Generosity

Generosity was defined to me today as joyful sharing of your abundance.

What keeps you from being generous? For me, often times, it’s fear. Fear that if I give away money, time, love, that I will end up sacrificing something. Fear that there won’t be enough. I argue that I am being responsible to those I love when I protect resources, but is that really my motive?

I think we can all agree right now that no matter what your religious or political views might be that generosity is overall considered a worthy and good thing. So, let’s put aside our differences to examine the core of generosity. I will, however, refer to things in my life including my experiences at my job (my church), and events (often times held at my church), and those I respect (friends and leaders many from my church).

The series we are staring today at South Park Church is called Life.Money.Hope This morning, our Pastor, Eric Flood, made sure to state that the message would apply to each person differently depending on their circumstances. For some it would be to learn to live in contentment of what they have. Others-- to generously give gratitude for what they have. And for others it may be to practice that gratitude and extend generosity to others. For some that would include time, talents, or treasures.

Interestingly enough, that is one of the journeys I have been on, particularly for the past 10 years. I have never experienced “want” for basic needs. I have, however, often times coveted new, nice, and more. Thanks to the “freedom” of credit cards in college I practiced that fully by indulging in material possessions, food and drink, and argued to myself that I deserved these things. Not until my daughter was 1 did I begin to sacrifice and pay the price for those things. (And might I add, thanks to the added years and pounds I have put on I have nothing to show for them) I have begun to learn to live in contentment with the material possessions I have.

I still struggle with contentment … I can live without the newest handbag or gadget. However, I still fill myself with little things to find contentment…most often times food or something that “wastes” my time. An iced coffee and a long drive for example.

Now, I am not saying that the newest handbag, an iced coffee, or some alone time is bad. It’s the reason behind them that can be...that can keep you from being generous.

Statistics don’t help me much in this aspect of my life. Yeah, yeah, if only I wouldn’t buy a Starbucks I’d save 2.5 million dollars a year or whatever. That speaks to my mind, but not to my heart. Eric stated today that generosity is not about guilt or agenda…that it is about giving cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7). Interestingly enough, it is said that people who give generously experience more joy than those that don’t. If I bought my friend a Starbucks would I experience more joy than partaking in it myself? Is that a challenge I am even willing to take on?

I have been described as an encouraging and generous person. I will go out of my way to help people. I often times say yes over no. My heart is touched by those in need. But, am I practicing pure generosity as defined by joyful sharing of my abundance? What have I been given abundantly? What about you? Is it material, financial, time, talents? Do I consistently give generously of these things? Do you?

Eric said that at a large event over this past weekend he had a moment of clarity in conversation and observation. SPC hosted an event called Bobbapalooza where 1000 high school kids, 110 volunteers, and 26 bands joined together for a “battle of the bands” type experience. Eric was grateful for the people in the 90s that gave generously to build the educational wing of our church. 15 years later, 1100 people are enjoying their generosity. Then he asked, will we be thought of in that way? Are we doing our part to live generously in our days?

I bet we can all think of an instance such as that. I bet we can all agree we'd like to leave a legacy of generosity behind.

John Wesley, religious leader in the 1700s and founder of the Methodist church said, “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.”

So...how can you live generously today…by joyful sharing your abundance?

To hear the full message click here and listen to Where it all starts.

Click to read Eric's blog.

The Power of a Praying Wife

Ten years and nine months since Bernie and I said "I Do," our marriage is more authentic and stronger than we could have ever imagined.  It's not thanks to anything we've done, it's all because God is present in our marriage.

Two days ago, I spoke at the South Park Church Women's Retreat.  I shared how, during one of my periods of depression, God grew Bernie into the spiritual leader of our home. Throughout the rest of this past weekend, numerous women came up to me asking for prayer and expressing the desire to have God work in their marriages in that way.

That decided my prayers for the next 30 days.  I decided to get this book and pray not only for my husband but for all of those ladies' husbands specifically as well as others I know in general.  NOTHING is too big for our God.  Want me to pray for your husband?  Click on this link:  Pray for my spouse too!

Consequently, South Park Church is also doing an entire series on Marriage.

To join me on this journey of prayer and reclaim God's plan for your marriage, join us at South Park Church each Sunday.  Click on the link below to get information on the current series:

Why Marriage Matters at South Park Church

And click on the following link to get your own copy of The Power of a Praying Wife (Husbands, there's a book written for you too!)
The Power of a Praying Wife

I sit back now inspired and encouraged to do the only thing I can -- PRAY and to watch God do what only He can -- change hearts and lives in amazing ways.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.  

-Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

And this is my prayer:

That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)

This verse has been prominent in my life the past week. The leadership team at South Park is memorizing this translation together and we are going to be praying it this year as we plan, minister, and serve the congregation and community. I am going to take it a step farther (as I am sure most if not all of the team will do as well) and pray it when serving and loving my family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers.

This was also read at the beautiful wedding of Amy and Joshua Rule that I attended today. And I will pray this for them as they begin their new life together. They already are such an example and inspiration as Christians and I can't wait to see their living example of a Christian couple.

I use the term Christian with ease and a positive meaning, however, I know many people that read this may find fault in that term. I strive to be a Christian that Jesus would be proud of:

As found in Philippians 2:5-7:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

With humbled pride, grace, and forgiveness, I use the term "Christian" to mean one that strives to be more and more like Christ himself each day. So, that being said, I want to give my understanding on Philippians 1:9-11. Whether you are a follower of Christ or not, the words of this verse could only make your life and the lives of those around you better.

"This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight..." Each day we need to CHOOSE to be love, choose to accept love, and choose to learn what authentic love is. Ancient Greek had four very specific words to qualify types of love. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_words_for_love)

As humans, we can "be" and give love to each and every person we come in contact with. In America for certain we have come to take LOVE to two extremes--thinking it is strictly the passionate love experienced intimately between two people or throwing the word LOVE around when talking about pizza or your iphone. But, if we look at ancient Greek and choose to learn authentically the different specific types of love, we actually CAN be love continuously and it will abound more and more in (and because of) knowledge and depth of insight.

"...so that you may be able to discern what is best..." Every day is full of decisions. Most of the decisions we make will likely effect others, maybe even those in generations yet to be born. We must be courteous and courageous enough to choose the decisions that are best. Likewise, what our world or culture may deem "best" actually may not be. But, if our decisions are based out of authentic love, knowlege, and depth of insight, we have a much better chance to discern what IS actually best. Again, we must start with and choose LOVE.

"...and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ" Depending on who you talk to, the return of Jesus is right around the corner, but read the new testament and see that the followers of Jesus were praying for that same thing. In the same manner, no one knows when my or your time on this earth will be up except our Father in Heaven. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36) So, instead of watching our steps to make sure we do the "right thing" (motive check, by the way) we should live daily as if it were the day of Christ's return. In addition, we are all imperfect. Pure, blameless and filled with the fruit of righteousness are some pretty hard things to live up to or do on our own. Those come through understanding, persuing and surrendering to Jesus Christ. None of us are born and live naturally pure and blameless. If we recognize this, the guilt and shame can go away and we can allow the grace of God to flow freely in our lives. Each day we must ask God to equip us. Add authentic love, knowledge, depth of insight, and the decisions that are best and we will be closer to pure and blameless than we might have been on our own.

"...to the glory and praise of God." Once you find you've stopped relying on or pursuing God you will notice that the "Christian" you are and the "Christian" your Lord and Savior asks you to be may be very different. Always check that the motive of any action is to glorify and praise God.

So, this is my prayer: May your 2010 be filled with love and may the love in and between each of us abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that it is authentic and that we may be able to discern what is best now and for generations to come. And may all of us who call ourselves Christian be pure and blameless today and until the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes not from us but through surrendering to Jesus Christ all so that God can be praised and He can receive all the glory.

Happy New Year!