Sunday February 23 during worship, we were asked what is in your hand?  What ordinary things or gifts do you have that you can we offer to God for him to transform into something powerful for his kingdom?  So often we believe that God can not use us because we don't have enough experience, gifts, time, etc.  But maybe if we offered what we have God could work miracles.  

Exodus 4:1-4
God asked Moses, "What is in your hand?"  "A staff" he replied.  "Throw it on the ground," God commanded.  And it became a snake.  God used an ordinary staff to do mighty works in Egypt and released the oppressed Israelites from slavery.  All Moses had to do was make himself available to God. 
 

John 6:1-13
Jesus took what the boy had in his hands - his lunch - five loaves and two fish and transformed it into a meal that could feed 5,000 plus people.  

Are you afraid that you don't have enough?  Enough of what it takes to do what God has called you to do?  Enough food, finances, etc. to get you through?  What if we changed our mentality from one of scarcity to one of abundance?  When we make what we have available to God there is no limit to what can be done! 

What have you offered to the Lord in the past?  How did God use your offering?

Who are the prisoners, the oppressed, the poor and the blind that Jesus talked about in Luke 4:18 and 19?  This week Pastor Jim helped us to picture who Jesus was talking about when he quoted this scripture from Isaiah.  Together as a congregation we began to ponder who are these people in our lives?  

Our children spent time during the Children's Focus time thinking about the prisoners that Jesus talked about.  With it being Valentine's Day weekend, we talked about all the valentine's we received.  We then wondered together if the prisoners received any valentines.  So during worship the children worked diligently coloring and creating valentines to send to those in prison.  Following church, the children streamed down the aisles to put their valentine in the red basket.  This week we sent these valentines off to the men's and women's prisons in Nebraska with a prayer and blessing for the prisoners that received them.  It is our prayer that through this small connection to the children, that God's hope and healing will be present and that the prisoners along with us at Bethesda will be transformed by God's love.   

Shane Claiborne offered a practical vision of what it looks like to proclaim God's vision in the world.  His powerful personal stories, his disarming laughter and desire to follow Christ touched the over three hundred people in attendance plus the many who joined us over live stream.  Click here to watch the four videos of his time at Bethesda.