Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Don Moen leading in worship and singing Give Thanks … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, give our thanks, from a joy-filled heart, back to a God Who was (and is) willing to give His all for us.
"God loves a cheerful giver!"
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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Corinthians 9:7 [ESV] ... 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
… We reap what we sow; because God provides our needs freely and loves it when we give back freely to HIs kingdom and for His glory.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Corinthians 9:6-8 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… God exhorts fellow Christians to give as God has given to us.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:9-10 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s word commends us to give from the FIRST FRUITS of what He has provided for us.
Reference Passage : … Luke 6:37-38 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches on God giving to us in proportion to how we give. Again, we reap what we sow.
Reference Passage : … John 3:16 [ESV] … 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
… According to Jesus, here is how God gives. But … do we give in the same way?
Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:19 [ESV] … 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
… God will supply all that we need. Are we willing to give Him all that He deserves.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, John Blase, used a story of his wife who was willing to cheerfully give back from God’s providence in a way that gave God glory. … The ODB author wrote: Years ago, my wife received a small rebate from something she’d purchased. It wasn’t something she’d expected, it just showed up in the mail. About the same time, a good friend shared with her the immense needs of women in another country, entrepreneurial-minded women trying to better themselves by way of education and business. As is often the case, however, their first barrier was financial.
My wife took that rebate and made a micro-loan to a ministry devoted to helping these women. When the loan was repaid, she simply loaned again, and again, and so far has made twenty-seven such investments. My wife enjoys many things, but there’s rarely a smile as big on her face as when she receives an update on the flourishing taking place in the lives of women she’s never met.
Time, talents, and treasures. … God provides them as we need them, doesn’t He (see Phil. 4:19)? In fact God was willing to give His all. … even His Son, … to save us, wasn’t He (see John 3:16)? So, … what and how are we willing to give Him in return, … from our time, talents, and treasures, … for His glory from a willing, and even a CHEERFUL heart?
Because God’s law of provision is simple, isn’t it? We reap what we sow (see highlight passage); and we will receive from God’s provision what we are willing to dole out to/for His kingdom, … i.e., when our hearts are feely, and with hilarity, willing to give back what He has given to us (see Luke 6:38).
You’ve no doubt have heard it before: You can’t out-give God! … So, how will we use the time, talents, and treasures He has given us today for His glory?
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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me what I need today to glorify You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to use God’s provisions today to give back to His kingdom from a grateful and joy-filled heart. 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.</ span>
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