[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

Birthday Giveaway
January 8, 2012

When I reminded my husband that his 39th birthday was just around the corner, he declared that he didn’t want any presents. Yeah, right, I thought, and I continued to press him for gift ideas. That’s when he told me he wanted to give away the money we would have spent on his birthday.

The Bible calls us to give willingly—not grudgingly or of necessity—to support God’s work and to help people (2 Cor. 9:7). This kind of freewill giving often results in joy for the giver. When King David donated his personal stash of gold and silver to help build the temple, many Israelite officials followed his example. After they contributed bronze, iron, gemstones, and precious metal, “the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly” (1 Chron. 29:9).

As part of the celebration, David praised God, saying, “Of Your own we have given You” (v.14). His point was that God owns everything. Remembering this allows us to give eagerly, because we are just returning our resources to their rightful owner—God Himself.

The next time you contribute cash, services, or belongings to support the cause of Christ, examine your attitude. Are you giving freely and willingly? God loves a cheerful giver.

Lord, You love the cheerful giver,
Who with open heart and hand
Blesses freely, as a river
That refreshes all the land. —Murray

How we give is more important than how much we give.

Read: 1 Chronicles 29:1-14

God loves a cheerful giver. —2 Corinthians 9:7

Bible in a year:
Genesis 23-26

[MEG33]

Welcome To Sunday At Amy's Place

***
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
—Robinson
***** Blessings To All Who Enter

[MEG33]

Good Sunday Morning

"Lord, You love the cheerful giver,
Who with open heart and hand
Blesses freely, as a river
That refreshes all the land. —Murray"

Thank you, Rus, for starting our day off right ...today and every day
Wishing you a blessed Lord's Day.

[geologist]

Today there are many groups, Christian based, mission fields, local soup kitchens, Salvation Army. etc. organizations meeting the needs of the homeless. The churches have an agreed upon listing among the differing churches keeping track of the people who come in and say they can not pay their heating bill, electricity, or water, or gas to get to work, food, Dr. bills, etc., so that those that live entirely off the help of others are not simply working a scam.

Sad really, But when they drive up in a new pickup with manicured nails, stylish haircuts, cell phones, and ask for money, we are not helping to get them out of that thinking, ... that’ is the way to live’. Nothing changes. Feeding a homeless person is always a good thing. It is hard to help someone that is not willing to change anything about their life. Prayer and the gospel of Jesus Christ will do its work, if the heart is not too hardened.

We had a young man 25 or so who came to church for help, and the Sunday school class I was in reached out to help him, clothes, took up a collection for a motel room by the week, offered him yard jobs, and then got him on with a couple of different contractors,, one of the members had a small trailer on a small plot and let him live there. Gave him a used car.

In a few weeks he was in trouble, (drugs or drinking) and left his janitorial job (he mostly buffed the halls and central floors) at the rehabilitation medical center and disappeared. He had joined the church during this time and was baptized. He left town we suppose. Sad to say. A lost man, back to doing the old bad habits that will likely kill him. If he was sincere in his faith he has hope. My prayer is he was sincere.