HAVE WHAT YOU GIVE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Francis of Assisi once remarked:

Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received - only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.

Makes you pause and think about how we spend our time doesn’t it? 

If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you…not be so preoccupied with getting…

(From Matthew 6)

There is that old saying you can’t take it with you right?

The Bible says it this way,

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.

Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. 

Matthew 6:19-20 (NLT)

So, if that is the case, if those scriptures and axioms are true (and we know they are) then both Matthew and Assisi raise some questions that need answered as we embark on this September day.

Is our heart full; full of GOOD?  Full of faith?

...draw near (to GOD) with a true heart in full assurance of faith – Hebrews 10:22

Do we have any HONEST service planned for the day?

Anne Frank once remarked, No one has ever become poor by giving.

OR serving for that matter!

How’s your LOVE? Sacrifice?

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. - Hebrews 13:16 (ESV)

Your boldness?

Remember we can wade in and tackle today courageously, equipped for whatever comes our way!

God will never give you the spirit of cowardly fear, but he gives the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and sound judgment! - 2 Timothy 1:7 (TPT)

I love it when a single quote like this one from Assisi can set the tone for the day to come. So simple, yet so poignant.

Therefore,

Let’s spend this day preoccupied with GIVING. 

Let’s do that with a spirit of LOVE, HONESTY, and a heart FULL of faith. 

Let’s be courageous in our approach trusting the Holy Spirit for what needs to be done, said, and accomplished.

Do those things and it will be a day well spent; remembering that “We only have what we give.”  - Allende

I love you all.

Have a blessed day!

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE