Daily Treasure

“Concerning the Gentiles, God says it in the prophecy of Hosea,  Those who were not my people, I will now call my people…”  (Romans 9:25 NLT).

Having a hard time fitting in?

You have kids, the crowd doesn’t?  The crowd has kids, you don’t?

Single?  Married?  Divorced?  Widowed?

Too tall?  Too short?

Low income?  Financially stable?

Young?  Old?  Middle-aged?

New Christian?  Mature Christian?  Confused Christian?

Our place is hard to find at times, whether it be in the church, in the workplace, within our own families.

Thankfully, God has made a place for us.  God has given us a name.  God has provided a title, a position, a spot where we are needed.

Rejoice in that place for you, today as you worship Him.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that newcomers would feel welcome in your services today and that each person in your congregation would find their fit and their place within the church body.

“But true wisdom and power are wih God; counsel and understanding are his.  What he destroys cannot be rebuilt.  When he closes in on someone, there is no escape” (Job  12:13-14 NLT).

My sisters and I used to have to share the backseat. There were times when sharing wasn’t an issue.  We rode along peacefully.  Enjoyed the trip. Then there were car rides (and Mom would attest to this) that were a little less than joyful. One of my sisters would cross the line and have a portion of their body in my space.  We’d take a curve in the car and they would have the audacity to touch me.  On the worst of drives, one of them might even look at me—and then the fight was on.

We all, regardless of our age, like our space.  We take comfort in certain places.  We entertain certain ways of doing things.  We relish, at times, being left completely alone.

Think about the unsaved friends and loved ones on your prayer list. God is in the backseat with them.

Some days He nudges a little too closely for their liking.  And conviction is a very ugly thing.  It lashes out.  It fights back.  It occasionally produces hurtful words and sour attitudes.

Some days He gets thrown into their space.  Circumstances—not a surprise to Him—happen, and the unsaved are faced with Him staring them right in the face.  Curves in the road remind them of their lack of control and His infinite power and might.

Some days He stands silently beside them as they make poor choices.  He doesn’t tap them on the shoulder or nudge them in the back, but He allows them to use their free will, regardless of how much it hurts Him.

Some days (and this is what we’re all praying for), He steps in and embraces them fully. They fight against it.  They think want no part of it.  They atttempt to balk and try to get away. Deep down, deep down in their hearts, it’s just what they’ve been waiting for.

Keep praying that God closes in on those you love. following them closely, making His presence known, getting in their space.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for former Alabama WAC president Elwanda Oakes, who continues to face health decline and for Treasure Facilitator Guide writer Carolyn Michael, as she attends to her care.

“And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him and  he revived”  (1 Kings 17:22).

As I began to write, I thought of the verse James 5:16b, ‘…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man  availeth much.”  Maybe the widow felt she couldn’t even pray at that moment. However, it didn’t stop Elijah from lifting up his voice in prayer.  God heard his voice and revived the widow’s son.  This led to the testimony given by the widow in I Kings 17:24: “And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.”

Next week we will be sharing from the story of Ruth and Naomi. Come see what God had in mind for these two widows.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that Alabama Women Active for Christ participating in the annual Alabama Missions Conference would gain fresh perspective on the needs of the world to share with others..

“And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore that there was no breath left in him.  And she said unto Elijah, what I to do with thee, O thou man of God?  Art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?  (1 Kings 17:17-18).

The story  of the widow of Zarephath doesn’t end with yesterday’s devotional. Always beware when things starting going almost too well.  There is a possibility our faith will be tested again.  Things were going well for the widow. Elijah obviously stayed with her until God sent rain upon the land.  Then something happened to shake the faith of the widow.  Her son fell ill and died.  It’s human nature to lash out even upon someone to whom  you owe a debt of gratitude. She wanted someone to blame. Sadly, when there’s a reversal of events, many shake their fists at God.  They rant and cry, “Why, O, Lord?” like God has forsaken them!  Make no mistake. They moved away from Him.  He is still there where they left Him.

The widow witnessed the fact God worked a miracle in her life. For a time, her sorrow turned to joy.  Then her son died…or did he really die? Join me tomorrow for the rest of the story.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for believers in Southeast Asia, where many face persecution for their faith in Christ.

“And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she and he, and her house, did eat many days.  And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah”  (I Kings 17:15-16).

Due to the obedience of the widow, “she and he, and her house, did eat many days.” God was not about to let the widow, her son, and Elijah  starve to death.  Sometimes we all need an Elijah to come and pray with us when our circumstances overwhelm us. Trust God. The answer is on the way.  Often times widows fear for the future.  I love the song that contains these words, “fear not tomorrow, God’s already there.” I also cling to the words of the old hymn, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.” I close today with this blessed chorus:

Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Thinking on provision, praise God for WNAC’s Provision Closet, providing missionary workers household items for the work of the ministry. Pray God would continue to supply these need through the gifts of women like you.

“And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me there of a little cake first, and bring it to me and after make for thee and for thy son.  For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth”  (1 Kings 17:13-14).

Today’s verse reveals another instance of someone sitting a person down to calm them. Elijah  gave her instructions from God along with the promise of provision until the famine which hit Zarephath, as well, was over.  Her response would affect her, her son, and even Elijah.  As I’m typing this, I’m listening to a song entitled, “Bottom of the Barrel” by the Collingsworth Family. Listening to this may give you extra insight to the story of the widow of Zarephath.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the health of home missions church planters and their families during this current flu epidemic.

“So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks, and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.  And as she was going to fetch, he called to her, and said, Bring me I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.  And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrell, and a little oil in a cruse: and behold I  am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die” (1 Kings 17:10-12).

The familiar story of the widow of Zarephath reveals the mind of God who would miraculously provide for the widow and the man of God, Elijah.  Elijah left a land experiencing famine to go to Zarephath; this sets the scene for our story. There he found a widow who was obviously feeling very desperate.  Even though he wasn’t aware of her problems at the time, as he spoke to her, he would soon learn her plight.  He was thirsty and hungry and asked her for water and a morsel of bread.  Even if she knew she was being asked this by the man of God, in her desperation she was honest about her adversity. The widow explained what she had been doing. We can’t help but feel sorry for her.  She was going to make a little cake for herself and her son and prepare to die. However, here is the prophet asking for her last meal. What’s a widow to do?

This week we will center our thoughts on the widow of Zarephath. We will find out what  both she and Elijah learned together: “When there is nothing left but God, that’s when you find that God is all you need.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that God would provide visas for creative access workers Mick and Rachel and their family.