JK
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Lighten Your Load
Hey gang, this is John Kaehr and it was great spending some time together this Sunday morning. I hope that you enjoyed seeing some of my backpacking gear as well as hearing about generosity. I believe its important for us to leave behind the things we don't need so that our journey can be more enjoyable. I really do feel that its important for us to make decisions on a regular basis that help to lighten the load we are carrying in life and than take what we don't really need anyway and give it to someone who might actually need it. I will let you know if I ever get the guts to give away my nice tent. We started the day with this question. "What would be the toughest thing in your life to give away?" Sometimes its just fun to talk about our most prized possessions. But we also spoke about giving our time as well. Casey came up and talked about making breakfast for the kids at the Crossing Educational Center and Shawn shared about spending time with the youth at the Juvenile Justice Center. Lets spend some time this week talking more about generosity and the challenge it is to really lighten our load. Please feel free to use this blog to interact with what we covered in service as well as any thoughts you've been having on the matter lately. If anybody gets a chance to go to the JJC or Crossing this week we would also like to hear about your experience. Blessings.
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4 comments:
I have really been thinking about what it would mean to take generosity out of the 'event' mindset and make it a lifestyle. It has boiled down to 2 key thoughts for me. 1. Awareness. I have noticed that little voice that enlightens me in the moment to be generous and many time i have ignored it or not really noticed it, But the more i actually listen and follow thru the more i start to hear that little voice. #2. the Flow aspect. As i spend more time with Jesus and let Him permeate my days generosity will become natural and 'flow' out. At least i hope it will:)
Several years ago when we moved we boxed up a lot of our stuff so that our house would show better. 5+ years later a lot of that is still boxed in the basement. I've been gradually going through it and giving it away, but I guess it's time to get rid of some more. What I found was that I really enjoy living without clutter. The house is easier to clean and I enjoy the simplicity of it. Yet I realize that my motive isn't generosity so much as a desire to live life more simply, and the beauty of "lightening my load" has benefited me as much as anyone else. So I agree, a.rogers, it's time to step it up and allow generosity to become a lifestyle.
I think it's great to see us reaching out as a community and represent our church. It's a great challenge as God always has plans to bless each person participating beyond what was originally intended. Have we considered what the needs are within the church body? Perhaps we have single parents who are not always able to attend these breakfasts that have a child who needs to see the act of love towards others in action that could participate alongside others. Or perhaps we have an elderly person who can serve food but can't drive who is part of our local church body?
He tells us that He will make us a blessing to be a blessing to others. I have found that it's been freeing to my heart to live a flowing life of generosity and have found at times it's been frustrating when we are commanded to share what we have and watched people in abundance ignore those in lack. It's an area that can at sometimes be sensitive when every human has the same needs.
I've lived the generosity lifestyle in lack and in abundance and I can say that I don't always think it's done as much for the person receiving as it is for the heart of the person giving. Something happens to our own hearts when we give. I feel empty when I have not given in awhile. It's fun and creates a lot of freedom
With all this talk about generosity what comes to my mind is that we as followers of Jesus Christ need to be receivers. I believe that we need to remember that in all of our giving to practice being good receivers from the Lord as well(Matt. 13:18-23 and 53-58).
I think we often hope and even expect others will be receptive and appreciate our offering to them when we give. That does not always happen. Instead, we could ask ourselves what is that the Lord would like to give to us and be open to the way in which he comes.
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