We’re close to the end of the  3^rd  and final week of fasting, praying and seeking God during The Power of Everyone Series.    During the days leading up to Nov. 23 and our Celebration Offering and the Thanksgiving Family Festival, I’m listing a scripture for you to read and consider.  I’m also sharing a few thoughts of my own, but my primary desire is that you ask God to reveal to you what this passage means in your life and how you should apply it as you think about what God would have you do.  I would also ask that you pray and ask God to speak to the hearts of all the people in our church about this particular passage concerning what they should do.  I’m pumped about the miracle I believe we’ll experience this Sunday – Nov. 23.

We’re just a couple days away from a miracle!     Bless you – Pastor BJ

Nov. 21                 Proverbs 11:24-25

24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

One of my favorite holiday movies is “It’s A Wonderful Life”.  If you’ve never watched it, it’s a classic you ought to view.  I don’t know how many times I’ve seen it, but I enjoy it every time.  There’s such a contrast in two of the main characters.  Mr. Potter is one of the wealthiest men in town and yet is filled with personal poverty.  That’s because the person who is stingy usually has few true friends and by the end of life has shriveled up inside.  George Bailey isn’t wealthy when it comes to his finances, but out of his generosity he becomes one of the wealthiest men in town in terms of relationships.  George was generous with what he had and in the movie he discovered verse 25 is absolutely true.  Of course – that was just in a movie.  Is it true in real life?   Think about the happiest people you know.  I’ve discovered that most happy people are generous.  I believe a generous man (or woman) will prosper in many ways.  Give it a try – I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

I love what John Phillips writes about this passage.  “Every farmer understands the principle stated here.  The farmer who is stingy at the time of sowing will have a meager harvest in the time of reaping.  The farmer who fails to water his crops will receive a poor return.  Every business man knows you have to spend money to make money.  Every well-taught believer knows that while we do not give in order to get, “God is no man’s debtor, ‘Nobody can out-give God’.  As a general rule, the more we give the more we receive.  The stingy person lacks common sense and spiritual understanding.  We have both a social and a spiritual responsibility to be generous.”