giving - generously

i came here with the idea i'd spend a certain amount of money on certain things each month. i scratched that idea in the first month. it's something i have prayed a lot about and regularly. the more i pray about it the more i read in my bible to give generously. the more i ask God for wisdom the more i am led to scripture on generous giving. He has never shown me anything that says when to stop. even when i read the notes in my study bible it refers me to more passages on giving.

how much are you spending on christmas this year. instead of buying more expensive toys for your children that will be broken in a month how about helping to buy - build a well for a village in africa or... buy a goat or a pig or chickens for a hungry family or village in india or... or fruit trees or seeds or farming implements for any poor family in any poor village in any poor nation.

the poor here give to each other out of their poverty, and it's real. what are you giving out of yours. if you have food on the table and a roof over your head you have more financial 'wealth' than most people here. instead of buying those pretty new shoes you like to add to your collection buy shoes for someone who's never had a pair or a street person who's wearing shoes that are falling apart. instead of a new dress for the christmas party that you'll only wear once buy a pair of pants for a child whose never had a pair or a man whose pants are literally thread bare or a second dress for a woman so she can wash her first dress. instead of buying new linen to match your new paint job send it to almost any country in the world.

i've been told we should consider our own poor first. i don't care where you give - just give. God tells us over and over to give - generously and joyfully.

if giving is new to you try it - you'll love it. it really is more joyful to give than receive. you really are more blessed to give that receive.

instead of buying a new strand of lights this christmas give to your union gospel mission. you won't have a material thing that you might have for a few years. you will have fed 1 person 1 meal 1 time. but you will have treasure in heaven and if you die the next day your new strand of lights won't mean squat anyway.

don't tell me you can't afford it. don't tell me you're too young. instead of getting another body piercing - feed someone in your town. instead of getting another tattoo - buy chickens to feed a family.

north americans live to excess - the rest of the world lives day to day.

instead of indulging your children's every whim this christmas give to children who don't even know what christmas is.

christmas is... the birth of our Saviour who gave.

He gave unselfishly, sacrificially, everything. His all. He gave His all.

what are you willing to give. He's not asking for your life - but He will give you life... eternal.

He gave til it hurt... more than anything we could possibly imagine. and He is still giving, from heaven, beyond the grave. He is giving us a perfect love, more beautiful and amazing and wonderful than any earthly love, peace in all things, hope that we will have this love forever with Him, blessings more than we can count.

What are you willing to give.