"’Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered.”
Mark 11:22

George Mueller hadn’t faced a situation quite like it.  Before him were 120 orphans, expectantly seated at long dinner tables.  But something at this mealtime tested the mettle of Mueller’s heart.  On the dinner plates at that table was...nothing but water.  Eager faces looked toward him, as if to say, “What’s for dinner?”  But he didn’t know; the cupboard was bare and the icebox was empty.  There was no milk, and no money to buy food or drink.

What was George to do?  It didn’t take long for him to decide.  He would do what he had done every other mealtime.  He would instruct the children to bow their heads and join him in thanking God for the meal they were about to eat.  He would praise God for the faithfulness of His provision.  And so he did.  Mueller prayed simply, directly, and with a heart filled with faith.

When the “amen” was pronounced, the plates were still empty.  But as the eyes of those 120 youngsters turned again to the head table, a knock sounded at the door.  One of the boys was sent to answer.  A moment later, he called out, “Mr. Mueller, it’s the vegetable man!  He’s got a lot of stuff for us!”  “Coincidentally,” there were many vegetables that would spoil if he didn’t do something with them.  While the vegetables were being unloaded, another person came to the door — the butcher!  He had run out of ice at the end of a hot day and faced the prospect of awful, rotting meat.  Could the orphanage use it?  No sooner had he spoken the words than another amazing “coincidence” occurred.  The milkman’s wagon pulled up, overloaded with milk and dairy products and needing desperately to do something with them!

Needless to say, it was quite a banquet that night.  And it was the finest lesson in faith those orphans ever received.  Would the same thing have happened had Mueller not prayed, believing God for His provision and thanking him ahead of time for it?  We don’t know, but we do know Jesus said we have not because we ask not.  And we know His will for us is to walk by faith, not by sight.

Prayer Focus: God is calling each attender of Impact to answer a vital question:  “Do you have the faith to trust God for His provision?”  No matter what the circumstances are?  No mater how gloom your reality may seem?  Do you trust God to provide?  Talk to Him about that right now.  Spend at least 10 minutes (minimum) and share your heart about your faith in His provision.  Oh yeah… and be honest!

“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”
Mark 16:20

At first they didn’t believe the reports of the women.  “Jesus is alive,” they said.  The disciples were disturbed and filled with doubt.  Then, one by one, they recognized Him, fell at His feet, and worshiped Him.  He was alive!  Hope resurrected from the dead… just like He said.

But what about the past?  Would He remember how they had deserted Him... how they had bailed on Him at the moment of danger?  How could they have been so faithless and unbelieving?

Jesus quietly reaffirmed His love for them.  He spent time with them on several occasions.  He allowed them to touch His hands and His side, to settle their doubts and be convinced of His reality.  He helped them in their daily needs:  directing them to the location of fish when they had caught nothing and fixing them breakfast on the shore.  He opened their eyes to the Scriptures.  He gave them the promise of His Spirit, to be with them forever.  And then, He gave them a mission.

When the disciples were renewed in faith and secure again in His love, He gave them a charge.  Those who had so glaringly failed Him in His moment of trial were now entrusted with the greatest work the world would ever know:  the spreading of the Gospel.  The past didn’t sabotage the present or the future.  Their failures would always be a reminder of the weakness of the flesh and the power of sin, but they would not be a barrier to future usefulness.  These men, renewed by love and mercy, went on to turn the world upside down.

As we look back at all God has done for us in the life of our church, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the Lord’s goodness.  He has always been faithful and forgiving!  And, like our counterparts in the first century, we have a mission to carry His truth to our community and to regions beyond.  As we renovate and expand while planning for the future, imagine what the next 5-10 years will look like.

Prayer Focus:  What is the most significant lesson God has ever taught you about the importance of staying committed and not giving up?  Let that victory soak in… let the feeling of the win be etched in your mind… and hold on to that as we move forward in expanding the Kingdom through Impact.