Promise for Today - God's 5G Plan - Grace, Giving, Generosity, Gratitude, Greater

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (NIV)

One way to measure how much you understand grace and how much you’re living by grace, look at your giving.

The Bible says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8 NIV).

Notice the “alls” in that Scripture: “all things,” “at all times,” “having all that you need.” Those are the promises related to the person who’s becoming like Christ. What is Christ like? He is a giver. God loved the world so much that he gave. And as you learn to be generous—with your time, hospitality, money, resources, and opportunities—you start to look like Jesus. Nothing is greater proof that you understand grace than being lovingly gracious and generous to other people and to God.

If you feel tense or defensive when your pastor starts talking about giving, it may mean you don’t fully understand grace. Look at the Scripture again. It says that God loves a cheerful giver and is able to take care of all your needs—all the time, in every way, however you need them.

Here’s the question: Are you going to trust the God who gave his life for you? If you can trust him enough for salvation, can’t you trust him with everything he’s given to you, including your finances?

The truth is, you really don’t own anything. God just loans it to you for 70 or 80 years. It’s all his in the first place!

God gives to us generously. Then he says, “Lead a life of gratitude. Be generous in giving.” Does God need your gifts? No. He wants you to become like him. He wants you to have a heart that says, “I can’t wait to give in every area.”

Romans 8:32 says, “Since [God] did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” (NLT).

You can say you love God and sing that you trust God and put him first, but how generous you are with everything he’s given you is where you can show just how much his grace means to you.

Talk It Over

Would you call yourself a cheerful giver? Why or why not?

How have you seen God bless your finances or provide for you as you have been faithful to tithe?

In what ways does your life reflect gratitude for God’s grace?

-by Pastor Rick

*****************************

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for the gift of grace that meets us where we are, even when we fall short. Open our hearts and minds to understand the depth of Your love and the beauty of Your mercy. Teach us to see every blessing, both big and small, as a reminder of Your goodness.
      When we face confusion, grant us wisdom to see with clarity. When we are impatient, remind us of the patience You have shown us. Let our gratitude grow deeper each day, so that our lives reflect the kindness and compassion You have poured into us.
      May we never take Your grace for granted, but instead live in a way that honors the gift You so freely give. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - When It Comes to Giving...

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT)

When it comes to giving, God cares much more about what’s in your heart than what’s in your wallet. You may think you don’t have a lot to give. But what he really wants is your willingness—not your wealth. God cares about your heart in giving because your heart reflects him. He wants you to grow to be more like him and reflect a heart of generosity.

This verse offers four key heart attitudes you should have when you give.

1. Give thoughtfully. Don’t give impulsively. The most spiritual kind of giving is when you think about it, pray about it, and then make up your mind about it. God wants your giving to be important and meaningful in your life—so he wants you to plan for it.

2. Give enthusiastically. Don’t just think, “I have to give.” Give because you know God’s going to do something big in your heart when you become a generous person.

3. Give voluntarily. Any time someone pressures you to give, don’t do it. God’s not going to bless that kind of giving anyway. But when you feel God challenging you to give, that’s the time to give generously and voluntarily.

4. Give cheerfully. Give with joy! One of the Greek words for “offering” has the same root as the word “hilarious.” God wants you to enjoy giving to him and to others.

Next time you’re considering whether to give or how much to give, remember that God’s greatest concern is your heart. When you give thoughtfully, enthusiastically, voluntarily, and cheerfully, then you know that’s a gift God will bless!

Talk It Over

God wants you to give thoughtfully, enthusiastically, voluntarily, and cheerfully. Which of these attitudes is most difficult for you? Which is easiest for you? Why?

What is a healthy, proper way to respond in situations when you feel pressured to give?

What is God doing in your heart through your current giving habits and choices?

- by Pastor Rick

********************************

Prayer:

Father,

        We come before You today with grateful hearts, asking that You shape our giving to be mindful, intentional, and aligned with Your will. Help us see every blessing — whether it is time, resources, talents, or love — as a gift from You, entrusted to us for Your glory and to help build Your kingdom.
      Remove from us any reluctance, fear, or selfishness that might hinder true generosity. Teach us to give not out of obligation, but from a place of joy and love for You. Let our giving reflect Your heart, marked by compassion, kindness, and patience. Guide us in how, when, and where to give, so that our acts of generosity are wise and purposeful, meeting needs without causing harm or imbalance. Whether it is through material support, time, encouragement, or acts of kindness, may our giving overflow with blessing for others and for You.
      Help us to give with a cheerful spirit, knowing that You are our Provider. May our lives become a channel of Your grace, bringing comfort, hope, and encouragement to those around us. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Give It Away

Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

John 12:24 (NIV)

What does a farmer do when he has a barren field that’s producing no income? He doesn’t complain about it. He doesn’t even have to pray about it! He just goes out and starts planting seed, because nothing is going to happen until he plants the seed. He can pray all he wants, but prayer doesn’t replace planting.

Maybe you think you’re waiting on God. You think you’re waiting on God for that job. You think you’re waiting on God for a spouse. You think you’re waiting on God for the windfall. But God might be saying to you, “You think you’re waiting on me? I’m waiting on you! I’m waiting for you to plant a seed.”

Everything in life starts as a seed: a relationship, a marriage, a business, a church. And nothing happens until the seed is planted. Why does God require you to plant a seed? Because planting is an act of faith. You take what you’ve got, and you give it away. That takes faith, and it brings glory to God.

Jesus described this principle of sowing and reaping when he explained why he came to earth to die on the cross. In John 12:24, Jesus said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (NIV). Jesus was saying, “People will be saved and go to heaven because of my death and resurrection. I’m going to plant a seed, and the seed is going to be my life.”

Here’s the principle of sowing and reaping: Whenever you have a need, plant a seed. Whatever you need—more time, more energy, more money, more support, more relationships, more wisdom—just plant a seed. If you need more time, give more time to your kids. If you need more money, give it away to someone who needs it. If you need more wisdom, share what wisdom you have with others. Give yourself away!

It may not make sense to you to give away something that you need more of, but that is exactly the kind of attitude that God wants to bless and that will produce fruit in your life.

Talk It Over

What need have you been waiting on God to provide?

What do you think God might be waiting for you to do about that need? What seed can you plant today?

What kind of results do you see in yourself and others when you plant a seed and give of yourself? How is God building your character through that?

- by Pastor Rick

*************************

Prayer:

Father, 

           We come before You, asking for Your grace to transform us into more generous people. Help us to see that everything we have—time, talents, resources, and love—comes from You and belongs to You. Remove every form of selfishness, fear, or reluctance that holds us back from giving freely .
         Lord, we pray for a cheerful giving heart, one that flows from joy and gratitude rather than obligation. Teach us to give without reservation, whether it’s our time, our words, our encouragement, or our material blessings. Let our generosity reflect Your boundless love and compassion, and may our actions be a beacon of hope and kindness to those around us.
         Help us to overcome the fear of lack and to trust that You are our Provider. Give us wisdom in how, when, and where to give, so that our generosity blesses others and glorifies Your name.
         We ask You to break down the walls of scarcity in our spirit and replace them with a desire to bless. May our lives overflow with generosity, and may we be a vessel of Your grace, pouring out love and compassion to all we meet. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Terrific Servant or Terrible Master

[The] master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Matthew 25:21 (NIV)

Money is the acid test of your faithfulness. God uses it more than any other thing in your life to test your faith. Why? Because it’s the thing people have the hardest time with.

Look at the rewards God gives for wise money management: “[The] master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:21 NIV).

The law of compensation is this: God will reward you for good money management. Matthew 25 suggests three steps of this reward: affirmation, promotion, and celebration.

It’s as if God affirms you by saying, “Good job! I was testing you to see if you could be trusted with what I gave you, and you passed the test. Well done, good and faithful servant.”

The second step is promotion. As you show faithfulness with a few things, God will give you greater responsibility. Then, as you show your responsibility, God will celebrate with you. You will share in God’s happiness!

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24 NIV).

Notice he doesn’t say you shouldn’t serve God and money. He says you can’t. It’s impossible. Nobody can serve two masters. So you’re going to have to decide what will be number one in your life: God or money.

Money is a terrific servant but a terrible master. When it masters you, you’re always under stress. You’re always worried. You’re always uptight about it. But when you master your money, when you make it your servant, it serves you. When money works for you, instead of you working for your money, you will have peace.

Talk It Over

If God audited your finances, what grade would he give you, and why?

When has your money mastered you? When have you mastered your money? What were the differences in your relationship with God during those times?

How can you manage your money more wisely so that it works for you instead of controlling you?

- by Pastor Rick

*****************************

Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for every resource You’ve placed in our hands. We acknowledge that all we have comes from You, and we desire to honor You with it. Grant us wisdom to make decisions that reflect integrity and foresight. Teach us to live within our means, to save diligently, and to give generously. 
Guard our hearts from greed, fear, and comparison, and help us see money not as our security, but as a tool to serve others and fulfill Your purposes. May our stewardship bring peace to our home, blessing to those in need, and glory to Your name. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Keep Us Ever Mindful

Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great. 

Luke 6:35 (NLT)

Heaven probably already sounds pretty good to you. But did you know there are also going to be rewards in heaven?  You will be rewarded for everything you did in obedience to Jesus while on this earth. God is watching everything in your life. You will be rewarded in heaven for your good actions, speech, and thoughts; for your character and good decisions; and for your generosity and sacrifices. You’ll be rewarded for loving your enemies and for not giving up when it was difficult to do the right thing.

You will be rewarded for bringing other people to Jesus Christ. (Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you?)

You will be rewarded for putting up with criticism for being a Christian and for being persecuted as a believer. That’s why Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV).

God is watching it all and will reward it all.

These rewards have nothing to do with your salvation. The only way you get into heaven is by faith in what Jesus Christ has already done for you. You can’t get into heaven by your good works. But the Bible says that when you get to heaven, you will be rewarded according to your good works.

There are all kinds of verses about this. Matthew 10:42 says, “If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded” (NLT). It seems like such a simple thing to give a cup of water to someone or to share a meal. But every time you do that, it’s like God says, “I’m writing that one down. I’ve got them all recorded.”

You get to decide where you want your rewards. Do you want them in this life, or do you want them in the next life? If you choose this life’s rewards—like popularity, wealth, fame, success, and comfort—then you will enjoy them for only 80 years or so. But if you build up rewards in heaven, you’ll get to enjoy those rewards forever.

Don’t settle for the rewards this world has to offer. As a child of God, you have so much more to look forward to!

Talk It Over

The phrase, “What would Jesus do?” may seem overused in Christian culture, but how is it helpful for making choices that will be rewarded in heaven?

Why do you think God wants to reward you for your obedience?

In what ways are you working for rewards on earth? In what ways are you working for rewards in heaven?

- by Pastor Rick

****************************************

Prayer:

Father,

          You are SO good to us. Help us to keep love as the motivator in our lives for doing good works. Keep us ever mindful of giving as You and Your Son gave and continue to give - lavishly, selflessly, lovingly.  In Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen

Promise for Today Reminder - A Hundred to One

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
2nd Corinthians 9:7-9 NLT

Here's how the story goes:

A well-worn one-dollar bill and a similarly distressed one-hundred-dollar bill arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation. The hundred-dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the country.

"I've had a pretty good life," the hundred proclaimed. "I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, New Orleans and San Francisco, the finest restaurants in New York, performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean."

"Wow!" said the one-dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!"

"So, tell me," says the hundred, "Where have you been throughout your lifetime?"

The one-dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been to the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, the Lutheran Church..."

"Wait! Wait!" The hundred-dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?"

Well, we might chuckle, but sadly, if money actually talked, this conversation could very likely have taken place! Relax! I'm not here to take up an offering. But I would like to remind you that tithing and giving are part of a covenant relationship, and according to Malachi 3:10, we are to "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!"  Note this is the only place where God says we may test Him...

I have come to learn that the giving principle works in every area of life and that receiving isn't all about the bucks. If I sow my time by volunteering or helping a friend, invariably, I wind up with enough time for what's on my schedule and some to spare to do it again. If I sow kindness, I will receive kindness in great measure. If I sow love, I reap it in bundles too large and overwhelming to comprehend. If I sow mercy and/or grace, I will get it abundantly in return...and I need it. And when God sees I need some more of any of it, He pours out! Scripture reads, "Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands."

I don't know about you, but I don't want the representation of the life that precedes me to Heaven to be a one-dollar bill equivalent. I want to pour it out and give it my all. That's what Jesus did AND still does!

Prayer:

Father,
          Help us to see the beauty of Your majesty, to receive Your great love for us and to us through others. Teach us to give ALL, just as You gave all for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder to Do Something

"Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors."

Deuteronomy 15:10-11 The Message

Galveston. If you do a Google search, it's all about the hotels and vacation rentals and attractions and events. And yet, I didn't find anything about the event that takes place every week. Same time, same location. 21st Avenue and Winnie Street, 8am-9am, on Saturday mornings.

It's an outside event - on a back parking lot, actually. Several canopies set up, a few benches. There are those who pull in and unload their tables and boxes, then park on the street. Promptly at 8am, Rick starts addressing the motley group that assembles every week. He talks for about 20 minutes or so, appeals for a response, then they serve breakfast and invite the attendees to the tables laden with various wares. At first glance, it looks like it could be an outdoor flea market. There might even have been a few fleas...

If you give it more than the perfunctory glance, you will recognize those who are up against hard times, some are in dire straits. All are in need - including the ones behind the tables. When I went, I wanted to fix all of it. The truth is, I cannot, but I can do something, which of course, reminded me of Matthew West's great song, "Do Something" (see link below). Actually, we can ALL do something.

No, we can't fix it all. I don't believe that we can in our lifetime because Jesus said, "There are always going to be poor and needy people among you." But don't let that stop you, because then He said, "So I command you: ALWAYS be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors." [emphasis mine]

Your budget may be really tight, I know mine is at times, but let me give you an idea. Where I live, just $10 will buy enough peanut butter, grape jelly and bread to make 40 sandwiches. Or it could buy 64 bottles of water and 12 packs of peanut butter or cheese crackers. $5 will buy water and multiple snacks at a dollar store. $1 - just one - will buy 6 individual packs of peanut butter or cheese crackers. If you could have seen the gratitude on their faces for just a pack of snack crackers...

"Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity" (Luke 6:38 The Message).

Do Something
(Click on it for the link to the song.)

Prayer:

Father,
           Give us divine appointments to be generous with all that You have provided. Let goodwill, good seed and the Good News of Your Gospel be sown in the lives of those we touch. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Generous Spirit

As the Scriptures say, 

 “They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.
2nd Corinthians 9:9-11 NLT

People get nervous when you talk about Christianity. They fidget when you start talking about money. But if you want to really see them squirm, talk about money and Jesus in the same breath! However, truth is Truth. Now, before you get upset, I'm not talking about prospering for the sake of prosperity, so don't leave me yet.

Scripture tells us to share freely and give generously to the poor. If we do, according to the Word of God, He will both provide and increase our resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in us. The increased resources are NOT for us to keep, but to give away to others. It's not about making us rich. It's about a harvest of generosity. It's about reaping a generous spirit. It's about giving to others so that it opens the gate for them to come into the presence of God because they're giving thanks for what they have received.

Our text for today is the basis for the Law of Reciprocity. BIG buzzword in recent years. However, I'm not talking about transactional reciprocity - value given for value received. Author Wayne Baker has this to say about the power of reciprocity, "The lesson is that we cannot pursue the power of reciprocity. When we try to invoke reciprocity directly, we lose sight of the reason for it: helping others. Paradoxically, it is in helping others without expecting reciprocity in return that we invoke the power of reciprocity. The deliberate pursuit of reciprocity fails..." Mr. Baker paraphrased what the Scripture has to say and got himself another best seller.

What is our motivation behind giving? Is it obligational reciprocity? Yuck... Is it transactional reciprocity – value given for value received? Or is it - according to His Word - from a great harvest of generosity? If we continue in today's text, verse 13 reads, As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. Oh, please let it be that we are found obedient to the Good News of Christ!

Prayer:

Father,
             You love a cheerful giver, and You set the ultimate example of giving by giving us Your Son, Jesus. Provide and increase our resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in us, Lord, according to Your Word. Enrich us in every way so that we may always be generous. Help us especially to be generous with Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Generous to meet the needs of those around us so they will seek You out and thank You and give You glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Something Different for May - Day 30 - Paul to the Gentiles

I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace, I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.

My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.”

In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.

But now I have finished my work in these regions, and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to visit you. I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey.

But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. As soon as I have delivered this money and completed this good deed of theirs, I will come to see you on my way to Spain. And I am sure that when I come, Christ will richly bless our time together.

Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the believers there will be willing to accept the donation I am taking to Jerusalem. Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other.

And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.

Romans 15:14-33 NLT

Prayer - Day 30

Dear Jesus, 

                  The Apostle Paul reminds us today that You’ve filled us with goodness, and made us complete in knowledge to be able to teach one another about You. Thank You for Paul’s encouragement—even when he faced great struggles! Help us to follow Paul’s example of faith today. Amen.

Praying Through Romans - www.crosswalk.com

Jesus with Skin On

Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 CEB

You've heard someone say it - maybe even you've said it. "Yes, I know Jesus is always there for me, but right now,  I just need somebody with skin on." 

It's true. We all come to a place where we just want someone to be Jesus HERE. In the flesh. 

It's us. We're to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Compassionate. Caring. Providing what we can. Taking the time to just be there. Loving. Forgiving. 

Who do you know that you could step in and help meet their needs - even when it's not comfortable for you? As they say now... to put some skin in the game? 

Prayer:

Father,

            Open our eyes to see the needs of those around us. Open our hearts to be moved with compassion to help meet those needs. Make it even better if we can join together with other like-minded believers to surround them with Your love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Gift of Hope

You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:12c-13a NLT

Day Two, counting down the Advent. Celebrating hope this first week. Is there anything more fun than children when coming into the Christmas season? Oh, they are so excited and have such great expectations! The anticipation of all the possibilities of things that could happen... 

One of my granddaughters is autistic and no matter how old she gets, from Thanksgiving on she will unabashedly ask, "Granna, what are you going to give me for Christmas?" just like she has every year since she could talk. Her expectation is that she will get a present from me; her hope is that it will be something she likes. LOL Her absolute delight would be keys of any kind...

I think she is much like how Christ meant for us to be when He said we should be like children - wanting to be with Him, full of expectation, trusting Him to care and provide, delighting that He has given us the keys to His kingdom.

For so long, we lived without God and without hope...  Proverbs 13:12 NLT tells us, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Living without hope can be so devastating, but praise God, He sent His Son into the world so that we could have the hope of glory! It is a glorious thing, hope. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for giving us Jesus and with Him, the gift of hope! Help us to be ever mindful of the price that was paid for our salvation and the redemption of our souls. Help us to walk humbly before You, God, and to be always grateful for all You have provided. Cause our hearts to be moved with compassion for others and to be generous givers in all we lay our hands to do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - What Will We Give?

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
Luke 6:38 NKJV

God is big about giving. As with everything, He set the example. He doesn't say, "I'm snatching your money from you." "I'm taking your tithes." He says, "Bring it..." and then promises to pour out more blessings than we can hold in return. (NEWS FLASH! Blessing does not necessarily mean money! It's a blessing when you stay healthy while coworkers around you are coughing and hacking. It's a blessing when you find the perfect gift and it's on sale. It's also a blessing when your old car just keeps going.)

Whether it's your money, your goods, your time, or your talent - it's not how much you give, it's the attitude in which you give it. Have you ever heard someone say, "How much to make you go away?"  That is not a generous or grateful heart.

Grateful hearts tend to be generous. They understand what it is to have a need and have it met. Philippians 4:6b reads, Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. It doesn't say, "Tell God to go get it and wait until AFTER you get it to give thanks" although many times that's the attitude we see. People who say, I prayed and I didn't get it, and then they want to stop praying. It's like a spoiled brat who throws a tantrum when he doesn't get what he wants.

God knows the difference between want and need, good and bad, right and wrong, and because He IS love and loves US, He will not trade our needs for our wants or give us bad for our good, wrong for the right.

Scripture tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights. Good and perfect gifts. Given to us from God. Our example. What will we give? What measure will we use? Our best? Or whatever it takes to make Him or others go away?

Prayer:

Father,
         Let us give good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over - with a cheerful disposition - and all for Your glory, not ours. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Once and For All

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NLT

Accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and LORD is way more than just showing up to a church service every week. There are things we have to choose to lay down. There are lifestyle changes that need to take place. No more lying. No more cheating. No more hating anyone or anything, except sin. And it keeps trying to raise its ugly head. Kill it. Once and for all.

Once we accept Christ as our Savior and LORD, we have to learn to give as He gave Himself for us. I'm not just talking about tithes and offerings. No more withholding ourselves from another Christian in need. No more "I don't feel like it. I don't want to. Why can't they just leave me alone?"

Sometimes - and I think this is more dangerous for someone who has been a Christian for a long time - sometimes I hear, "I'm tired of doing that. I've paid my dues. I've done my time." or "I've been doing this for years and now they're just taking advantage of me."

What do we do with Christ's words in Scripture that instruct us that if they ask for our coat, we are to give them our cloak also? He was - and IS - always about giving more than what was asked.

First and foremost, you're not giving in order to get. If you are freely giving for the joy of giving, then they are receiving. NO one is taking advantage of you. That's the old selfish ways creeping back in... thinking that someone is going to take advantage of you or take something from you that you're not willing to give.

Are you looking at the signs of the times we live in? Can we afford to allow the old sinful nature to rise up within us again - to steal from us? To destroy our testimony? To kill us?

Hebrews 10:10 assures us,... we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.

Let's live like it. Once and for all.

Prayer:

Father,
            Give us Your eyes. Give us Your heart. Live large in us, so that others may see You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Cleaning for Company

Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.”
Luke 11:39-41 NLT

If you have guests coming for Thanksgiving, more than likely, you will do some serious housecleaning and maybe a few upgrades. I laughed heartily at several stories shared by some of the guys at work.

The wife made me paint the bathroom…the kitchen…the laundry room, for crying out loud!

She insisted we get the carpets steam cleaned.

My wife wants all the Christmas decorations up BEFORE Thanksgiving so the house will look festive when her family comes in. Decorations are supposed to be done on the Friday AFTER.

That woman is driving me nuts!

Of course, if you’re one of those women (or men), you may not see the humor in that. After all, cleaning for people who are coming to your house is SERIOUS business.

Jesus is serious about cleaning, too. Remember when He cleaned the money changers out of the Temple?  He put it into perspective when He instructed us about ritual cleaning – washing hands, feet, wiping things down – Jesus said it’s not what goes into us that defiles or makes us dirty; it’s what comes out of us.  In our text for today, He said we clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor.

Just like holiday cleaning or impending visits, ordinary or superficial cleaning doesn’t cut it for the important things in life. The holiday season is upon us and there is an abundance of opportunity to give gifts to those less fortunate, so we can be clean inside and out.  

He’s not kidding. After all, do you remember what He gave to provide cleaning for our sins? Now, THAT was serious…

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for providing everything necessary for us to be clean. Lord, we want clean hands and a pure heart so that we can stand before You. Help us to remain vigilant and serious about the kind of clean that matters. Show us where You want us to give. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen  

What Have You Got?

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.
Proverbs 25:11-12 NIV

We're living in tough times right now - life is uncertain. And in spite of the old adage Life is uncertain, eat dessert first, sometimes people don't see the humor in life. So what do we offer them? We can't offer them what we don't have, so we give them what we do have. You may say, I don't have anything to spare, but I beg to differ. We have Christ. We have His compassion. We have His words. 

Although it's been said, Talk is cheap, there are some words that are priceless. Scripture has much to say about words and how we use them. I've never done a full study on that, but sitting here, I am surprised by all the verses that come to mind regarding exactly that. (Hmmmmm...maybe God's warning me to watch my mouth. Thank You, Father.)

So what have you got that you can give?

Hope, peace.  Don't worry - let's pray about it. We'll ask God for what you need, and thank Him for all He has done to keep us so far. God will give us His peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, paraphrased for conversation).

Encouragement. Remember those early days after you first met Jesus? Those were the hard times! When stuff happened, you let it go, knowing it couldn't touch your real treasure. Nothing anyone did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourself then. It's still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion. It won't be long now...   But we're not quitters who lose out. No way! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting the Lord all the way. (Hebrews 10:32-39 - paraphrased for conversation).

Friendship. Hi, I just called to tell you I was thinking about you today. You wanna come over? Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble - Proverbs 17:17 The Message.

Acts 3:6 ...Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have." 

What have you got?

Prayer:

Father,
         Open our hearts to You and our eyes to see and give us the opportunity to offer what You have given us. And when those opportunities arise, give us the courage and conviction to step up and give what You've given us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Born to Just Do It

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them...

Genesis 1:27-28a NKJV

God has a reason, a design and a plan for everything He creates. We may not know or understand a large part of it, but that doesn't matter. Mankind was created in His likeness.

The original plan was that our nature would be like His, but it didn't take us long to fall, did it? One thousand, one hundred, eighty-nine chapters in the Bible, and by chapter 3, we'd already fallen. The fallen nature of man just wants to be blessed. And in our fallen nature, we started the "What about me?" saga. It doesn't want to work for it, to have to earn it - it's that whole I-didn't-ask-to-be-born-You-owe-me selfish, self-focused and self-consumed attitude.

The good news is that those who choose to follow God, to walk in Christ's footsteps - to pick up their Cross and be redeemed from the curse of sin - they can once again be the image of God. The redeemed nature wants to give and to bless others. That's following God. He's not asking us to do anything He hasn't already done Himself. You see, He gave us our very breath of life and then He gave us the opportunity for Life abundantly through the death of His Son. He gave - after we had already fallen. 

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:11-14

Prayer:

Father,

         We want to be more like You. Redeem us unto every good work, Father, according to Your Word. in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen