The Giver

How have you seen the Lord provide for you on this Manna Monday?

Here in Washington, we have seen Him provide:

Sleep.  I am so thankful that our Little Bit sleeps through the night.  What a blessing!

Relief from headaches.  I have had, it seems, a constant headache for weeks now.  I felt as though I was coming down with a head-cold last night, but it feels as if it has lifted with the sunshine today.  Doctors appt on Friday... just to make sure.

Doctors and Insurance.  Wow.

Sunshine

Grains to grind

This home

These clothes

This marriage

This Delight

Our new home church

This message from Dave Ramsey.  For the past 3 weeks at church we have listened to a DVD series of Dave Ramsey (he is a financial advisor and has some really great tips that Daniel and I would both suggest!).  Although he is a financial advisor, his words brought much light to several different aspects of our lives.  I was so thankful for the provision of these insights from him:

*We are NOT the owners of anything!!  Not this house, not these clothes, not this car, not even this child.  They ALL belong to Him.

*Therefore, we are stewards of these gifts.  We are not the owner, but the Lord has given these resources to us, for we are to watch over them with care on His behalf.

And the provision of this truth, this is what I have been reflecting upon today and because He is this, everything is changed:

God is a GIVER

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" John 3:16

Can you imagine providing your son so that others might go free?

He has provided his Son for us, and that is all we need.  But yet, still, He gives:

"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32

He has provided all things for us, already, and will continue to do so

if we but have hands open to receive.

And so, if God created me in His image, in the image of a giver, I must give.  It is in my nature and against it I will not go.

Through the grace He has given, I will give.

I will give to my family the grace and love they need today.  I will give to my family the nourishing food which their bodies need.  I will give to my husband grace and time to transition home from his full day at work.  I will give him these Gingerbread Biscotti as he walks in the door!  I will give my daughter an example of a giving woman.

What will you give today?