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Services every Sunday at 7:00 P.M.

Covenant Keepers - Generosity John 12:1-8 10/31/04

Over the past two weeks we have been participating in the "Covenant Keepers Program" as a way to take a conscious look at our spiritual journey as we seek to make God the center of our lives and our life together as a church. We have looked at the important of being present each week in worship. The ability to set aside time each week to commune with God is truly a gift we give to ourselves. Last week we talked about our prayer life. The way we build our relationship with God. Not only is it important to set aside time each day to pray but we also need to pray throughout the day with the goal being to live a life of prayer that is reflected in all that we do and say. One of the most important things we do as a faith community is to pray together and pray for one another. There is power in pray to change our world.

Tonight we focus on the spirit of generosity. Generosity begins out of a heart that is blessed. God has given us the most precious gift of love that is lived out in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Because of God's great love we are truly blessed. For the gifts of family, friends, partners, a family of choice and in the beauty of nature, God's spirit abounds. For the blessing of a place to worship that accepts and celebrates who we are as individuals and as a community. For work and play, for rest and purpose, for the gift of each moment we can be thankful. The old hymn says "Count your blessings name them one by one see what good things God has done." For what are you grateful this evening? Even in the worst of times we are truly blessed - for nothing can ever keep us from the love of God. Each and every day take the opportunity to name your blessings and you will indeed see how blessed you are.

Out of this sense of gratitude we are called to give our best to God. Our lives are a blessing from God to be lived out each day as a blessing to others. How we use our time, our talents, our money, reflects our spirit of generosity. Each Sunday we sing the song "We are an offering" as we present our gifts before the altar. That song really speaks to me of the way we are to relate to our world. Our voices, our hands, our lives are to be lived each day as an offering to God. In all that we do, in what we say, in how we use the resources entrusted to us, we present our lives each and every day at God's altar. As you go about your day tomorrow reflect on the ways you touch others with God's presence. Be mindful of what you say, how you use words to hurt or heal. Be conscious of how you use your time. Are you wasting time or burning the candle at both ends. Take a look at your checkbook see how you spend your money. What goes to pay bills, for things you need or want? How much money do you give to the church and to help others less fortunate? God has entrusted us with everything that we really need. Are we being good stewards of what God has given to us? We have been created to give honor and glow to God in all that we do. In gratitude, we give our lives as a love offering to God each day.

Mother Teresa tells this story in her book No Greater Love:

One night a man came to our house and told me, "There is a family with eight children. They have not eaten for days."

I took some food with me and went. When I came to that family, I saw the faces of those little children disfigured by hunger. There was no sorrow or sadness in their faces, just the deep pain of hunger. I gave the rice to the mother. She divided the rice in two, and went out carrying half the rice. When she came back, I asked her, "Where did you go?" She gave me this simple answer, "To my neighbors; they are hungry also!"

God has truly blessed us and gives us the opportunity to bless the lives of our brothers and sisters in this world. What would the world be like if when we received anything we thought about giving half of it away to someone else? We are all in this together and by sharing of our resources there really should not be anyone in need. I want you to think about the ways tonight that you can give to others as you go about your week. We can be like Mary in the gospel reading this evening and anoint the lives of others when we take the time to see Christ in their eyes. Don't rush through your days missing opportunities to touch the lives of others with God's presence. For you can see Christ in everyone if you take the time to look.

A spirit of generosity comes out of a heart that has been truly blessed. This week count your blessings, thank God for all that you have been given. Then look for the chance to bless the lives of others. Pray about who needs you right now to help them out in some way - through your time, financially, or by loving them in some tangible way. May our lives give glory and honor to God as we give ourselves as a love offering to God.

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