Ripple Effect

The world calls it a "random act of kindness," I call it the ripple effect. And I don't see it at all as random. God is love (1 John 4:16) and the giver of all good gifts (Romans 8:32, James 1:17). Being created in His image (Genesis 1:27), we are designed to love Him and love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). God gives us the need to love Him and the desire to do good for our brothers and sisters in the world as an effect of that initial love (1 John 4:19).

In my years of ministry, I've seen it time and time again, where a woman is encouraged by what has been revealed to her in God's Word. She, in turn, is encouraged by another to share her story and that brings forth the "ripple effect" of others realizing that God is working in their lives in a similar way. Then they are encouraged to share their story and invest in the life of another. And another. And another. Who started this? God.

In today's verse of thanks, Paul continues to teach on sowing generously or being a "cheerful giver that God loves" (2 Corinthians 9:7). He points us to the ultimate wave of our obedience in following God's lead in casting the first pebble or sharing what He has given us in the first place.

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." 2 Corinthians 9:12

Paul goes on to say in vs. 13, "Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." The "ripple effect" of generous giving on the part of the Corinthians will extend beyond Jerusalem to the church as a whole, causing widespread prayer and praise to be offered to God. That's the ultimate goal of the ripple effect. God starts the ripple in the heart and circumstances of an individual, they obediently follow His will, His lead, and the ripples turn into waves of thanksgiving back to Him.

"It's sad that in a world of billions, people can still feel isolated and alone. Sometimes all it takes to brighten up someone's day is a smile or kind word, or the generous actions of a complete stranger. Small things, the tiny details, these are the things that matter in life - the little glint in the eye, curve of a lip, nod of a head, wave of a hand - such minuscule movements have huge ripple effects." - Shaun Hick

Wouldn't it be a great thing to know that by your obedient work for the Lord a multitude of praises go back up to Him in the heavenlies? He knows full well where the ripples started on earth - He will surly credit this to your account that is eternally secure (Matthew 6:20)!

Show your thanks to God for His goodness in your life by sharing it with others, and watch as the ripple effect turns into a wave of praise to God!

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b

Taking It Off the Shelf

I had put it on the shelf. I thought it was of no value. Even considered that it may have been a waste. Over the course of the last year, I was encouraged to take it off the shelf and see if I could use it again. If it could be of some value and perhaps serve a purpose, a worthy purpose. I had my doubts. Honestly, I was afraid it had been on the shelf too long and I'd forgotten how to use it.

Come to find out, when the Lord asks you to take it off the shelf, it will be used for a worthy cause. What joy! What freedom! What grace!

Many times when the Lord gives us an abundance in our resources, we put some away - up on the shelf, if you will. God doesn't mean for them to stay there. He gives them to us to use for our good, for other's good and for His glory.

In my last post I highlighted Paul's message about sharing finances. In today's verse of thanks, Paul is teaching on sowing generously. Using the example of seeds to explain that the resources God gives us are not to be hidden, foolishly ravaged, or thrown away, but sown in order to produce more crops. When we devote what God has given us in his work, He will provide us with even more to share. These resources are not limited to finances, but generous deeds and service as well.

"You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." 2 Corinthians 9:11

The God who is the greatest source of the physical food that sustains all human life is the same God who supplies the spiritual sustenance that allows believers to flourish and serve.

God had blessed me with a set of skills. I hadn't realized that what I had could be of service to God - the reason I believed it had been a waste. But honestly, just about everything can be used to serve the Lord. A friend reminded me, "God, wastes nothing."

The thing that had been setting on the shelf for well over a decade was graphic design skills. When asked to try them out again for a ministry, as I said, I was reluctant. Nervous. Scared. But God made me rich so I could be generous. He used what I thought was a waste to bless His Name and allow many women to come to a new understanding of who they truly are because they are His!

Friends, if the Lord has blessed you with an abundance of something, He has done that for a good reason. Listen to the Lord. Ask Him when and how He wants you to bless others with the treasures He has lavished on you. Don't hold back. He's waiting to multiply your spiritual treasure so you, and those you bless, can flourish in freedom, joy, and grace. The result is thanksgiving to God! It's a win win!

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b

Our Heart’s Desire

I have been abundantly blessed over the last few years to be part of a leadership team that shares a common vision. God worked in our hearts individually by planting a desire to serve Him and His people in a particular way. This prepared us for our ministry that we would carry out together as a team. Only God Almighty has the power to move hearts in a course for His purpose to be carried out in a way that pleases Him and bears the promised fruit.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” Proverbs 21:1

Paul knows the great sovereign power of God, that He can move hearts in this profound way. Paul had recently taken up a collection for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. He was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love through generous giving on the part of the churches in Macedonia. These brothers and sisters were poor but they gave sacrificially out of dedication to the Lord, love for fellow believers, the blessing of helping others in need, and because it was the right thing to do. God moved the hearts of these believers as an example to other church groups and for the benefit of the needy.

God sees the heart, not the hand, the giver, not the gift. ~ Unknown

Illustrating this example to the church in Corinth, who happened to be rather blessed financially, Paul praises God for giving him a co-laborer with a heart’s desire that matched his own. Titus is Paul’s like minded, like hearted ministry partner.

“I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.” 2 Corinthians 8:16

These good motions in the heart of Titus were not merely natural, or the effects of human power and free will, but were of God, as every good thing is; they were wrought in him by the Spirit of God, and sprung from the grace of God, and therefore the apostle returns thanks to God for the same.   ~ From Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Charles Spurgeon says that in every believer’s heart there is –

     1) Love to God. He cannot else be a child of God.

     2) Love to Christ. How could he be a Christian otherwise? As a consequence of this.

     3) Love to the brotherhood.

     Where there is true love in the heart it becomes a working principle. It is a vital principle, and out of its growth there comes fruit.

My beloved team, with our God planted heart’s desire, was led to the following verse to base our ministry on: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:16-17 Recently, we have been reflecting on what the Lord has been doing in the hearts of those we serve. We are overwhelmed with joy over His abundance in multiplying His goodness in the lives of those He has given us to care for. We are witnessing the promised fruit produced by obeying His command to love.

If God sows you, you will bring forth fruit. ~ Oswald Chambers

God chooses us to do His will. He loved us first and plants in our hearts that same desire to love. Love God. Love Christ. Love each other. Bear fruit that lasts. And thank God for tending to your heart and giving the ability to take part in His good work.

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b

Cheering Section

My husband and I are officially “sports parents.” We’ve been headed in this direction for awhile now, but this year it became official as we took the next step. We became season pass holders for the first time. With this we found ourselves as regulars in the cheering section of our local high schools’ junior varsity and varsity games.  It’s been a blast.

Recently, we witnessed the crowd growing as the basketball team advanced in playoffs. As the intensity of the games grow, the players put out more effort against the tougher competition and sometimes they even get injured. It amazes me how they can shake off the pain and power through for the sake of the team. As fans, we are on the edge of our seats willing the team with all our support to take the win. The cheering section fills the air with praise for those athletes that were playing their hearts out working towards the victory.

Today’s verse of thanks is talking about growing the cheering section, not for the local team, but for our great Host of the eternal Kingdom. Paul is continuing on his digression defending his ministry and the way God has used him to help others. This verse comes from Paul’s famous teaching on “Treasures in Jars of Clay.”

The priceless treasure of the message of salvation in Jesus Christ has been entrusted by God to imperfect and frail human beings. Paul doesn’t center his attention on the perishable container (our bodies) but on its precious contents – God’s power dwelling in us. Even though we are weak, God uses us to spread his Gospel and gives us power to do his work. The power is His, not ours, and being fully aware of this fact keeps us from pride and gives us a desire to stay in daily contact with God Almighty – our source of power, strength, and courage. It’s our job to allow a watching world see His light through the cracks in our clay pot.

Paul goes on to unashamedly tell of the constant danger he encounters as he serves the Lord. “Because of our preaching we face death, but it has resulted in eternal life for you.” (2 Cor 4:12 TLT) Which brings us to today’s verse:

“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15

Building the cheering section is the goal of Paul’s ministry… and ours too, for that matter. The more that are won to Christ, the more there are to thank Him for His great kindness. Every detail works for our good and God’s glory: more grace, more people, more praise.

Paul faced sufferings, trials and distress as he spread the gospel and grew the early Christian Church. He knew, however, that they would be over one day and he would receive God’s ultimate blessings. We, too, face troubles and it’s easy to keep our attention on the pain rather than on the ultimate goal. Just as those athletes, which my husband and I have been cheering for, keep their eye on the win and ignore their discomfort when they are injured, we too must focus on the reward for our faith and the joy that lasts forever. This should bring us to point of deep gratitude that we can’t contain and fill the skies with endless praise. This song At Your Name by Phil Wickham: https://youtu.be/SsSyx63qiZE speaks of such an outpouring of praise by the Lord’s cheering section:

Your people cry out

Lord of all the earth

We shout Your name, shout Your name

Filling up the skies

With endless praise, endless praise

Yahweh, Yahweh

We love to shout Your name, oh Lord

"He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;

     I will be with him in trouble;

     I will rescue him and honor him,

With a long life I will satisfy him

     And let him see My salvation."
Psalm 91:15-16

Christ already won the victory by rising from the grave, let’s not only add to the cheering section with our praises, but build it by allowing others to see His grace in our lives overflowing to His glory.

“And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15b