Kettles

2300 times the Bible uses the word...in every book it appears...but here's a few that seem worth meditating on today:

Matthew 7:7-12 (NIV)
⁷ "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
⁸ For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
⁹ "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.


Luke 6:38 (NIV)
³⁸ 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."

Matthew 6:2-4 (NIV)
² "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)
⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
⁷ Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The word "give" appears 2300+ times in scripture...in every book, and in many different ways.  Among those are these above which remind us that there is a lot of "soul" work that takes place in giving.

This Advent season is secularily referred to as "the shopping season".  Linda and I spend time talking about gifts, and gift giving.  I know people who shop simply and I know some who shop until they drop!  It is the Giving season we're told.
"It is more blessed to give than to receive", Jesus said.
"God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son"


We give best when we don't give to get.  We give best when we can do it anonymously, secretly without regard for recognition or payback.  It is good for the soul to give.

The first Christmas was simple...a baby in a manger, a mother and dad, and some shepherds with angels.  The shepherds were the lowliest of society.  They were God's first when it came to a birth announcement - perhaps it was God's way of saying "I'm for you".  You may not have much in life to offer God...that is probably good.  When much is there, much is required; but when much is not there, when all one has is not nearly enough, make no mistake God is still for you.

Here's a suggestion for Advent.  Carry around with you dollar bills, even $5 bills, and everytime you go past a Salvation Army Kettle drop something in, even if it's several times during the year.  Honoring Christ Jesus who gave us everything by remembering those who he will not forget is doing so "in Jesus name".  Giving anonymously, secretly, without regard for the tax receipt, or the recognition is good for the soul!

Peace