Plus God, Minus Fear, Times Faith, Divided by None

Credit for the title of this post goes to my friend Dave who suggested it in a comment on yesterday's post. Thanks Dave!

By Belinda

*From each according to his ability; to each according to his need. 

We live moments sometimes that seem incredibly precious; as if God distilled sweetness and purpose and infused them into seconds that stretch into minutes that unfold with special significance. Such moments spanned the pancakes on Saturday morning as we passed the butter and maple syrup and I poured another cup of rich amber coffee.

It happened to be a Saturday that our two granddaughters who live downstairs were home, which is why the pancakes instead of our usual porridge.

They are on the cusp of young womanhood, these girls. Tori: a spunky but sensitive, witty and bright bookworm, almost 12 years old, and Tippy: a dreamy, emotional, gifted artist with the moodiness of the ocean and an almost 13 year old, which are almost the same thing.

Over breakfast I told them the story of my big adventure of the past few days. Tippy's eyes flickered with a serious interest that told me she was paying attention beyond polite respect borne of love; Tori, mind alert, was sitting straight, eyes dancing bright.

I told them how at work we were asked to help with a big cause called The Power of One, to help raise $42,000, by March 31, for people with disabilities in other countries who have nothing like the riches we in our country have. In fact, I had on my Power of One T shirt that very morning, I pointed out. Their eyes widened as I told them how I reacted at first, with defeat. Broken down into areas, our team had the task of finding five people who might be led to raise $500 each. They were tracking with me now.

I told them how at first I was like King Saul on the hillside across from the Philistines, looking at the giant Goliath with human eyes; and of my realization that I didn't want to be a King Saul, but a David who didn't look at the circumstance but at God who can do anything with someone who believes in him.

Ever since deciding that I had been wondering how God was going to accomplish this through us, not worrying about how we were going to do it. I told them I'd been praying and waiting to hear, when in the bathroom that morning I got my commission. God reminded me that I make a good pie and 25 pies at $20.00 makes $500.

Tippy gasped, "That's a lot of pies!"

"Well, do you think Omie can make 25 pies?"

"Most definitely," said Tori with a sparkle in her eye that spoke volumes.

"And girls--I'm going to send out a message on Facebook, telling the world I'm selling pies. Let's see what God will do!" I hoped they would file this story in their memories forever.

Well, what God did was this. Before the end of Sunday, there were 32 pies sold, and counting. Susan took on the role of personal pie promoter and shared the announcement on her FB profile. Word spread in church without any formal announcement on Sunday. Smiling customers who had ordered pie the day before on FB carried their foil wrapped treasure home for Sunday lunch. Josh Fenwick came over and said, "I don't know what this is about but you had me at 'pie.'" And Jamie from our cell group, the most creative customer, ordered one a month for 12 months.

Someone who couldn't afford a pie but who has a passion for the poor and for missions volunteered to come help peel and chop apples, and Susan, if she is over the flu that has her down but not out right now, will join us on Saturday for the next wave.

The Power of One, plus pie!

2 Corinthians 2:14 (New International Version, ©2011)

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

* From Aurora:an experience in quilt, community and craft, by Jane Kirkpatrick