A Generous Body

Today I want to talk about generosity

Specifically generosity within /church body

This will be a little different

Almost like a praise report / devotional

A little over a year ago

during one of our mission trips to VG

my wife Kenna / stylist / brought equip

in order to give haircuts/kids/staff/members

What turned out to be the only negative

experience in all of our trips,

Kenna's equipment was stolen

Scissors/clippers/pricey/ not Target

She lost her combs, capes, etc...

These are essential items needed to perform

her job and earn a living

Now I don't know who initiated / contributed

as no one rose to the forefront to claim/glory

But once we got back in the states, the day we returned our brothers/sisters on the trip

put a collection together that covered the

expenses for nearly everything taken from her and for the most part made her whole.

They did this after paying to go on the trip plus expenses that come along w/ a week.

Recently we were informed that a family here a CCH, who has chosen to remain

anonymous paid for my daughter Averie's

2nd semester of college at CBI

Now could we have paid for that...?

The Lord always provides, BUT the timing of this gift for us has turned out to be more

significant than we originally realized.

2 Cor 9:11-12 ESV

You will be enriched in every way

to be generous in every way,

which through us will produce

thanksgiving to God. For the

ministry of this service is not only

supplying the needs of the saints

but is also overflowing in many

thanksgivings to God.

And that's what these 2 examples/generosity

have produced...Many thanksgiving to God.

For those of you who have given generously

to my family, I thank you not only for the

generosity, but for creating opportunities for us to give thanks to God for using you.

For causing me to take the time to acknowledge His goodness and that goes

far beyond the physical gift you provided.

and lastly causing me to acknowledge the

mercy of God as I haven't always been a good

steward of my money and yet the Lord still used you to bless us.

Prov 11:25

I can relate to the Apostle Paul in...

Phil 4:16-17

It brings me joy to think about the fruit that will abound to your account.

16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

I've given 2 examples of people that saw a need, saw a debt that needed to be paid and stepped up to cover it.

It's amazing to be the recipient of these gifts, but I encourage you, as I will also do myself to

Ask the Holy Spirit to make you sensistive to the needs of the body.

In this current climate/has to be/families hurting.

These gifts don't have to be in monetary form.

Maybe they come in the form of prayer.

We all have individual gifts/talents/abilities

Maybe we can address those needs by sharing those gifts/talents/abilities.

Maybe it's simply our time that we value so much.

Either way if we pray for and respond to the

promptings of the Holy Spirit, the result will be

...Many thanksgivings to God

...on both sides of the transaction

Later in Phil 4:19-20

The Apostle Paul writes...

I thank you for time

See you down the road

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches

in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.