February 28th, 2025
OFFERING WHAT YOU HAVE
Ashley Issler, Children's Ministry & Curriculum Pastor
Last week Stephanie Grunau shared how important stories are in shaping us. On that note, I want to give you a peek into what RockPointe Kids is up to these days. We love storytelling! We are currently learning about Jesus’s ministry and we realized that Jesus loves storytelling too. As we read and revisit the stories that Jesus told and lived out, we are shaped into God’s people… and you are never too young or too old for that.
This past weekend we talked about how Jesus did great things with a lunch of some bread and a few fish, feeding 5,000 families that were hungry for physical bread as well as the Bread of Life (Matthew 14:13-21).
After immersing ourselves in the story we asked, what would it look like if we each brought what we have? What if we offered up our lunches, so to speak? The boy didn’t bring anything amazing, it was just his lunch. But the boy didn’t feed 5,000 families, God did.
One child in our Sunday morning discussion was compelled to offer up their sense of humor and see what God would do, another was challenged to offer up their gift of leadership, and another their desire to care for little ones.
As a busy parent that feels more like an unpaid taxi driver most days, I offered up my time. I only had a lunch’s worth of time to offer. But let me share with you just two of the things God has done with my offering so far.
He reminded me of the phrase he whispered in my ear at the beginning of this year “you will lead out of the stillness” My response at the time was “are you sure you don’t mean out of all the things I am accomplishing for you?” I knew the answer to that question…this week he reminded me of that sweet invitation.
God used my lunch’s worth of time to bless me with more energy and strength than any cup of coffee could offer. He gave me patience and wisdom to start my week filled up rather than at a deficit. What a difference that made in my many conversations with family and friends.
This next week our kids will be learning about Peter’s faith as he boldly got out of the boat to break the properties of physics and walk on water to Jesus. He offered up what he had…his desire to be with Jesus (Matthew 14:22-33).
I ask you now what we are asking our kids. What lunch do you have to offer up this week? What gifts and abilities has God given you that could be a blessing to others? What water is he calling you into? Together let’s offer what we have to Jesus and wait in expectation. Then I encourage each of us to share our new stories of the work God is doing so that we can continue to be shaped into God’s people.
It’s not about the great and mighty things we can do but rather the great and mighty things God can do and is in fact doing.
