Wordless Wednesday

 

Generous and Giving Hearts

Photo Credit

"Be generous to the poor—you'll never go hungry;
   shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses."  

--Proverbs 28:27 (The Message)

"When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. 

Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. 

That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, 

working behind the scenes, helps you out."

 --Matthew 6:3-4 (The Message)

"God loves it when the giver delights in the giving."

--2 Corinthians 9:7 (The Message)

                           

Lord, help Alyssa and Kyle to be cheerful givers.  May their hearts respond with a big "yes" when they see others who are in need.  Teach them to be especially generous to the poor and needy.  Help them to be wise in their spending and saving, so that they can have the freedom to be generous whenever they are aware of a need.  As they find wonderful opportunities to be a blessing to others, keep their pride in check and keep their mouths from boasting about their giving.  I pray, dear Jesus, that they will always give out of a heart of love and generosity, and not out of guilt, pride, or because of someone else's expectation besides your own.  May generosity always mark Alyssa and Kyle's lives.
 

Cheerful Givers

"God loves it when the giver delights in the giving."  2 Corinthians 9:7

 Christmas 2007

I'm done with my shopping and wrapping.  YEAH!  Now I can sit back and enjoy the season.  (Except the packing and cleaning up before we go "over the river and through the woods" to Grammy and Papa's house.)

I find I put such pressure on myself at Christmas to buy or give just the right gift and by the time everything is wrapped I'm re-thinking my decisions.  Am I giving something that the recipient will love?  Will they know the thought behind the gift?  And then I fret, second-guess, and debate with myself.  I love to give, but I have to get over the worry part of it.

I pray that my kids love find joy in giving to others and not look at it as something that they "have" to do because its expected.  I also pray that they accept the gifts they receive with the heart they were given in.  Giving and receiving should both be a delight!

Lord, thank you for the gifts of this season and the joy it is to give to others.  Help Alyssa and Kyle to be cheerful and generous givers.  You love it when the giver delights in the giving to others.  I also pray that Alyssa and Kyle appreciate the generous and thoughtful gift of others, remembering that people give out of love for them.  Jesus, that you for the ultimate gift of your Son and the reason we celebrate at Christmas!

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Helping Hearts

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."  Hebrews 6:10

Alyssa and friends (2006)

Every year our kids have to do some community service to earn some "stamps for camp".  I think that it's usually the last requirement they fill, in order to earn their full scholarship to go to summer camp.  One year (pictured above), Alyssa and her friends made dog biscuits from scratch, and then took them to the area Humane Society, for the homeless dogs.  Very sweet idea, but oh what a lovely mess they made.

I'm praying that as Alyssa and Kyle get older they don't continue to need "incentives" in order to serve others in our community, whether it be in our church or otherwise. I want their hearts to be moved to help others when they sense a need, or give of their time because it's a passion, and be a blessing to the hungry, hurting, or hopeless.  

 

This past Saturday many from our church gathered to rake leaves for people who needed help (picture below).  What a joy it was to work side-by side with others to accomplish something helpful for someone else.  

 

 

I want Alyssa and Kyle to make a difference in the life of someone else because God has made a difference in theirs.

Lord, give our children a servant's heart.  Move them to help those who need a helping hand.  May their spirit be marked by compassion for the hurting and hungry world around them. Whatever they do for one of the least of these, they truly do for you (Matthew 25:40).  Give them your eyes, dear Jesus, that they may see the world as you do, and make their hearts tender like yours.  Serving others is serving you, and you will not forget the ways they show love to those around them (Hebrews 6:10). You will make Alyssa and Kyle's joy complete when they are like-minded, having the same love as you have, being one in spirit and purpose.  I pray that they do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than themselves. (Philippians 2:2-3)  May Alyssa and Kyle's lives be lived in honor of you, and may your glory be revealed in and through them.

 

Putting Self Aside

It's selfish and stupid

   to think only of yourself

   and to sneer at people

   who have sense. 

Fools have no desire to learn;

   they would much rather

   give their own opinion.

Wrongdoing leads to shame

   and disgrace. 

--Proverbs 18:1-3

Lord, if Alyssa and Kyle have gotten anything at all out of following you, if your love has made any difference in their life, if being in a community of your Spirit means anything to them, if they have a heart, or if they care— then I pray that they do this: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. I pray that Alyssa and Kyle not be tempted to push their way to the front; and not sweet-talk their way to the top. May they always put their self aside, and help others get ahead. Some days it will take intention and choice, but I pray that they not be obsessed with getting their own advantage. I pray that Alyssa and Kyle forget themselves long enough to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.  Lord, may our children always have the same attitude of Christ Jesus who gave up his life for others. (Philippians 2:1-5)

 

A Giving Heart

"The Lord said to Moses,“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give."  Exodus 25:1-2

___________________

Dear Precious Savior, you deserve so much from your children. You love us and we want to love you.  I pray, that because of that love, Alyssa and Kyle will long to bring to you the very best of who they are.  Their lives can be an offering to you. May they use their gifts and talents, and their treasure and wealth freely and without abandon, to bless others, and give you glory with their lives.

 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."  Romans 12:1

 

Lend a Hand

Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”  Romans 15:1-2 (The Message)

Lyssa & Friends (2006)

Let's pray some scripture:

Lord, I pray that Alyssa and Kyle are strong and able in the faith and can step in and lend a hand to those who falter and not just do what is most convenient for themselves.  The strength you give Alyssa and Kyle is for service, not status.  May they always look after the good of the people around them and have hearts that are always asking "how can I help?"

 

Generous Givers

"Give away your life; 

you'll find life given back, 

but not merely given back—

given back with bonus 

and blessing. 

Giving, not getting, 

is the way. 

Generosity begets generosity." 

--Luke 6:38

Jesus, you loved the unlovely, you fed the hungry, and you gave to the undeserving.  And each day you continue to do so. You are a loving, compassionate and giving God.  I pray, dear Lord, that Alyssa and Kyle become imitators of you.  May they take the opportunities in front of them to feed those who are without, lend a helping hand to those in need, give abundantly out of their resources big or small, and through their actions show your love to others.  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle's eyes are opened to see people as you see them, and their hearts burn within them to go above and beyond to be a blessing.  Please mark their lives with giving and generosity.  Lord, help Alyssa and Kyle to give away their lives as they love others, reflecting you in all that they do.
 

Like the Wise Men

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 
On coming to the house, 
they saw the child with his mother Mary,
and they bowed down and worshiped him. 
Then they opened their treasures and 
presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.  
(Matthew 2:10-11)

There's just something I love about this season and pondering the stories of Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds, Angels, Wise Men, and baby Jesus, singing the old Christmas hymns, and lighting the advent candles.  Celebrating Christmas with our church family just helps to fix my eyes on Christ and the true reason of this season.

Some pretty awesome pastor preached a great Christmas sermon yesterday, I must say.  I appreciated one of the points about the Wise Men and how following their example can lead me into the presence of Christ:

The wise men first gave Jesus themselves
And then they gave Him their treasures.

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."  Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)

Today, as I ponder and pray for my dear children, I'm pleading that they become like the Wise Men.  If God gives them a star to follow that they will go obediently, no matter how far, long, or hard and that they will give Him their entire heart, soul, and mind.

Lord, I pray that Alyssa and Kyle always give you themselves and their treasure.  I pray that they take their everyday, ordinary life, and place it before you as a gift.  It's so easy to be distracted, selfish, and prideful and life lives only to please our own needs, wants and desires.  Instead, dear Jesus, I pray that Alyssa and Kyle serve you wholeheartedly and obediently, giving you all that they are. 

 

GIving Hearts

"Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!"  Proverbs 21:26 (NLT)

Cousins at Christmas (2006)

Christmas is 18 days away and Kyle decided yesterday that it was time to begin his shopping.  For the first time, he walked out the door and drove himself to the store to buy gifts.  Two hours later he walked through the door, rushing to his bedroom, with an arm load of packages and a big grin on his face.

Kyle has always loved to give.  One of the most memorable gifts, when he was little, was for a dog named Grizzly that lived next door to his Grammy and Papa, an 8 hour drive away.  Roaming the Dollar Store, Kyle was sure Grizzly needed a new dog bone.  The small gift brought big smiles for sure!  It was just the beginning of moments that gave me glimpses into a heart that loves to give to others.

My prayer is that the propensity to give grows bigger and bigger in both Alyssa and Kyle's hearts!

Tis the season to give as generously as the Lord has given to us!

Oh how I love this season of giving and celebration. Thank you, Lord, for sending your Son to this world, and giving us the gift of hope, love, and forgiveness. Like Mary, may we take time to ponder all these things in our hearts. Help Alyssa and Kyle really grasp the true meaning of this season, and take hold of your precious gift, and live their lives centered on you. Out of your abiding presence in their hearts, I pray that they find great joy in giving generously to others. May Alyssa and Kyle's hearts prod them to give to those that are in need, and to those they appreciate and love. May their focus this year, not be on what they may get from others, but what they can be giving. Lord, you are the ultimate gift giver and we delight in all that you give us!

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Giving Pleasure

"You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, 'You're far happier giving than getting.'"  Acts 20:35 (The Message)

 Cousins (2007)

I only have 2 more presents to wrap and then I'm done, done, done!!!!  It's amazing how much energy it takes to wrap those gifts.  Every year I regret waiting to start my wrapping until after I have purchased the very last gift. Someone remind me next year to DO A LITTLE AT A TIME!

Or I'll follow Kyle's game plan and use gift bags!  He's not so impressed with wrapping.

In lieu of me writing a blog yesterday, my man was sweet to post some of his thoughts.  It was a sweet gift as I was dragging my feet after a long day.  But because I was absent I failed to be able to share what I was thankful for (besides my hubby)!   So here is a quick list...

• Lyssa received her first college acceptance from her top choice of schools (our alma mater)!  Way to go, girl!
• We've been blessed abundantly by so many in our church family this Christmas.
• Christmas break arrived...I think we were all more than ready!
• Lyssa has been working hard getting her internship hours in (50/120).

But beyond that, I was truly grateful for the joy I found in giving a few extra gifts this week.  I'm not able to give Christmas presents to all who are important me, but sometimes God places a few "extras" on my heart. I was just reminded how true God's Word is when it says "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)  

And I'm starting to see my kids "get the drift" too.  It's been fun watching them delight in giving this year.  Sure, they are excited about what they might get this Christmas, but I pray that they find some out-of-this-world responses to the thoughtful gifts they have put together, and in giving find the true delight of the season.


Lord, thank you for the true joy that comes over us when we give out of our hearts and it is received with great delight and joy.  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle get an extra special dose of the lesson that they will be far happier giving than getting.  May this season be the foundation of experiencing the joy of thinking about others.  May you shine in Alyssa and Kyle through the gifts that they give to others and may the receivers sense their love, joy and thoughtfulness.  Thank you, Lord, for continually growing up our kids into maturity.

Wordless Wednesday

Giving to God

"The Lord said to Moses,“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give."  Exodus 25:1-2

___________________

Dear Precious Savior, you deserve so much from your children. You love us and we want to love you.  I pray, that because of that love, Alyssa and Kyle will long to bring to you the very best of who they are.  Their lives can be an offering to you. May they use their gifts and talents, and their treasure and wealth freely and without abandon, to bless others, and give you glory with their lives.

 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."  Romans 12:1

Wordless Wednesday

Give and Give and Give

 

"Give away your life; 

you'll find life given back, 

but not merely given back—

given back with bonus 

and blessing. 

Giving, not getting, 

is the way. 

Generosity begets generosity." 

--Luke 6:38

  




Jesus, you loved the unlovely, you fed the hungry, and you gave to the undeserving.  And each day you continue to do so. You are a loving, compassionate and giving God.  I pray, dear Lord, that Alyssa and Kyle become imitators of you.  May they take the opportunities in front of them to feed those who are without, lend a helping hand to those in need, give abundantly out of their resources big or small, and through their actions show your love to others.  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle's eyes are opened to see people as you see them, and their hearts burn within them to go above and beyond to be a blessing.  Please mark their lives with giving and generosity.  Lord, help Alyssa and Kyle to give away their lives.