Praise the Lord for
the Lord of wonders and miracles for whom nothing is impossible. We
have been having a summer with intense heat and humidity. The
farms, the gardens, the orchards, the pastures, meadows, the rivers, and the
rivulets have been affected by the dry summer. The Lord of
rain and wind, the Lord of the thunder and storm, showered the region with
torrential rains on Monday. The earth has been drenched again by the
generosity of our God. Suddenly the landscape has been transformed in to
emerald shades and colors. The summer crops, including corn,
are dancing and singing with joy. There are some big time bee keepers are
in the region. The bees are busy humming and serenading. Jesus
brings blessings and order in to His Handiwork.
One of my nephews who
is in full time ministry in India is currently in the States engaged in prayer
ministry as a part of the Global Prayer movement. He has been staying
with us for a couple of days. We are reminiscing about the Lord's
wonderworking grace on our lives. We Praise the Lord for He is on
the move in the world and He has the last word. Thank you for
praying for our grandson Simeon, who has injured his arm and is
recovering now. Simeon loves Jesus and he does trust Him. Alice and
I spent some time in our garden last evening picking some fresh produce
including beans, cucumbers, squash, and radishes. We praise the Lord
for His abundance. I hear from time to time from friends and dear
ones from around the world. I cherish your responses and comments.
Praise the Lord that we are linked with each other through Jesus our
Lord.
I came across a story some
time ago which, though not theologically sound, makes an important point.
It is about a man who went to the office every day in his expensive car,
and made important decisions and signed big contracts. Often, the important man
would enjoy business lunches with his clients, and would try to distract the
attention of his influential guests away from the unsavory spectacle of the
beggars on the streets of his city. One evening, after a hard day making
money, he packed his briefcase to go home, where supper would be waiting for
him. As he was locking his desk for the night, he caught sight of a
stale sandwich lying abandoned at the back of the drawer. Without much
thought he crammed it in his coat pocket. No need for it to go mouldy and
mess up his desk. On the way out to the car park he saw a street beggar
on the steps, huddled in an old blanket. ’Here, my friend’ he said to the
beggar.
’Here is something for your supper.’ Then he gave him the stale sandwich. That night, the man dreamed that he was away on a business trip. After the day’s meeting, he was taken with his fellow directors to the town’s most luxurious restaurant. Everyone gave their orders, and settled down to their meals, looking forward to an enjoyable evening. The orders arrived, including medallions of venison, Lamb cutlets with rosemary and garlic, and Caviar. The dishes being brought to the table brought gasps of delight from all the company. Then the man’s own order appeared. A waitress set in front of him one small plate, on which was served a stale sandwich.
’What kind of service is this?’, the man demanded, enraged. ’This isn’t what I ordered! I thought this was the best restaurant in town!’ ’Oh Sir,’ the waitress told him, ’you’ve been misinformed. This isn’t a restaurant at all. This is heaven. We are only able to serve you what you have sent on ahead while you were alive. I’m very sorry, sir, but when we looked under your name, the best we could find to serve you was this little sandwich.’ Jesus said, “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
’Here is something for your supper.’ Then he gave him the stale sandwich. That night, the man dreamed that he was away on a business trip. After the day’s meeting, he was taken with his fellow directors to the town’s most luxurious restaurant. Everyone gave their orders, and settled down to their meals, looking forward to an enjoyable evening. The orders arrived, including medallions of venison, Lamb cutlets with rosemary and garlic, and Caviar. The dishes being brought to the table brought gasps of delight from all the company. Then the man’s own order appeared. A waitress set in front of him one small plate, on which was served a stale sandwich.
’What kind of service is this?’, the man demanded, enraged. ’This isn’t what I ordered! I thought this was the best restaurant in town!’ ’Oh Sir,’ the waitress told him, ’you’ve been misinformed. This isn’t a restaurant at all. This is heaven. We are only able to serve you what you have sent on ahead while you were alive. I’m very sorry, sir, but when we looked under your name, the best we could find to serve you was this little sandwich.’ Jesus said, “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
St.
Paul wrote that ,’Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever
sows generously will also reap generously’ (2 Corinthians 9: 6). It seems that this is both a
physical law and is a spiritual law. It applies to a farmer in his field,
it applies to our attitude towards the poor, it applies to our attitude to
those in our community who do not yet know and love Jesus, and the context of
Paul’s letter shows us that it applies to our attitude to our fellow
believers. Paul was encouraging the Greek Church in Corinth to be
overwhelmingly generous in a gift of money they were putting together to send
1000 miles to their fellow believers in the capital city of the Christian faith
- Jerusalem!
God loves a cheerful giver.’ Cheerful generosity is at the heart of God’s giving to us, and God loves us to have cheerful generous hearts. God wants us to be so touched by the needs that He places before us that we will give generously - with the hilarity. Our Lord God is so generous. It is written, “[God] has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy” (Acts 14:17). Our Lord is overwhelmingly generous to us. How wonderful He is!
God loves a cheerful giver.’ Cheerful generosity is at the heart of God’s giving to us, and God loves us to have cheerful generous hearts. God wants us to be so touched by the needs that He places before us that we will give generously - with the hilarity. Our Lord God is so generous. It is written, “[God] has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy” (Acts 14:17). Our Lord is overwhelmingly generous to us. How wonderful He is!
In Christ,
Brown
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