Category Archives: Giving Or Taking?

Grateful Hearts/Generous Hands??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 10

22 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Attitude of Gratitude, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Giving Or Taking?, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Only Jesus, Thankful, Thanksgiving

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 10 Grateful Hearts/Generous Hands???

 

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man

according as he purposeth

in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly,

or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able

to make all grace abound

toward you;

that ye,

always having all sufficiency

in all things,

may abound

to every good work:” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Contrary to popular belief, the bounty that God gives is not for selfish consumption, but that we may “abound to every good work”— good works that God has called us to do when we become HIS children by grace through faith.  It’s not a contest, that like the world says, “The one who dies with the most toys, wins!”; but rather it’s a gift that is to be shared with those whom God calls us to bless!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For

we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”   Ephesians 2:8-10

As Paul goes on to say, we are to be a people of gratitude, because we only have that which we have received—and if we have received it ourselves, how can we withhold it from those in need, or from those whom God has placed in our path to bless?  When we are truly grateful it should produce hearts and hands of generosity.  We will be willing to share as we have opportunity, thanking God for the privilege of being a blessing!  Are you thankful for what God has done for you?  For what HE is doing for, in and through you?  For the glory that is to come with HIM. (Note ‘received’ in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5)

“See then that ye walk circumspectly,

not as fools,

but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time,

because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise,

but understanding

what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk

with wine,

wherein is excess;

but be filled

with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing

and making melody

in your heart

to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always

for all things

unto God and the Father

in the name of our Lord

Jesus Christ;”  Ephesians 5:15-20

Let’s take this apart for consideration, are you/I:

Walking circumspectly—with righteous character?

Being foolish or wise in our behavior?

Redeeming “our” time for God’s purposes?

Doing right regardless of the evil around us?

Understanding God’s will by knowing HIS Word?

Maintaining a sober mind (set on God not substances)?

Being filled with HIS Holy Spirit over fleshly desires?

Speaking godly words to ourselves and others?

Having and sharing God’s joyful song from our heart?

GIVING THANKS—

ALWAYS—

FOR ALL THINGS—

UNTO GOD (not self!)—

BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR US?

These are questions that each of must answer continually; yet as we listen and heed the voice of God’s Spirit within us, we will find ourselves gaining the victory over self and abounding in the generous, grateful heart that God calls and equips us to express before a lost and dying world!

What have you shared today?  Yesterday?  Do you plan on sharing tomorrow?  I’d simply like to leave us with a few words of encouragement from The Word; and I pray that you have a most blessed and Holy season of Thanks–giving!  Not just a day—but a lifestyle with an “attitude of gratitude” (especially in these perilous times!)!

“I exhort therefore, that,

first of all,

supplications,

prayers,

intercessions,

and giving of thanks,

be made for all men;

 2 For kings,

and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet

and peaceable life

in all godliness

and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable

in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved,

and to come unto the knowledge

of the truth.”  1 Timothy 2:1-4

And as the author of the Proverbs reminds us:

“Withhold not good

from them

to whom it is due,

when it is in the power

of thine hand

to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour,

Go,

and come again,

and to morrow I will give;

when thou hast it by thee.”  Proverbs 3:27-28

I pray that your Thanksgiving is blessed and peaceful, and I’ll see ya’ll next time!   Amen and Amen!

Entrusting Or Erupting??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 06

25 Sunday Oct 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Giving Or Taking?, God's Faithfulness, God's Judgment, Grace, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Trust, Trust God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 06   Entrusting Or Erupting???

 

I would like to share one main, but profound passage tonight, that we might consider our actions, reactions, and attitudes toward those around us.  Jesus called us to be salt and light; yet a lot of those of us who claim His name are behaving more like ‘brine’ and ‘floodlights’ rather than seasoning, preservatives or revealing light in the darkness.  Paul tells us to use our words wisely, not as weapons against those around us.

“Walk in wisdom

toward them that are without,

redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be alway with grace,

seasoned with salt,

that ye may know how ye ought to answer

every man.”  Colossians 4:5-6

The main thing I want to share with you this evening is a passage from Peter.  I pray that it will speak to you and we can each find courage, godly strength, and grace to be a reflection of our Lord Jesus before a lost and dying world regardless of our circumstances—any circumstances!

“Submit yourselves

to every ordinance of man

for the Lord’s sake:

whether it be to the king,

as supreme;

14 Or unto governors,

as unto them that are sent by him

for the punishment

of evildoers,

and for the praise

of them that do well.

15 For so is the will of God,

that with well doing ye may put to silence

the ignorance of foolish men:

16 As free,

and not using your liberty

for a cloke of maliciousness,

 but as the servants of God.

17 Honour all men.

Love the brotherhood.

Fear God.

Honour the king.

18 Servants,

be subject to your masters

with all fear;

not only to the good and gentle,

but also to the froward.

19 For this is thankworthy,

if a man

for conscience toward God

endure grief,

suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it,

if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well,

and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto

were ye called:

because Christ also suffered

for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who,

when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him

that judgeth righteously:

his own self

bare our sins

in his own body

on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes

ye were healed.   

25 For

ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now

returned unto the Shepherd

and Bishop

of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:13-25

I simply close with a prayer that we will truly let God’s Word be God’s Word, and that we will behave like Jesus IS our LORD!

“For even hereunto

were ye called:

because Christ also suffered

for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye (we) should follow his steps…”

Are you entrusting your behavior to “to him that judgeth righteously”, reflecting your Lord?  Or are you erupting like the rest of our culture?  It’s your choice so choose wisely—there is a test!

Me First!!! Really??? Not New!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #646

22 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, By His Grace, Faithfulness, Giving Or Taking?, Helping The Needy, Holy Living

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #646   Me First!!!  Really???  Not New!!!

 

While we live in a “me” culture, and it’s sure busy right now, our Lord calls us to a higher calling of loving God and loving and caring for others before self—“ME”!  Ouch!  I thought we were supposed to pursue “self” sufficiency?  Jesus calls us to a higher pursuit—the call of God to reach, help and love others.

“And he came to Capernaum:

and being in the house he asked them,

What was it that ye disputed

among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace:

for by the way they had disputed

among themselves,

who should be the greatest.

35 And he sat down,

and called the twelve,

and saith unto them,

If any man desire to be first,

the same shall be last of all,

and servant of all.”   Mark 9:33-35

The disciples of Jesus were just like you and I—men of flesh and bone—men with human longings and desires—men who wanted to succeed and advance; and while there is nothing wrong with the pursuit of excellence, there can be something wrong with seeking ‘self’ before God and others.

Jesus gave the disciples another lesson on this same subject which I think worthy of our consideration in the present distress–always.  What is our focus?  What is our pursuit?  What is our desire?  To please God and help others, or to come out ahead?  While we do have limitations in what we can do right now, where we can go, or how many we can meet with, we can still care for others within the legal limitations we are under.  Phone calls are permitted.  Text messages are permitted.  Letters are permitted.  Walking down the street is permitted—even with a smile instead of a frowning complaint!  What are we willing to do with our time, talents, and resources?  Has God asked you to serve someone that is out of your way?  Has He placed someone on your heart to minister to, and you’ve just sloughed it off, or put it off until the present distress is passed?  Are we wanting recognition, or is our heart yielding to our Master to minister to others as we have opportunity and means?  Jesus elevated service over self!  What are you and I doing with that call?

“But Jesus called them to him,

and saith unto them,

Ye know that they which are accounted

to rule over the Gentiles

exercise lordship over them;

and their great ones

exercise authority upon them.

43 But so shall it not be among you:

but whosoever

will be great among you,

shall be your minister:

44 And whosoever of you

will be the chiefest,

shall be servant of all.

45 For even the Son of man

came not to be ministered unto,

but to minister,

and to give his life

a ransom for many.”   Mark 10:42-45

What will we give our life to? For?  May we all look around and meet the needs that God brings into our view?  Take some time today to pray and look around you, God may be calling you to meet a need.  Blessings on your day!  Amen!

Thank YOU For Caring!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #622

31 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Giving Or Taking?, Grace, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Thankful

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #622      Thank YOU For Caring!!!

 

I’d like to revisit a topic that is near and dear to my heart—gratitude!  I personally want to thank all of you for your prayers for our family in the recent tragic death of my daughter.  So many have reached out to us in more ways than I can mention, and we want to thank you for your kindness toward us.  I also want to take just a few moments to encourage you to reach out to others—to be sure you’re listening when God prompts you to remember someone special in your life; don’t take it as ‘co-incidence’ but rather know that it’s a “God-incidence” and He is asking you to ‘do’ something!  Don’t wait, pray, make that phone call to thank one: who befriended you, who reached out to you in a time of need, was a Sunday School teacher who touched your life, a special friend who is always there, a cousin who helped you be the person you are today!  Send that card, make that call, walk across the street to make that visit, whatever God is speaking to your heart–Don’t miss the opportunity of being a blessing to someone today; or miss receiving the blessing of touching another life with God’s love, mercy and compassion.

“A friend loveth

at all times,

and a brother

is born for adversity.”  Proverbs 17:17

Always remember that words are powerful, and the old children’s adage is far from true, for “sticks and stones may break my bones”….but “words will….” oft times hurt more than bruises!  As I’ve often heard and said, “Watch your words, and keep them sweet, you never know, which ones you’ll eat”!  So, in closing a timely reminder to us all to be diligent encouragers rather than those who bring discouragement and disregard to others.  Today!

May these passages speak to your heart today and may it be said of us as it was of our Lord Jesus, “He went about doing good!”

“A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold

in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring of gold,

and an ornament of fine gold,

so is a wise reprover

upon an obedient ear.”  Proverbs 25:11-12

And one last reminder, real love is action not just empty ‘words’!  Take some time today to read all of 1 Corinthians 13!  (And FYI ‘charity’ is also translated ‘love’!)

“Charity suffereth long,

and is kind;

charity envieth not;

charity vaunteth not itself,

is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly,

seeketh not her own,

is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity,

but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things,

believeth all things,

hopeth all things,

endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth:

but whether there be prophecies,

they shall fail;

whether there be tongues,

they shall cease;

whether there be knowledge,

it shall vanish away…

…13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity,

these three;

but the greatest of these

is charity.”   Portions of 1 Corinthians 13:4-13. Amen!

A Giver Or A Taker??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #586

11 Wednesday Sep 2019

Posted by in Faithfulness, Giving Or Taking?, Greed, Helping The Needy, Love, Love Is Action

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #586   A Giver Or A Taker???

 

We live in a culture of “gimme’, gimme’, gimme’! It seems that almost everyone wants ‘something for nothing’; everyone wants all they can get for as little as they can do.  As my husband is often heard to say about this mind set, “Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can!”  But as followers of Jesus, we’ve been called to a higher standard!  I’d like to simply share a few thoughts with you today to remind us of the biblical perspective of ‘stuff’.

“Give,

and it shall be given unto you;

good measure,

pressed down,

and shaken together,

and running over,

shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete

withal it shall be measured

to you again.”  Luke 6:38

Jesus said our giving is to be at the least, abundant; but some today teach that we are to give in order to ‘get’ these blessings that Jesus described.  I don’t think so.  We are to give because Jesus gave HIS all for us.  Paul talks about this in his letter to the Ephesians.

“Let him that stole

steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have

to give

to him that needeth.”   Ephesians 4:38

Paul calls believers to work with their hands (or their minds) to earn a living that they may be able to share with those in need, not to ‘get more’ from God or others, but to be a blessing to those in need. Paul covers that most profoundly in his comments on love—he seems to say that if we “give to get” we are not acting in love but greed, and that nullifies our efforts!  You decide (and you might want to take some time and read this whole chapter!).

“And though I bestow all my goods

to feed the poor,

and though I give my body

to be burned,

and have not charity,

it profiteth me nothing.”  1 Corinthians 13:3

Paul also has more to say about the attitude of givers and reminds us that it’s not the amount we give, but the heart with which we give.  And takers—well they’re ‘taken’ care of themselves! (pun intended)

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth

in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly,

or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound

toward you;

that ye, always

having all sufficiency

in all things,

may abound to every good work:

9 (As it is written,

He hath dispersed abroad;

he hath given to the poor:

his righteousness remaineth for ever.

10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower

both minister bread for your food,

and multiply your seed sown,

and increase the fruits

of your righteousness;)”.   2 Corinthians 9:6-10

And here’s the message for ‘takers’!

“Mortify therefore your members

which are upon the earth;

fornication,

uncleanness,

inordinate affection,

evil concupiscence,

and covetousness,

which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake

the wrath of God

cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked

some time,

when ye lived in them.”   Colossians 3:5-7

Let’s measure our giving and taking by God’s standard!  Have a blessed day of giving as we purpose “in our heart”, to please our Father as we bless and minister to those He places in our path!

Amen and Amen!