Verse of the Day - 2 Corinthians 8:12

Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
~ 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NLT)

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Two attitudes are identified here in how we give, be it money or time . . . willingness and humility.

God wants us to be cheerful when we give. If the purse strings are cinched so tight that air couldn't pass through, let alone and offering to the Lord or a donation to a charity, we need to re-evaluate our blessings and remember where they come from. Don't be stingy where money is concerned. Remember that it is God who gives you your job and your ability to do it...and keep it. Be thankful and honor Him by having a generous spirit. And that goes for your clock and calendar, as well as your wallet. Truly, what Jesus said is true: It is better to give, than to receive. (Acts 20:35) When you can let go of self and allow the love of God to fill your spirit, you can know the real joy of cheerful giving!

But -- don't think you need to keep up with the Joneses, either. You may operate in circles where you're on the low end of the economic ladder. Just because Suzy Jones is able to give $1,000 a month for the offering, doesn't mean that you need to take out a loan to put money in the plate at church! And if Suzy Jones is able to be a stay-at-home woman and is able to work at the kids' school and make sack lunches for the homeless and run the PTA drive, doesn't mean that you have to somehow match that if you work 40 hours a week outside the home. God wants us to offer out of our own kettle with our own measuring cup, not someone else's. He wants us our hearts to give out of love, not competition or guilt.

Some types of giving are visible; some are not. But God sees all of it, and more importantly, He sees the heart behind it all. And this principle of giving is very dear to His heart, because, in divine selfless love, He gave all He had for us . . . Jesus, His Son, given as a sacrifice for our sin.

God desires us to have a heart like His. Choose to be generous in what you have, with a cheerful heart, as His dearly loved children.

Love,
Joelene