🙌It's the Friday Call to Worship!🙌

I boarded a South Africa-bound plane exactly 14 years ago today. I promised I'd be back in six months, although I hadn't purchased a return ticket. One year later, I returned briefly to raise missions support for a life I hadn't expected.

Jesus said, "If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." (Matt 10:42)

One theologian says. "Of Midas it is fabled, that whatever he touched turned into gold. Sure it is that whatsoever the hand of charity touch, be it but a cup of cold water, it turns the same, not into gold, but into heaven itself." (Trapp)

In the last 14 years of exchanging my plans for God's purposes, I've learned the giver is always more blessed than the receiver. I've beheld heaven in my hands when I've opened them to give rather than when I clutch them around what I receive.

Think about the mom who packed a lunch and the boy who handed it to Jesus. How much more impacted were the hands who gave over that lunchbox than the 5,000+ hungry mouths who received it without knowing the small beginnings? (Matt 14)

Think about the widow who gave her two copper coins. It made virtually no impact on the temple treasury but she will be remembered in the gospel forever. (Mark 12)

Think about the Son of Man who gave His own life so yours could be saved.

Better than walking on water, we hold heaven when we open our hands and give. Thank you for those who have given to our family in any capacity in the last 14 years and enabled us to give to others. Hand to hand, heaven comes down. One cup of cold water at a time, the Kingdom comes.

Now let's dance! Because it's my Africaversary!

"Walk on Water" by Elevation Rhythm