Be generous

Something amazing happens when we give; it is not only that warm and happy feeling we get when we are a blessing to others; it goes much deeper than that.  The Bible gives us many beautiful examples of generosity in action and it is full of promises for those who give with a joyful heart.  Giving is a wonderful component of our relationship with God because whether we realize it or not, many times our giving depends on our trust in Him.  

“Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure.  For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.  And God will generously provide all you need. (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)  You see, it is easy to praise God with our giving when things are going well, when we don’t lack anything and what He is asking from us is relatively easy, but when He starts addressing the things that are hindering our growth, then it gets hard. Many times we put our trust in money, beauty, time or knowledge instead of God; we hold on so tightly to these things that we can’t open our arms to receive everything God has for us. 

Being generous is not about giving the leftovers or the surplus; it is about giving what God asks us to give, even when we think we don’t have enough.  It is an opportunity to witness God’s loving power as He multiplies and does amazing things with what we give.  

Dave Martin said: “God, make me a distribution center of your blessings” Don’t you love this image?  Everything we have has been given by God for a reason; have you ever asked yourself why some people have so much and others so little?  It seems unfair, but then again, God knows what He is doing and even if we can’t understand it, we need to do our part and bless those around us as God directs us.  God loves to use us as a channel for His blessings, remember what He said to Abraham “I will cause you to become the father of a great nation.  I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others.” (Genesis 12:2)

In Ecclesiastes 11:1 we read “Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later.” And in Proverbs 11:24 we see that “it is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything.”  Still God knows how hard it is for us to let go, especially of money, so He puts it very plainly for us to understand “Those who love money will never have enough.  How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!  The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it.  So what is the advantage of wealth – except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers! (Ecclesiastes 5:10-11)    Money is not bad, but trusting that money will solve everything and make us happy, that is the problem.

There is someone out there needing what we can share, and we can give so much more than we realize.  Most likely it will interfere with our schedule and it will take an effort, but we can be sure that whatever “trouble” we have to endure as we give to others, will be returned to us in blessings. “If you give, you will receive.  Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over.  Whatever measure you use in giving – large or small – it will be used to measure what is given back to you.” (Luke 6:38)  Don’t you just love this?  Isn’t it exciting? Pay close attention to the words God is using to illustrate how much He wants to bless us… full measure, pressed down to make room for more until it overflows… I like that!  A constant flood of blessings, a continuous process of giving and receiving.  “The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”  (Proverbs 11:25)  

You are beautiful!

It is interesting how the way we see ourselves many times depends on what we are told, whether true or false.  There’s great danger when we rely on others to define our worth.  Are we more beautiful because people say so?  Do we become less valuable when we mess up and make mistakes?  Should past experiences label us and determine our future?

Sometimes we place too much importance on what people think of us, as if we are looking for approval, wanting them to like us or simply trying to fit in.  Maybe they don’t like us and that is ok, maybe we are not supposed to fit in, maybe we should start listening to what God has said, is saying and will always say about us.

“The Lord who created you says: ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name; you are mine…You are precious to me.  You are honored, and I love you.” (Isaiah 43:1; 4)  This is what “the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel your Savior” (Isaiah 43:3) is saying to you and me.  Maybe if we would concentrate on what He is saying instead of what others can’t say or won’t say, we will begin to understand how valuable, inexplicably wonderful and beautiful we are, not because of what we look like, who we are or what we have done, but because God made us in His image, with a purpose.   

Sometimes we allow others to mistreat us because we don’t know who we are; it seems that we see ourselves through glasses that only focus on the negative. Some people live surrounded by so many lies that it hard for them to recognize the truth, even if it is obviously in front of them.  It doesn’t matter how messy our life is or was, one thing stands firm and is God’s love for us from the beginning of time “You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of my womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me, O God!  They are innumerable! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!” (Psalm 139:15-17)

Some people may read this and say “if God knows it all, why He permits the bad things that happen to people?” I could say that many times we look for trouble by ignoring God; that during difficulties we grow or that faith needs to be strengthened so we can be used by God; I could write many verses to back these points up, but I will only say that when God created Adam He knew what was going to happen and He knew His Son, Jesus would have to suffer and die; His beloved Son would be sacrificed for us… and He still did it. God’s plan is bigger than we could ever understand, this is not about trying to figure Him out, it is about trusting Him.  “God has made everything beautiful for its own time.  He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

So what do we do when we don’t feel as beautiful as God says we are?

·         Don’t let people bring you down

We need to surround ourselves with good company; if someone close to us is bringing us down, we need to let them know. 

It is important also to stop looking for people’s approval or putting people in pedestals “Stop putting your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath.  How can they be of help to anyone?” (Isaiah 2:22)

·         Focus on real beauty

What society has labeled as beautiful is very superficial and doesn’t last long; instead real beauty is deep within us “Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.  You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.  (1 Peter 3:3)  Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. (Proverbs 31:30)

·         Keep focusing on what God says about you

Continue reading all the wonderful things God says about you in the Bible.  Keep looking around for His daily display of love; continue growing and learning and receiving God’s awesome love.  “Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” (Psalm 34:5)  “For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10)

When we know we have been created with a purpose by a loving God, we have a new outlook in life; when we know we don’t have to be perfect, a heavy weight is lifted and we can be free to be who God created us to be.  We can be our beautiful selves!

Real Love

The other day I was talking to two young women and they kept telling me that true love doesn’t exist.  They complained that guys don’t know anything about love and romance and that it is hard to find couples that are happy after being together for some years.  I thought this was a very sad statement, but it made me think… What are we teaching our young people about love? And what is our example telling them?

You may also be a little skeptical about the …“and they lived happily ever after” ending.  When we look around it is becoming a real challenge to find happily married couples and maybe one way or another we have experienced the complete opposite, but no matter what, I still believe in love.  Love is real and very much alive; it is possible and attainable.  How can I be so sure? God said it and I believe Him.  “God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.” (1 John 4:16-17) “We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us.”  (1 John 3:16).  You may argue, “yes, but that is God’s love, that is way up there, and we are talking about the everyday happenings in our relationships between friends; boyfriends and girlfriends; husbands and wives” First of all our relationship with God is very real and it is the most important one we will ever have.   Besides, God gives us advice for all the other relationships in our life; we can find all the answers in the Bible. God tells us how to treat our friends “Do for others as you would like them to do for you.” (Luke 6:31); and He advices couples to choose a partner who believes in Christ “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.” (2 Corinthians 6:14).  He speaks to young people “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules.” (Psalm 119:9) and gives advice to married couples “You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord.  For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church…And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church.  He gave up his life for her.” (Ephesians 5:22-25) 

Like Toby Mac’s song says “This ain’t no ordinary love”  This is deep, it goes beyond the superficial things that bother us, the things that we want and we don’t get, real love is about following Jesus’ example, so if we want to practice real love, we need to read about His life and imitate it. 

The thing is that real love is very different from what has been rooted in our mind, real love is not about the butterflies in our stomach; I mean we do get those and we should, but it has to go deeper, because if that is all there is in a relationship, sooner or later those butterflies will fly away.  Real love requires time, dedication, and many times sacrifice. But not the sacrifice many people think about… We are not talking about putting up with someone “for the children” while doing nothing to make things better, or having a martyr attitude… Jesus didn’t die for us so we would live and love half way; He has prepared big thing for us, but we have to do our part.

Love requires patience and humbleness “Be humble and gentle.  Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2) When two people in a relationship put God first and ask Him to teach them to love the way He does, then His love flows; it is a daily display of respect, joy and appreciation.  It is enjoying the other person for who she or he is, not who we wish they were.  They may still have those little things that drive us crazy, but they seem so small when we look at all the good things they have. “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

Love is possible, you can believe it and start practicing; don’t give up, love always wins! Keep close this beautiful verse from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.  Love does not demand its own way.  Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.  It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”   Let’s put these words into practice and teach our children what real love is so then they can love and be loved as God intended it.