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Day 25
You don’t need much to start new rivers of giving
Luke 10:4-7
4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
Wow it’s here already, Thanksgiving! Time to take a step back and take stock of just how amply blessed we are. All around folks are gathering with family or friends, breaking bread together and enjoying a day off work. Some have contributed food, time, or money so that those having a hard time can also have a brief reprieve and enjoy a good hot meal. Some will serve others in kitchens and look into the eyes of those with nowhere to be on this holiday and be thankful they are not on the receiving side of the serving line. There will be those that we are glad to see and those that we will miss dearly. There will be those that will see their first Thanksgiving ever and those who will be seeing their last.
What an absolutely wonderful season to do a study on giving. I am struck by how much we have and how much having so much means to us. In this series the elephant in the room is actually a mustard seed. Everything about this series is about how little we have to give in order to let GOD be GOD. A handful of flour and oil becomes a meal for three for the duration of a famine. A few loaves of bread and a couple of fish feed thousands. Some loose change gathered up by challenged and curious youth turns into enough to build a church that ultimately becomes a high-rise.
Time and time again nothing is turned into much more than enough. The key is simple, but not easy. I remember my brother teaching me to swim. “Go ahead he said, I got you,” right before he let me go and my nostrils filled with water. In this world, faith and trust are hard to come by. But that is exactly what GOD expects. “Do not take a purse a bag or sandals…”
A dear friend recently gave me a Thanksgiving gift in the form of a poem. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the day than to pass it on as a gift to you all.
Jim L
Are Not These the Times of Praise?
Falling down before His throne
Weight of glory keeps us prone
Crucified our Lord was raised
Are not these the times of praise?
The storm is here, the pressure on
We wait for hope and light and dawn
Night is long with hopeful gaze
Are not these the times of praise?
The victory is sweet indeed
The day is won - successful deeds
Harvest in - a glass is raised
Are not these the times of praise?
A moment plain there’s no remark
Mundane the task and low the spark
We could give in to bland malaise
But are these not too times of praise?
Never fear the unknown years
Never languish in your tears
If breath is found let worship blaze
For these are all the times of praise