OzThoughts Wednesday 4th November 2009

OzThoughts Wednesday 4th November 2009

A guest speaker told a group of people gathered for lunch that “Children enjoy toys. Adults enjoy giving.”

He is certainly right about children and toys. Christmas is a great demonstration of that. I have watched my children when they were little exploring the many toy catalogues that came to our mail box. Now the toy catalogues seem so wasted. Although we sometimes resort to looking through them to see what toys our grandkids are wanting. We hear their requests clearly but we need to check the catalogues to see what it is they have asked us to give.

When I think about adults giving, I think the speaker is probably right, too. Becoming a generous giver marks a shift towards maturity and becoming a useful contributor to society. I heard one time that when Princess Diana met Mother Teresa, the Princess said in effect she had so much and Teresa had so little but Teresa seemed to have a happiness that escaped the Princess. The story as I heard it was that Mother Teresa suggested that the Princess become more giving. Certainly, in a life that it seems was very complex, the Princess became known for her care and giving to others.

I am sure Mother Teresa knew there was much more to a happy life than giving but what a wonderful example there is in our God who gives. The story of Christmas is about giving. As we know it is about God giving His son because He loves us.

As Paul writes to the Roman Church:

But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. (Romans 5: 8. The Message).

And to the church in Corinth:

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
2 (Corinthians 9:8-11 The Message)


PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving Jesus to me. I feel so unworthy but I thank you. I pray that my life may be useful in giving to others because of your love for me and them. Amen.

[Listen: Songsters: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2445.mp3
or
Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1497.mp3 ]

(Note verse 3 in particular)

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
Hail thee as the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive the clouds of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.

All thy works with joy surround thee,
Earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around thee,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Bloss'ming meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest.
Thou the Father, Christ our brother--
All who live in love are thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the mighty chorus
Which the morning stars began;
Father-love is reigning o'er us,
Brother-love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music lifts us sunward
In the triumph song of life.
Author: Henry van Dyke (1852-1933)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 10

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