True Blessings

I am reading through the book of Joel with some people at my church. We are using the commentary, The Minor Prophets: Volume 1 by James Montgomery Boice to guide our study and discussion, and I am really challenged by it.

For starters, while reading about Joel 2, the commentary says, "God's promise through Joel is striking because it is the book's first mention of spiritual rather than mere physical blessing. It is understandable that material things are emphasized - material prosperity (v.19) national security (v.20), the restoration of lost years (v.25) - because the locust plague was a material disaster and it formed the focal point and occasion of the prophecy. Still we are glad to find spiritual blessings too, for we know, as our Lord taught, that it is folly for a man "to gain the while world, yet forfeit his soul" (Mark 8:36).

What was the spiritual promise?

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh" Joel 2:28a

Joel then proceeds to elaborate "all" by talking about sons and daughters, old and young and servants...all people will be blessed.

Let me talk about our physical condition a little...

Jeff and I are able to live within the pay that God has blessed us with. We are able to buy groceries, pay bills, make rent, and usually go out for dinner once or twice a month (think Chik-fil-A) and a cup of coffee here or there (think latte -YUM!). We don't live a life of luxury as compared to some, but I am home with the girls full time, and we have never gone without food, clothes, or health care, which is a luxury compared to others. You all get a picture of what I'm saying...

In all our financial planning never once has Jeff said to me, "We're giving too much, let's cut our support to blah, blah, blah." Instead, Jeff's view of physical possessions is that we cannot out-give God. When there is a special need or offering, or if we somehow get unallocated money he is ready to give to some ministry. He has challenged me and taught me so much with his devotion to give God with our physical possessions. Really, it's a blessing to think that in some way we are ministering to college students, people in other countries, and children that have been orphaned as well as the community around us all while staying at home!!

Then preschool began. With the added monthly cost of preschool we were no longer sure we could make ends meet. The idea of somehow coming up with the amount needed for Hannah's school and not going into the negative was difficult for me to process. I prayed, and I held onto these verses in Matthew 6: Therefore do not be anxious, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

I'm sharing all because God has blessed us this month in clear ways, and when you clearly see God in your life you want to share it...in the midst of all our finances and worry, through random raffles at Jeff's work God blessed us with two thirds the cost of Hannah's tuition for October...it's not a coincidence or just chance, even though the drawings are totally random experiences and we are sure they didn't happen last year. It is God blessing us by taking care of our needs. He knows what we need, and we can trust Him to provide. He brought manna out of the sky to feed his people, he can give us the money we need. (Some may argue that we don't need preschool, but that's another discussion...the point is that God has provided for us.)

I know this is getting long, but bear with me, because I want to take this a step further, beyond the physical part onto the spiritual part...

We see in the book of Joel that the physical needs are not what really matter to God. He does not care if my kids are wearing Gap jeans, or Target clothes, hand-me-downs or brand spanking new clothes. He wants to meet spiritual needs, and He wants to bless me with the gifts of His Holy Spirit so that others will also be blessed. He wants me to trust Him completely with my heart, soul and mind and to teach my kids and others around me to do the same.

My faith seems so weak. I get caught up in the physical aspect. Every day God is wanting to give me the forgiveness, patience, love, joy and peace that my heart longs for. I hold onto the fact that He has provided for my physical needs so abundantly, and know that his true blessing, the blessing of His Spirit, is even more satisfying and can impact my family more deeply than money or clothes or food or toys.

It is my prayer that I would see God's spiritual blessing in my life and that I will be able to post about His Spirit moving in my family and in me. What a life changing blessing!