Good Morning Gorgeous Friends,

Its a brand new day. A fresh new start. A new day to rise up and offer up everything you have to Jesus.

He can multiply whatever you bring to Him. Whatever you have, boldly offer it up and prepare to be dazzled and amazed at what Jesus can do.

Ya got five minutes? Give ’em to Jesus and watch the time double in some mysterious ways!

Ya got an extra few bucks, pass it on and watch God work!

The increase doesn’t necessarily come back to you in the same form, but God will multiply that which you bring to Him. He loves to work through the faithful hands and feet of his people.

Imagine offering up a few loaves of bread and some fish and watching the Lord increase it allowing your hands to feed 5,000 men and the women and children who were with them.

But while increase came from the Lord, it was passed out to the people in need through the faithful hands of his disciples who trusted enough to walk into that large crowd and begin to reach into what they had and serve and serve and serve.

Imagine the faith! These men saw the crowds! 5,000 plus people. Hungry people. And they saw the provision…..

A few fish and loaves of bread. And Jesus blessed it and handed it over for them to serve.

How scary that may have been at first! They turned. They faced the crowds. They sat them down in groups as instructed by the Lord. And they began to give what they had! And as they gave it away, it multiplied into more! They served and served and served and served and the provision continued! And when they had served the very last hungry person, there were baskets of food leftover!

God works through whatever we offer! Remember the widow who baked Elijah a loaf of bread with her last serving of flour and oil? What she gave which was everything she had, the Lord multiplied into more and more!

And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.
I Kings 17:13‭-‬16 NKJV

Whatever you have or even what you perceive that you don’t have, give it anyway! God will multiply your faithful giving.

I am encouraging my fellow Christ Followers to bring whatever offering you have of your time, your talents, or your finances and say, “Here it is Lord. Take it and use it to advance Your Holy Kingdom here in the earth. Here are my 2 fish and loaves of bread. Show me where to go Lord and multiply my offering to have a miraculous power that could ONLY be from You.”

I have a story to tell of our family’s Valentine’s Day. I tried to write earlier in the week, but struggled to tell it. So I am trying again this morning and I pray it makes sense!

We were driving home from church with the whole day planned out.

1. Stop for a snack at Dunkin’ Donuts

2. Grab some groceries.

3. Make homemade Ramen soup.

4. Have a Valentine’s Day celebration at home gathered around our table.

The time was pressed. We would barely be able to pull it all off in time for dinner.

We were driving down 41 and passed Lion’s Park. As we drove by, we saw a camp of people who are currently homeless. My heart strings were pulled.

Our family has a heart for this population. But I’ve never blogged about it before. I have a blog post started that I never finished about how God moved my heart in Daytona last year during our family vacation. Maybe, I’ll finish that story soon!

We pulled into Dunkins and I went inside to order our breakfast. As I was in there, I heard “Bring them donuts.” Just a small still voice inside of me. I felt my heart pound.

Donuts?

What will that do?

What good are donuts to people with so much need?

I was having an internal struggle. God impressed upon me again this time a littler stronger, “It’s a gesture of love. A conversation starter. Bring donuts.”

I walked out of Dunkins with our family’s breakfast and looked across the street to the camp of people.

“Time is short today Lord.” Can you imagine telling the Lord you don’t have time for Him or worse His people?! How bold we are sometimes in our excuses and disobedience….

My husband called to me from the van and asked, “What are you thinking honey?”

I looked back at him and repeated the same question back at him, “What are you thinking?”

What he said was total confirmation…. “I’m thinking donuts!”

So back into Dunkins I trekked and I ordered donuts. I asked for the good ones. The pretty heart filled Boston Cremes and the Jelly filled and the beautifully decorated ones. I wanted them to open the box and see love.

Next, we drove our van across the street, pulled in, and we boldly got out. What a blessing this community of people were to us!

We wanted to respect their space and their home. So we stayed at our van at first just as you wouldn’t walk into someone’s home uninvited, we weren’t going to intrude on their space without an invitation.

The first man to come over spotted the Bible in my hand and asked about it. I gave it to him and said, “It’s for you.” He wasn’t really interested in donuts, but wanted to talk about Jesus!

Another gentleman came over and I offered him a Bible, but he said he can’t see and he doesn’t have any glasses. He asked if I had the Bible for him to listen to. I didn’t, but….. (maybe a future ministry?)

We handed him the donuts and he graciously and thankfully took them.

We asked them the hard questions, “What do you really need? How can we serve you?”

Their answers were honest and moving.

Not money….. one man told Chuck he would love a cheeseburger, but he wouldn’t accept any money because he would spend it on bad stuff. Such openness!

Another man said he needed glasses, ibuprofen, a tarp because he’s been getting rained on, and he would love a warm, spaghetti dinner.

He was a Vietnam Hero! A man who served our country faithfully and now just desires a tarp and a few basic necessities.

We felt led to get them something with more sustenance to eat. So we told them we would go get cheeseburgers..

They didn’t believe us. They said, “You won’t be back.”

We left, drove to McDonald’s and bought cheeseburgers and went right back.

This time we got invited in! We were able to go and meet the rest of the community. I met a beautiful woman who didn’t appear homeless at all. She looked as if she just came from work or even church. Very well dressed and the kindest eyes you’ve ever seen. I asked her if I could pray for her. She said yes and shared her heart with me. We stood right there in the middle of her home and prayed.

I could go on and on with stories of these amazing people!

We stayed a while longer visiting and listening. Just listening.

And we promised to return this Sunday.

So tomorrow along with a few others, we are bringing…… can you guess?

Spaghetti dinners along with every requested item: tarps and glasses and toiletries.

And while we are there, we will remind them again and again that this is Jesus providing for them. Not us.

Jesus sought them out. Jesus is meeting their needs. Jesus has good plans for them! Jesus wants to heal and set free and meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Jesus desires to walk with them in new ways.

Friends, this type of thing sounds radical to many.

I believe its supposed to be normal activity of the Holy Spirit filled Christ follower.

God has plans for each of us to bring His love to the people around us. It may be orphan care, widow care, elderly care, neighborly care, care for the poor, care for the sick, or care for people in our workplace.

But I can assure you that if you are a follower of Jesus, He has a flock for you to care for. Ask Him to reveal to you where you can spread His love. Ask Him for fresh revelation of a person who needs your encouragement or has a financial need you can meet. Ask Him for the ability to hear His small still voice loud and clear.

Dear Friends. You were born for such a time as this! Your were born for impact! You have what it takes. You have what people need. Hope, love, and Jesus!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Set the hearts of Your people ablaze for the people You desire to touch. Give us the heart of the Father that sees with heaven’s eyes the needs that are right in our communities. Show us Lord how to be bold for Your Kingdom. Move us out of our comfort zone and into kingdom ministry. Lord, give us ears to hear You, eyes to see where there are needs, and obedient feet ready to carry the gospel! Lord let us step up and step out and give what we have in faith that You will multiply our little into enough to care for the multitudes!

In Jesus’s name, Amen.