Monday, June 7, 2010

Generosity – giving your attention, time, abilities, money, and compassion freely to others
Rick Warren (author of Purpose Driven Life)…. From my own personal experience, I have grown more in my faith, I have grown closer to Jesus Christ, and my heart has been change more by learning to give by faith than any other discipline in my life.

This week focus on the character quality of generosity keeping in mind that giving is not just about monetary but others things such as time, abilities, and compassion. Make the prayer personal by putting your child's/grandchild's name in the blank.

Father, I pray that ________ will understand that a greater blessing comes when he/she gives rather than when he/she receives. Acts 20:35 It is more blessed to give than to receive.
I pray that _________ will choose to give to others and have a happy heart as he/she gives. 11 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.
I pray that _________ will understand that sharing with others is God’s will for his/her life. Eph. 4:28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
Father, would You give ________ a gracious and giving heart toward the poor and those in need. Proverbs 19:17 One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord and He will repay him for his good deed.
Give ________a generous and willing heart to share and know that he/she is laying up treasures in heaven. 1 Timothy 6:18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come.
I pray that _______will understand that when he/she gives food, water, clothing, time, and compassion to others, that he/she has done this for Jesus. Matt. 25:34-40 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
I pray that when ________ shares with others, that he/she will know that this is pleasing God. Hebrews 13:16 and do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
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Practical examples of learning to give:
A father recently implemented a system in their home where the children are given envelopes to help them to learn to give and manage money. When they receive money, they are to put the 1st 10% in the envelope for giving, the 2nd 10% for saving, and the rest for spending. Great idea!
Katie came to me after the Easter hunt on Saturday and pointing to her basket said, Grandie, look, I have too many eggs. I need to give some to the younger kids. She found Trace whose basket was not full and hid her eggs for him to find. I thank God for her generous heart and communicated that to her.
Years ago, a financial advisor asked Rick & me, Why do you want to make more money? Rick responded with a question, Why do you want to make more money? Without hesitancy, he answered, “In order to give more.”

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