Sandra's Mite: "I Was Lost, But You Were in a Hurry"

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

"I Was Lost, But You Were in a Hurry"

While cleaning out a box of odds and ends to prepare a place to start my new venture in "couponing", I ran across a devotional booklet I was given at a ladies' retreat many years ago. It is called Tea with Grandma, Time with God by Mrs. Carol J. Phillips (Mrs. Carol J. Ackerle). As I flipped through the booklet this entry caught my eye and smote my heart. How often have I been too busy?

I attended your church this morning. You wouldn't remember me--I may be eleven or eighty--but I was there--and I was hunting for something--I think I almost found it--I think I would have if you hadn't been in such a hurry.

The choir--even you in the congregation--sang hymns about a loving Lord that made my heart beat faster. I felt a tight, choking sensation in my throat as your pastor described the condition of a lost person.

"I am lost. He is talking about me," I said to myself. "From the way he speaks, being saved must be very important." I looked about at you in the pews near me--you were listening-you seemed to think the pastor's words were important. "All these people are so concerned," I thought. "They want me to be saved, too."

At last the minister finished his appeal and asked you to stand and sing another of the beautiful songs you know so well. I swallowed a lump in my throat and wished I knew the joy with which you sang. Then your pastor looked at me and repeated again how I could have this joy--but his words were drowned in a buzzing beside me.

When I glanced around, you were putting on your little girl's coat and telling her to get her things. I looked on my other side and saw you touching up your lipstick. Looking in front of me, I saw you frown at your watch as if time were running out.

Suddenly I didn't want to look at any more of you--my eyes burned and my throat hurt--my feet were so tired I couldn't have walked toward the pleading minister. . .You really didn't care. This salvation the pastor had been telling me about was not important. You didn't care that I was lost--you only wanted to get away. I wanted to get away, too--I wanted to run--but I was afraid if I did you would wonder what I was hunting for.

I waited until the service was over and walked out among you--alone--lost.

--Maranatha

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Sandra's Mite

"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."
Mark 12:41-44

This is my favourite story in the Bible. This woman did not have much to offer the Lord, but she gave all she had. I cannot claim to be exactly like her because, even though I don't have much to offer, I certainly cannot claim to have given it all. Some day I hope that I will be able to say that I have given all, but until then I will strive to give my life to God moment by moment. This blog is just a small part of my giving. My husband always says that I can be a blessing to others with things God has taught me. I'm only 29 years old and don't know much, but one thing I have learned is to listen to my husband. What exactly this blog will contain, I do not know, only God does. Come back as often as you like and see what God has given me and maybe, just maybe, it will be a blessing to you too!

The Widow's Mite

She woke up to the sunrise, and she hurried to get dressed,
She was going to the temple; she was going to give her best,

Excited as a young girl with a secret to be kept;

She bowed her head and begged Him her humble gift accept.

The crowd was pressing 'round her, all the wealthy and the proud,

As she stopped to give her offering, she could read their thoughts aloud,
She bowed her head in shame then she turned to slip away,
But there stood the Messiah, and His kind eyes seemed to say,

"Lift up your head, my child, it is the heart I seek.
They gave of their abundance, but you gave abundantly,
Lift up your head, my child, for truly in God's sight,
No sacrifice is greater than this your widow's mite."

by Susan Smith and Melissa Baker

Philippians 3:10-14

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.