Poverty can be defined as the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; as a deficiency of necessary or desirable ingredients; or insufficiency.
Thankfully the Creator of the Universe is the ALL sufficient God.
John 10:10 says, “A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy; I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.”
Abundance is the opposite of poverty. God intends us to live in abundance yet we allow a “thief” to come and take this abundance away. This “thief” can come in many forms beyond physical needs.
Poverty of the mind: to think one has nothing yet there are God’s blessing surrounding one.
This is what you find in Keiskammahoek, South Africa. They have land, rain, grasses (for God’s blanket in the garden and to feed their animals), manure (to fertilize plants or to make compost), and a mild climate. They are so blessed but they have rejected these gifts. The land is poor and has many weeds. In Tsumkwe, Namibia, there is sand, very little rain, and the climate has the extreme cold and heat. They too have rejected the gifts of the Kalahari grasses and allowed cattle to eat it away. The land is barren where man has come yet in the Kalahari there is so much life.
Poverty of the heart: to reject the gift of forgiveness which brings healing and restoration.
All across Africa and around the world men and women reject the only thing that will bring true hope, healing, and restoration. This is Christ!
Last week Jeremy and I were in Keiskammahoek, South Africa at Farming God’s Way In-Field Mentoring. We attended last year while waiting for our visas. This year God allowed us to attend again. We came weary and was looking for a time of encouragement to continue in the Kalahari. Little did I know God would be gently pushing me out of my comfort zone and had 3 sessions for me to teach. I had to stay up each night to prepare for the next day session. I was weary and nervous for each of the sessions but God is sufficient and supplied the energy and courage to stand and teach.
Yet I did allow the Evil One of this World to steal from me. He caused me to cry before my last session. I doubted for a moment that I could stand and teach. He had come as a thief to steal from me and the people.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
My call in life to the unreached and poor was confirmed again this past week. I believe Farming God’s Way is a tool that God has placed in my hands to help reach the lost and poor. In my own power, I am unable to use this tool. I have to humble myself, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from my own way. Only then will God hear my cry, forgive and heal my mind and heart. Then abundant life can be found in Him.
God heard my cry and came quickly. He spoke through me to the people this past week. Praise God!!!
Ha3els in Africa 