Just a Thought...

Today, Joel Osteen’s reading was on Giving, “Freely you have received, Now Freely give,” (Matt 10:8 New King James Bible). I just had a conversation about this topic on Tuesday of this week, "Giving." I love to give and I often find myself purging my closet and my son's closet because a lot of the stuff in our closets, we don't wear or need. I find joy in giving clothes and toys to children and families that I know will benefit greatly from the compassion, mercy and grace that I get to share when I give. For me, it is never about a pat on the back or a tax right-off, it truly is about giving to make someone else's life better.

During the Holiday season, Many will jump on the bandwagon of giving, feeling compelled to do something for the homeless man on the corner of your neighborhood that stands daily waiting for a piece of charity, or spend Christmas dinner with children at the local Orphanage reading books, providing them with tempoaray comfort for the permanant void that we try to fill in ourselves. Providing Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas gifts for families is a wonderful thing to do, but what happens when the season is over? What happens when these same families and children need food for the following week or summer clothes?

Giving is a wonderful expression of God's love, "For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). As a Mother, I cannot fathom giving my child to death for any cause, let alone "SALVATION", but God did just that for me and you, and since we can never repay him for such a gift as wonderful as "Jesus Christ," let's go the distance and allow God to use us to bless other lives and families through the gift of giving year round. The reward you receive will be greater than man's recognition and the Tax right off coming in the mail or being deposited to your bank account.

"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Be Blessed In Jesus Name!