The freedom that comes from giving is appreciated even in the secular world. Even agnostics and some atheists propound the idea that it is better to give than to receive. I have thought a lot recently, about charity and giving. I want to be more charitable, even in my thoughts and prayers. I want for my heart to be full of joyful giving. In moments of calm and ease I recognize that all I have was freely given and I have done nothing to earn my place in life. It is the stressful and turbulent moments when all that goes out the window. It is in reflecting on these moments that I realize a difference in Christianity and other religions and philosophies. You see, it is easy in moments of great wealth and security to want to give and to look for meaning in the charity itself. Look at the invisible children campaign right now. Society is looking for a cause to make them feel better, but what about when you don’t have time to put others first or when things get crazy, or when you find out you were duped and that charity or cause was a fraud, or perhaps just not perfect. Well, there is the cross. We don’t give for the charity itself or even to make ourselves feel better. We simply give, joyfully, because we have been given life and freedom. And, when I find that I haven’t given or haven’t given without grumbling, I turn to the cross, knowing that I my debt has already been adjusted. In that, there is great joy!
1 Chronicles 29:16-18
O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.
Today I am thankful...
291. for an unburdened heart
292. For the youth at our church
293. For Michael and his gift relating to and communicating with the youth
294. For a rainy day
295. for RUF summer conference and how it impacted my life
296. for Holt telling Harper Ann tonight when we were reading about Jesus calling his disciples, "that Judas asparagus [Iscariot] was a really bad guy"
297. for a reminder that my goal isn't to raise good kids, but to raise Christ-centered adults
298. for new books
299. for getting to watch Holt read to Harper Ann (especially when he acts out brown bear brown bear)
300. For Ella Fitzgerald
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