Small to Overflowing

Luke 6:38 says, “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.” 

Several weeks ago a dear friend had a birthday and I was searching for the best gift.  I found a beautiful little birdbath, cobalt blue porcelain.  It was small enough that, I warned her, her dog would consider it his perfect new source for fresh water outside, which he did.

Last week someone, also dear to me, presented me with a gift, a beautiful large birdbath, cobalt blue porcelain.  I was thrilled.  I remembered the other gift I had given and I recalled the saying that the gifts you give are usually what you would like to receive.

When I was refilling it with fresh water today, the analogy of what God had done caused me to stand and smile for several minutes.  I had given; He had given more, better and larger.  

Now before you run out to buy a Mini-cooper to give someone in hopes of receiving a Cadillac in return, let’s look at another verse or two:

Matthew 19:29, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

The Father loves to give us gifts.  And I believe He loves it even more when He does it in response to our giving.  But we’re missing the point if we begin to give to get.  We may get our tithes, our offerings, our gifts back one hundredfold here and now, in this life.  We may be blessed with His loving approval.  Or we may find reward waiting for us in Heaven.  

If our motive is out of love, like His, our lives will be rich, abundant and full.  If it’s not, His blessing of approval here won’t mean anything to us anyway.  Start with love and give through it.  And God will give you everything you need to accomplish it.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Forward Thinking

“Just do it” is a good one.  My favorite is from “Meet the Robinsons”, a very cool kids’ animated movie that is entertaining for grammas as well.  Mr. Robinson’s favorite phrase is “Keep moving forward.”  I’ve adopted it as a personal anti-procrastination motto.  It works great when I remember to use it…and when I then decide to listen to myself.

I’ve written blogs before about feeling the need to  write.  Aside from a couple of closets that need cleaning and some plastic boxes of old pictures and papers that need to be filed, sitting down to get thoughts out onto the screen is my hardest area of discipline.  (Let’s just agree we’re not considering food or exercise in this one, okay?)  There’s an old saying about writing, that the hardest thing about it is the “BIC” (butt in chair) time.  It does require a level of self-discipline, whether you have a lot or a little time.

At the end of most days, if you asked me what I got accomplished, aside from some laundry and a few chores, I usually wouldn’t have an answer.  I don’t spend time in front of the TV and my time on Facebook could more likely be counted in minutes rather than hours.  I usually spend some time in God’s Word and in having quiet time with Him.  But I get discouraged because I don’t seem to have anything “concrete” to show for my time.

But there is another side to this issue of putting off writing and I’ve said this before as well.  I believe it’s something God wants me to do.  I get frustrated because I don’t know where to start.  But mainly, I think I just lack the faith to begin.  And really, what’s the worst that can happen?  I might learn something?

I am just finishing up Mark in my personal study and a few verses hit me hard this afternoon.  It’s early Sunday morning after Jesus’ death and burial.  Mark 16:1-3 says, “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, 'Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?'”

Are you wondering if I left off a verse or two?  My lesson was in verse 3 when it occurred to the women that Jesus’ tomb had a stone rolled in front of the entrance.  This stone would have been very large, round, flat and heavy.  It fit into a groove in front of the cave and was rolled down into place.  It would have taken several men to roll it back up.

The women realized this, they discussed it among themselves and still they “kept moving forward.”  God’s Word doesn’t address whether it was their level of faith that kept them going or whether they assumed someone (several men?) would be there to help them.  The point is they continued on to Jesus tomb.  And they were rewarded with being the first to know of His resurrection!  

So I’m going to make the writing a priority.  When you see me, keep me honest.  Go ahead and ask.  Or just remind me to keep moving forward.

Donuts for Breakfast

Is there anything better than a big cup of Starbucks coffee?  Okay, maybe a big cup of Starbucks caramel macchiato.  And to go with it one (or two, or three if they’re warm) sugary Krispy Kreme donuts with chocolate icing or cream filling.  I’ll wait while you savor the thought.  And the sugar high that hits gets us up and going!  

But what happens after a couple of hours?  We lose energy, start to drag, head for the vending machines and refill on more sugar or salt.

We all know these things.  Mothers, young healthy women, wise older grammas.  We know that to start the day we need juice, whole grains, milk, fruit, yogurt – healthy stuff!  This food doles out energy as our body needs it and keeps us going.

I got up this morning and, as usual, hit the laptop first.  I have a mental list of visits I make every day – check email, look for Facebook notifications, see what’s going on with Facebook friends; weather channel for the next 10 days; pinterest to see if anyone pinned any of my pins; iGoogle for world, US and entertainment headlines; back to Facebook for Words with Friends.  This keeps me busy and interested; but I’ve found that sometimes it also makes me a little discontented and grumpy.  I mull over dissatisfaction, feel slighted in some way, forget to be thankful for this very blessed life I’m leading.

It’s an old story – get up and read your Bible first!  We hear it too often.  But truth, God’s Word, is our oatmeal with cinnamon and apples, our granola with blueberries.  It is our life sustainer, our energy, our time-release pick-me-up that keeps us going with peace, gratitude, and hope throughout our day.

So I guess this is notice to my Words with Friends..friends.  You won’t be hearing from me as early as you did.  I’m changing my morning routine.  I’m going for healthy.

Psalm 119:27, 30-32
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.   I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.  I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.