1 Kings 17:8-16 NLT
Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too. But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.” But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
Additional Scripture References: Luke 21:26; 2 Timothy 3:4; Hebrews 11:23
When you look at a loaf of bread, it’s hard to imagine that before it was baked in the oven, it was simply flour and oil. But God calls us to look at the possibilities of each ingredient rather than their limitations. The Holy Spirit allows us to see beyond what’s in front of us and look into the supernatural to see what God can do. He sees the final result and how the ingredients will come together to not only fulfill your calling but to use it for the sake of others. When we surrender what we have into the hands of our Maker, God will transform it into the miracle we’ve been praying for.
A spirit of faith replaces a spirit of fear
The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. In 1 Kings, The widow was planning to go home and die — she couldn’t see the future God had prepared for her. Fear will fill us with dread, leaving us feeling hopeless and empty. But when we have eyes for the future, we can see past our current circumstances to the hope God has for us.
God saw something in the widow that she didn’t see in herself. Long before her path ever crossed Elijah’s, God had a purpose set apart for her. We see that Elijah and the widow each had something to offer to the other — Elijah needed her natural oil and she needed his spiritual oil. The truth is that we need each other. As my calling partners with your calling, we can accomplish more together than we can apart.
We often tell God that we don’t have what we need to do what He’s called us to do. Having vision means lifting our eyes from our circumstances and setting our sights on things above. We have to see the possibility, trusting God’s promise that nothing is impossible for Him. The widow didn’t have any bread, but she had all of the ingredients. She gave God what she had and he did the rest. When we feel like we’re lacking, we can simply offer God what we have in our hands and watch as He turns our offering into a miracle.
Think of a situation in your life that seems impossible. Take inventory of the ingredients you have and offer them to God. Reflect on Matthew 19:26 and set your expectations for a miracle.
Are you interested in leading a crew? Click here to fill out an application to become a crew leader in SZN 2!
VOUS High Nite is a night for Junior High and High School Students to meet friends, worship and encounter God. It will be taking place Wednesday, April 2nd at both VOUS SoMi and VOUS Miami Gardens at 7PM.
To RSVP, click here.
There will also be a VOUS High Nite Parent Hangout. This will be an opportunity to learn more about VOUS High, have some dinner and get to know other parents in our community.
To RSVP for the Parent’s Hang, click here.
Where: VOUS Miami Gardens & VOUS SoMi
When: Saturday, April 2nd
Address:
VOUS Miami Gardens - 17801 NW 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33169
VOUS SoMi - 6767 Sunset Dr, Miami, FL 33143
Doors Open at 7PM.
Are you looking for a place to grow in leadership, community, and culture? Join us at VOUS College Preview Day on April 3rd to learn more about program offerings, connect with students, and ignite your journey to help fulfill the Great Commission!
RSVP now at vouscollege.com/preview
Where: VOUS Miami Gardens
When: Thursday, April 3rd
Address: 17801 NW 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33169
The Easter Egg Drop is a family fun-filled day, including food, games, entertainment, and the crowd favorite: a helicopter egg drop with eggs stuffed with goodies and prizes!
For more information on the Easter Egg Drop, click here
If you are interested in serving, click here
Where: Charles Hadley Park
When: Saturday, April 19th
Address: 1350 NW 50th St
Miami, FL 33142
Join us for Easter at VOUS as we celebrate the power of the cross. This is a weekend for the whole family! Pick a service time and invite a friend — there's room for you.
Join us on the road to VOUSCon as we embark on a 40-day relay run through the state of Florida. From Jacksonville to Miami, runners from every region are invited to participate in carrying the good news. Our finish line? VOUSCon 2025. Led by a core VOUS team, we’ll link arms with partner churches along the way, spotlighting the body of Christ and championing the local church through weekly outreach initiatives.
Starting Line: Sunday, May 11
Finish Line: Thursday, June 19
VOUS SoMi
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
10:30AM / 12:30PM
VOUS DD
10:30AM / 12:30PM
Church Online
10AM / 12:00 PM / 5PM Español
Growth Track
After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack