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And Elijah said to her, Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth. 1 Kings 17:13 ESV

As I listened to the preacher pray over the offering basket, he prayed that all the money given would be returned one hundred fold. Another day, another offering I thought. This was nothing new to me as I had heard that speech before and given in many offerings.

This time though I heard something else. The Lord was nudging me and He wanted me to give much more than usual. At the time I probably made a couple of hundred a week and after tithing 10 percent, things were pretty tight. Still, the feeling wouldn't go away.

I had forty dollars on me and I placed that in the offering basket. It was all that I had at the time, a bit like the widow's two mites. I left church with just enough gas to get home. The following week, someone gave me $4,000. It was not a loan and they did not go to church. They said 'we felt like we should help you.' God had returned my gift one hundred fold and from an unexpected outside source.

Certainly you should not be suckered in by long-winded speeches of greed, but there are times when the Lord asks you for a little, and then He will turn it into a lot. God is not a piata and your giving is not a stick. It is your obedience to His timely prompting that counts.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please show me divine opportunities and make it clear when I should give. Teach me Your will Lord, in the name of Jesus.