The intent of this week’s theme is to remind us of God’s generosity. The focus will be toward demonstrating a generosity in our own lives that reflects our thankfulness and gratitude for what He has done. Our church family has demonstrated some amazing generosity, and God has multiplied those gifts to His glory. Remember what our church family gave to Bill and Pauline, the missionaries to China? We also had a thanksgiving feast that provided a meal for many families, and how there were “basketfuls” left that were taken and distributed to others in the Memphis area. The roof repair made to Edison and Doris Gruber’s home in New Mexico, the Christmas gifts to the Crownpoint kids, and the Christmas store at Northside that blessed over 180 people. One of the most amazing stories of the year may be the giving that that started with one of our Huddle groups on Wednesday nights, which, on their own gave about $200, but later God multiplied to $6,000. And that very same night, a handful of students at Fortress – teenagers – gave over $1000 in cash to Living Water International, and provide clean water to some of the poorest in the world. We should be encouraged by these moments and allow them to remind us of how God has been so generous to each one of us.

__________

Word:

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:37, 38)

Meditation Thought: God treats me the way I treat others. God judges me the way I judge others. God condemns me the way I condemn others. God gives to me the way I give to others.

Prayer: Dear gracious Father, thank You for being so generous to me. You have treated me with kindness when I did not deserve to be treated kindly. You did not condemn me when I deserved to be condemned. I pray that when I have a difficult time dealith with others, I will be as gracious to them as You are to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.