It’s a yearly tradition in our home to give the gift of sustainable resources to those in need during the holidays, either through Send Relief (formerly BGR) and Samaritan’s Purse.
Take time today and send a love gift of life giving resources and change lives.
For the past 3 years my family has received the Baptist Global Response (BGR) Christmas gift catalog by mail.
We started a tradition where I’ll give the catalog to my children and allow them to circle the gifts that they would like to purchase for those in need.
We like to do this with BGR because we generally get a letter back from them with stories about how our donation was used to help bless the people in the way that was represented in the catalog.
Because we own chickens of course one of the items we always purchase is chickens. And because it’s such a great need we also now add in water filtration systems. You may remember the Global Relief Run I directed with my local church last year was raising funds for water filtration.
It’s such an uplifting experience to get the letters back from BGR and to hear the stories of how these gifts are actually used.
I’d encourage each of you to take a look at the online gift catalog and select a gift or two to purchase this year. Make it a yearly tradition for you and your family.
BGR Christmas Gift Catalog link
And they scoffed. The Pharisees, who thought themselves the standard for upholding an appearance of righteous living, scoffed at the thought of being faithful in the use of wealth.
Oh, I’m sure they gave their tenth in a truly legalistic way.
But is that Jesus’ definition of faithful?
Two small copper coins for your thoughts on this?
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
Luke 16:10-15
As we go through life we will inevitably encounter times of uncertainty, even faith testing struggles. But we find our strength again when we praise and worship our God. Jesus is the object of our faith. Our faith is not in a building, denomination or anything created. Our faith is in the creator, the Lord God, the great “I Am”.
Revive us, Lord. Inhabit our praise. Holy Spirit move in us and strengthen our resolve to run the race with renewed vigor.
This song has most recently helped bring my heart and mind into a time of worship. I hope it helps you today.
WATCH “JESUS CULTURE – MOVE (LIVE)” ON YOUTUBE
Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, And give thanks to His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Psalms 30:4-5, 11-12 NASB
