2 Corinthians 4:15 The Message “Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!”
How are you my brothers and sisters? As I sit in the depths of quiet, I’m thankful and grateful for all God has done for me! Amen! Hallelujah! I have a place to live, food to eat, employment, family, friends, good health, a sound mind (some may question this LOL), and so much more! I can sing and shout for all God has done for me! There are so many who are hurting and suffering, but God is so good! My church along with two other churches have begun a communal garden. We along with God’s help are growing lettuce, kale, collards, radishes, beets, and beans for our respective food pantries. Tonight, we harvested! What a feeling harvesting brought to us! As the garden grows it will feed many, which is our hope and prayer. Many will have fresh vegetables leading to better health outcomes! I can remember my parents and grandparents saying - eat your vegetables! What a feeling knowing you are helping God’s people! The garden is a blessing for others! The garden puts me in touch with the earth along with just how blessed I am!
We are encouraged as God’s people to be generous! It’s long but let’s look at 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 from The Message Bible “Remember: 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. God 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. Carrying 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!”
Amen! Let us be not only generous but also giving, loving, caring, and helpful! Let us provide hope and be the ray of light! Being grateful is rooted in our hearts, minds, and senses. Remember to say thank you and but for the grace of God there go I!
As you know this is #StuffValSaid, but what do you say? What does it mean to be generous? What about being grateful? When you’re thankful, how does your body respond? Is there a sense of lightness? Warmth? In what way does expressing gratitude change your outlook?
As said in Swahili, Ashay…” Be with us!!!” I love and honor you!!! Ubuntu “I am, because you are.”
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