FAITH CONNECTION – FARMERSVILLE UMC

Ministry Updates for Friday, August 14th, 2020

 Facebook Live Worship—Sunday, August 16th, at 9:30 a.m.

Please join us as we again worship through Facebook Live. Use this link to watch the service. And please consider passing it along.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1751361968351118

 Scripture – 1 Chronicles 4:10

Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!” And God granted what he asked.

 Reflection – Asking for More

Twenty years ago, Bruce Wilkinson wrote a book called The Prayer of Jabez. It was based on this one verse of scripture. There was controversy around the book, because Jabez’ prayer could be interpreted as self-serving. Furthermore, we know little about Jabez, in that there is only one other verse of the Bible which relates to him.

 Jabez asks God to bless him and enlarge his border, in other words, ‘Give me more, Lord.’ I do not think there is anything wrong with asking God for more, but it is not always that simple.

 I have always wanted to learn Spanish. I never felt like I had the time. Well, I have recently found the time. Even though I feel I am working at least as hard, if not harder during this pandemic, I have ‘found’ a lot of time to study Spanish, as I am spending less time watching sports and less time gathering with people.

 Normally, if we want ‘more’ of something, we should be prepared to give something else up. And in fact, the ‘giving up’, often precedes the ‘more’. If we want more time with family, we may need to work less. If we want to make more money, we may need to give up free time and take classes. If we want more (better) health, we need to give up eating sweets, or give up free time to exercise. You get the idea.

 Is there something you feel like you need ‘more’ of? If so, you may want to ask yourself what you would be willing to give up in order to make space for that ‘more’.

 Prayer

God of blessing, God of abundance, God who gives us so many choices in this life, sometimes we feel as if we need more. If I am feeling that way today, let me bring my prayer of ‘more’ to you. Help me prepare to give up or sacrifice something in order to make space for the blessing you want to give to me. Lord, we give you thanks that Jesus gave up his life, so that we might have ‘more’ life, life beyond death, which is eternal life with you. Amen.