Early Spring 2011
I was on the recieving end of a monetary gift this week from out of nowhere. I know the givers, but not well enough to think that they would randomly offer this kind of help. I've taken care of them at different times or it's been strictly business contact situations, but that's as far as my awareness of them has been. The gift is to help with expenses due to needing surgery and not being able to work. I've been going day by day praying to continue having faith that God would provide what needed to be provided for. I won't say that I gave up, but I have to admit I was starting to "sweat it" in some areas. I've been beside myself over this gift and just praising God for once again showing me that He knows and cares about the details of our lives. I say details because this monetary gift is the exact amount of a bill I desperately needed RIGHT now. NO ONE knew about this bill. That's the neat part of all this, to me.
I definitely haven't been on course recently, but this goes to show God's grace and His love for us as our Father. I see this gift, at this time, as if God's saying "Hey, I'm quite aware of what's going on with you. I have it under control, but here's something just to ease your spirit a bit. I can and will do." I always wonder what would happen if I were actually obedient when I see how blessed I am when I'm being a rebel. Honestly, my initial reaction to the gift was of horror. Through this, I have learned that I need to ask and accept help. It's not something I know how to do. Someone told me that not recieving a gift/blessing is a selfish thing to do because it takes the opportunity away from the giver to be blessed. It also may be God's plan to turn my willingness -to accept help- as a way to build me up. I'm very guilt ridden by tha,t but very humbled. I feel very loved. I came across the scripture below while thinking on all this. It's just an awesome chapter.
Moral of the story: You know...when we give, we are planting seeds. It's not always about US being the givers though. When people want to bless us and we start to decline, we need to recognize that there are others trying to plant good seeds. Good seeds in OUR lives. Don't turn that down. :) We need to look at things from the other side of the glass sometimes and realize how things work for others as well. I just pray that I be good ground for this seed like it talks about in Luke 8. I want this gift to produce good fruit even outside my situation. I want it to bear fruit for the givers of this gift. I can't wait. I hope it just absolutely blesses them all in a way that God can not be denied. God, I just want you to shine through me, to them. I want you to be proud of me. I want others to be touched by you, through me. Please show me and touch my heart when the opportunities arise. Thank you for showing me something outside of me.
3-5Now I’m sending the brothers to make sure you’re ready, as I said you would be, so my bragging won’t turn out to be just so much hot air. If some Macedonians and I happened to drop in on you and found you weren’t prepared, we’d all be pretty red-faced—you and us—for acting so sure of ourselves. So to make sure there will be no slipup, I’ve recruited these brothers as an advance team to get you and your promised offering all ready before I get there. I want you to have all the time you need to make this offering in your own way. I don’t want anything forced or hurried at the last minute.
6-7Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.
8-11God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,
He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
12-15Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!
I was on the recieving end of a monetary gift this week from out of nowhere. I know the givers, but not well enough to think that they would randomly offer this kind of help. I've taken care of them at different times or it's been strictly business contact situations, but that's as far as my awareness of them has been. The gift is to help with expenses due to needing surgery and not being able to work. I've been going day by day praying to continue having faith that God would provide what needed to be provided for. I won't say that I gave up, but I have to admit I was starting to "sweat it" in some areas. I've been beside myself over this gift and just praising God for once again showing me that He knows and cares about the details of our lives. I say details because this monetary gift is the exact amount of a bill I desperately needed RIGHT now. NO ONE knew about this bill. That's the neat part of all this, to me.
I definitely haven't been on course recently, but this goes to show God's grace and His love for us as our Father. I see this gift, at this time, as if God's saying "Hey, I'm quite aware of what's going on with you. I have it under control, but here's something just to ease your spirit a bit. I can and will do." I always wonder what would happen if I were actually obedient when I see how blessed I am when I'm being a rebel. Honestly, my initial reaction to the gift was of horror. Through this, I have learned that I need to ask and accept help. It's not something I know how to do. Someone told me that not recieving a gift/blessing is a selfish thing to do because it takes the opportunity away from the giver to be blessed. It also may be God's plan to turn my willingness -to accept help- as a way to build me up. I'm very guilt ridden by tha,t but very humbled. I feel very loved. I came across the scripture below while thinking on all this. It's just an awesome chapter.
Moral of the story: You know...when we give, we are planting seeds. It's not always about US being the givers though. When people want to bless us and we start to decline, we need to recognize that there are others trying to plant good seeds. Good seeds in OUR lives. Don't turn that down. :) We need to look at things from the other side of the glass sometimes and realize how things work for others as well. I just pray that I be good ground for this seed like it talks about in Luke 8. I want this gift to produce good fruit even outside my situation. I want it to bear fruit for the givers of this gift. I can't wait. I hope it just absolutely blesses them all in a way that God can not be denied. God, I just want you to shine through me, to them. I want you to be proud of me. I want others to be touched by you, through me. Please show me and touch my heart when the opportunities arise. Thank you for showing me something outside of me.
2 Corinthians 9 – The Message
1-2If I wrote any more on this relief offering for the poor Christians, I’d be repeating myself. I know you’re on board and ready to go. I’ve been bragging about you all through Macedonia province, telling them, “Achaia province has been ready to go on this since last year.” Your enthusiasm by now has spread to most of them.3-5Now I’m sending the brothers to make sure you’re ready, as I said you would be, so my bragging won’t turn out to be just so much hot air. If some Macedonians and I happened to drop in on you and found you weren’t prepared, we’d all be pretty red-faced—you and us—for acting so sure of ourselves. So to make sure there will be no slipup, I’ve recruited these brothers as an advance team to get you and your promised offering all ready before I get there. I want you to have all the time you need to make this offering in your own way. I don’t want anything forced or hurried at the last minute.
6-7Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.
8-11God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,
He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
12-15Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!
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I read each of these comments with excitement knowing that I will either gain confirmation or suggestions! God bless you!