Pass the "Giving Test"....with JOY!

             Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Are you drinking it cheerfully?  IF you’ve gotten into the habit of giving to others, you can count on a cheerful heart.

             In the Bible there is a direct link between generosity and cheerfulness. Remember the verses in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 that say: "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
 

Are you a CHEERFUL giver?  How much does a "cheerful" giver give?  Many times we fear that we just won’t have enough left for our own needs if we give “too much”. But if we could only realize that NOTHING we own is really ours!  It all belongs to God!  Psalm 24 reminds us that:  "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it."  Whatever we consider “ours” is simply on loan from God.

We will give cheerfully when we understand the nature of stewardship. You see, it's not that we give God 10% and keep the rest. Rather, He gives us 100% to manage for Him and asks us to voluntarily give back 10% or more to test our hearts.

Does your heart pass the “giving test”?  Remember: You can’t outgive God! Express your love for Him today by offering him, not only your tithe..but also a JOYful offering!

I encourage you to be a giver…and begin by sharing your JOY JUICE with others that God brings into your path today!

God Gives JOY So That We May Share

                   Have you had your JOY JUICE today? Drink your fill and then get ready to give some to others!

        With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we should be counting our blessings and finding ways to share God’s love with others.  Giving is a great part of showing your thankfulness to God…and what better season of the year to consciously make an effort to share with others.

            Let’s be reminded that “sharing” is not always about material things and money.  It can be, of course, but it goes far beyond that. Listen to this anonymous poem I found that explains this concept so well:

God gives us joy that we may give;

He gives us joy that we may share;

Sometimes He gives us loads to lift

That we may learn to bear.

For life is gladder when we give,

And love is sweeter when we share,

And heavy loads rest lightly too

When we have learned to bear.

        In other words: Let’s be on the look-out for opportunities to share! When we share our joy and love, our energy and vitality, and our time, resources and talents with other people…we are the ones who gain the most! Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you."

Give some JOY away today so that it will come back to you…multiplied!

Store Up Treasures of JOY

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Please share generously with others!  

            In the Christian community, especially, there’s a lot of talk about sharing.  We teach our children to share, though it really does not come “naturally” for most.   Generosity is a quality that has to be practiced and encouraged and most of us have a hard time with always having a “giving” spirit.  

             It is much easier to give to those we love….our children, our grandchildren, special family members and friends.  We like to see their smiles when we give to them because we have a special place in our hearts for them.  But it’s a little more difficult to give to those who are not so close to us, people who have hurt us, those who never seem to appreciate our kindness or even strangers. But God’s Word tells us to that how we give to others regardless of who they are…demonstrates what is in our heart.  

Matthew 6:19-21 says: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

            Where is your treasure?  I hope it’s your faith in God!  Show your love for Him today by giving from your heart and get ready to experience true JOY!

            Generously give your JOY JUICE and store up for yourself treasures in heaven!

Sow JOY Generously!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Give generously to your neighbors and friends so that your supply will continually multiply!

            2 Corinthians 9: 6-8 is a clear explanation of why we should give generously.   “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”.

            Paul was teaching that if our heart attitude is right, we will give because we want to, NOT because we have to.  When we feel obligated or compelled, there is no JOY in giving. But when we “sow generously” out of love for our Father, we will “reap generously”.  God promises that his grace will abound in our lives. 

            How can we do as the scripture says and be a cheerful giver? It starts with a personal relationship with Christ! Allow Him to fill your heart with God’s love and joy and you will be looking for ways to share it with others!  Ask Him to show you who, what, when, where and how to share.  Then, get ready for an EXTRA personal serving of HIS JOY!!!!!

            Drink your JOY JUICE faithfully, but don’t forget to give generously to others!

Give...JOYfully!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Let’s remember to cheerfully give some to others!

            November is already here! And that means Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching.  Let’s make this season JOYfully special by finding ways to express our gratitude for all the blessings God has poured out on each of us.  Our God is a giving God!  Each of us benefits from His generous nature!

            Acts 14:17 says: “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!”

            God delights in giving good gifts to His children. Remember what James says in Chapter 1, verse 17? “Every good and perfect gift comes from above.”   So in order to express our thankfulness for His generosity, let’s determine to be a “cheerful giver”  and pass along the love of the Lord to others! Any time we give in the name of the Lord, whether its our money, our time, or our efforts…and we give with a JOYful attitude, then we are bringing Joy to our Father.  He doesn’t want us to give grudgingly…but cheerfully.

            Ask God to show you where He would have you “give back” to Him.  And then be obedient and generous as He leads you.  Not only will you have the peace and satisfaction that you have done as the Holy Spirit has lead you, but you will also experience that JOY in the Lord that fills us up and makes us want to keep giving for Him!

            GIVE JOY today by offering some JOY JUICE to those who God lays on your heart!  And.....be a blessing!

Be a Cheerful, Joyful Giver

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Are you drinking it cheerfully?  IF you’ve gotten into the habit of giving to others, you can count on a cheerful heart.

          In the Bible there is a direct link between generosity and cheerfulness. Remember the verses in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 that say: "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
 

Are you a CHEERFUL giver?  How much does a "cheerful" giver give?  Many times we fear that we just won’t have enough left for our own needs if we give “too much”. But if we could only realize that NOTHING we own is really ours!  It all belongs to God!  Psalm 24 reminds us that:  "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it."  Whatever we consider “ours” is simply on loan from God.

We will give cheerfully when we understand the nature of stewardship. You see, it's not that we give God 10% and keep the rest. Rather, He gives us 100% to manage for Him and asks us to voluntarily give back 10% or more to test our hearts.

Does your heart pass the “giving test”?  Remember: You can’t outgive God! Express your love for Him today by offering him, not only your tithe..but also a JOYful offering!

I encourage you to be a giver…and begin by sharing your JOY JUICE with others that God brings into your path today!

May You Be Drenched in His JOYful Blessings!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today? God wants to drench you from head to toe with His abundant love and JOY!

            From an early age, we’re taught about “keeping score”.  In sporting events, the way to tell who wins the game is to keep score. In business, ledgers help to keep score of how the company is doing financially.  Families often make a list in order to keep track of chores. And in many relationships, sadly, some keep score of all the negatives.

            Because of our experience with “keeping score”, we sometimes have a skewed mindset of how God keeps track of whose turn it is to receive a blessing. Aren’t we glad that He does not work the same way we do?  He doesn’t have a bookkeeper angel who says: “WAIT, God, you already blessed him three times this week.”  Or “Pardon me, God, but don’t you think you’re over-blessing her?”

            God doesn’t set a quota for His goodness and blessing. We must never hesitate to go to our loving Father and present our requests to Him. I’m not talking about selfish requests….but prayers which indicate that we desire HIS BEST for us. (Just keep in mind that HIS best might not be a six figure income or a vacation in paradise!) If our heart is in tune with His heart, then we will ask for blessings according to his will.

            Listen to this verse from Malachi 3:10: “And try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”

            Pull out your umbrella and put on your raincoat! Get ready to be drenched with blessings of JOY!