Give...and it shall be given! (Part 1)

"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)

We all know and love this scripture. I cannot even count the number of sermons I have heard using this verse. This passage is a particular favorite when someone is encouraging people to give in a special offering (Faith Promise, anyone??). I mean, what's not to like?? Give - and it will be given! But not just any ole "given". God is going to press it down, shake it together, and fill it to overflowing! And whatever measure you use, be it big or small, that's the same measure He will give it back to you.

Awesome promise!

However, this past Sunday, my husband reminded us that scripture is clarified by reading the CONTEXT of the verse. Hmm. Okay.

Back up to verse 37:

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Oh, wow!

That puts a whole new light on "give and it shall be given", doesn't it? If you back up even farther you find scriptures that say things like "love your enemies" and "bless those who curse you" and "be merciful". And if you continue to read, you find the wonderful "plank" and "sawdust" passage. But that is a whole 'nuther blog. *smiles*

So, do you want mercy? Then GIVE and it shall be GIVEN to you.

Do you want love? Give and it shall be given.

Do you want forgiveness? Show forgiveness to others.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Part 2 of "Give...and it shall be given!"

Now, back to the plank and speck of sawdust verse. How many times do we do this? We are all concerned with making sure everyone sees this little speck in our brother or sister’s eye...all the while, we are straining to see around the big 2x4 in our own eye.

I mean, maybe if everyone is focused on that speck, they won’t notice the plank in our eye, right?

It is human nature to compare ourselves to others. And it is human nature to try and make ourselves look good and to find someone who did worse than we did. I mean, this goes back as far as the Garden of Eden. Isn’t that what Adam did? And Eve? All throughout the Bible and history, people have pointed fingers at specks of dust, all the while straining to see through a plank.

The statement is made that “everyone is tall if standing next to the right person”. How true this is! We like to ‘cut’ others down so that we look taller. We like to make others look bad so our own sin is not quite so bad.

What would happen if we traded that “self-righteous garment” for a “robe of righteousness”. If, instead of trying to make ourselves look good, we reached out to help a brother or sister who is in need of some encouragement? Instead of throwing stones, we grab a first aid kit and help to bind some wounds? Instead of grabbing the phone to be the first to start spreading the “news”, we fall to our knees to pray for our brother or sister who has fallen into temptation?

"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."

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Praying that your day is blessed abundantly! Remember to stop and thank the Lord for His many blessings. Don't just thank Him for the "normal stuff" like turkey and dressing and pecan pie (or whatever your Thanksgiving meal of choice). Thank Him for things that you normally take for granted. Think outside the box. :)

I'm thankful for

...blue skies and sunshine.

...orchids.

...the smell of freshly mown grass.

...COFFEE!

...CHOCOLATE!

...the feel of my sweetheart's arms around me!

...the sound of my children's laughter.

...my warm Snuggie.

...soft pillows.

...the colors of the rainbow.

...Bath & Body Works.

...Facebook.

...the sweet sound of people worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

...laughter!!!

...football!!!

...Cool Whip.

...popcorn!

...family who love me.

...a mom who knows how to cook!

...a father who is a godly example to me and my family.

...the smell of a puppy's nose.

...butterflies.

The list goes on and on and on and on. Thank you, Jesus, for blessing my life in so many ways!!!!!!!!!

Wow

Where have the days gone?? I've written so many blogs in my head -- even jotted a few down on paper -- that never made it here. Soon...and very soon...life will be back to a normal pace for us and I will be a regular blogger again. I know...you can't wait! :)

Anyway, for now, if you're reading this and don't already know, please pray for us in our final weeks of preparation to return to our home. We will return to our great island the first week of December. Yay!

Voices

So a friend of mine posted a great blog the other day. If you haven't read it yet, then find it here:

Chubby Jack Cheese and Listening

Since reading this, my mind has been pondering some of the voices we hear. Voices that express the expectations of the world around us. Voices that tell us:

* What size we need to be.

* What clothes we need to wear.

* How we should act.

* Where we should go.

* What kind of house we should live in.

* What kind of car we should drive.

* How we should raise our children.

* What kind of education and degree we need.

* What kind of salary we should make.

* What social networks we should be a part of.

* What we should believe.

So many voices. And not all of their 'opinions' are wrong. However, it is all about perspective. Keeping those opinions in perspective with what He wants. I want to hear His voice. I want to hear His opinion. I want to judge the voices I hear by His Word and His principles.

As a woman, Proverbs 31 is a great measuring stick for the opinions and ideas around me. Aside from my relationship with Him, my husband will always be first to me. His voice, his needs, his well-being. Next my children. Then my ministry. I know this is not always the popular view among my ministry friends, but sorry...I'm not listening to those voices any more. I want to hear the voice of my Heavenly Father. I want to seek His favor. And He has called me first to my family.

Thank you, Lord, for my family! And thank you, Cylinda, for sharing your heart! To the one or two people reading this - lol - take time to read her post, and then, take some time to listen. To HIM.

By this...

...by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples...if ye have love one to another... (John 13:35)

Not by our paying of tithes.

Not by our faithfulness to church.

Not by how we dress.

Not by our works.

But by our LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHER.

All of the things listed above are necessary and good. And the list could go on and on of things that we, as the body of Christ, do in our daily lives walking with Him. But if we want to impact our world, we must show LOVE. Love for one another. Love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Love for sinners. Love for those that hurt us. Love for the brother or sister who has stumbled. Love for those who betray us.

This is how the world will know that we are HIS DISCIPLES. When we love one another.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd -- that's relationship.

I shall not want -- that's supply.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures -- that's rest.

He leadeth me beside the still waters -- that's refreshment.

He restoreth my soul -- that's healing.

He leadeth me in paths of righteousness -- that's guidance.

For His name sake -- that's purpose.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death -- that's testing.

I will fear no evil -- that's protection.

For thou art with me -- that's faithfulness.

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me -- that's discipline.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies -- that's hope.

Thou annointest my head with oil -- that's consecration.

My cup runneth over -- that's abundance.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life -- that's blessing.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever -- that's security.

** Got this in an email the other day. Love how it shows that He's got all the bases covered!!! Be blessed today, blogworld!