart.  Imagine how sheepish I felt when I realized that the hidden provision was actually hiding in my own desk drawer!

 God is also an encourager.  He sent someone to shine a light on that hidden place.  In my absence, He even allowed that opportunity a little growing room - just enough fruit to open my eyes to the provision He had provided for that simply needed tending and cultivating.  

 In this day and age of Christian life, there are many who are waiting for God to bring the supernatural provision He has promised.  They have sown seeds believing for harvest.  They look to God to "bring the Boaz" into their life and provide for them.  They forget that Boaz was attracted to Ruth because she was willing to take every step that was necessary to release that provision into her life.  He first observed her gleaning in the field.  He watched her fulfill every instruction given to her by her (get this) mother-in-law.

God's provision was released when Noah went looking for gopher wood.  It was released when Ruth went to work in the field.  Even when God provides a garden, He expects man to work it.  Man has come to believe that God just pours it out.  He does…on those who He knows will work with what He gives to them.

To end the story, I pulled this opportunity out and dusted it off.  I repented to God and to my family and even to the one who initially presented me with this opportunity.  I asked God to bless it.  Within a week, the opportunity produced a harvest.  Amazingly, in addition to that harvest, I found other favor.  Two families whose lives we have touched, one of which is a half a continent away, contacted us and released financial seed and blessing into our lives.  The blessing was again released and Cindy and I can move forward with the plan of God!

When the provision stops, you can often track it to your last place of disobedience.  Correcting that releases the blessing back into your life. Financially, you can look at what you were supposed to do.  Work a particular job - let go of a former dream that does not fit the vision - sow a seed that you did not sow - For God to put something in your \hand often requires you to release what is in your hand, whether its money or labor…or pride.  If you are at the point of continually asking God for provision and you are not yet seeing it, ask yourself the question, "What's in your hand?"

Realizing Your Value

 

When one hears the word "realize" one usually associates it with discovery.  For instance, "She finally realized how blessed she is."  Another use of the word "realize" speaks of accomplishment.  By example, "He finally realized his dream by starting a business."  The true realization of anything requires both discovery and accomplishment.  The Bible teaches in Matthew 12 and again in Luke 6 the principle that man is known by his fruit.  That which is accomplished brings greater revelation to the value.

Years ago one of my relatives had an apple tree in her yard.  Every year this tree would be absolutely full of apples.  You would think that this tree held great value to the family because of the apples it produced.  However, if you ever bit into one of those apples you would quickly change your mind.  They were the toughest, most bitter apples one could ever imagine.  We used them as baseballs.  Even its value for shade or aesthetic beauty lost out over the fruit that it produced. In fact, the tree is no longer in the yard.  For, while the amount of fruit is important, the quality of fruit is more important.  The value of that tree was ultimately measured by the quality of its fruit.

People enter God's kingdom without really understanding the value God has placed in their life.   

They begin to recognize that value through the teaching of God's word.  This sometimes proves to have a positive and a negative effect on people for this reason:  People discover that they have value in God's kingdom.  Once they realize that, they understand that that value must be put into practice.  They become excited and full of hope that their value is about to be put to use.  Those hopes are quickly dashed because the release of their value into the world around them does not materialize.  At this point, many develop one of two beliefs - either that they actually had no value after all, or, no one cares enough about them to recognize the value that is obviously there.  The usual next step is to become complacent in their Christian walk.

   The truth of the matter is, their 

value has not been realized.

  

It is there and in place, but it has not been brought forth in action.  Those who are around you will only discover your true value by the fruit you produce.  But the key to that discovery lies is in what you are willing to produce.  How you choose to relate to people realizes your value.  How you share your life with others realizes your value.  How you perform on your job realizes your value to the company for which you work.  How you raise and instruct your children realizes the value you hold as a parent.   

How you relate and function among your brothers and sisters in Christ realizes your value in God's kingdom.

Many declare that they are simply waiting for an opportunity to have their value recognized so that they can have room to function.  In reality, the value of an individual is usually recognized because of how they have chosen to function.  I have a friend who is a street musician.  He and his friend can be found almost every evening on a particular spot along Savannah's River Street.  He constantly has a barrage of gifted but frustrated musicians who are waiting to be discovered.  My friend is not simply waiting to be discovered.  He determined that he would use his gift in a place where people would be.  He did not wait for an invitation to perform.  He picked up his instrument, asked the city for a permit and started playing.  The longer he plays, the more people come to appreciate his gift.  Now on any summer evening, you will likely find 10 to 50 people sitting in the square, listening to his music.  His value has been realized to the community.  When he is not there, he is missed.  Even further, as a trained musician, I became intrigued at his chord structure, which is one of his own invention.  As he released his gift into the atmosphere, I realized (i.e. discovered) a value that is missed by most.  I actually paid this street musician to teach me his chord structure so that I could enhance the music God placed within me. His willingness to pursue an action has brought to realization his value.  One thing, though.  He is out there playing when it is hot, when it is cold, when there is a crowd or when the square is empty of passersby.  He plays when he is sick, tired, or sick and tired.  When I asked him why, his reply was profound.  "If I am not here playing, I will lose my spot."

If you are not willing to exercise

the value God placed within you

 in time, you will lose your way. 

 

Your place in life will become unsure and rather than living to thrive, you will begin living just to exist.  I challenge you this week to consider your value.  Consider to whom you extend yourself.  What relationships are you willing to build and nurture?  Where are you demonstrating your value in the body of Christ?  Where are you relating in order to recognize the value of others around you?  

What are you doing to realize your value?