Give Graciously

 

 

“The more you give, the more you will receive.”  We hear this phrase quite a bit, especially during the fall season when different charitable organizations that need assistance come forward for help.  It is always nice to lend a helping hand.  I honestly believe most people work hard to try and give as much as they can, whether it is for the church, their local charity or even to a friend in need.  Yet, when we have abundance, it can be comforting to spend a few extra dollars on ourselves versus those in need.

For instance, you recently received a bonus at work.  You worked hard for that money – put in long hours at work and gave up much family time for the success of the company.  You deserve this money!  You deserve to spend this money on something that is important to you!    You may go out for a night on the town.  Maybe it is something larger – a new wardrobe, a dream vacation, etc.  The thought of giving it to the church or storing it up for someone in need may not even cross your mind.  If it was a thought, maybe the giving to those charities comes AFTER that dream vacation!

God asks us something special in Malachi.  In this case, He is asking that we give to Him, the church FIRST!  Not what is left over, what is last, but what is first!  As we write out our checks to pay bills, God wants us to give to Him first.  This can be a hard concept.  I know when finances were tough, it was more important for me to pay bills versus giving to the church.  Many months went by when my choice was to not give to God, but to give to the areas that needed it most – MY BILLS.  Around that time, I read this verse.  What was I doing?  I was so afraid that if I gave God what He deserved first that I would not have enough for the bills I had.

As God mentions in Malachi, when we give, He gives greater.  That has ALWAYS been the case.  When I trusted to give my finances to God, God gave back to us – tenfold!  God is like that; His blessings are greater than we can imagine.  It takes trust, trust in God, to obey Him.  It means we need to trust that He will always be there for us, to provide for us, to give us everything we need.  His love for us is immeasurable – so are His gifts. 

During this month of giving and gratefulness for all we have, may we reach out to our churches, our food pantries, our friends in need.  May we give – FIRST – to those in need.  Give and give abundantly.  In return, you will receive so much more.  You will be doing God’s will – and there is nothing better than that!  Just have simple faith that God will bless you abundantly.

Heavenly Father, thank you for always blessing me.  May I ensure that the FIRST fruits of my labor go to you and your efforts to provide for those less fortunate.  May I trust that you will give me all that I need.  May I have simple faith.  Amen!

Saints

 

Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint John, Saint Andrew – the list of saints goes on and on.  When we reflect on saints, we tend to think of these saints that evoke Bible stories of greatness.  Last week, we celebrated All Saints Day in church.  It is one of my most favorite moments.  We did not list the saints that are traditionally known; we named the saints that are closest to us.  Pastor read the names of those family members who have gone before us, as saints.  We exchanged a Bible verse between Pastor and the congregation, names were read, and the bell tolled for each group.  This exchange was conducted until all the names were read.  When my dad’s name was read, along with the names of my in-laws whom I never met, emotions flooded.   They are such true saints.

The family saints I mentioned may not have been as famous as Paul, Peter, John, and Andrew, yet they are saints none-the-nonetheless.  My husband has shared many memories with me of his mom working hard for their local parish and his dad opening the Bible and reading it.  My dad also brings back many memories.  My dad loved his Lord, and he was not shy about it.  He worked hard for the church, from ensuring the grounds were kept neat, to cooking on special occasions for the church and the local food pantry.  He took the talents God gave him and ensured they were used for the good of God’s kingdom.  He prayed often.  When Daddy went to church, he revered being in the house of the Lord. 

I am certain that all of us can remember those who have touched our lives in their walk of faith.  Maybe it was a parent, a family member, a pastor, or church member.  These people lived out their faith, by the way they spoke, the way the shared God’s word, and the way they lived their lives.  I have awesome news for all of us.  We are all saints!  The Bible shares in Psalms 31:23” Oh, love the LORD, all you, His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person.”   ALL of us are God’s saints and have the same gifts that God gave to us to share with others, just as the saints that went before us.

Reflect for a few moments.  We may not consider ourselves to be saints, but God does!  Have you opened a children’s Bible to read to small ones?  Have you conducted a Bible Study?  Have you prayed for others?  Have you glorified Jesus’ name?  Dear saints in Christ, we are all preserving the faith we have in God, and as the verse above shared, the Lord repays the proud person who is proud in his name.  Live your faith boldly.  You do not need to prophesy from the highest mountains to a multitude of people.  Your simple acts of faith give you sainthood in God’s eyes – and in mine!  Let us raise our Bibles rejoicing the status GOD gives us as saints.

Dearest Lord, thank you for reminding us in your Word that we are all saints in your eyes.  May our daily lives of simple living let the world know how much we love you and know you are our savior.  Amen!

Will, Works, Way

 

I will!  How many times have we heard those words in response to a request we make?  Typically, the “I will” comes with a bit of a ‘tone,’ including an elevated pitch and possibly an eye roll.  Have you been on the receiving end of an “I will” such as that?  Does not usually feel great.  In response, I am either annoyed or I realize I may have overstepped, and I have remorse.  Either way, the sender and the receiver in this conversation is not saying “Yippee – that went great”!

I was reflecting upon that phrase recently when it made me think of God’s will, God’s work, and God’s way.  The will of God, what God wants to happen in heaven and on earth.  I can only imagine what He must think when He looks at me and the will He has for me – and how I have not always delivered His will.  Right in the Lord’s Prayer it talks about Thy Will be Done.  I do not always do God’s will.  Have I always given of my time when He has nudged me to do so?  Do I follow my OWN will versus God’s will?   Do my actions reflect responding as God would want?  I am sure you know the answer to those questions!  God has a will for my life – he as a will for all of our lives.  He knows what He wants to happen with us here on earth.  We need to open our hearts to accept HIS will!

Once we have done so, what works has He put in His will that I need to consider?  God leaves so much in our hands.  Often, we do not leave what we should in God’s hands.  When He provides us His will, He also provides us an opportunity to live out His will with works.   In Philippians 2:13, it is written “…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Our works and how we live out God’s will is a gift from God.  God is pleased when we do His work for His will.  It is important for us to realize that when we look at God’s work as ‘one more thing to do.’  When we look upon God’s work as a chance to serve Him, our hearts will rejoice versus be hardened.

So, we have God’s will, and we have God’s work.  The missing link to all of this is ensuring we do this in God’s way.  God has a way for us to live our lives, to do His will and His work.  Give to the church, but don’t steal in order to give it.  Work at the church when it is needed, but do not forget to honor your mother/father when they need your help.  We can do much work in the name of God, but if do not do it in the way God wants us to, we have not given glory to our Lord.  It is important for us to consider this when we do God’s work in His way.  God is pleased when we do His work for His will in His way!  When we can thread all three of these together, I honestly believe God will be smiling down upon us and He will be proud of us. 

Friends, think about the will God has for you, the work He has given you and the way He wants you to complete that work.  It will not always be easy; in fact, I can guarantee it will be difficult.  In the end, God will smile upon you and the simple faith that you displayed in His goodness will warm your soul.

Heavenly Father, please help us to seek your will, your works in your way.  May we give all we have by walking in your light.  In your name we pray, Amen!swaHeaHe

Give Up

 

I was in church this morning.  As I looked around at the pews and the people filing into them, I realized that our congregation is growing.  Yes, I was there as new families were becoming members.  Yes, I was there when little ones were getting baptized.  Yet, for some reason, this morning I noticed those new faces sitting in the pews.  I heard little ones chatting in the back of the church and it brought a smile to my face.  I saw a multitude of children head up to the altar for the children’s sermon and scurry back to their seats.  I saw adult heads bob up and down in affirmation as Pastor shared his message. 

It made me think of my family.  Many of our family members are in different states, making it hard to all be together.  We cherish the times we are together, realizing that we cannot just ‘drop over’ on a normal day.  A little secret between us, I often dreamed of buying a very large piece of property and having all my family live a ‘stones throw away’ from each other.  I dream of us all being together. 

When I read today’s verse, it made me reflect on a variety of scenarios.  I think about simpler days when people would gather together, share their belongings with others, and live life as Jesus asked us to.  I wonder what would happen if we lived our lives like that today.  People would gather their talents, gather their treasures, and gather together praising God for all the blessings we have.

Nothing stops us from living out the life that God asks of us.  We all have something we can give to others.  Maybe it is your time – time to sit with a friend in need, time to dedicate to the needs of the church, or time focusing on your family.  Maybe it is your talent – cooking for those that may need a meal, being a lector or greeter at church, or teaching Sunday School.  Maybe it is your treasures – purchasing groceries for the local soup kitchen, providing a bit more in the offering plate for something the church needs, or helping out one who is having financial troubles. 

What I have noticed over the years is that when I do give of time, talent or treasures, the Lord gives back to me tenfold.  If I debate in my head whether I can afford to give a little extra and decide to go forward with giving, the Lord finds a way to give back to me more.  It is in those moments that I realize that the greatest gift of giving is knowing that Jesus is always there for me and will ensure that I will always have enough of what I need.

Friends, find a way to give of your time, your talents and your treasures.  Your blessings will be tenfold, your heart will grow with love, and your soul will be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Living out Jesus’ love is what we can do – let us do so joyfully and abundantly.  Have simple faith that God is there to give to you!

Dearest Jesus, please guide me to give of my time, talent, and treasures.  Help me to see when, where and to whom I can give.  Lead my heart and my head to show others your love.  In your giving name I pray, Amen!

Be Still

 

I was gifted with the opportunity to take this past week off from work.  I have always wanted to take a full week off during my favorite time of year and finally had the opportunity to do so.  It was an incredible gift.  I was able to get SO much done on my to do lists and felt the week was very productive.  On top of those things, I spent a little extra time with my mom and met with a couple of friends I had not seen in years.   To top the week, the weather was exactly how fall should be.  Most of the days were sunny and in the mid 50’s, which meant hoodies, coffee, and baking.  I look back over the week and a smile graces my face.

One of the best things I had a chance to do was to sit out on our deck.  From numerous blog posts, you know that it has become my most favorite place to be at home.  Sometimes I would sit there in the morning, other times it was in the sunshine of the afternoon.  All the time I wanted to just Be Still.  This verse flowed through my mind as I would sit looking at the beautiful trees as they had turned color and listened to the birds and the geese soaring through the sky.  I noticed things I have not noticed in some time.  I saw a beautiful eagle perched on a branch in all its regalness.  I realized that I would hear the wind rustle the leaves in the trees before I felt it upon my skin.  I smelled a wood fire that was heating someone’s home. 

Being still is a commodity in today’s world.  I know I have lost the art and preciousness of just sitting and being.  When we are able to do that, just to sit and be still, we are able to realize all that our Lord has provided for us.  When we are still, we can calm our anxiousness and reflect on the power of God.  We can reflect on all the miracles he has graciously given to us.  In those moments when I was still, I felt as if I was the only one God was focused on, that I was the one on his mind.  As I look back, those moments brought me peace.

What I realized is that I need to build more of that into my days.   I need to step back from the hectic pace of this world, put away my phone, and just be still in the beauty my Lord has gifted me.  I need to appreciate His gifts, reflect upon His words, and know that I am His child that He holds in His arms.  I encourage you to do the same!  It does not have to be hours – ten minutes a day is a start.  It does not have to be on a deck.  It could be on a park bench during lunch or a comfortable chair in your home.  Give yourself the gift of being still and reflecting on the beauty and love of Jesus.  I guarantee you will want to build it into your days more often.  Feel God’s love surround you during those moments.  Have simple faith that He is will you not only when you are still but also in the hecticness called life!

Heavenly Father, help me to Be Still and Know that you are God.  Guide me to moments of reflection on your majesty and be mindful of the daily miracles you put into my life.  May I feel you hold me and love me.  Amen!

First Place

 

It’s Football Season!  There are many joys in autumn.  The changing leaves, the crisp air, apple picking – the list goes on and on.  It’s also the return of football!  I am not an ‘over the top’ fan.  I’m not in a fantasy league.  I don’t have to stop my world to watch a game.  Yet, I do enjoy knowing that high school and college kids are back on the gridiron and that my ‘black and gold’ team is trying for another super bowl.

In football, as in any sport, it is about being first.  Not only do you want to win that game/match, but you also want to string enough of them together to be in first place!  First place – the ultimate achievement!  First place can win you the chance to play in the World Series, the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the NBA Finals, the World Cup, the State Championships, etc!  First place!  It is quite the achievement! 

Even if you are not into sports, first place can be quite the achievement in many areas of life.  First place on the music lists, valedictorian of one’s class, first in someone’s heart!  All of those ‘first places’ are also quite the achievement and are to be celebrated.  Nothing feels better than knowing you are ‘first’ in someone’s life.

All of the above ‘firsts’ are awesome, but they don’t replace the true first – the preeminence!  I love this word and I love its context.  Preeminence – to be first, in the highest place or to have the greatest importance, honor or exaltation.  I’ll give you one guess as to who should reign preeminent in our lives!  Jesus!  Jesus should be THE one by which all our other firsts are compared to.  It is only with Jesus’ love and guidance that any of our first places are achieved.  He deserves first place in our lives.  So how do we ensure this occurs?

·         Prayer – start by praying about it.  Let Jesus’ answers guide you.

·         Worship – yes, on Sundays but every other day as well.  Worship Him through home devotions.

·         Gratefulness – all good things come from God!  Thank Him, each and every day, for the blessings that have been bestowed upon you.

·         Study The Word – a formal Bible study is great.  Yet, picking up your Bible and meditating on verses can also fill your soul.

·         Giving – share your time, talents and treasures with those in need.  Do you know someone who can use a visit, a phone call, a meal or some groceries? 

All of the above are ways we can put Jesus to the forefront of our lives.  Ensuring He is preeminent means He is first in what we say and do.  Jesus has provided us all the goodness and blessings we have – doesn’t He deserve to be in ‘first place’ of our lives?  Let’s get to it!!

Dearest Jesus, help us to recognize you are preeminent in our lives.  Help us to see and do YOUR will and ensure we thank you for all you have given to us.  In you preeminent name we pray – Amen!

Slow Change

 

As I write this post, I am sitting on our deck enjoying the most perfect fall day.  The sun is shining in between the clouds, the air is fresh, a just-picked apple by my side, and the trees are starting to turn.  I do not know if it is due to the fact that I am paying closer attention this year than others, but it seems as if the leaves are truly taking their time.  I am enjoying every minute of it!  As I look at the leaves, they are starting to turn on the edges of the trees, making their way back to the trunk.  Slowly, as each day passes, another set of leaves begins this amazing process, as more of the tree becomes colored in the beauty of fall.  Although I cannot wait for the tree to be engulfed in color, the process of the change is just as beautiful. 

So often, when we offer up prayers to Jesus for something to change, we believe he is not reacting quick enough.  “Where is my answer?  Aren’t you listening to me?  I am not asking a lot, just help me already!”  Whether we have said these phrases aloud or kept them to ourselves, there have been times when the change that we are looking for seems to be coming too slowly.  Our goal to establish our timeline to God’s timeline is one that will never be achieved.  God, knowing our past, present and future, knows the right time to provide us with answers to our prayers, provide us the changes we want to see.  It is in HIS time, not our time.  The waiting can be arduous.  Yet, something happens in the waiting!

In the waiting for leaves to change colors, the miracle of the fall season continues.  It is in our waiting for prayers to be answered that the miracle of our changing season occurs.  It is during this time that the waiting brings us closer to God and the faith in Him that he so desperately wants for us.  As we wait, we pray.  As we wait, we change from a quick fix to a faith that God will give us what we need when we need it.  It is always AFTER the prayer is answered and we reflect upon that waiting period that we realize the growth in faith we gained.  The waiting may have helped us to be more patient, more reliant, more hopeful, and certainly more thankful.

Slowly changing, whether it is the leaves or us, brings beauty.  Think about the beauty in the waiting.  When life changes slowly it helps us to appreciate the end result even more.  Much like today’s verse, in our waiting for Jesus to return, we can see the beauty of how our faith can be strengthened.  As we enter this fall season, and we wait for the beauty of the leaves, may we also see the beauty in the waiting!  May our faith grow in Jesus as we wait for him to arrive in the heavens one day.  It will all happen; we just need to have Simple Faith.

Heavenly Father, we know that everything happens in YOUR time.  Help us to be patient and watch all the goodness that happens in the waiting.  In your ever-present name we pray, Amen!