Caring...

Every week in LIT we spend an afternoon learning about a character trait based a story from the Bible. This past Wednesday we were talking about ways that we could be caring. We studied the story from 1 Kings 17 where Elijah asks the widow at Zarephath to share with him bread and water.

⁸Then the Lord said to Elijah, ⁹“Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”¹⁰So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” ¹¹As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”¹²But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”¹³But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. ¹⁴For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”¹⁵So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days.¹⁶There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.

1 Kings 17:8-16 (NLT)

The widow cared for Elijah, and because of her caring the Lord sustained and provided for her. What a beautiful message, and how often we forget it.

I didn't expect to be so profoundly moved by teaching a kids lesson. I didn't realized how blind I had become to the ways the Lord shows he cares for me. How he shows His love through other people around me.

Today alone He cared for me through my family, and the chance to have brunch with them. He provided for me through my friends the Pokwals, with an amazing Neplai dinner, and lots of laughter thanks to their youngest daughter. He provided for me dancing, hugs and tons of smiles last night at the barbecue at the Rai house. He provides for my physical needs through my ministry supporters on an ongoing basis. He has shown how much he cares for me by providing an amazing house, with great roommates and wonderful neighbors. I am thankful for Him showing me how much He cares for me through the friends that have become my family here in KCK.

I want to challenge you to take a second and think of the ways that the Lord has shown you His love for you, the ways He has taken care of you.

And because no blog post would be complete without some pictures....