Today I made a fabric “offering”. I
ran across a missionary builder...a gal and her husband who travel
across the country building churches to save them money and to build
the church, as well as the building, in the communities where God
sends them. They live in a 5th wheel and raise support to
continue the work. They are not rich; they live on less than most
folks and do not have money to spend frivolously. This is where the
offering came in.
She, like me, loves to sew and craft
and create and GIVE. This woman is a giver in every sense of the
word. She gives her time, her body, her life, her created gifts from
fabric or other resources, for other people. I know she cannot afford
to go out and buy fabric and supplies in near the quantity or quality
that I can and have. So I asked her to think about if there is
anything she needs that I might be able to supply. She will get back
to me tonight or tomorrow before they leave to go back to work and
building.
Like any fabric lover, I collect the
fabrics I like when I can find them cheap, or if they will be gone
forever if I don't. I sort through it occasionally and dream of what
I can make out of it someday. I pet it and store it and dream about
it. And today I offered it! What was I thinking? What if she says she
needs 3 yards of a green country color to finish a quilt? Or a
backing? Or is out of batting? What if the thing she needs is what I
have bought, stored, and loved and planned over? Am I really ready to
give it joyfully? Willingly? Or should I have kept my big mouth shut?
I guess I will know in 2 day's time...not if she needs or wants
something I love. No, if my heart is as open as my mouth. Am I
willing to give up even the best for my sister in Christ? An offering
is a sacrifice...and I am not sure if my offering in my heart was of
my overage and abundance, or if I was really offering from all I
have, even the stuff I LOVE. But the offer is out there and she will
not know the difference – whether it was close to my heart or just
making a tote of fabric less stuffed. All she knows is that I offered
to meet her need if she had one.
God made an offering for
us...Jesus...who is our priest, but was also our offering. He was the
best God had to offer. He had Him sitting right there on the throne
next to Him, and He sent Him to the world, knowing that they would
not only cut Him up, but discard Him like a filthy rag. I know my
friend would take anything I offered her and treat it with respect
just because it was given in LOVE. God went one step further and gave
His best anyway, redeeming the very ones who would not treat either
of them with all of the respect, worship, and devotion that They
deserved. He KNEW what we needed, and only the best would do, and we
had no way of offering it to Him. So He provided it for us, knowing
the outcome before making the offering. THAT is amazing love. That is
a true offering.
Yes, Peggy, you can have anything you
want. God has blessed me with more than I need, and if the best I
have leaves the premises, I will rejoice that there is another best
in that sewing room for me to rejoice in. I know she won't take it
all, but I need to be willing to give it all, just as God and Christ
gave all for me...and in that I rejoice.
And I know that what she takes, if
anything, will be a reminder for her of how much I love her. It's all
a win-win. Love wins all the time. God's love won her over, me over,
and I hope, you over. He proved to be our friend by giving, and I am
most like Him when I do as He did.
Love you, Peggy. Again, is there
anything you need from my sewing room?
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