Showing posts with label giving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giving. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

When We Remember This...

 

This morning my daughter's plans for her day off 
(Christmas shopping, small town meandering)
were suddenly upended when her employer asked
if she could work because a co-worker was sick!
While she was working through her disappointment
 I tried to cheer her with the thought that inspired this poem.

It also reminded me of this song/poem





When we remember this, then second miles extend
Privilege, rather than duty’s stiff upper lip, my friend

When we remember this, we cannot give enough
As we consider His sacrifice and redeeming love

When we remember this, we try, the best we can
To mirror His example of love for our fellowman

Then, when out of the blue He asks us to reply
To help someone we cannot help but say, ‘Lord, here am I’

When we remember this little phrase ‘inasmuch’
It rushes hearts with honor to be called as one-of-such

© Janet Martin

Matt.25:40
“And the king shall answer, and say to them,
 'Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these, 
My brothers, you have done it to Me ...

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Thankfulness in Action

These tots are giving their pets breakfast!




God bless everyone who gives today on what has been dubbed Giving Tuesday!
God bless everyone who gives, no matter what day it is!

Many organizations have committed to doubling the amount of each gift/donation today,
but, as we pray for each need we give toward
 we know in God's hands the increase of the gift
is incomprehensible!!
For more scripture and thoughts on giving see Friday's post! Good, Better, Best

Matt.25:34-40
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Thankfulness is not uttered by the voice of noisy word
But by language of loving kindness, it is seen and heard
Love’s proof unfurls a banner by the speech of how we live
By who we try to honor as we humbly help and give

How holy is the quickened toll that draws souls back to He
Who is still in perfect control with all authority
In spite of what may seem to be a war twixt need and greed
Between excess and poverty, laxness and earnest heed

We who profess to love God are His earthly feet and hands
Kindness is a love-language that no one misunderstands
Love, above and beyond the call of duty’s sorry rod
Delights in the excitement of giving glory to God

© Janet Martin

Happy Daily Delighting!!


2 Cor.9:6-9
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, 
and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 
7Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, 
not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.a 
8And 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. 9As it is written:
“He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”b





Friday, November 25, 2022

Good, Better, Best


Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
 above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph.3:20

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Phil.2:13


This is the time of year when in boxes and mail boxes are FLOODED with pleas for donations
 leaving us wishing we could help them all! they are all worthy causes.
The Red Cross seeks to touch our hearts with a packet of tangible gifts,
right down to a personalized pen to sign and send; no excuses!!



Today's Devotion in the book Streams in the Desert
struck me with the realization that to give is more than
the licking of an envelope with 'gift enclosed'
more than a few clicks on a keyboard after hitting
'donate now' then forgetting as soon as we exit the page.
Rather, monetary aid hopefully is the small part in the
much larger labor of praying for the causes to which we give!



In my in box, just to name a few;
The Canadian Bible Society seeks to bring the
hope of the God's Word to those who do not have access to bibles.
Focus on the Family seeks to minister in various ways to strengthen families
in this troubled and confused age.
Our local churches seek to minister in our own communities...
and the list goes on!!
Praying we all pray for guidance to know where
to do our part with a generous heart!

To ‘do’ is a good start
To give is pleasing too
But to pray is the vital part
Of all we say and do

For as we pray toward
The hope to which we live
We will better honor the Lord
With what we do and give

To give is well and good
To ‘do’ our part is fair
But to live and love like we should
Begins and ends with prayer

The good of love's kind quest
Is better every day
As we are blessed with Mercy's best
Because we pray and pray

Then, what seems commonplace
Turns into worship where
Exceedingly abundant grace
Works God's pleasure through prayer 

© Janet Martin

We may not be able to help everyone but everyone can help someone,
hopefully beginning with prayer and seeking to honour God
in all we give and do!

Eph.6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions 
with all kinds of prayers and requests. 
With this in mind, be alert 
and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.


Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times 
and not lose heart:


Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, 
but in everything, by prayer and petition, 
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Friday, March 12, 2021

Enough


We love, because love never fails
...then trust the Author of it
 to work out the veiled details

Love takes pleasure in other people's happiness-es... 


and big or small successes


Do you ever feel like there's no way, in the girth of need, to do/be enough?
How misunderstood; for there is no dearth when it comes to love
It is when Self stands in the way we sense love's lack thereof


No, we don’t need to know the details when it comes to love
So, we pour out our heart-and-soul, then God makes it enough
We give out of what His love grants (ah, nothing is our own)
As we entrust the circumstance to ‘Lord, Thy will be done’

Love does not count amounts and tally up dollars and cents
It does not keep track records of ‘the heart’s full abundance’
But rather replies humbly in the way only love can
Love does not seek itself, but firstly God, then fellowman

Love does not doubt the Author and Perfecter of Faith’s ‘yes’
But takes a flying leap and lands upon His promises
Where a small glimpse of Heaven spills as need relies on trust
Knowing full well that hell on earth is greed inflamed by lust

Love does not barter to augment miserly treasury
Love is an ardent benefactor, grieved by poverty
Love does not need to know the why and wherefore of it all
Learning that in the giving IS living love’s miracle

Love lacks nothing and does not ask for recompense for deeds
But is a sower that goes forth and scatters fruitful seeds
Knowing though needs are many, we will always have enough
Not by the worth of penny but by the Birthright of Love

© Janet Martin


 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, 
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 
 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, 
forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
  And above all these put on love, 
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

God-given Rite...

Give as you are able
according as the Lord has blessed you...
Deut.16:17

  Never twist justice to benefit a rich man, and never accept bribes. 
For bribes blind the eyes of the wisest and corrupt their decisions. 
Deut.16:19


What counts is not the place or face by rank or rights defined
This is no contest; we are all called to life’s kindred goad
To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind
To love our neighbour as our self and share life’s heavy load

What counts is not the number of amounts as much as this
The measure of the heart; this is the place where giving starts
God sees beneath the outer scarf to what our intent is
And we cannot deceive He who wealth’s ways and means imparts

What counts is not so much the vessel as its harboured sum
This is no contest; we are all called to life’s kindred role
To love God and each other, for soon what is will become
The blip before God strips us of everything but the Soul

© Janet Martin



Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Let's Get Real!


PAD Challenge day 20: For today’s prompt, write a light poem.

 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. 
Instead, they set it on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
 In the same way, let your light shine before others, 
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matt.5:15-16

This monument in the Port of Sydney, struck a powerful chord when we visited last year.
Let's pray for passion to reach and help the needy in the chilling storms of life!
None of us can do it all but all of us can do something!

this photo was taken at the Sydney Merchant Mariner's Memorial.


Yes. Let’s get real. The way we feel should strike a kindred cord
For we all bear the brunt of love and longing’s two-edged sword
Then let’s be honest with each other; that which disappears
Hones and reshapes us with the carving knife of days and years
Where what we hold of moment gold soon falls prey to past’s knell
(For He who gives has the authority to take as well)
Then let’s get real and focus on the way we ought to live
And recognize that what we have God lent to us to give
For we are called to love each other and make this our aim
To shine the Light of Him through us and glorify His name

Yes. Let’s get real where Want’s appeal is never satisfied
Let’s lay up treasure far beyond this frond of dust and pride
Let’s make it our mission to focus on love’s reply
And pray to God to help us when our longing runs awry
Where we are altogether first-time travelers of Time
And none of us can see beyond this Very Present Clime/climb
Where pray then, all together, tethered by hope’s heart and soul
Let’s live to help each other as we press toward The Goal
For we are called to shine our light through good deeds, Self-denied
So that our Father up in Heaven may be glorified


© Janet Martin

Monday, September 30, 2019

A Prayer and A Humourous Parable


 It's a busy life isn't it?!
Hopefully never so busy that we forget what truly matters!

Building for Eternity!
Our church is adding onto its building because we are running over with
the future church aka young families/children!
We are all invited to be part of the donators Big Picture
in these exciting times of growth!

I was convicted humorously yesterday in my Sunday School class of grades one-to-three girls...
One big sister was so delighted because
she earned four mini chocolate bars after finding the verse first in a Bible sword-drill.
Her little sister, quite envious was sobbing quietly.
Big sister put her arm around her and whispered, 
"don't worry! Jesus is still your friend and you can still pray to Him"
...cold comfort to the one who looked at the chocolate tucked securely in her big sister's pocket!
How often are we guilty of the same kind of response!
'praying' for the 'needs/needy' while our pockets bulge?!

Giving is the one thing with a guaranteed return!




 Then Lord, I pray...

That greed should never bid me turn from need, unfeeling, bold and cold
That love would walk the second mile where no one but You will behold
And Lord, that whereas I am able I would give with meek intent
Remembering You set the table heaped with what Your mercy lent

That leer of fear won’t render fruitless the labourer of Your field
That far, far more than duty bids me to be mindful of the yield
That the purpose of loves' endeavor would never be self-apprised
And Lord, if I should spurn Your whisper that I would return, chastised

That the ever-dwindling measure of my numbered days on earth
Would not be spent seeking pleasure but bent on far greater worth
That a kind, careful awareness would keep mind and conscience keened
Lest seared by the repetition of love’s perfect law demeaned

That, when my time on earth is finished and the final battle won
That then full joy will be accomplished when I hear these words ‘well done’
And that the Substance of Things hoped for, evidence of things not seen
Will instill in me such a hunger that nothing can come between

© Janet Martin


Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Sacred Spending Spree


Happy Spending Spree on this glorious September Day!
May all that we 'purchase' be to give away...for the Giver's Glory!



All that we have the Good Lord gave
Though sometimes we forget
And think somehow we earned the ‘wow’
That butters our bread

Time’s teeny wink of say and think
Links to eternity
The gifts God grants a one-life chance
To use them carefully

Who, but Great God can claim the laud
Of health or wealth we boast/host
Ah, how one spends what His grace lends
Proves who we love the most

So then we ought with prayerful thought
To invest in far more
Than This small gust of dust-to-dust
And money’s futile score

For all we have the Good Lord gave
Thus no one can defend
Entitlement to one red cent
Of what He gave to spend

© Janet Martin


 Then He told them a parable: 
“The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.
So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’
Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, 
and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.
Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. 
Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. 
Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”