The Raven, Widow and Angel

In this time of New Year resolutions and forward thinking, I'd thought it would be great to take a deeper look at what I'm providing my students..., and children..., and spouse..., and church..., and community..., and self...,

and Jesus.

Now, for a person (such as myself) who is relaxing in their pj's during holiday break,  a reminder of all of these responsibilities can be a bit overwhelming.  Heck, this is overwhelming to someone wearing a three piece suit at work!  Well, the reality is there is more to life than ourselves - hence the saying,  "No man is an island" and true followers of Christ understand that we are called to the Godly love which is never idle nor secluded.

Still in all, viewing the many entities we are obligated to can overcome one's serenity.   So!   Back to the original thought, "What do I offer God and those around me?"  Unfortunately, here in America, we've been duped into believing that the best teacher, the best parent, the best church or community member is the one who is always available, always ready and always doing.  That, my dear friend, is a sure fire way to snuff out your light prematurely.  The only one who is supposed to be everywhere at all times is the Holy Spirit.  

Luckily, I think we can find the answer to this while looking at the prophet Elijah in the book of Judges.  Like all of God's chosen people, he remained under the watchful and protective eye of God. Judges 17 and 19  show just how God cared for  Elijah  through the outlet of a raven, a widow, and an angel. Just like these three avenues, we too can be used by God to fulfill daily and long term assignments to others who are in our lives


The Raven Approach  Judges 17: 2-6
While Elijah stayed in hiding by a brook, God sent him a raven twice a day to bring bread and meat. There will be times when God will send you with a specific item at a specific time to a particular person.  He requires nothing more and nothing less of you than to provide those consistent basic

items.  To you, it may not seem like much, but to them, it is a reliable help in a time where they may feel alone or in need of help.   The "meat and bread" you may give may just be that everyday greeting and inquiry about your coworker's family.  It could be those notes in your kid's lunch box during the week before a big exam.  Maybe it's the daily text message to a loved one.    The raven approach lasts for however long God deems necessary for both the strengthening of your wings and the attending to the other person's needs.

The Widow Approach Judges 17: 8-16
At the end of the Raven's season, it was then time for the unsuspecting widow to take care of Elijah. This kind of service is a bit more challenging because the desire to help is in your heart and you don't even know why.  More importantly, you don't even know how you are going to help this person.  The Widow of Zarephath didn't even have enough food to eat for her own family, much less the stranger Elijah who came demanding food during the peak of a national drought.  What she didn't know was that God had already ordered her heart to help Elijah.  
God does that so often to us as teachers.  We find ourselves drawn to students, who may or may not even be in our classrooms and we desire to

help but we look around and see we have little to no resources.  This is not the time for us to become Superman or Wonder Woman and rescue "the helpless".  God places us in these situations so that miracles can be seen.  If we struggle and piece it all together on our own, we get the credit, the other person is happy, but God is not glorified.   
The widow approach is a true opportunity for silent evangelism in the arena of separation between church and state.  This is where your faith shines through because you declare that you want to help and you acknowledge that you have no way of doing it on your own accord. You are without energy, time, finances,  materials.  You have nothing and the only way it will get done is with the help of God.  WHEN God steps in and provides, there will be NO DOUBT that is was by His hand! 

The Angel Approach Judges 19: 5-8
When you pray and ask God to use you, be ready for this approach.  Whether your focus is on home, work, church or community, God will call you to a great monumental task, one which has a long term effect on its recipient.  
An angel of the Lord was sent to a tired and discouraged Elijah.
This angel roused Elijah from slumber and gave him supernatural nourishment...twice.  It was with this food that Elijah was able to travel for forty days and forty nights without eating or drinking! 
In order to be used by God as the catalyst for such encouraging strength and endurance, we will have to be just like that angel and come operate from the very presence of God.  Unlike the raven and Gentile widow, the angel served God first before being used.  We serve God through our time of prayer and our lifestyle of worship, reverence and embodiment of His reflective love.  When we service others from this standpoint, we give them a type strength and encouragement for them to do the impossible because God's power flows through us.  We open the door for children diagnosed with learning disabilities to defy the odds, for our school systems to rewrite policies and our own children to rise up as modern day Daniels and Esthers. 
                                                  And we don't even have to break a sweat...

As we head into 2017 and develop goals which will improve our Kingdom lifestyle, don't be afraid to take on the apostle Paul's words, "I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means [in any and every way] save some [by leading them to faith in Jesus Christ].  And I do all this for the sake of the gospel"  because you can, by spiritual discernment know when and how to help those around you without wearing yourself out.



Happy New Year!   The Lord is with you and you are loved,
Toni



Hey check out this YouTube video showing  students explaining to their former teacher her impact in their lives.