I was blessed and honored to be able to give the offering devotion last weekend at the three services. (I sure don't envy the pastors having three presentations over a short period).
During our formative years (which goes on today and into the future for me) we go through "stuff" that we don't always like, but as we are refined, God provides. Do we always see it that way? The half empty or half full glass story. For Sharron and I it has been half full to overflowing because of God and His provision and we pray the same for all of you. But, as that "stuff" is going on, is our vision clear enough to even see the glass??
I hope and pray that we all take time to reflect on the gifts God has given each and everyone of us, because He has. Of course the next step is to turn around and share that gifting with others because we are told to in our current series of study from Ephesians.
I know this sounds like preaching (and it is) but it is what is on my heart especially at this time of year with the Joash Chest offering coming up Nov. 17/18 and the following week Thanksgiving.
May you continue to see and appreciate what He has provided for you.
Harold Hill
2 comments:
Thank you Harold for sharing what God has put on your heart. It is always nice to hear what God is doing in the lives of others.
I am VERY thankful for the faithfulness of GOD!
Thanks again for sharing your heart with all of us!
Barbie Johnson
I wanted to add a very practical and real and encouraging "Amen" example to what Harold shared is taking place in the lives of individuals and families of our church, as well as within the church itself, right now!
Thanks to the people in our church family who have responded to God with an attitude of "ThanksLiving," BCC will be providing over 120 dinners this Thanksgiving to individuals and families in our community who are currently living in pretty much "glass half empty" life situations. This is especially exciting and encouraging for those of us involved behind the scenes because the only thing we really did was to simply lay this opportunity before the people, lift it up in prayer and then watch what GOD was going to do with it through His people. And He's done some amazing things! I share this year's meal total (which is about double of last year) for the sole purpose of motivating YOU to join in the excitement of what God is doing right now and is going to continue to do at BCC as we demonstrate both thanks for today and trust for tomorrow. Our glass as a church family is truly being filled, as Harold put it so well, to overflowing, so that others in our body and in our community will get "drenched" as well in the joy and the blessings that God provides.
In wrapping up this hopefully encouraging "Amen" to Harold's original posting, I wanted to share an except from a study I did today on part of the Lord's Prayer. I think you'll find it fits in quite nicely with how the people of our church family are demonstrating its truth and are seeking ways to continue to do so, all for God's glory:
"Give us this day our daily bread." Notice that the request is in the plural. American culture puts a great emphasis on individualism. When we pray, we often pray for me, my wife, my son John, his wife, "us four, no more." If you pray this in the community of Christians and God gives you two loaves and your brother none, you cannot assume that you have one loaf for eating and the other loaf for storing. If you have prayed together for daily bread, then if you have two and he has none, you have one for eating and the other for sharing. When you talk to the Father about the family, pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." (from Today's Best Sermons, Volume 2)
Thanks for allowing me to share this. Take care! And ENJOY your day! (Ps. 118:24)
Steve Robinson (akarobby)
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