All Yours

(For today's reference, you can go to http://www.marinerschurch.org/ and look for today's message by Pastor Bruce Nelson about the Alabaster Jar)

The Lord owns everything in this world. He owns our lives, the food that we eat, the people that we love, the talents that we have, the money that we earn...In fact, He owns not only the whole world or the whole universe but all of creation belongs to God.

When we recognize that everything belongs to Him, generosity comes in easier. It would be easier to let go of our possessions knowing that they are not ours but the Lord's, and He has given it to us with the intention of blessing other people. He simply uses us as stewards, He blesses us that we may bless other people. It is also easier for us to share ourselves with others: our time, our talents, and everything that the Lord has blessed us with.

It is a common understanding that when we recognize that God owns everything, it always touches our lives in light of generosity and giving and charity. There is one thing though that I realized as I reflect upon today's message at church.

It is also best that we recognize that the Lord owns everything in light of our needs. Everyday we just pray for the Lord's provision...we pray that He will provide us money, or that job, or that car, or whatever needs we have for each day. Sometimes it seems that the Lord has hidden from us or has abandoned us; there are times that we so badly need His provision, and yet our prayers seem unanswered.

We must recognize though that that money you've been praying for...the Lord owns that money. Or the job that you've been praying for, the Lord is the one who owns that company where you've found a job you wanted or needed. How about that car? The Lord is the dealer of that car and the keys are in His hands.

Whatever your needs are, always know that the Lord owns everything, and we must be thankful for this because He who owns everything is generous and abundant, and is someone who is just willing to bless us according to His faithfulness and not ours.

Sometimes our prayers seem unanswered. Sometimes we feel that that package of provision and blessing that the Lord has in store for us was shipped and sent some place else or went to the hands of another.

But always remember that the Lord is FOREVER FAITHFUL and He is never early, and never late. And at that moment that we are left with nothing and there is just so much that we need, we can always pray this prayer...

"Lord, I know all these things that I need and I've been praying for, I know they are ALL YOURS, and I just trust Your timing and Your sovereign will for me, that in Your right time all things will fall into place, and all things will work out for Your greater glory."