Day 40 - It is finished

Verse of the Day:
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and who ever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9: 6-7

We have come to the completion of the 40 Days of giving, but have we? Jesus said "It is finished." as he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. But that was not an end, but a beginning. I too feel that although we have reached the finish line, it should be just a beginning. A start to a life more open to the call to serve, ready for a deeper relationship with Christ. A beginning to trust that God has a purpose to fulfill in and through us. I hope that giving gifts has made you more aware of others, more aware that some gifts are so small yet so big. Continue to ask God how he can use you each day and I am sure that your life we be greatly blessed.

Thank you for sharing this adventure with me. May you journey forward be one of great joy!

To God be the Glory!!!

Day 39 - "Living Water"

Verse of the Day:
"Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst." John 4:14

Last night at the Maundy Thursday service we sang a hymn titled Fill MY Cup Lord.

Like the women at the well I was seeking,
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
"Draw from My well that never shall run dry."
The refrain:
Fill my cup Lord - I lift it up Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more-
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole

I left the service feeling that I am to fast today. I was feed at the table of my Lord last night and that should be all sufficient for today. Many times I neglect to feed my soul, but I certainly don't miss a meal to feed my body. Today as we remember Jesus suffering on the cross, I hope that the small hunger that I might feel will remind me that Jesus is enough. That I will never be hungry or thirsty if I feed my soul on the true bread of life. I encourage you to join me in this 24 hour of fasting, it is my gift for today. My 24 hour fast will end following tonight's service. I am asking Jesus to please fill my cup as he empties his for me.

Day 38 - Made for a Mission

Verse of the Day:

"The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me." Acts 20:24 (NCV)

As we near the end of our 40 day adventure, I encourage you all to complete the mission. Like most things it has been a joy and also difficult. Staying focused has been a challenge. Many of you have read the book, The Purpose Driven Life. In the chapter, Made for a Mission, it talks about how God is at work in the world and he wants us to join him. God wants us to have both a ministry and a mission in the world. Your ministry is your service to believers and your mission is your service to unbelievers. The word mission comes from the Latin word for "sending". Jesus calls us to come to him, but then to go for him. What an honor to be part of God's redeeming plan. Even though our 40 days are almost over, our mission is just beginning. As you look back over the past 40 days if you only made a difference for one person, you efforts will have been worth it. Remember God made you for a mission.

Sorry about not posting yesterday. Debbie and I traveled to see our sister to have a rare sister day and celebrate both of their upcoming birthdays. It was a fun gift to give and also one to get.

Day 36- Blessed to be a Blessing

Verse of the Day:
"I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2

God promises to bless us so that we can become a blessing to others. It is quite a call. We need to remember that what we do for others should be out of thanksgiving for what God has done for us.

Today's gift for me was different. I listen to 1210am in the morning and the radio host was sharing a story about a young man named Matthew Snyder who was killed in Iraq on March 3, 2006. At his funeral a group from the Westboro Baptist Church lead by a man named Fred Phelps held a demonstration against Matthew. They had signs with ugly statements that were untrue and hurtful. Their purpose is to use the forum of soldier's funerals to gain attention to their cause to make the world understand that God is killing our young men because of the evil ways we live.
They also believe that God flew the planes into the World Trade Center. Matthew was not evil and didn't live an evil life. He was 20 years old and serving his country - he died a hero. Matthew's dad has sued Mr. Phelps and the Westboro Church to help to prevent them from hurting other grieving parents. He won and then the case was overturned on appeal. It is now a first amendment case being argued before the supreme court in October.

I am offended by people who don't understand the call to love your neighbor and to be a blessing to others. Hate never wins! It gives the church a bad name and hurts the cause of winning people to Christ. We should all be indignant.
If Matthew's dad loses he will be responsible for the entire court costs. My gift today was to help by donating to the defense fund. If you are interested the website is www.MatthewSynder.org.

Day 35 - The Lord needs it!

Verse of the Day:
"If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it." Luke 19:31

Yesterday, we celebrated Palm Sunday. The story about the colt is very interesting to me. Jesus sends two of his disciples ahead to a village where he tells them that they will find a colt. He tells them to untie it and to bring it to him. He instructs them to answer anyone who questions them with "The Lord needs it". In the other gospels it says that they promise to bring it back, but in Luke's telling there is no guarantee of the colts return. I began to think, how would I respond if someone showed up and without asking started to take something of mine. When the response was "the Lord needs it" would I willingly let it go? Would I want or expect a guarantee of it's return? I wonder why the owner was so willing? I wonder how the spirit gave him a generous attitude? I wonder if God told him ahead of time to be prepared? I wonder who he was? Was he a follower? There are so many unanswered questions. Why? Maybe it is an example of how we are called to response when the Lord needs something or needs us. Maybe it is a lesson in trust. We so often feel we need to have all the information before we can respond. Only God has need of the answers, we are just asked to follow. Are we prepared to give as the colt's owner whatever the Lord has need of?

Day 34 - Praise Him!

Verse of the Day:
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord, Praise the Lord." Psalm 150: 6

I woke this morning with the song for the Beauty of the Earth in my head. The sun is shining and the world is starting to wake from it's winter sleep. It is beautiful. The verse of the day comes from the last chapter in the book of Psalm. What a fitting way to end the book of praise with a direct encouragement for us to praise God. Give today the gift of praise.

For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our "GIFT" of grateful praise.

Day 33 - Beautiful Words

Verse of the Day:
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

Wow! When I read this I know that I have sinned! I have used my mouth to say unwholesome things. I have gossiped and have put others down sometimes just to make myself feel better. Could you imagine what the world would be like if we only said things that were helpful and could benefit the one who was listening. Could you imagine what our government could do if they followed this call. What our church would be like! What a gift we could give God if we followed this. Can you spend a day not saying anything unwholesome? Can you spend the rest of the 40 days we have left following this call? What a gift it would be!

Day 32 - Fear? Not!

Verse of the Day:

"You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31b

When Kelsey was little she had many fears, most were irrational and sometimes I would quote this verse to help calm her. But aren't we all just like Kelsey. We live so much of our lives in fear, worried about our loved ones, finances, the church, our health. We think that we can have some control over these things in our lives, but when the "wind blows" we get scared. If you read the verse prior to the verse of the day it says, "But when he (Peter) saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out. Lord, save me! Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him." Matthew 15:30-31a. We need to remember that when we get scared, Jesus is there and will IMMEDIATELY reach out and catch us. Give today without fear - knowing that Jesus will catch us if he needs to.

Day 31 - Become a Beacon

Verse of the Day:
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." MATTHEW 5:16

One night when I was in Niger, we had the privilege to listen to a pastor and his wife share their faith story. They had become Christians while serving as Niger's Ambassador to the United States. He shared how he had no peace in his life. One of the people he came in contact with everyday seemed to always be joyful and at peace. When he asked why, the man shared with him about Jesus.

They both returned to Niger after living 16 years in the U.S. However, they were returning to family and friends that were still Muslims. His friend in the U.S. said "only the sand and stones will listen to you". They have since started 4 churches in two years. He stressed that people want to be able to see Christ in you. He said that you get a chance to share your faith when people recognize that you have something in your life that they are searching for. People need to know that being a Christian makes a difference.

If we live for Christ we will glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. We hide our light when we don't speak when we should, when we go along with the crowd, not explaining our light to others or when we ignore the needs of others. Your gift today - Be a beacon.

Day 30 - Welcoming Angels

Verse of the Day:

"Let brotherly love continue. Don't neglect to show hospitality for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it." Hebrews 13:1-2

My maternal grandparents had trivets hung as decorations in their kitchen - a lost art form today. I always enjoyed reading them although none of us took any when we cleaned out the house. I still remember one had today's verse of the day on it. I remember thinking entertaining angels? How could that be? We never know who God places in our path to challenge us. Remember hospitality is a gift we can give. Sleeping over IHN, providing a meal, serving at the soup kitchen...maybe we have welcomed angels. Who knows - God!

Breakfast Wednesday - March 24, 2010

We will again meet for breakfast on Wed. 3/24/2010 at 7:30am at the Shaker Cafe. Come share the adventure of giving - the good and the bad.

Day 29 - Renewed Focus!

Verse of the Day:
"But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3: 13-14

The verse of the day was one of the scripture lessons at worship yesterday. The sermon talked about having focus. I have talked with many of you over the last week and realized that some are having a hard time. 40 days is a long time to constantly remember to have the act of giving as a priority in your day. I too have found that it is hard to keep the focus. I encourage each of you if you have fallen behind or feel you have failed, to "forget what is behind" and start a new today with strength of purpose and determined focus to finish this 40 days of giving. Remember that each day is a new day with God. "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Day 27 - Unknowingly Giving

Verse of the Day:
"One man gives freely, yet gains even more, another withholds unduly , but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11: 24-25

I came across the following quote yesterday:

"To give and then not feel that one has given is the very best of all ways of giving" Max Beerbohm

Many times I find that the benefits of giving to others is truly a benefit to myself. It is not why I give, but it does help me to want to give more. It can be addictive. The more you do the more you desire to do. I guess this is why God calls us to care for others. Sometimes as the quote by Max Beerbohm says the greatest gifts are sometimes the ones we don't even know that we have given. Give freely and be refreshed!

Day 26 - Inner Beauty

Verse of the Day:

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3: 3-4

Who among us does not want to be of great worth in God's sight. I really like this passage. It is not very popular because right before it is the part about how wives should submit to their husbands. It this day we get lost in the equality issues and miss the most important part of the message. That it is our inner self that is most important in the sight of God. What is on the inside is not always valued by the world. Sometimes we get so caught in this world that we miss what is valued in the next. Spending 40 days giving is working on our inner selves. It is remembering to put others first, to share what we have and to spread joy.

Day 25 - It's not easy being green

Verse of the Day:
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17: 7-8

This is one of my favorite verses in the bible. I want to always be green! My Grandmother was just like this passage. She worked on her faith everyday. She trusted God to be in charge and so she was always bearing good fruit and her leaves where always green. Even after she had cancer and dealing with the effect of Chemo, she taught vacation bible school, sung in the choir and did her daily devotions. When she became bed ridden and knew that her time was short, she became excited about soon being able to sing with the angels. This was such a gift to her family has her testimony stood as an awesome example of trust.

Today give the gift of thanksgiving for those people in your life that are always green. If they are still present in this world, tell them personally.

Day 24 - Shamrocks

Verse of the Day:

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Tomorrow many will celebrate St. Patricks Day. The day marks the anniversary of the death of Saint Patrick. I don't know alot about St. Patrick. I do know that he used the shamrock to help to explain the Trinity to unbelievers in Ireland. Some times I think like many holidays, we have lost focus of why it is celebrated. It is a Christian holiday honoring a man that dedicated his life to following the call to spread the Good News. As you celebrate, where green and maybe a shamrock, but remember that we are celebrating the gifts one man gave many.
Many people talk about four leaf clovers and the good luck they bring. Of course they are good luck - just think a four leaf clover adds you into the relationship of the Trinity. Top of the morning to you all!

Day 23 - TAKE!

Verse of the Day:

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Matthew 26:26

TAKE! Have you ever really thought about what that word means? Have you offered a gift where you have said, Take what you need? That can be risky because there might not be anything left. Recently, I did a study on the song "Take my life and let it be". If this song is sung as a prayer, it offers everything that we have to God. For me that is a little scary - what happens if there is nothing left over for me. So many times I give out of my plenty. The song means that I surrender all of me. My gift is me, my thoughts, my heart, my gold, my intellect, my days -everything. Why are we so afraid to say TAKE!

Jesus if our example of how we are to give, to surrender all for God. Jesus says to each of us TAKE! He knew in the offering that there would be nothing left. Has the time come for you to offer the greatest gift you have - yourself? Are you ready to say TAKE!

Day 21

Verse of the Day:

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

This past Sunday, I has the privilege of attending services at Trinity Reformed Church in Newark with the senior high Sunday school class. This is an amazing place. In 2004, I went to Trinity on a mission trip with Three Bridges and Bruce and Laurie Hawley. We spent the week converting part of the building into Sunday School classrooms. While we were there we had lunch with the Principal of the Hawkins Street School which is directly across from the church. The discussion was how this mission site could be in ministry with that school. Who knew then that with only 4 people attending Sunday worship what God's amazing power would do to this small patch in the middle of a hurting city. Now they have an amazing ministry to children of all ages through Safe Haven Urban Redemption with children having a safe place to be after school with people who are sharing the love of Christ. Danny (pastor and director of Safe Haven) told us that they just celebrated an amazing milestone - they have not had a shooting in the past year. On Sunday, I watched as 16 young adults were baptised. Without this ministry they would have already been baptised into gangs. Three Bridges has had a small hand in helping this ministry get it's footings. We built the Sunday School rooms, we sent money to pay for the carpeting, we helped pay for the new hard wood flooring in the Sanctuary and we have continued to support them through our benevolence giving. If you every wonder if a gift you have given makes a difference - just look at Trinity.

Day 20 !!!!!

Verse of the Day:

"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." 2 Corinthians 9: 11-12

We are half way there. It has not been easy to remember to give a gift everyday. Some days, I just forget to be engaged in the process and get to the end of the day and remember I have not given. Some days nothing seems to call me to give anything in particular. Some times I question if what I gave was really a gift. I guess if it were easy, we wouldn't have to make an effort to do it.

But, it has been rewarding. I find that I smile more, that I try to be more polite, I say hi to strangers, I hold the door more, I ask about people's lives and when I do I really care. I also have enjoyed the giving. It feels good. What it, surprising although God tells us this will happen, I have received more than I have given. I also think that this process has helped me to recognize the small things that others do as gifts and I have learned to appreciate them for what they really are. The blog has been a discipline for my spiritual life as I have needed to spend time in his word each day hoping for inspiration. I hope that this has been a gift I have given each day but I know that it has been a gift I have received.

I pray that God will bless the rest of the time we spending doing 40 days of giving. Keep your focus on God and his power to guide us and encourage us each and every day. You all are a gifts to me as you have given me the gift of friendship and companionship as we travel this road together. Thank you,
Sue

Day 19 - All Aboard

Years ago when Scott Brown came to candidate for the position of Pastor at Three Bridges, he shared a sermon about Stage Coach travel. He shared that depending on one's circumstance, they could be a first class, second class or third class passenger. A first class ticket provided the rider with the ability that during an almost certain breakdown that they could remain seated in the coach as others fixed the problem. The second class passengers needed to get out of the coach, but could find shade or shelter as others took care of the problem, but the third class travelers were required to participate in the pushing of the coach out of the mud. God sells only third class tickets. What kind of ticket have you purchased?

Matthew 20:16 "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

After purchasing our own tickets, we need to bring others along for the ride with us. No journey is ever as fulfilling and enriching when taken alone as it is with friends and family. God asks us to spread his good word to others, which is an invaluable gift, as it allows someone a ticket to the ultimate destination, heaven. We are meant to be ticket sellers for that journey through telling of the life of Jesus and the many gifts that God has provided us. Jump on, and grab a few friends, the coach is in the station.

Day 18 - 18"

Verse of the Day:
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

Some people miss heaven by 18 inches.

Imagine what it would feel like to get that close and miss... How would it feel to be in sight of heaven and be left outside. 18 inches represents the distance between your head and your heart. Where are you in your relationship with God. All of us know who God is in our heads. We know the stories, we have accepted Jesus as our savior, but have we allowed him in our hearts? Some of us wander away from our relationship. When God is at the center of your heart you worship, when he is not you worry. Your gift today could be to give your whole heart to God!

Come, Thou Font of Every Blessing - verse 3:

O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee: prone to wander Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.

Day 17 - Centered?

Verse of the Day:
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." Psalm 118:8

Do you know what is the shortest chapter in the Bible? Psalm 117.

Do you know what is the longest chapter in the Bible? Psalm 119.

Do you know what chapter is in the middle of the Bible? Psalm 118. There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118 and 594 chapters after Psalm 118. If you add them together you get 1188.

Can you guess what the center of the Bible is? Psalm 118:8

Do you think that this is a coincidence? God wants to be at the center of our lives. Pilots put confidence in their planes. Commuters place confidence in trains, cars or buses. Each day we must put our confidence in something or someone. If you are willing to trust a car to get you to your destination, are you willing to trust God to guide you here on earth and to your eternal destination. In the center of the Bible, God tells us to make him the center of our lives. Will you?

Day 16 - Still Shining

Verse of the Day:
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5: 16

When Kelsey was in 3rd grade, she had a dress up biography project. She had to read a book and then dress up like the subject. While most of her peers chose Presidents or sport heroes, Kelsey chose Hannah Senesh. Hannah Senesh was a Jew born in Budapest, Hungary in 1921. During WWII, Hannah became a paratrooper with the British Air Force and volunteered for a rescue mission into Europe. After crossing the border into Hungary, Senesh was captured and tortured. She was executed by a firing squad on November 7, 1944, at 23. Hannah Senesh responded to endless hatred, danger, and her eventual torture with much more than courage. She responded with total faith that ultimately justice would be served. Hannah lived her life believing that one person can make a difference. While she was in prison she wrote many things. Below is one part of her writings:

There are stars whose radiance is visible on earth though they have long been extinct.
There are people whose brilliance continues to light the world though they are no longer among the living.
These lights are particularly bright when the night is dark.
They light the way for mankind.

Many of us have had a special person to guide us in our faith. The light of Christ was part of who they were. As the scripture says, "In the same way, let your light shine". Give your gift today in memory of someone who still shines in your life.

Day 15 - Shine!

Verse of the Day:
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." Philippians 2: 14-15


Every year after the 11 o'clock Christmas Eve service, I look for the Star of Bethlehem. It might sound silly, but I am anticipating Jesus' return and I don't want to miss it. Recently, I have realized that God does not need the Star to guide others to Jesus. He has us! We are the Star of Bethlehem. We are to be the ones shining to help others find their way and the more brightly we shine the easier it will be for others to see. As we give our gifts, lets make sure that we shine.

Day 14 - Who do others see?

Verse of the Day:
"And You shall be witnesses unto me." Acts 1:8

"I am my neighbor's Bible
He reads me when we meet,
Today he reads me in the house,
Tomorrow in the street.

He may be relative or friend,
Or slight acquaintance be,
He may not even know my name,
Yet he is reading me."
by:
Corrie Ten Boom

Lord, Help me as I give to others that I will glorify you. Amen

Day 13 - Love

Matthew 5:44-45
"But I tell you : Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven..."

Economic times are tough, but even in these times, we are able to give meaningful gifts without breaking the bank. Love comes with no dollar sign. Love can be and should be freely given, but often it has a heavy emotional cost. Today, give the gift of love to someone who you find difficult and maybe even impossible to love. Love them and pray for them in the same way you love and pray for those who are closest to you.

Love is a simple gift but brightens the days of all who feel its warmth and radiance. Today, be mindful of love and give a gift that will warm both the receiver and you as the giver.

Kelsey

Day 12 - Who's shoes will you shine today

Verse of the Day:

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1Peter 4:10

Sunday, I attended the Colts Neck Reformed Church to share information about our recent mission trip to Texas. Scott Brown shared a story about a shoe shine man named Albert Lexis. This almost 70 year old man with mental challenges has spent the last 30 years of his life shining shoes at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburg. He charges his customers $3 a pair while donating all of his tips to the Free Care Fund (helping children get the best possible care when their parents can't afford to pay). He has donated over $100,000. Albert refers to those that he has helped as "his children". He might not be rich by the world's standards, but I think that he is a millionaire. Jesus, as he washed the disciples feet (like today's shoe shiner) showed us that it is about a life of service to others that brings meaning to our lives. Each of us have been given gifts and we should be using them to serve.

Who's shoes need shining in your life? Will you make time for a simple act that could make a world of difference? Be a servant today and everyday for Jesus.

Breakfast Wednesday

Please join us for breakfast at 7:30 am on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at the Shaker Cafe (Main Street, Flemington next to the Post Office). A time to encourge each other and to share. Hope to see you there.

Day 11 - Celebrating Purim

Verse of the Day:

"He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor." Esther 9:22b

Yesterday February 28, 2010, our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrated the holiday of Purim. The story of Purim is told in the book of Esther. It shares how Esther trusting God saved the Jews from certain death. Knowing that people tend to have short memories when it comes to God's faithfulness, Mordecai (Esther's cousin) sends out letters to all Jews to celebrate annually,"as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies and the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration" (Esther 22a). Part of the holiday tradition is to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts to charity. The sending of gifts of food and drink is referred to as shalach manos.

We too forget how faithful God is, so I challenge you to give a gift of food and drink to someone in honor of Purim remembering how much God loves us.

Day 10

Verse of the Day:
"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." Psalm 127:1

"I used to ask God to help me.
Then I asked if I might help him.
I ended up by asking God to do his work through me."
Hudson Taylor

Day 9 - Why 40?

Verse of the Day:

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." Matthew 4: 1-2

40 is an important number in the bible. It almost always proceeds new birth. Noah had to endure 40 days and 40 nights of rain as the world was made new. Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai as he received the 10 commandments birthing the people of the covenant. The Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years before entering the land they were promised. And Jesus? What did his forty days mean? LIFE!

As we spend these 40 days giving, we should also be preparing for new birth. When these forty days have passed, Three Bridges will be getting a new Pastor and a new birth for our congregation. Spring will have arrived with flowers blooming and no more snow. After spending 40 days of giving we might find that we have changed. Tomorrow you will be a fourth of the way done. Don't give up! Remember the reason people give something up for lent is to be reminded of the sacrifices that Jesus had to endure.

As we spend another day in the snow, think about a new birth waiting just around the corner.

Day 8 - On Forgiveness

The Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day or daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

In the Lord's Prayer, we ask for a lot of things from God. We ask that he come again, that we are taken care of, that we are kept from doing evil, and we ask to be forgiven. In keeping with the theme of thinking outside the box for gifts, today I present to you the only thing we promise to do in the Lord's prayer- forgive our debtors. So often, forgiveness is the one gift so terribly hard to give. It is simple by no means, but it is one of the most meaningful gifts a human can give to another.

Today, think about who has wronged you lately and do the one thing you promise God each Sunday that you will do and forgive them. In a way, this is three gifts in one- one to whomever you are forgiving, one to yourself for letting go of the ill feelings you had toward that person, and one to God on finally fulfilling what is so often an empty promise.

The gift of forgiveness may not be easy, but the value is much greater than anything money can buy.

Kelsey

Day 7 - You'll Understand in Heaven

Verse of the Day:
"From the fruit of his words a man is satisfied with good, and the work of man's hand comes back to him." Proverbs 12:14a RSV

In heaven you will see how the Lord has used that testimony, that word of comfort you gave today. God's Word never returns void.

When you enter the beautiful city,
And the saved all around you appear,
What joy when someone will tell you,
"It was you who invited me here."

Lord, we like to see results from our labor, but it is not necessary that we do. We trust you to complete the work you are doing in and through us.

From Each New Day by Corrie Ten Boom Page 205.

What is a gift?

Today was a difficult giving day for me. At night, as always, I sat at my desk to do homework, and realized I hadn't given a gift today. That got me thinking. What should be considered a gift? There is a poem that I have hanging by my bed and I read it each morning before I get up. It inspires me to not get bogged down in the drama of day to day life which can be depressing but rather to look on the bright side. It's called the Definition of Success by Harry Fosdick and here it is,

To love often and love much
To gain respect of intelligent people and the affection of little children.
To earn the approval of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends.
To appreciate beauty always.
To search for the best in others.
To leave the world a better place than you found it, whether by nurturing a child or a garden patch, or working to redeem a social condition.
To have played with enthusiasm, lauged with exuberance, and sung with exultation;
To know that the world is a little better and that even a single life breathes easier because you have lived...
Well, that is to have succeeded.


While reading it today, I realized that if I can do just one of the things it mentions, then I have successfully given a gift- although not a tangible one- to someone without ever knowing it. Keep this in mind if, like me, you struggle to find a meaningful gift to give. By simply loving your neighbor, smiling at someone you don't know, or picking up a piece of trash that isn't yours, you are giving the simplest and often most meaningful gift.

If all else fails, be like Mary and give of what you have, yourself.
Hope this helps because it made me feel a lot better!
God Bless and love you all,

Kelsey

Day 5 - Monday, Feb. 22, 2010

Verse of the Day:
"She did what she could." Mark 14: 8a

I recently read a book entitled "She did what she could". The book studies the story of Mary of Bethany (Martha and Lazarus's sister) and her anointing Jesus with perfume (Mark 14:1-9). The book looks at what Mary did for Jesus just days before the Passover celebration and his betrayal. It then discusses what our world could look like if we all did what we could. In total devotion to Jesus, Mary takes an alabaster jar which was a beautiful and expensive carved vase filled with Nard, an expensive perfume, and poured it on his head. The vase and perfume were worth more than a year's wage. Others rebuked her for the waste of the gift. Jesus praised Mary for her unselfish act of worship and said to the disciples to "Leave her alone" (Mark 14:6). "She did what she could".(Mark 14:8a). The passage ends with "what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."(Mark 14:9).

Imagine what our world would be if everyone did what they could! This adventure of forty days of giving is a effort to do what we can in honor of what Jesus did for us. God has already supplied us with whatever we need to do what he calls us to do. Mary alway put Jesus first. I tend to be more like Martha. Today put Jesus first and as the passage says - give your gift in memory of Mary.

Day 4 -INCHA ALLAH

Verse of the Day:
Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. James 4:15

In the country of Niger where the tribal language is Hausa a common phrase is "Incha Allah" which means "if it God's will. When people ask, "Can we meet at 4:00?" the response is Incha Allah. As we practice the gift of giving, let's not get crazy about the gifts, trusting that God will use us for his purpose should be enough. It is quite possible that you won't immediately recognize a gift that you have given. Perhaps God didn't need anything from you today. We need to trust that God is in charge of this process and we need to answer the call to give with INCHA ALLAH.

As Niger is close to my heart, a gift for me is for you all to keep the people of Niger in your prayers as their country has recently experienced a military coup. There is a movement toward becoming an Islamic State which could endanger the religious freedoms of our Christian brothers and sisters there, but I am sure that their response would be Incha Allah!

Day 3

The verse of the day:
"Now you are the body of Christ." 1 Corinthians 12:27

Each person's hand is unique and has a defining print, so when we touch things we leave an impression. What type of impression will you leave today?

"I give you my hands to do your work.
I give you my feet to go your way.
I give you my eyes to see as you see.
I give you my tongue to speak your words.
I give you my mind that you may think in me.
Above all,
I give you my heart that you may love through me.
I give you my whole self that you may grow in me.
so that it is you Lord, Jesus
Who lives and works and prays in me."
Taken from the book, You are the hands of Christ.

Day Two

Verse of the Day:

"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many" John 6:9

I recently shared the story of the feeding of the five thousands with the mission team in Texas. We were discussing not withholding anything from God but giving all that we have. Jesus takes the small gift that the boy offered and turn it into an overwhelming abundance. The lesson that is interesting is that Jesus took what one had to give and turned it into enough. Just imagine what God can do with your small gift when offered to others in thanksgiving.

Remember no gift is to small when given with love.

A simple gift!

Remember how I told you that it is hard to think of 40 gifts of giving. Well I got to work this morning, and one of my associates, Susanne came in all sad saying someone "egged" her car and she just couldn't understand why people do that. Then we got an announcement that a past employee and very dear friend to the owners and many others here, just committed suicide. It is a very sad morning at my office. I did not know the gentleman, but I could feel everyone's sadness. I put my coat on, filled a Tupperware of warm water and went out to wash the egg of Susanne's car. She came out in tears of hearing the news could not believe that I was outside cleaning off her car. We shared a hug and I let her cry on my shoulders and continued to scrape off the egg.

You see, this gentle gesture made Susanne's day a bit brighter. Thank you for giving us the gift of giving.

Wendy Rochelle

Ash Wednesday - Day One

Today is the start of the challenge to spend the season of Lent in the practice of giving. This is not my idea, it came from the book "29 Gifts". The book detailed the life of the author giving away 29 gifts in 29 days and how it impacted her life. I started to give away 29 gifts. It was amazing how little opportunities popped up and how much joy came my way. Starting the day asking God to show me where he wanted me to give each day gave me a focus that I normally don't have. It made each day exciting as I watched for opportunities to serve others. The fact was most gifts were small and seemed somewhat insignificant, but hopefully not to the receiver. Sometimes the littlest things mean the most.

I have been amazed how many of you have decided to join the journey. It is a gift that you have given me. Forty days is a long time and knowing that others are joining me will help to keep me focused each day. I will try to post something each day to help encourage us has we trust to be lead to "be doers of the word". Please sign on to be a follower and share your stories of giving that you find meaningful to encourage others.

The verse for the day:
"Do everything in love" 1 Corinthians 16: 14