GENEROSITY = HAPPY

At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me . . . They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18 NLT).

I earn a living by what I make!

I earn respect and gratitude by what I give!

Who are we grateful for in our lives? Who would be on that list and how long would it be? I know mine is pretty long. The common denominator of each one is that they are people who made a decision to invest some of their time, money, energy, and patience in me and me in them.

Paul talks some about this in Philippians 4: 10, 14-15, and 18 NLT. ““How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me . . . Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News . . . No other church did this . . . At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me . . . They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God”

I often wonder if anyone or how many people could say that about me. Would they be saying about old Bob…..”He is so loving and giving.” He has always been generous in giving of himself to others.”

Today is the day that we need to thank the people who have been generous to me/us.

Call them, send them a note, or just remember to do it regularly as you interact with them. I have so many people…..THANK YOU GOD……but so many people God put in my life who invested and are still investing in me. I must make sure they know they are part of the team that makes up who I am. God sent them to do that.

I ALWAYS USE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE AS A MODEL FOR HOW I WANT TO BE IN THE GIVING OF MYSELF AND HOW TO BE GENEROUS WITH OTHERS. GENEROUSLY GIVING ONE'S SELF BRINGS HAPPINESS AND JOY.

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” C.S. Lewis