November



"The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully"

— 2 Corinthians 9:6

 The verse above from 2 Corinthians is often used to encourage people to be generous givers. In fact, that was why it was originally written. The apostle Paul wanted the Corinthians to send money to help out their poor, struggling fellow Christians in Jerusalem. “Don’t forget,” he’s saying to those in Corinth, “your gifts are like seeds — and God will use them to produce a wonderful crop that will ultimately benefit everyone.”
But no matter how generous we are in our giving, one thing’s for sure: we can’t outgive God! Ultimately, God is the one who sowed the seeds in our lives that have allowed us to do all we do and to be what we are. Our joy comes from seeing what God has done in our lives and realizing those were His seeds, not ours, that took root, His seeds that grew, His seeds that blossomed. If we had a hand in it at all, it’s because God put a few of His seeds into our hand and let us scatter them where we could.
So what seeds has God given you? That’s the big question as we approach the holiday of
Thanksgiving. And how many of those seeds will you be scattering in the coming year?
When’s the last time you’ve closed your eyes and from the bottom of your heart said the words “Thank God!” Maybe you were driving in heavy traffic, and a big truck missed you by inches. But God was there and kept you safe — Thank God! Maybe you heard your doctor tell you what you were longing to hear. Your tests are clear — Thank God! Maybe you recently laid a loved one to rest, someone you know was a strong, believing Christian who is now with the Lord — Thank God!
Our “every member response” program this year is called “Thank God!” When I think about my wonderful wife and children and their health, about my best friend who has come back safely from Iraq, about my congregation which is growing in so many ways, about friends and family far and wide, I can’t help but say, “Thank God!” Then I think about what my Savior Jesus has done for me and it’s almost embarrassing to realize how blessed we all are, and how many seeds God has put into our hands.
So it’s time to do some sowing. It’s time to “Thank God!” not just with words or token gestures but with those seeds God has put right in our hands. How will we use our time and talents, our income and assets to bless others and share God’s love with the world in 2011? He’s given to us generously so that we can be generous people — Thank God!
Peace, Pastor Scott