Thoughts on Generosity

This week, I am working with the theme of Generosity and ran across this quote.   "Death isn't your best opportunity to give; it's the end of your opportunity to give."  Randy Alcorn.

And while he was not suggesting that we shouldn't do estate planning.  He was suggesting that when we wait to do our giving after our death, it really shows that we don't trust God to provide for us.

Being generous is when we give beyond what might be comfortable for us.  And the only way we can do that is to have trust in God to provide for us. 

Jesus was kinda working at this when he caught the widow giving all she had and said that she had given more than all the others.  He was not measuring what she gave, but the spirit by which she gave.

In light of this, re-read the quote above and give some thought to being generous with what God has entrusted to you!

The Beauty of God's World...

Just had to share some of the beauty of God's world that I have been enjoying these past months...

What Is the Mission of Community of Joy?

When Sharon and I came to Community of Joy 12 years ago, we knew that we needed to set forth a new mission for the church and head us in that direction.  You see, 12 years ago, Community of Joy was a struggling toddler of a congregation and we were in a do or die situation.  We had limited time and funds to turn the situation around or the congregation would cease to exist.

I am grateful for the leadership that God assembled and their commitment to establishing Community of Joy as a viable Church of the Brethren Congregation.  I am also thankful for their willingness to try new things and step out of the box regularly to work at establishing the congregation.

But, the question remains... 12 years later, have we succeeded in establishing the congregation?  And IF so, is it time for a new mission?

You see, 12 years ago, while we set forth a mission statement, it has largely remained just that ... words on paper.  Because for these last 12 years our "real" mission - stated and unstated- has been about establishing our congregation... becoming a self-supporting, viable congregation.

I want to suggest that we have done that! 

That Community of Joy is well established and is now ready for a more compelling mission.   For those of us who were around in the early days, the mission of establishing a congregation was compelling, but for those who come into a - what seems like to them - established congregation, there is nothing compelling (read exciting) about that as a mission.

So, perhaps it is time for a new direction.  To give thanks to God for allowing us to establish ourselves.  To recognize the milestones in that journey.   To celebrate that we have accomplished that part of our work.

Now, on to the next phase of our development... the outward focus that joins God in the work he is doing in the world and brings life transformation.

Here is the mission that I have been giving thought to...  "Helping you take your next step toward Jesus."   

We need something to propel us forward.  Something that can include newcommers and longtimers alike.  Something that recognizes that life is a process and growing is part of the journey.  Something that speaks to all of us no matter where we are on the journey.

So, why are we here?  Why does Community of Joy exist?  What am I giving my life to?  What are you giving your life to?

How about... HELPING PEOPLE TAKE THEIR NEXT STEP TOWARD JESUS!?

Why Church? God Connection.

Author Eugene Peterson says… “Worship is the strategy by which we interrupt our preoccupation with ourselves and attend to the presence of God.

Only ONE thing you need to do....

Thinking about the 23rd Psalm and the relationship that David describes that we can have with God.  And all the things that God will do for us. 

God will lead us to places of rest and refreshment and along right paths.  God will be present even in the midst of life's most challenging and darkest times so there is no need to be afraid.  God protects us and feeds us and welcomes us and allows us to live forever in his presence.

And that is all about what God does.  But there is ONE thing we must do.  Only one thing.  And that is to allow God to be our shepherd.  David says all this is possible because the "Lord is MY Shepherd" 

So the question for us... is this... Is God YOUR Shepherd?  Are you allowing him to guide your life.  If you give that role to him... then everything else is up to him... he takes care of all the rest!   No worries... because The Lord is My Shepherd!

Enjoyment at LAST!

Don't know about you, but I sure have enjoyed not having political ads on tv and the radio every few minutes! 

Glad the election is over and life can focus on other things in our world!