In this day and age, people are being asked to give and give. People are stretched to their breaking points and to the limit. I know, for I have been there, and it's not a pleasant place. I became irritable, grouchy, and wasn't focusing on God. I forgot about the most important thing - loving God. So, when I had someone challenge me to be more generous, I was somewhat baffled. More generous? How could I give more? I already had too much to do, but then she told me what to be generous with:
*More generous with my time with God.
*More generous with my faith. Share Christ!
*More generous with my Life!
I thought about these and tried to figure out how I could do this. I realized that I must do this, I must apply this to my life. I have since then talked to many of my friends, both here at back home, about God and faith, as well as my mom, and my roommate, who doesn't believe in Him. I thought that I would just listen to music as I walk to class, but I find that praying is even better when I am outside, looking at the beauty He created. I have also figured out which service activities are the most interesting to me. Big Brothers Big Sisters seems to be the one which I am most passionate about right now, so I have to figure out how to fit that into my schedule. I want, no, I need to make my life a service. I want to live for others. Since I have been applying these things to my life, things seem to look brighter. My faith has grown and I'm truly happy! It's so nice to know that God's always there, wanting me, and so many others, to pursue and love Him whole heartedly.
It is amazing how kindness can be such a wonderful thing, and how rarely it is used these days. People forget to be kind. We all are guilty of getting caught up in our own lives, that we forget those around us. But we must try to remember all of them, for we have good news! God's love is good news, that will never grow old. We can be supernaturally kind through the measure of the fruitfulness of our prayer. Obligingness, doing things without being asked; we must try to out do one another in generosity. Remembering names, favorite things, situations, etc. are all ways in which we can make people feel important, through our sincere words. Try not to get into trouble with our words, for we can get in trouble with saying both true and false things. We must learn where that fine line is drawn.
Thank you for reading my thoughts : )
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4 comments:
An absolutely amazing and encouraging post...I'm nowhere near where i need to be, and i know that is okay because it's a never ending process...The only thing that i want is to be able to give everything over to God, not hold back any part of my life. I do this all the time i'll say "Okay God take the part of my life that has to do with corporate worship, or with reading the Bible and prayer, but God now when it comes to lifestyle and being a witness don't expect me to change that." It really is a complete submission in every part of who we are. I just thought i'd share a personal accout, and say that it was really encouraging to read...
I love that God does that for us. He's so faithful. I forget that a lot, but that doesn't make it any less true.
I love realizing that it's really not about us. We can try and try and try to do things that we "should" be doing. Like being gracious and kind. These are great things and things God's commanded us to do. They do not, however, stay with us in every situation if we're trying and trying and trying on our own. The only way that works is to live Jesus. The only way to live Jesus is to come into the community of faith he's inviting us into. What I'm trying to say, I guess, is that you're right about "focusing on God." This is the only way to become like him. It's the only way to be truly generous and kind (any everything else good). "Focusing on God" puts everything else into place. We become those things without having to think about them. This is why relationship with God is the most important thing.
That was great Paige. Let me tell you, since I got back from Ukraine a year ago, I just haven't felt my place or my calling anywhere except on the mission field. I keep telling myself, I can't wait 'til I get to devote all of my time to ministry. It's so hard to balance time between God and everything else (school, wedding, work, even church.) Too much of the time I'm sitting looking at myself and making myself happy, feeling like I'm doing everything that I possibly can, and I'm forgetting that I really need to make God a priority in my life. I even started going to a class that is all about how to be spiritually discipline. I took the class during my mission training, but I've lost so much of it. Sometimes I've just got to break down all of the walls that I build up. Break them down and let Him back in. Thanks for you encouragement Paige.
Check the 24 Hour Album site for an update.
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