choose to be a blessing

How can I go to the next level? That level could be one of many different things, but I am referring to the fact of seeing and holding on the things that only God can do.

Over the last month or so we have been talking about what it is to have generous heart. Yesterday we finished the series by issuing our church family a “90-Day Giving Challenge” that asked for people to make a commitment for 3 months to give, to give consistently, or to give more. I was overwhelmed with the faces and commitment of our church family.

I have shared with you several times the last few weeks about what it means to be generous. God tells us that this is a matter of our heart. Ask yourself this question: if someone too a look at your bank account and checkbook, would they find you guilt of being generous? I want to be found guilty of being generous!

Isaiah 32:8 NLT

But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.

There are great plans in your mind and in mine. Are we using our creativity and our actions and our possessions so that others are blessed? Generous people act in generous ways. It is almost second nation.

One of our men at church talked about this yesterday. It was incredible hearing how God has blessed his family because he chose to give and to share his talent with others. Be generous with everything you have. Even be generous with your planning and with your thinking.

Proverbs 11:24-25 MSG

“The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”

My brother sent me these verses on Saturday. It has been running through my head and heart ever since. Do you see the picture in your mind? Either our world is getting bigger or smaller.

Selfish people live in a little world. Selfless people live in a big, big world that is even growing bigger. When we chose to honor God with our abilities and our money, we are a blessing to God, we are a blessing to others and we will be blessed too.

When you GIVE to God’s Work, it AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTS your HEART to God’s Work! Choose to be a blessing. It starts in your heart. Follow through with your words and actions.

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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