Upper Room | Devotional

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Monday, March 17, 2008 =

Generous Heart

Read=20 Romans 12:3-8

Like good stewards of the manifold = grace of God,=20 serve one another with whatever gift each of you has = received.=20

-1 Peter 4:10 = (NRSV)

AN older man from our church recently = died. A=20 retired, successful businessman, Jack was well known in = his church=20 and community for his friendly, sweet spirit and = kindhearted=20 generosity. But only after his death did others become = more aware=20 of the scope of his good deeds. Behind the scenes, Jack = had=20 arranged to help support various ministries so that they = could=20 continue their work after he died.

As I learned more about some of the = projects Jack=20 had supported, I found myself thinking, If I had more=20 financial resources, I would really like to do some things = like=20 that. But as I reflected further, I realized that = Jack's=20 benevolence did not originate in his checkbook but in his = heart.=20 He had generously shared the resources God had given = him.

While there are some things I can't do, = God reminded=20 me that there are other things I can do. The key is = cultivating a=20 generous heart. If I sincerely want to share the gifts I = have been=20 given, God will bless the fruit.
Darrell Boone (Indiana, = U.S.A.)

Dear Lord, help us not to be envious = of others'=20 gifts, but to be good stewards in using the ones you have = given=20 us. Thank you for those whose lives teach us more about = you.=20 Amen.

How am I helping others with what = I have=20 been given?

Being good = stewards


	Afire with=20 God What if = we viewed=20 church members not as consumers who buy our services = or=20 volunteers who staff/fund our programs but as = ministers called=20 and empowered to do what they can do as part of = Christ's body=20 active on earth? AFIRE WITH GOD demonstrates how = stewards are=20 defined by how they live rather than what they=20 contribute.

| March=20 16, 2008 | March 17, 2008 | = March=20 18, 2008 |=20

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