Generosity is a Decision

A baby no matter how precious is born with a clenched fist.  Part of the fallen nature of man, we are doomed to be selfish and think of No.#1.  When we are converted to Christ, our nature changes and the old Scrooge must go and we take on an attitude of giving.  Generosity is something we can cultivate.  Each tiny bit of giving unclenches that fist.  We give until it hurts and then it feels very very good.  Take every opportunity to share with another.  It's a decision that will change your life.

Hands Up!

To most individuals in our society, surrender is a dirty word.  For the month of  August I hope to persuade you that surrender does not mean giving up.  I devote an entire chapter to this subject in 13 Decisions That Will Change Your Life.  God often uses situations, people, and yes even loss to get out attention and convince us of the need to surrender.  Even a peek into the Old and New Testament reveals Deborah's surrender to leadership, Saul's rebellion to surrender,  David's up and down attitude toward surrender.  But of course Jesus' surrender is the most magnificent of all. Anything less pales before that example.  How are you doing with surrender today?

God's Provision in Forgiveness

And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His.  When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself. (Corrie Ten Boom, The Hiding Place)

If you've had many adventures in your Christian walk, you understand that sometimes the Lord asks you to do something you feel unequippred to carry out.  Biblical characters felt that through the Old and New Testaments.  Every one felt inadequate either in the their education, prowess, intelligence, or purity. But at the eleventh hour, God came through.

Corrie lets us know that when she face her most bitter opponent and offered friendship, God furnished the feelings to accompany the act.  When you forgive and love your enemies, God provides the love.

Follow me on twitter, facebook and grit magazine blog

http://www.grit.com/blogs/blog.aspx?blogid=4294967854