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 Proverbs 11:25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. |
His Immeasurable Love Recently God graciously blessed our family with a refreshing get-away. Before leaving on our trip, His Spirit spoke to my heart to ask our home group, and others who knew of our going away, to pray that God would enable us to be sources of refreshment to each other, at all times, as well as to all whom He would place in our path. For God knew that would indeed be the key to our having the most satisfying and refreshing vacation of all time. He did, indeed, enable us to refresh others with His radical love in such unexpected, fun ways. And each time he used us to be refreshment, He quickly poured even more of His refreshing Spirit into us. And would you believe this! As we stood on the beach one last time before packing our bags to head home, a lady approached us, saying that she sensed God’s spirit, and after talking only a few minutes, she invited us to her home. We packed our bags and stopped to visit before leaving town. Upon our arrival, she and her husband immediately showered us with gifts, including free use of their extra, unused condo whenever God guides us there again. We were overwhelmed with His unfailing, passionate love.  Only after
returning home did He guide me to the subject Scripture (Proverbs 11:25)
that supports His promise to refresh when we allow ourselves to be vessels
of His refreshing Spirit.Am I
naturally a generous giver? Not a chance. Precisely why God’s Spirit
prompted me to request prayer for help. In fact, I have found that God never
intended my heart to operate apart from His. So when His Spirit kindly
convicts me of areas that are not in tune with His heart of love, I know
it’s time to pray to the One who works in me to help me want to do and be
able to do what pleases Him. (Philippians 2:13) Apart from Him I can do no
good thing. But with Him all things are possible. As I abide in the Father’s
unfailing love, through His word, worship, prayer and praise, He faithfully
refreshes me and enables me to lengthen my cord of His immeasurable love. Prayer Gracious, Giving Father, as if the free gift of your Son and our Savior was not enough, you richly provide us with everything for our enjoyment. (I Timothy 6:17-19) As we receive refreshment from your Spirit today, enable us to be vessels of refreshment to others. Let us be compelled by Your immeasurable love and by the power of your Spirit that works in us, to lengthen our cords of generosity, passionate living and crazy compassion. All for your glory! Amen. . Additional Scripture Romans 8:32; Galatians 6:9-10; Isaiah 58:10-11
Becky Curtis
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NOTE: This page contains 5 devotions. Pick
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| Luke 14:13,14 (NKJ) "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just." |
Giving To Live It seems like such an unusual request. When you have a dinner or give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Why should we invite them? They can't pay you back for your generosity. It is part of the great mystery. This is really a picture of us before we received God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We were poor spiritually and could not pay the price for salvation. We were crippled and lame because of sin in our lives. We were blind and could not see the light of the gospel. Jesus still invited us to his table when we were in this terrible condition. He saved us and delivered us from our lost and hopeless positions. Now he says, “You do the same thing. You are my ambassadors. You invite the poor sinners to your table for my sake, because of what I have already done for you.” The
Pharisees and scribes complained saying, "This man receives sinners and eats
with them." (Luke 15:2, NKJ) The Pharisees asked Jesus’ disciples, "Why does
your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said, "Those who
are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and
learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come
to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:11-13, NKJ)
Paul said, "This is a faithful saying, Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners, of whom I am chief." (I Timothy 1:15, NKJ) Jesus has come as a
light into this world so that we no longer have to live in darkness.Prayer Lord help us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Thank you for your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Additional Scripture Titus 3:8; James 2:17; Romans 2:6
Charlie Morgan |
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| II Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
God Loves A Cheerful Giver Over the years, we have driven many miles on dozens of back roads while traveling back and forth to northern Indiana to visit grandparents and other family members. My father is an avid reader and collector of quips and quotes. Some of the best places to read these are the billboards and signs in front of little country churches. One of his favorites has always been, “God loves a cheerful giver – even grouchy ones.” As a child, I remember asking him why some people would be grouchy about giving to Jesus after He gave so much to us. My father chuckled and replied that when we got much older we would understand how hard it is to separate people from their money. Some of them love money and the illusion of power and control it gives to them. Some of them love it even more than they love Jesus. Money helps to buy possessions and some people just don’t understand that the one who dies with the most things really isn’t the winner. Dad further explained that the ones who gave because Jesus commands it were still grouchy about giving it up because their faith had not yet tested God in this area. They were grouchy because they were scared. II
Corinthians 9:10 tells us, “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread
for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge
the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so
that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity
will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not
only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many
expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have
proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies
your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing
with them and with everyone else.” II
Corinthians 8:11-12 relates, “ Now finish the work, so that your eager
willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to
your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable
according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” We stepped
out in faith to believe Jesus died for our sins. We stepped out in faith
when we accepted as our Savior. Now we need to step out in faith and give of
ourselves and our finances so he can prove his generosity in providing the
needs (not frivolous wants) of His own. God has more resources than we do.
His measuring cup is bigger. We cannot out give God!Prayer Dearest Lord Jesus, help us to step out into a new area of trusting you. You provided a way to reconcile us to you. You provide our very sustenance, physically and spiritually, daily. Help us to learn to reach others with the good news by giving back to the storehouse so that you can bless it and use it to reach even farther to all the corners of the world. Amen. Additional Scripture Luke 6:38; II Corinthians Chapters 8 & 9; Romans 12:8; Ephesians 3:20
Dawn Swinford
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| II Corinthians 9:11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. |
Toughen Me and Soften Me Lord, what does it really mean to give generously on every occasion? Even on those occasions when we have given what seems like an impossible amount, I hardly feel the difference. I am so grateful for the blessings You’ve bestowed on us—particularly the blessing of being born in one of the most prosperous nations in the world. We have so much here. Opportunities abound. I confess that I'm an affluent American. I live in a lovely home, warm in the winter, cool in the summer. I have a car to drive wherever I need to go, and more appliances and electronics than I can maintain. I couldn't begin to wear all the clothes in my closet, read all the books on my shelves, or listen to all of our music. My struggle in life has never been to find enough to eat, but instead to avoid eating too much. I find myself complaining that cars and clothes aren’t new enough, that our spacious, warm home isn’t big enough. Forgive me, Father, for being seduced by the voice of our culture that says, “Buy more, do more, have more.” Help us to want only what you would want. Help us to keep our finances simple so we are able to give as needed. I want to
give generously in all circumstances, to give sacrificially when needed, but
I’m afraid I lack the resolve to do so cheerfully. The truth is, I want to
see Your will accomplished, but don’t want to be uncomfortable in the
process. Has living my life in the U.S. made me soft? If so, toughen me,
Father. Give me challenging marching orders to carry out.Has my
affluence made me callous to the needs of those around us? Then soften that
part of me that overlooks a hungry, homeless person in the street. Give me
compassion and awareness, Lord. Help me always to be listening and
discerning. Let me cheerfully give away what you’ve given me. Toughen me and
soften me, Father. Make me the giver You designed me to be. Amen.
Kate Johnsen
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| I Chronicles 4:10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. . |
The Part that Bothers Me I like to be responsible, dependable and trustworthy. I like to be considered competent. I like to have things under control. But part of Jabez’s prayer spins my life out of control. It’s the phrase, “…and enlarge my territory!” When I
keep my territory (influence, responsibility, commitments, etc.) small, I
can handle things. When the territory gets too big for me, I must rely on
others…and God. And that’s where I am right now.I have
canceled meetings, forgotten appointments and missed deadlines. Even this
devotion was turned in late! My territory is expanding, and I can’t keep a
grip on it. And that’s exactly how God wants it.My grip
must be on Him, not my territory.
Prayer Father, I am in way over my head. Hear my cry. I can’t properly care for my territory, no matter what its size. And actually it’s not my territory at all; it’s your territory. I’ll do what you want me to do. Just be with me. Amen. Additional Scripture Proverbs 3:5-6
David Phipps
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