" For God himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything." Acts 17:25

About Me

About Me

About Me

Welcome...I'm delighted that you chose to visit! I started this blog in March 2010 and I am so happy that I did. It has made me more aware of the many ways that God is blessing my life. I have made some special friends who bless,teach,encourage,and entertain me! My desire is to be an encouragement to you. I hope you will tarry for a while and that you will come back to visit often.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

a simple act



I saw a billboard yesterday that displayed a quote from Leonard Nimoy (remember he was Mr. Spock on Star Trek). It  said

"The more we share, the more we have."

Now, I don't know enough about Leonard Nimoy to know what he meant by it, but I'm confident the billboard company didn't have any spiritual or inspirational intent. I think their message was "the more information you share on our sign, the more business you will have!" :-)

But since we are talking about sharing, I want to tell you about a book I am reading entitled One Simple Act by Debbie Macomber. 



She talks about discovering the power of generosity. Most of us have heard "it is more blessed to give than to receive" which is found in Acts 20:35. But as she has committed herself to a life of daily generosity, she has discovered that "the more we give, the more we receive. " She shares about a study of more than 3000 volunteers by Allan Luks of the Big Brother Big Sister organization that concluded... "there was a clear cause-and-effect relationship between helping and good health." Luks said, "Helping contributes to the maintenance of good health and it can diminish the effects of diseases and disorders both serious and minor, physical and mental." The volunteers testified to "feeling a rush of euphoria followed by a longer period of calm, reduced stress, and relief from pain. " Macomber says, "cultivating the habit of good deeds will not only affect those around us, but it will improve our own emotional well-being."


Luke 6:38 says:

"Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." ESV

And The Message Bible says it this way:

"Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

So, yes, we may receive material blessings when we give, but more importantly, God promises the blessings of joy, peace, and health. And Macomber says, "God multiplies our giving. In His hands, each act of generosity we offer Him, no matter how small, becomes part of this miracle of multiplication."

If that doesn't encourage me to be a giver, I don't know what will! 
And it's so simple! ;-)

9 comments :

  1. Our sermon on Sunday was about how service goes hand in hand with our faith. Good news and good works cannot be separated. The pastor also said that the Hallmark of the Christian life is service.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I will have to read this one. I know through the years when we give generously it always comes back to us.

    ReplyDelete
  3. i was raised on this good sermon and believe every word of it. sadly the majority these days do not know this simple life changing fact. thanks for the reminder

    ReplyDelete
  4. A beautiful reminder of a perfect Truth. And just think... Spock had a (albeit foggy) understanding of the concept! Here's to more giving from a heart that understands THE Giver. Thanks for giving this to us today. :)

    Blessings, Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amen, it is so true. You never believe it until you start doing it then it is so hard to contain it once it starts happening.
    You shared it in such a nice way.

    ReplyDelete
  6. it is so much better to give, a very rewarding feeling!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the comment about my doggie and fish n chips. Your grandkids are adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I know that is true...that God multiplies our giving big time. Whether in time or in things...we never miss what we have given away when we are being the hands and feet of Jesus.

    I'm noting the title of the book. It's worth a read, I'm sure.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds like a very interesting book. I do like Debbie Macomber as an author.

    ReplyDelete

Your comment is such a blessing and encouragement to me! Thank you for taking the time to leave one.