Recently I was reminded of the scripture in James that speaks of the poor being rich in faith.  I marvel that so many examples of a richness in faith in the Bible are from the least.  The very poor Macedonian Church gave beyond their ability and begged for the opportunity to give.  The widow of the “widow’s mite” gave all that she had as an offering to the Lord.  It seems that God’s blessings of health, wealth, and position may actually become the barriers to us living by faith.  It is interesting that we are deeply committed to studying the Word, for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, but much less open to obeying the Word by faith.  A dear lady in the inner city reminded me of someone who is rich in faith.  Her income was basically nothing, was in a wheelchair, lived in the housing development, but would still host a Bible Study in her home.  She was so generous it made me uncomfortable how much she would give.  Each week she would use all her groceries to make a feast for all of us and then insist that I take the extra food home on her only set of dishes.  She would always say, “the Lord loves a cheerful giver and God will provide.”  Each week she would have more food and fewer dishes.  She would also ask all the people who came to her apartment in the housing development if they were Christians and if they went to church.  If they said “no”, she would share the gospel with them and ask them to “hit the can” to give money in a little can she had by her door as an offering to her church.  Each year she would give over  $1,000 in offerings from the people who came to visit her.  She gave beyond her ability.  She is family to me and so many who know her.  I pray in these difficult times that we would open our hearts and hands to the least and lost and be a conduit of God’s blessings to others.  Another example is a young mother at M. D. Anderson who was sitting alone in the lobby in a wheel chair with oxygen, when we were there for my C.T. scan.  The Lord led me to sit beside her and begin sharing with her God’s love for her and that He is able to meet her at every point of her need and, yes, heal her for His glory.  She began to light up and when her mother returned, she said, “Mom, they are Christians and have come to encourage me.”  She has two small children and is a believer and a woman of great faith.  The Sunday following our meeting where I prayed with her in the Lobby, she e-mailed Laura and me asking us to come to her home in Houston for dinner.  Here she is battling cancer and inviting us over to make dinner for us to encourage us in our battle.  This is a picture of a woman who is rich in faith.

Ask God what is hindering you from moving from your fear to faith in an awesome God.  It may just be one relationship with someone who only has God and no other resources of this world to be your guide to becoming rich in faith.  How awesome it is that God works in wondrous and mysterious ways and uses the foolish to confound the wise.

We praise God that we now have 70 BridgeBuilders 300 members who have committed by faith to pray for our healing and give $100 per month.  This is a miracle from God and we are eternally grateful.  You can also be a part by donating through our website at www.hisbridgebuilders.org or by contacting Mary Anderwald at 214-377-1551.  This Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm we are having a Community Fellowship and the theme is a “Family Reunion.”  We want to celebrate God’s goodness and grace in our lives and we invite you to come experience a group of people from across the city who may not be rich in worldly goods but most definitely are “rich in faith.”  We will meet at Turner Courts Multi Purpose Center located at 6508 Canaan Street, Dallas 75215.  Maybe God has allowed you to join us in our battle with cancer so you, too, may have an infusion of faith from one of our dear friends of the city.  When God is all you have, you realize He is all you need and more!

Thank you for your prayers.  Medically, we are in our 4th week of treatment with Tarceva.  The rash has decreased dramatically and we still feel very good.  I go next week for a chest x-ray and in mid October we do our follow-up C.T. Scan to see how much the cancer has shrunk and to determine next steps as we walk in faith, believing in a great God who is able.  Don’t miss the miracle God has for you. Prayerfully consider joining us at our “Family Reunion” this Saturday and see firsthand  faith that works for the glory of God.