New Beginnings/All about giving: a new series
When Naida and I first began to share via this blog, there seemed to be great interest; folks were commenting at the blog site as well as others who would comment via e-mail and still others who spoke face to face. And they were all positive with the exception of one self proclaimed of an eastern religion who thought I was picking on his religion. However, LATELY, with the exception of two or three faithfuls, there has been little response. We are grateful for those who are faithful.
So I thought about these scriptures that I am about to share with anyone who reads this blog. They are all about beginnings. The first one is found in 2 Cor. 8:6,
“So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.”
Next scripture concerning new beginnings is from Galatians and reads, “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
One more reference from God’s Word is this one from the 1st. chapter of Philippians, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
The first scripture that was quoted had to do with an offering-a gift and ministering to other saints …let me share with you the whole context from the NLT STARTING AT VERSE 1.
2 Corinthians 8:1-8 (New Living Translation)
A Call to Generous Giving
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,[a] what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers[b] in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us[c]—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
This giving was demonstrated to Paul who passed it on to Titus to teach the giving principle to the Corinthians, by a church that had very little in the way of finances, in fact they were very poor, but they taught by example how to be generous.
My next quote was from Galatians 3:3 which I’ll read from the New Living Translation also, “ How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
Speaking of human effort we have endeavored to do ths blog with the help of God and it is an offering of love, whether anyone reads it or not is not what is the most important. The most important thing is that the Lord has shown us to do it, therefore we will carry on. The last reference that I quoted is from Philippians ( which I have finally learned how to spell, thanks to the spell check) and it comes from the 1st. ch and 6th. verse and again I’m quoting the NLT, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
You might question the correlation between these three scripture passages; what does one have to do with the other? They are about giving and they are about new beginnings. This blog , we feel is a good work because we endeavor to exalt Jesus; that is our chief aim; not about us ,therefore we will continue …we will carry on….Randall
When Naida and I first began to share via this blog, there seemed to be great interest; folks were commenting at the blog site as well as others who would comment via e-mail and still others who spoke face to face. And they were all positive with the exception of one self proclaimed of an eastern religion who thought I was picking on his religion. However, LATELY, with the exception of two or three faithfuls, there has been little response. We are grateful for those who are faithful.
So I thought about these scriptures that I am about to share with anyone who reads this blog. They are all about beginnings. The first one is found in 2 Cor. 8:6,
“So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.”
Next scripture concerning new beginnings is from Galatians and reads, “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
One more reference from God’s Word is this one from the 1st. chapter of Philippians, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
The first scripture that was quoted had to do with an offering-a gift and ministering to other saints …let me share with you the whole context from the NLT STARTING AT VERSE 1.
2 Corinthians 8:1-8 (New Living Translation)
A Call to Generous Giving
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,[a] what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers[b] in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us[c]—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
This giving was demonstrated to Paul who passed it on to Titus to teach the giving principle to the Corinthians, by a church that had very little in the way of finances, in fact they were very poor, but they taught by example how to be generous.
My next quote was from Galatians 3:3 which I’ll read from the New Living Translation also, “ How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
Speaking of human effort we have endeavored to do ths blog with the help of God and it is an offering of love, whether anyone reads it or not is not what is the most important. The most important thing is that the Lord has shown us to do it, therefore we will carry on. The last reference that I quoted is from Philippians ( which I have finally learned how to spell, thanks to the spell check) and it comes from the 1st. ch and 6th. verse and again I’m quoting the NLT, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
You might question the correlation between these three scripture passages; what does one have to do with the other? They are about giving and they are about new beginnings. This blog , we feel is a good work because we endeavor to exalt Jesus; that is our chief aim; not about us ,therefore we will continue …we will carry on….Randall
posted by Randall | 8:13 a.m.
5 Comments:
New Beginnings
I have just been telling myself
that this is a good time to start
over,with the new year.Put all the old behind and look for the new.
Your blog has been a great help to
me this pasted year and I look forward to it this year.
You and Naida have been giving of
youself in the blogs and I want to
thank you both for ministering to all of us who read them.
It is good to be reminded that when
we try to do things in our own human effort and fail,that by the spirit God can and will help us.
He will finish the plan He has for us.
I hope that you get more to comment
on the blog because I enjoying
reading them and get alot
out of them too.
C.M.
What a great way to start the day .
Read the blog....something good to think about all day...the content will keep popping up in your head all day long...just read it and see. Randall, you and Naida please continue the blogs.
THANK YOU
Coffee
Very encouraging thoughts - both to the new beginnings and in giving. We all need the reminders - thank you so much for sharing your ideas.
I think it is just the most amazing thing, that we are able to share our ideas and meditations with each other. I, like C.M., get lots of enjoyment from reading thoughts of the "commentors" too.
In terms of giving - we have this silly idea sometimes that we are doing something great when we give, even when we give generously. However, when we think of it, we can only give from what we have -- and where does what we have come from? You guessed it - just today, in my reading (minutes before reading the blog) in I Chron 29:14, when David is thanking God for all that the people had given toward the building of the temple, "Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand."
Keep up the great work, Randall, we have no idea how far the "ripple effect" extends from the little "rocks" you throw out to us.
Randall, I just wanted you to know that I do faithfully read your blog. I really do get something from it each and every time. Sometimes I dont know how to comment so I dont leave one. I feel that I could talk about it out loud, but to write it down is different. When you write, you always say something that does make me think about it at different times. You have a way with words. I appreciate the time that you and Naida have put into this. I know its not easy sometimes, especially if you arent getting any feedback. Keep up the good work. It is very uplifting and we all need it! Thank you!
Galatians 6:9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
I had that in my last news letter.
Thought it applied to this Blog.
Keep up the good work guys...
Philippine Dale
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