Devotion day 19

Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."

Luke 19:8-10

The look on her face was a combination of anger and utter amazement, "You expect me to do what?" she nearly shouted. "You want me to stand in front of people and actually tell them what we are going to give? No way!" In a slow and measured response I said, "No, I am not expecting or telling you to do anything, I am asking you to pray about the possibility of talking with people about your gift."

Isn't it amazing how in most of our churches we will talk about anything and everything except our money and finances? In our scripture today Zacchaeus meets the Christ and his life is changed forever. Because of this encounter, his response is to boldly declare his faith!

The gift, the amount, is really secondary. The primary issue is gratitude for a changed life. In telling a stewardship story, the first question is always, "How and where have I met Christ in my church?" How have I been blessed? How has my life been forever changed? And, with a heart overflowing with gratitude, I may then, with Zacchaeus, boldly say, "because of what God has done for me, this is what I am willing to do for God."

And, oh, by the way, the young woman at the beginning of our story, after much struggle and prayer, told one of the most beautiful stewardship stories I have ever heard. She spoke about how she met Christ through the people of her church. And then, with a grateful heart, she told them about the gift she was willing to give.

Questions to Consider

1.                How have I met Christ in my church?

2.       How is my life changed because of meeting Christ?

3.       How is my life different because of Christ and the church?

4.       Can I pray about sharing with others, privately or publicly, about my willingness to give as a grateful response to God's love?

Prayer

Oh, Giving and Loving God, remind me now of all the wonderful ways You have blessed me, touched me, and changed me. Give me the courage and boldness to share my story with others, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Devotion day 18

You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.

2 Corinthians 9:11-12

Generosity and gratitude, gratitude and generosity, these words somehow are nearly inseparable. Can one really exist without the other? Stewardship stories often told during campaigns often include the sharing of what people plan to give but, more importantly, why they give. In nearly every instance one of the words that jumps to the fore is gratitude. A husband and wife standing in front of their church family, tears streaming down their cheeks as they speak of the love, support and strength given by God through their church when they experienced the tragic loss of their child. Such gratitude inevitably leads to generosity.

A young man whose entrepreneurial skills have led to considerable wealth at a relatively young age, speaks movingly of gratitude to God. He knows that everything he has and everything he has accomplished is a gift—a gift from God. He tells his church family that their faith in him gave him the courage and faith to do more than he could have dared dream. Gratitude and generosity.

In our culture we are continually told to "pull ourselves up by our bootstraps." We are told we have to "make it on our own." Do any of us really make it on our own? I think not. God, parents, friends, teachers, youth leaders, pastors, Sunday

school members, all have a part in our development. The only true response can be gratitude followed by generosity.

Questions to consider

1.       How has God blessed me?

2.       Have I been truly thankful?

3.       Have I responded to God's blessings with gratitude and generosity?

4.       Does my gift adequately reflect the ways God has blessed me?

Prayer

Forgive me, Lord, for sometimes thinking I am somehow self-made. Forgive me for not always being aware of how truly fortunate I have been. Help me, Lord, to have a heart overflowing with gratitude and hands reaching out with generosity. Help me make a gift that reflects all of the blessings that You have so richly poured out on me. In Christ's name, Amen.

Devotion day 17

Be still, and know that I am God!

Psalm 46:10

wrestling with God and what God wanted for his life. After Paul went from a capital campaign pledge of $12,000 to nearly $30,000, his wife threatened to cut off the hot water. Paul listened and God spoke.

Be still, and know that I am God!

We blast TV or radio on the morning run. Video games sounds have become normal background noise in our daily lives. Many of us are "connected" all day long in our jobs. Our computers, TVs, iPods, cell phones are all constantly providing the white noise of our lives. Moment after moment, day after day, we are surrounded by a cacophony of sound.

Be still, and know that I am God!

Silence! What, in the name of heaven, is silence except a long forgotten memory? Yet perhaps the psalmist knows a secret.

Be still, and know that I am God!

As we strive to be open to God, as we strive to wait upon God, perhaps we need to be silent and still. People who are busy, (and who isn't?) often say, "but I have no time to be quiet and still." I promise if you want to find an oasis of peace and quiet you will find it. Perhaps, we could turn off the radio in the car and drive in silence. Perhaps, we could turn off the TV while exercising. Go for your jog or walk without the headphones. Ask God to speak, take the time to listen and you may just be surprised.

Be still, and know that I am God!

His name is Paul. Paul took the call to wait on God seriously. His shower time became his prayer time. As he wrestled with the soap and washcloth he was

Questions to consider

1.       What is it that may prevent me from listening to God?

2.       What specific time could I devote to listening to God?

3.       What do I want from God?

4.       Am I willing to listen and obey?

Prayer

Gracious God, forgive me for my failure to take time to listen and be still. Forgive me for filling my life with everything but You.  Teach me, speak to me, help me to listen and give me the faith to obey. In Christ's name, Amen.

Devotion day 16

/ wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.

Psalm 130:5

James loves to tell the story of a time when he went bow hunting. He was sitting under a majestic oak tree, and the sun was cresting over the ridge and beginning to warm his chilled body. As he waited, his eyes became heavy and soon he was sound asleep, the bow on his lap. Suddenly, he was startled awake to find himself nearly nose to nose with the largest buck he had ever seen. He's not sure who was more frightened, himself or the buck. The buck bounded away while James could only sit and wonder, "What if? What if I had been awake and alert?"

Yesterday's devotion spoke of waiting. The truth is we can wait in many different ways. We can wait with expectation and hope, or we can wait convinced we are waiting in vain with little or no expectation of anything happening. The result? We fall asleep, like James, beneath the oak tree and miss the glorious opportunities God has in store for us.

/ wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.

As we learn to wait upon God we need to ask ourselves what do we expect? Do we wait with the hope that God will speak to us? Do we wait with the expectation that God will lead us and guide us, or do we perhaps wait like James asleep under the oak tree? If we wait with hopeful expectation we will not be disappointed.

/ wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.

Questions to consider

1.       What do I expect as I wait upon God?

2.       Do I believe that God can and will speak to me, lead me and guide me in my decision- making?

3.       What keeps me from waiting upon God with hopeful expectation?

Prayer

Oh God, forgive me for the times I have fallen asleep beneath the oak tree and missed opportunities to serve and love You. Help me to find ways in the midst of my busy life to wait on You. Help me, Oh God, to wait on You with faith, hope, and anticipation, Amen.

Devotion day 15

But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

In our family, we all understood that if we went to a restaurant and the line was long and the wait more than a few minutes, we were not going to stay. We might spend an hour driving to different places but we weren't going to wait fifteen minutes just to get a seat at our favorite restaurant.  I wonder how many good meals we missed just because we refused to wait?

In our current day of microwaves, 24-hour news, remote controls and drive-through windows, our ability to wait seems almost non-existent. / want it right now, and if you can't get it for me right now, I'll find someone who can.

But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Perhaps the most important task of the stewardship journey is to wait upon the Lord. Waiting upon God can take many different forms. One man turned his evening walk with his dog into his prayer and waiting time. Of course, after his potential pledge had more than doubled his wife told him, "Please stop taking the dog for a walk! I'll walk him from now on."

As we learn to wait upon God and listen for His still

small voice, strange things begin to happen. We begin to experience renewal and strength, joy and peace. Waiting upon God can renew marriages, as couples wait upon God together. Career paths change as people seriously consider the question, "God, what do You want from me, not just financially but with my entire life?"

Waiting may not be easy. Waiting may require finding a specific time, perhaps in the car with the radio off, perhaps in the shower, perhaps taking an evening walk. Remember...

But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Questions to consider

1.       Am I willing to wait upon God?

2.       What are some of the barriers in my life that prevent me from waiting on God?

3.       Is there a special time that I can devote to waiting upon God?

Prayer

Dear God, forgive me for always being in such a hurry.  Teach me to slow down.  Teach me to wait. Teach me to listen. In my waiting and listening, Oh God, bring renewal to my heart, my life, my family and my church, Amen.

Devotion day 14

...Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:24

Perhaps the saddest story in Scripture is of the rich young man who quietly and sadly turns away from Jesus when asked to sell what he has and give it to the poor. In his explanation to the disciples of this difficult teaching, Jesus indicates that the fundamental question is one of trust.   In whom or what do we place our trust?

From our earliest days most of us are taught to make it on our own, to depend on no one but ourselves. We are continually reminded to value our independence. And yet God appears to call us to a radical DEPENDENCE on God as the ultimate source of life and blessing. Who do we trust for our happiness? For many of us the answer is rather simple and obvious. We trust in ourselves and our ability to take care of ourselves.

In God Calling, the authors write: / am your Lord, your supply.  You must rely on Me.  Trust to the uttermost limit.  Trust and do not be afraid.  You must depend on Divine Power only. In the midst of making your decision on giving, you are asked to prayerfully consider not only the question of sacrifice, but also the questions of faith and trust. Does the gift you are considering demonstrate that ultimate faith and trust rests in God and not in the accumulation of wealth and possessions?

The Williamsons were already committed to giving to their church. They were comfortable and felt good

about their tithing. As they prayed and waited on God, they felt called to increase their tithe, to go up to the next step of giving. They said yes and made the commitment. THEN, this couple saw their stocks crash and they faced the difficult question of what to do about their commitment. Most of us would be shaken and afraid to see our commitment through. But the Williamsons were people who had ultimate faith and trust in God. They simply said, "Because of what God has done for us, because of His blessings we will trust and have faith that we will be able to keep the commitment He led us to make."

.. .Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.

Questions to consider

1.       As you look at our life, where do you truly
place trust?

2.       If you were the rich young man, how would
you respond to Jesus?

3.       Does the gift you are considering represent
faith and trust in God and not in ability to
accumulate wealth and possessions?

Prayer

Lord, I confess that Your question to the rich young man deeply troubles me.  I speak of trust and faith in You but often find myself living as if I only trust in myself, my abilities, my wealth and my possessions. Teach me Lord. Teach me to trust truly in You and Your love. Show me the gift You would have me make, a gift of sacrifice and faith, Amen.

Devotion day 13

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33

In a wonderful devotional classic, God Calling, the two anonymous authors write on March 16 of the Christian's calling to reflect God to the world and to make God real in the world. Think of those phrases for a moment. Reflect God, and make God real in the world. Another way of saying, as Paul does do everything to the glory of God.. .not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved. Do I reflect God to the world in all that I do? Do I make God real in all that I do? Do I work that others may come to the saving knowledge of Christ or do I spend most of my time seeking my own advantage?

If I take the time to ask these questions, if I take the time to examine my life, I may not be pleased with the answers. The truth is most of my time is spent in seeking my own advantage. If I look at my checkbook or budget, I am confronted with the same questions. What do my spending patterns reflect? What do they make real? To whose advantage am I working? The answer is almost always the same, my family and me.

One of the benefits of a stewardship campaign is that it helps us re-prioritize our lives according to God's plan and not simply according to our own

wants and desires. A young family had been saving for years to remodel their home and make it exactly what they had always wanted. As part of a stewardship campaign they began praying about what God wanted and not what they wanted. They looked at the project, they looked at their church, and they prayed with an open heart. They wanted to reflect to the world the love and grace of God. They wanted to make God's love real to their community. They intentionally decided to put their remodeling money to work for the advantage of others and not themselves. The process was not easy, the answers were not always clear, but as they told their story, their faces radiated joy and peace. Their house had not been remodeled, but their hearts and lives had been.

Questions to consider

.

1.       What does my life reflect?

2.       Am I willing to honestly and openly seek God's will for my life-even my finances?

3.       How can I reprioritize my life in order to better reflect God and His love?

Prayer

Dear God, I confess that I do not always reflect You and Your love. I confess that much of my time is spent in seeking my own advantage. Give me the courage, Oh God, to seek Your will for my heart, my life and even my finances. In all that I do and say, help me to reflect You and Your love. I pray through Christ my Lord, Amen.

Devotion Day 12

For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints—and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and by the will of God to us...

2 Corinthians 8:3-5

peace. She gave herself first to God and then to others.

In every campaign the goal is the same, that each of us would give ourselves first to the Lord and then to others. If we truly give ourselves to God and then to others, we will raise all the money we will ever need. And far more importantly, lives and hearts—like Michelle's—will be forever changed and transformed.

It simply makes no sense. The Macedonian Christians, in the midst of their own poverty, in the midst of their own struggles, begging earnestly for the joyous privilege of GIVING. IT MAKES NO SENSE. How could this happen? The answer is amazingly simple. They gave themselves first to God and then to others.

Her name was Michelle. As she considered her gift to the church campaign,'she became increasingly upset. She desperately wanted to make a significant gift, but because of her life situation she thought it impossible. She was faced with medical bills for a child, college tuition for another child, and a 35% pay cut for her husband. Like the Macedonians, Michelle wanted to give. Her pastor listened to Michelle's frustration and suggested that she be open to what God may want, and in fact, what God may do. He suggested that she simply pray. Reluctantly, she agreed. As she gave herself to God in prayer, something happened. She became aware of ways she could give and give with generosity. It wasn't easy. It wasn't magic. It required prayer, faith, and trust. When Michelle arrived at the church on Commitment Sunday, her face radiated joy and peace.  She gave herself first to God and then to others.

In every campaign the toal is the same, that each of us would give ourselves first to the lord and then to others.  If we truly give ourselves to God and then to others, we will raise all the money we will ever need.  And far more importantly, live and hearts - like Michelle's - will be forever changed and transformed.

Questions to consider

1.       Have I truly asked for God's guidance in giving?

2.       Am I open to what God would have me do?

3.       What might prevent me from being open and obedient to what God wants from me?

Prayer

Oh God, I am frightened to think about coming to You for guidance. I'm not sure I want to hear what You have to say. Forgive me. Help me to lay aside all of the reasons and fears and help me to turn to You in faith and trust. Help me, Oh God, to be open to whatever You would have me do. Fill my heart with the Macedonian spirit of generosity. Through Christ my Lord, Amen.

Devotion Day 11

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

2 Corinthians 8:1-2

Artoym is a ten-year-old Russian orphan. When the church group visited Artoym, for some reason, latched onto Scott. He took Scott by the arm and led him through the orphanage showing off his room and the place he ate meals. All the while Artoym's eyes were filled with joy and laughter. In spite of the fact that Scott spoke little Russian and Artoym spoke no English, the two connected. As the church group prepared to depart, Artoym sat beside Scott, pulled a silver ring from his finger and held it out for Scott to take. Scott eyes filled with tears and he spoke the only Russian word he knew—nyet, nyet—no, no. This child, who had nothing in the world to call his own except this ring, desperately wanted to give this ring to Scott. For Artoym, his abundant joy and extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity. Like the Macedonians, Artoym desperately wanted to give.

What do we want? For many of us who have so much, we want more. And truth be told, it's never enough. What would happen if, by God's grace, our desire to gain more and have more could be transformed into a heart-felt desire to give more? What would happen if we spent as much time figuring out ways to give as we spend figuring out how to earn, have and keep?

Questions to consider

1.       Who has taught you about generosity?

2.       Can you recall a time when someone who could least afford it gave you a generous gift? What was it like? How did you respond? Did it affect you in any way?

3.       Can you recall a time when you were particularly generous? What was it like? What did you learn? How has it impacted your life?

Prayer

Oh God, thank You for the examples of generosity you have sent into our lives. Forgive us Lord for being more concerned with how much we can earn, have and keep, instead of how much we can give. Open our hearts, Oh God, to the joy of generosity, Amen.

PS. Yes, Artoym finally convinced Scott to take the ring. He wears it as a vivid and real reminder of what it means to truly give.