Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Brian Littrell singing his version of the old hymn … I Surrender All … poignantly singing of the attitude we should come in worship when we’re called to give back to honor what God has done, is doing, and will do for our eternal ives.
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Highlight Verse[s]: 2 Corinthians 8:12 [NLT] … 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
… Whatever we give from a thankful heart will be received by our Lord with joy.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2 Corinthians 8:1-12 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, calls the Church to give generously and sacrificially.
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Reference Passage : … Mark 12:41-44 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus calls out and blesses the widow who thankfully and humbly brought all she could, two mites, as her offering to the Temple storehouse.
Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus calls His disciples to be willing to give up self and follow Him by surrendering our all to Him.
Reference Passage : … 2Corinthians 9:6-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul exhorts Christians to give with joy from a thankful heart.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, used a personal story about a friend who was willing to do all she could to joyfully share of herself for the holiday. The ODB author writes … My friend was eager to gather her family and friends for a festive holiday celebration at her home. Each of the guests looked forward to gathering around the table together and wanted to help defray the expense of feeding so many by contributing to the meal. Some would bring bread, others salad or a side dish. For one guest, however, money was exceptionally tight. Although she looked forward to spending the evening with those whom she loved, she couldn’t afford to purchase any food. So, instead, she offered to clean the host’s home as her gift.
Here in the USA today we celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving, where families and friends gather together and prayerfully (we hope!) giving thanks together for God’s providence and blessings. But as in the ODB story, some don’t have as much to bring to the table. But when they give what they can, as the author’s friend did, we know, from God’s promises (see scriptures above) how much God is blessed by hearts of thankful giving.
And one Bible story (in Mark 22:41-44) always illustrated how we should worship God with what He give us; and that’s the story of the widow who surrendered all she had to the Temple treasury [see photo]; and Jesus blessed her offering. And the other Pauline scriptures above also call us, His disciples, to follow and worship our Lord with what we give, … whether it be time, talents, or treasures.
So, on this Thanksgiving day, … and really ALWAYS, … let’s all bring thankful hearts to the table and then when we have opportunities to give back to God’s kingdom what He has given us, thru His Son, let us all give with generous and sacrificial hearts.
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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for all you have given me in and thru Your Son, King Jesus!
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here come to Your table today, giving of ourselves humbly and thankfully what we can for Your kingdom. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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