GIVE us this day Our Daily Bread

 A look at any church prayer list would reveal what most people pray for; aunt Sussie’s kidneys; uncle Bill’s prostate; my teacher’s sister’s best friend’s mother with cancer.  All of these things are important things to pray for, but we shouldn’t limit our prayers to sickness and job loss.  What do you pray for when you pray?  Jesus tell's us to pray for "our daily bread."  Notice that you are included in that.  We should be praying for ourselves, not just our sick uncle.  It is not selfish to pray for yourself, that's how we tell God what is on our mind.  A prayer for "our daily bread" is really a pray for "tomorrow's bread today" (that's a more literal translation of "our daily bread).  Sometimes we are afraid to pray for more than what we need because we think God isn't concerned with our wants and desires.  Instead of asking for abundance, like "tomorrows bread today," we ask only for today's bread; only for what is necessary.  "We do not have, because we do not ask" (James 4).  If only we had the courage to ask God to bless us and use us for His glory in mighty ways, then what would we accomplish?  Jesus, who is "the bread of life" (John 6:33-35), supplies us with the spiritual abundance that we need to live life to the fullest.  Have you prayed for yourself lately?  Have you prayed for more than just what you need?  

 At the Refuge on Sunday night we talked about another one of our basic principles, "Giving to the Community in Faith."  The "G" in Refuge stands for "Giving."  It is a important concept that goes all the way back to Cain and Abel.  Remember, Cain and Abel both brought offerings to the Lord, but God rejected Cains offering and accepted Abel's.  Cain' brought "some of the fruits" of his harvest.  Abel on the other hand brought from the "fat portions of the firstborn" of his herds.  Abel brought the best portions, while Cain just brought some leftovers.  As students you might not have a whole lot to give, but it's not about the amount.  The widow in Mark 12 who gave only pennies in the offering "put more in the treasury" than all the rich people who gave only out of their abundance.  So each of us has an opportunity to give.  We earn money in different ways.  We might not get a lot of money, but we get something and we can take a portion of that and lay give it back to the Lord.  We are not our own, we are bought with a price.  God owns everything we have, he just lets us use it!  2 Corinthians 9 talks about those who sow sparingly and those who sow generously.  God loves a cheerful giver and when we do give with the right heart, he will reward us on earth and in heaven.  God is able "to make all grace abound to you!"  Giving is gift from God!  The ability to give and the desire to give and the means to give are all gifts from God!  He supplies us with everything we need.  If you currently are not a giver, pray and ask God for the desire to give and for the ability to do so.  And then take a portion of what’s in your drawer at home and put it in the offering plate or give it to someone who needs it.