Monday, June 16, 2014

Overflowing Joy




“And now, brothers we want you to know about the grace that God
has given the Macedonian churches. Out of their most severe trial,
their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”
2 Corinthians 8:1-2

Paul uses the Macedonian church as an example of how God’s grace can grow in His church. He shows that the Macedonian believers. We have written proof that God loves a cheerful giver.
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7

It is a basic Christian thought that we can’t out give God. Jesus pointed out the widow who gave her offering to God out of her poverty. He commended her by saying she gave more than the people who had more.

God gave His Son. When we give our all, whatever that might mean, we need to be thankful that we are able to give.

I recently left my key ring- the one with the fancy key fob- in the pocket of my good summer white slacks. I woke with a start around midnight and realized I might have left the car unlocked and the windows down. I asked Hubby if he had taken care of the car windows and locked the doors. Yes, he had. I had the thought I hadn’t checked the pockets of those slacks before I put them in the machine.

The next morning I had some laundry to do. As I opened the washing machine, I saw the ‘missing’ key fob on the bottom of the tub. I knew I had to find out if the buttons worked. I climbed the stairs and headed to the front door. At first, the unlock button didn’t cause the parking lights to ‘wink at me.’ The second time I tried to unlock it, the lights did as they were supposed to. I tested the trunk button and the locking mechanism. They worked! I felt as if I had climbed a mountain.

I called a friend and related my story to her. I recorded the results of this story in my EUCHARISTEO list. It’s number 521.I was overflowing with joy and gratitude to God for watching over a simpleton like me. Only a simpleton would forget to empty the pockets of her slacks.

graphic:sbsministeries.org

10 comments:

  1. Oh Cecelia, count me on the simpleton list! My big thing to do is leave Kleenex in my pockets and then be greeted by shredded, wet tissue in the washer. Sigh. You would think I'd learn, wouldn't you?
    Wonderful point about giving. My nature says 'hold everything to yourself!' My spirit says 'give all you've got!' Without the Lord, I'd hold on every time.
    Blessings!
    Ceil

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    1. Ceil: It must be our shared name; I have done the Kleenex thing too. God must have a special place of us simpletons in his heart. Thefirst part of your comment has made me laugh. There are several ways of giving to God, time, talent, treasures, and telling.

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  2. I cannot tell you how many items I have washed over the years. Washed a tissue the other day, in a dark load, no less. :) Glad it worked out for you with the keys. God cares about even the little things, doesn't he?

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    Replies
    1. Karen: Yes God does care about everything that affects us.

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  3. Nope. Not a simpleton, Cecelia. Just a human. And God is gracious to watch over such as us, isn't He?

    That gives me joy, too.

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    Replies
    1. Rhonda: I find comfort in the fact that God, in His grace, loved me and mine.

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  4. So happy with you that the key fob worked!

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  5. I can relate in a way. I left my earbuds in my sweatshirt pocket and found them when they came out of the dryer. They still worked.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Mary: Thank you for visiting my blog. Whenever I lose something I say a prayer and tell God I am sorry for being so careless. Itry not to get upset over it. I once was missing a clasp watch that I wore on my tops. Hubby chose to put some whites in the wash. He told me he tossed in a couple of my tops. When I got that load out. I heard a metallic thunk against the rim of the machine. You guessed it. I had left that watch fastened onto my favorite tee-shirt.

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