Tag: giving

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Rich Kids

Over the last month there has been huge talk about this Occupy Wall Street movement and the whole 99 percent/1 percent thing.  As you know I usually don’t right about politics, because I usually don’t know what I am talking about enough to make any written statement (oops, I guess I just did). And then there’s always the chance that I decide one day to become a politician, I wouldn’t want any blog post from the early part of the century coming back and ruining me.  🙂

Anyway, foolishness aside, I have done some research and study of this whole OWS thing, and I discover this website call the Global Rich List.  You can enter you salary and it will tell you where you are on the ‘wealthy scale’ through the entire world.  I find this site to be quite fascinated and very very humbling.  Try it for yourself.

I assume that many of you are way near the right hand side of this scale.  I probably don’t need to point out what that means.

So while you are thinking about how to rationalize all of that I think it’s a good time to read the 112th Psalm

 

 1Praise the LORD.

 Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
   who find great delight in his commands.

2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
   who conduct their affairs with justice.

6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.

10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

 

As you end this work week and head into another great weekend.  Consider your blessings, your generosity and how freely your gifts are being scattered!

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Magnetic Inspiration

Last week, I was cleaning up some stuff in my office, and reorganizing my mind at work when I stumble upon some old word magnets I used to use for inspiration.  I had taken them down in frustration a few years ago when I was feeling very selfish and uninspired.  But last week I put them back up and I hope they will spark you either by what they say, or maybe you will find some words that motivate you through out the day.

The words on the magnetic – Today: live, give, reach, do and solve are simple verbs to help remind me of how I should be spending my day , today.

  1. Live the day to the fullest
  2. Give to others
  3. Reach out to others
  4. Do what needs to be done
  5. Solve problems with creativity

That’s a pretty good list.  Those simple verbs are just enough to give me a reminder with each email, instant message and choice throughout the day of my potential impact on others and they help focus me to make sure that I am getting the most out of each day.

Yes, yes, a little cheesy, but whatever it takes to keep the days moving in the right direction!

So with that a few simple short and powerful verses to get your going on Monday!

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.Psalm 90:12

Each man’s life is but a breath.
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth not knowing who will get it. Psalm 39:5-6

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.John 10:10 ESV

A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Ephesians 4:32

Today !  Live, Give, Reach Do and Solve!

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Johnny Appleseed Day

First of all, thanks Ray for the great post yesterday, to keep us all focused on that so important Freedom in our lives. So I have been in the Nation’s Capitol and its oblivious a very inspiring place, and I am sure it will generate some ideas into next week. Today I wanted to continue the weeks “Day” theme, but after spending days with a bunch of 8th graders, my idea engine is a little rusty!

But this is one of those days in March that has a cool date 3-1-1. Its the non emergency number, and I thought I conjure up some good thought but then I remembered it was Johnny Appleseed Day!

Yeah, a day to remember that guy who walked around the county passing out various apple seeds and who is attributed with the spreading of so many apple varieties around the country. It’s a pretty good lesson on the power of one person impacts others by sharing a gift that he had.
So today on this Friday, how about considering the gifts you have, the knowledge you have the insight and hope that you have, the love that you have, the grace and forgiveness that you have, and share that with others. Think of yourself as Johnny Graceseed, or Susie Hopeful, and see how that impacts those around you!

oh of course that reminds we of several verses, but the first one is a sort of suggestion/command we are given my that hero, Jesus

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20(NIV)

and this maybe this one:

38 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 6:38 (New International Version, ©2011)

and finally this one:

6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6 (New International Version, ©2011)

Spread some seed!

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Pancake Day

w00t w00t, there are Free Pancakes at IHOP today, as it the IHOP Pancake Day! Which is odd because its a week early this year, but anyway, lets get March Madness off to a great start with “free” pancakes from IHOP ALL DAY.

What does that have to do with anything? Well giving and receiving of course. They are giving away a free short stack to each customer, hoping in return that you donate to their charity. Hm, a few sayings come to mind like ‘What goes around comes around’, ‘treat others how you want to be treated” and then this one from Luke:

38 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 6:38 (New International Version, ©2010)

Yep, it’s a idea that is found is short order these days. The idea that if you give it will be given back to you. It’s definitely something I lose track of a whole lot. We are so apt to take, that we forget the true meaning. And then the best part – for with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. hm.. I think a need a need measure.

As you interact with people today give free pancakes – and see what you get in return.

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Giving It To Get It

Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of writing time this morning.  So today will be a quick glance at a thought that has been swirling in my head this week.  I have been thinking about how to live a life of service, instead of doing “service projects”.  This is another one of those puzzlers – especially giving the frantic schedules that we attempt to maintain.  So I was doing a little bit of channel surfing the other day and I stopped on one of the “religious” channels just to see what was up.  After a minute of watching a bunch of teens worship – which was a very interesting thing as well- this dude pops up on the screen and reads this verse:

34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:34-37 NIV

So the thought that has been swirling is how do we do that?  How do we give ourselves? How do we lose our lives?  Any ideas?  Post them in the comment section.

34-37Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? (Mark 8:34-37, The Message)