Edouard Kitoko Nsiku: Help

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

“The people of God are repeatedly urged not to be afraid. This insistence is important. God knows that we are naturally fearful. It is a defense mechanism when we are faced with danger or an adversary who seems stronger than we are. We need to learn to trust in God’s help. He will transform situations, so that those that tried to make us feel ashamed will themselves be ashamed.”

Edouard Kitoko Nsiku (Democratic Republic of Congo) in “Isaiah” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 864.

Yesterday was unforgettable. It felt like 13 Hours in Benghazi.

Except for one big difference. We did not fire a shot. We felt God fight for us. We experienced the deliverance of the Lord thanks to the hard working police of Senegal. Let me explain.

GTP hosted an all day Stations of Generosity training at Temple of Nations in downtown Dakar. Unfortunately, we were blocks from the epicenter of a protest that turned violent.

Despite the threat of danger we determined to meet. We heard protesters making noise. Anything left in the streets was burned. I shot this header photo from our training room.

Notice smoke rising up from the corner by the church compound. It got more intense. We heard two loud explosions nearby. After the first explosion nearby, we stopped to pray.

After the second one, which shook our building and caused our group to jump to look out the window, I will never forget what I saw.

In an instant, faster than I could pull out my phone to video it, I saw a flow of police and their vehicles go from right to left on the road below. God used them to protect the advances of any protestors. He turned our situation from panic to peace.

We prayed and continued on. Our prayers included Samson who had gone out to get lunch for the group. He was stopped by the police for taking pictures from his vehicle. Note to self, in such situations save the memories in your mind, not your phone.

By God’s grace after learning Samson was from Benin they let him go only after giving him a warning and forcing him to delete any photos from his phone. He was shaken up but not mistreated.

He knew he had to get back to our meeting. We welcomed him with cheers when he returned with lunch. We were glad he was well and lunch was late. God provided just what we needed: help.

The day ended remarkably well. The police cleared the streets of debris and we drove safely to our hotel. There were very few cars on the road but much debris like a war zone.

Sometimes God’s generosity takes the form of help from his righteous right hand. I give thanks for that today. If you are in difficult or dangerous situation, don’t panic. Call out to God. He’s hears and helps.

Today back in USA, a foundation is considering a major grant to GTP. Pray with me for favor for that grant for empowering national workers to build trust and grow local giving to God’s work.

God, please help with this matter and any other readers face today.

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. 2 Kings 2:11-14

“As a mark of mourning Elisha tore his clothes. He then picked up Elijah’s cloak to strike the water of the River Jordan. His next words, Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah, suggest that at first nothing happened.

His question reveals his recognition that the power to stop the river flowing was not embedded in any magic in the cloak but came from God, who granted him a double portionof Elijah’s spirit. When Elisha realized this, God showed His presence and the River Jordan divided, as it had in the days of Joshua.

We hear nothing of Elijah’s cloak. Pastors must never forget that there is no magic in following a ritual or some order of worship. Our faith must not depend on ritual but on the living God who provides the ritual as a means of grace.”

Musa Gotom (Nigeria) in “2 Kings” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 444.

I’m in West Africa and each country has been a different experience.

We’ve had many highs and lows. The temptation is the think that the ministry work we do is magic. That if we say things the same way, God will cause the same generous stewardship to blossom. Or that people will respond passionately to follow ministry standards for growing sustainability that honors God.

We may not admit this be we often act like this is what we believe.

For a real-time example, today Samson and I will facilitate Stations of Generosity for about 50 people in Dakar, Senegal. We’ve facilitated it three times in the last 10 days. What will the response be? I have no idea. I pray it’s enthusiastic and overwhelmingly positive.

But today’s reading reminds me that this training is not magic but a means of grace.

So, wherever you serve and related to whatever you do, think of your service to God through your work not as magic but as a means of grace. Do this because God may not respond as you think or in the timing you expect. Our job is not to produce results but with the prophets to proclaim truth and trust God.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 2 Kings 2:9-11

“Finally, Elijah himself spoke of what was about to happen. Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken up from you? The man of God had no material property to be inherited, but Elisha could have requested a special prayer for himself or the nation of Israel, with the prophet laying hands on him to confer some final blessing.

But what Elisha asked for was a double portion of your spirit. He may have been asking that the would become twice as great as Elijah, or that the spirit that would rest on him would be two times greater in power or quantity than it had been for Elijah.

But it is also possible that he was simply requesting that the spirit at work in Elijah’s life and generation would continue in his own life another generation, so that the two generations would be blessed. This last interpretation may be supported by the fact that some of the works of Elisha seem to repeat that of Elisha.

This was a gift that Elijah could not give, because it was dependent on God. Yet he could say that this request would be granted if Elisha could see him while he was taken up.”

Musa Gotom (Nigeria) in “2 Kings” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 444.

I had always thought of Elisha’s double portion as twice as much. I appreciate this scholar’s perspective that he may simply have been a continuation of the ministry of Elijah.

It’s remarkable how the miracles performed in His ministry mirror the ones of Elisha.

Also noteworthy is Elijah’s response to this request. He does not promise something only God can deliver on. But He positions God to allow it, should He choose to do so.

This brings up an important point. We must not promise anything only God can deliver.

All to often people say that certain things are God’s will. It’s dangerous territory to make such claims. Elijah merely positions God to decide the matter.

When Elisha, in fact, sees Elijah go, we have confident that the Spirit will be conferred to him.

Related to our own generosity, we must give gifts that we can give. Gifts that are within our strength and capacity. And we must not promise gifts we cannot give.

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. 2 Kings 2:1-6

“As Elijah and his successor Elisha set out on their final journey together, Elijah makes three attempts at Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho to persuade Elisha to leave him. In the past he had left another servant at Beersheba when he hoped to die. But Elisha refused to leave him, each time swearing an oath to to that effect.

Three attempts were enough, and Elijah did not try to stop Elisha from accompanying him again. The companies of prophets whom they met as they journeyed warned Elisha of what was coming, but he already knew it. He was a faithful servant to his master and stayed with him to the very end. Those who continue to the end enjoy greater privileges and blessings.”

Musa Gotom (Nigeria) in “2 Kings” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 444.

There’s a valuable lesson here for anyone who wants to grow in generosity.

The more we participate with God’s workers in his work, like Elisha journeyed with Elijah, the more privileges and blessings we will experience.

It’s like getting a front row seat in the action of watching God’s kingdom come on earth.

But be ready. If we choose this path, people who are on our same team (the company of the prophets) will do everything they can to discourage us. They will try to talk us out of it.

Don’t go the distance. Don’t take risks. Sound familiar?

The Christian life is a journey of radical obedience that counts the cost and pays the price. It sacrifices everything and, in so doing, gains the whole world.

Or in Elisha’s case, gains a double portion of the blessings of Elijah!

So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!” The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king. 2 Kings 1:13-15

“Elijah’s message was one of judgment: because the king was consulting Baal-Zebub instead of the God of Israel, he could expect death, not healing… Ahaziah’s response to this message was not one of repentance but confrontation. He sent a captain and a squad of fifty men to arrest Elijah… Still the king did not repent, but sent another squad who suffered the same fate as the first one. We do not know whether Elijah took this action because of his own fear or whether he was directed to do it by God… Ahaziah then sent a third group, but the captain of this group was more careful. He realized that he was dealing with the Lord’s powerful representative, and he begged that their lives be spared. The angel of the Lord reassured Elijah that it would be safe to go and meet the king.”

Musa Gotom (Nigeria) in “2 Kings” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 443.

Two thoughts surface in this obscure text from Elijah. I will share them and how I think they relate to generosity.

Firstly, when a worker of God engages people that are making bad choices or dishonoring God, it is easy for us to want to judge and destroy them. To lose respect for them and the value of their lives. The plea of the captain for respect struck me.

In my inner man, on trips like this, where there is so much brokenness and corruption in the systems, my tendency in my flesh is toward judgment. For example, “No wonder things are in disrepair. People are behaving irresponsibly.”

God is working in me, replacing condemnation with compassion in me and moving me to be generous to show respect to every person I meet on this trip. Perhaps you can relate to these inner thoughts and the change of mindset we need?

Secondly, part of our desire to judge and condemn others finds roots in fear. Elijah was afraid the leaders of the broken system would overcome him. Notice the Angel of the Lord reassures Elijah, basically saying, God is still in charge and can be trusted.

These ideas relate to generosity in that we must give everyone we serve a generous dose of dignity and respect, regardless of their choices, as they are made in the image of God.

And we must listen to Jesus and find our reassurance from Him rather than functioning out of fear in difficult situations. Many believe the “angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament is Jesus appearing on the scene.

I’ve arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire with Samson Adoungbe (pictured above). Thanks for your prayers as we engage influential pastors and ministry workers on the topic of “Stewardship and Standards – Two Keys to Strengthen Sustainable Ministries.”

Pray for us to continue to show compassion, love, and respect to all we serve and to find reassurance from God in moments of stress and challenge. I pray God empowers you to do this generously wherever you serve today too!

There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:9-12

“The Lord had not directed Elijah to come back to Mount Carmel, so he asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” God asked Elijah this question to remind him that he could have looked to the Lord anywhere in Israel. If the Lord could hear and answer his prayers on Mount Carmel, He could hear him anywhere…Elijah presented his complains before the Lord: Israel had rejected the covenant, broken down the altars, and killed the prophets of the Lord… The Lord responded by telling him to stand on the mountain before the Lord, just as Moses had when God appeared to him in the wilderness. This command was followed by three signs: first a strong wind that shattered the rocks, then an earthquake, and then a fire. The fire was followed by the sound of a quiet voice… The gentle quiet voice shows that the Lord uses ordinary ways to speak. He does not always need to use powerful events to bring His words.”

Musa Gotom (Nigeria) in “1 Kings” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 439.

It’s humbling to admit but I can relate to this text in real time. Elijah has just experienced great victory. Then, in the face of the greatest danger of his life, He runs to where he thinks he can find God instead of just calling to Him.

The movement of God in Togo has been as powerful as we experienced in Benin with victories despite double the difficulties to get a visa, to arrange logistics, and to navigate issues that could have divided the team. It’s been really hard.

So, like Elijah, my tendency is to want to run to some place of familiarity. I tell myself in the moment. Breath, Gary. Just breath. You can do this. You can pray right where you are and God will respond in ordinary ways.

How generous is our God that we don’t have to go to a location or have wifi to reach him? I say this in part because the 6 hours I spent in Cameroon this past week without connectivity stretched me and enhanced my prayer life.

As you read this, Samson and I will be arriving in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Reply if you want a copy of our Benin and Togo trip reports. And know this next time you feel despair: call to God where you are and listen for the whisper.

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 1 Kings 19:1-7

“Once again Elijah had to run for his life. This time he headed south, over a hundred miles, past Beersheba and into the desert. After traveling all day in the desert he was tired and cried to the Lord. Take my life. Life had become meaningless.

He had expected that the victory on Carmel would lead to religious reforms in Israel, but Jezebel was determined that it would not. Elijah is not alone in feeling this way, for it is not uncommon for a period of depression to follow a very uplifting religious experience.

Th Lord graciously did not rebuke Elijah for his fear, exhaustion, and depression, but instead sent an angel to provide for his physical needs.”

Musa Gotom (Nigeria) in “1 Kings” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 439.

I am nearly halfway through one of the most stretching trips of my life. Like Elijah, I feel like it’s running a marathon with highs and lows. His high was defeating 450 prophets of Baal.

My experiences have been indescribably good and stretching. God’s opening the eyes of people in Togo like He did in Benin. They express joy and resolve to grow as faithful stewards who follow God-honoring standards.

And the best part is the the Benin and Togo country teams we have formed will aim to maintain the momentum created by our visit. And yet, I can relate to the feeling of fear right after a huge victory of faith.

Sometimes the journey is too much for a person. I shot the new header photo while waiting for my ride this morning. What struck me were the coconuts in the trees.

Seeing them reminded how God can supply food. That’s the generosity of our God. He knows that often we cannot make it on our own. We need help. We need a good meal. We need him to send an angel.

This is where this post relates to every person reading this. Ask God how He might want you to be an angel. For Elijah the angel gave him a meal. Is there anyone for whom you might provide a meal?

The act of kindness just might save their life. Or at least, as was the case with Elijah, it might save them from despair which can happen to anyone. Follow God’s leading. And keep Samson and I in your prayers.

We facilitate “Stations of Generosity” for a group of around 30 people in Lomé, Togo, today. Prayer that it will impact their lives and inspire them to replicate it with their networks.

“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” 1 Kings 17:12-14

“On arriving in Zarephath, Elijah met a widow near the town gate. Just as Eliezer had asked Rebecca for a drink outside the town of Nahor, so Elijah requested a drink from the widow, as well as something to eat. The widow told him of her poverty and that she and her son were down to the last of their food. But the prophet reassured her, Don’t be afraid, and promised that the Lord would sustain her till the end of the drought. The widow did as she was told. She believed the word of God and was obedient to it. Many years later, Jesus would mention her as an example of someone with faith. Her supply of oil and flour lasted to the end of the famine.”

Musa Gotom (Nigeria) in “1 Kings” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 437.

On my transition day traveling from Cotonou, Benin to Lome, Togo was long, hot, and hard.

It had been a short night. I only got 2.5 hours sleep. My airport ride collected me at 3:00 am. I had to fly to Douala, Cameroon first. Upon arrival I had to enter the country through customs to get a boarding pass for my connecting flight. When I finally made it to the counter on a muggy morning (actually it was really sweltering hot), I learned my checked bag was left on the plane and continued to another city. This was bad.

In my daily office yesterday, the Lord had powerful revealed to me that “the Lord took charge” for Elijah and He would doing the same for me.

I sighed and spent another hour in a hot room crammed with people waiting for my turn to file a lost bag claim. Then, when the baggage people sent me back to the ticket counter. Upon arrival the attendant said, “Over there. That’s the manager of Air Senegal who lost your bag. Go to him.” That’s all she said. I obeyed and said not one word (I don’t know French so any conversation would have been pointless anyway).

He saw the claim in my hand. Grabbed it and took a picture then did something on his phone, handed it back to me and gave me a positive signal. Neither of us said a word.

The attendant watched everything and said that I would get my bag. He has seen to it. Somehow I felt that “the Lord took charge” and everything would be alright.

Then the attendant told me that the flight that took my bag to another city was immediately returning to Douala. But it would return after my flight was departing. Then, you guessed it, the Lord delayed my departing flight. This gave sufficient time for the plane which took my bag to another city to return and load it on my plane thanks to that manager’s intervention. By the time I arrived in Lome over 10 hours after waking up, my bag was with me.

When I got to my hotel, which was not far from the ocean, I walked there and shot this new header photo.

The waves were pounding on the rocks. I thought of how I felt pounded. Right by the water, with Koffi Nyamadi, a trainer who had collected me at the airport, I read Psalm 93. It was a powerful moment for him and me reflecting on the fact that our God is greater than the mighty breaking waves of the sea. And I went to my room and collapsed. After a three hour nap, Samson, his wife, Ines, and I, had amazing prayer time and dinner with the Togo team.

In the midst of this whole ordeal, I had a God moment walking through this long hot corridor of the airport in Douala. I stopped, sat down, and cried out to God and said, “This is too hard. I can’t do this.” And yet, I felt God reminding me, “You’ve got this. I am with you and I have taken charge.” Remember, Zarephath means place of refining and testing. Is God testing you? Hear the words of today’s post. Don’t be afraid.

When we pass through the fire, God’s refines us. Job 23:10 came to mind: “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” He uses the fires of testing for our growth and His glory. When we feel pounded by the waves, we must remember that God is shaping and molding us. He cared for the widow and the prophet and can take charge for us. We need not fear, only obey.

Pray for Samson and me and the program work that begins today in Lome, Togo. Teaching on “Stewardship and Standards – Two Keys to Strengthen Sustainable Ministries in Togo” with 45 influential pastors and ministry administrators.

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 2 Kings 17:1-6

“The closing words of Elijah’s prophecy, except at my word, left some hope that if the king and the people repented, the situation might change. But they did not, and Elijah had to leave and settle east of the Jordan River. By doing this he escaped death with the other prophets and had a supply of water from the Brook Kerith, which continued to flow for some time despite drought. The Lord took charge of meeting his need for food.”

Musa Gotom (Nigeria) in “1 Kings” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 437.

I have resonated with Elijah and Elisha the prophet this week.

I give thanks for God’s provision and protection. Where the Lord guides, the Lord provides. He takes charge of meeting our needs. We can be in dry and barren places and find contentment.

The key is to do what the Lord tells us to do. That’s what Elijah did.

How are you doing so far this Lent? Are you doing what the Lord has told you to do? I feel like I am in my sweet spot of service to Him. I have been very uncomfortable at times but feel His care in profound ways.

For example, few things in Benin went on time or according to schedule and yet God showed up in power. We had to make many adjustments to our schedules due to unforeseen circumstances.

Reply if you want a copy of the trip report. Samson and I head to Togo today. It seems like spiritual forces were hindering my going there, as did not get my visa until yesterday.

That’s how God works. As I ponder and wait and trust in Him, I find He is more than good. He’s unimaginably faithful, and just like He looked after the prophets, He cares for me.

Go wherever the Lord leads you. He will work for your good and His glory. And enjoy whatever food He supplies. Every meal seems to be a surprise for me when I travel.

And I must conclude by wishing my son. Sammy, a happy birthday.

And I thought to myself, if God leads you to a brook, bring your fly rod. That’s what Sammy would do. He’d catch fish. I pray your adventure following the Lord’s leading includes days by a river. Few things are better.

“Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 1 Kings 17:9

“We are now told of some other miracles associated with Elisha that resemble those worked by Elijah. The miraculous supply of oil is similar to the supply of flour for the widow of Zarephath that did not run out till the end of the famine. The raising of the dead child of the Shunammite woman resembles that of the child of the widow in Zarephath. One thing that should be noted about all these miracles is the faith and obedience of those who benefited. None of them doubted the ability of the prophet. They did as the prophet told them and they saw the power of the Lord working to meet their needs.”

Musa Gotom (Nigeria) in “2 Kings” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 445.

Yesterday I reflected on a miracle in the Elisha narrative, so I went back to look at parallels in the life and ministry of Elijah. There is so much in this little verse.

Here God sent Elijah to Zarephath. In biblical terms, that was known as a “place of refinement.” Is God refining you at this time? That was the case for Elijah and the widow both.

And God directed heer to care for him. Maybe this is where you fit in the story? Maybe God has nudged you to care for a man of God or someone in ministry?

If your answer to God is, “Who me?” then consider that perhaps the widow asked herself the same question. The key is that both Elijah and the widow had to have faith and obey.

God took care of the rest. He always does, and with instruments like oil and flour in response to humble faith and obedience.

I am in West Africa out of faith and obedience. God has supplied the resources to serve here and is working in power. Samson and I will facilitate Stations of Generosity today.

I am processing all God is doing in Benin right now with a thankful heart. He’s stretching me and allowing me to see Him work in power. Let Him stretch you too. It’s for your good and His glory.