Archive for June, 2022

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

“It is your lot to share my distress, and to do battle on my behalf. Herein is proof of your manliness. God, who ordains our lives, grants to those who are capable of sustaining great fights greater opportunity of winning renown. You truly have risked your own life as a test of your valour in your friend’s behalf, like gold in the furnace. I pray God that other men may be made better; that you may remain what you are, and that you will not cease to find fault with me, as you do, and to charge me with not writing often to you, as a wrong on my part which does you very great injury. This is an accusation only made by a friend. Persist in demanding the payment of such debts. I am not so very unreasonable in paying the claims of affection.”

Basil of Caesarea (330-379) in Letter CCIX in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Series II, Volume 8 (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 705. I want to explore the idea of sharing in one of my favorite early church fathers, Basil the Great, for a while. Enjoy the journey with me.

Today, We find his letter to an unnamed close friend. This is someone who risked his life for him, someone who held Basil accountable to write often, to work together to help each other, to make each other better. And he called such interaction, payment of a debt.

I want to honor Chi-Chung Keung today. He’s shared my distress. He’s my accountability partners. He reaches out to me. Like Basil, I don’t reply often enough. He’s a friend, who loves at all times and yet who interacts with me to make me better. I am thankful for him.

Do you have such a person in your life? Someone who finds fault with you, not to tear you down but to build you up. It requires humility and vulnerability, traits that have not always been strong in me. Find such a person. Let him or her help you grow in generosity as well as other aspects of life.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25

“A Phoenix gas station owner is losing money at his pumps to try and help his customers. Jaswiendre Singh owns the station at the corner of Osborn Road and 20th Street. He showed us that his supplier sells him gas at $5.66 a gallon as of Wednesday night. But Singh is selling the gas for $5.19 a gallon. That is 47 cents cheaper than the purchase price.

With customers buying around 1,000 gallons per day on average, Singh is losing out on around $500 a day. But he says it’s worth it. “To give a break to the customer and my community. People don’t have the money right now,” Singh said. “My mother and my father did teach us to help if you have something. If you have something you have to share with other people.” Singh gives praise to God for his ability to help others. He and his wife are working more to offset the losses they are feeling at the pump. They make their money inside the store.

When we spoke to Singh in March, he was selling his gas for 10 cents less than he bought it per gallon. With prices going up around a dollar more a gallon since then, he wanted to try and help as much as he could and lowered the price even more. “God gave me help. It doesn’t matter. We are not here to make money right now. I’m very happy to help the other people.”

Jaswiendre Singh in “Phoenix gas station owner sells cheaper gas to help others” as reported by Michael Raimondi on 8 June 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona, on Arizona’s Family News. Special thanks to Randy Bury, daily reader and dear friend who shared this piece with me.

Happy Father’s Day to my dad and to all the father’s out there reading this. It is a good lesson for Father’s Day as it shows the impact of generous parents. Notice at least five layers to Jaswiendre Singh’s story. They are insightful for all of us.

1. The generous person attunes to the needs of others. “To give a break to the customer and my community. People don’t have the money right now,”

2. The generous person learned about generosity from his parents. “My mother and my father did teach us to help if you have something. If you have something you have to share with other people.”

3. The generous person gives praise to God. “Singh gives praise to God for his ability to help others.”

4. The generous person works even harder in difficult times for the benefit of others. “He and his wife are working more to offset the losses they are feeling at the pump. They make their money inside the store.”

5. The generous person realizes that helping others is more important than personal gain. “God gave me help. It doesn’t matter. We are not here to make money right now. I’m very happy to help the other people.”

May this example inspire all of us to live out the meaning of today’s Scripture before a watching world.

God help us attune to the needs of others, teach our children to be generous, give praise to You for the privilege of being generous, work harder in hard times to help others, and realize that providing this help is more important than making gain for ourselves knowing that you will look after us. Amen.

They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. Psalm 145:7

“Financial freedom gives tremendous joy. There are reasons for this.

By lowering your expenses below your income, you will experience far less stress and pressure. The difference between income and expenses is margin. Margin is essentially important.

Imagine a sheet of paper without margins. It becomes unreadable. Imagine your daily agenda, full of activities with no time in between. It becomes exhausting.

Our society today lives at the edge where there is no margin. Margin is the difference between stress and rest.

Without margin, life struggles and staggers and stumbles. But when margin is present, life flows. And flowing is more enjoyable than stumbling.

If your refrigerator breaks down, you don’t. If your car needs servicing, you can go to the garage without wondering where the money is going to come from.

Having financial margin allows generosity towards others. This is one of the most rewarding of all human activities.”

Peter J. Briscoe in Financial Discipleship: Investing in Eternity (Compass Finances God’s Way, 2020) 74.

Yesterday I highlighted that Your Money Counts will be released electronically to GTP constituents in Spanish next month. I also want to report that this book, Financial Discipleship, will also be freely available in digital form for Spanish readers.

This book approaches financial stewardship and generosity from a discipleship perspective. And this excerpt from Briscoe reminds us of the vital importance of margin to create space in our budgets for generosity.

This is a great time for such conversations because we are in an inflationary environment and possibly entering a recession. Times are hard. It means we have to choose to say “no” to some things so we can say “yes” to other things to create margin.

Once we have margin, we are prepared for crisis situations and we have bandwidth for blessing others. Is it time to revisit your budget? Time to create margin by saying “no” to some things so you can say “yes” to deeper levels of generosity?

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:2

“Humans are by nature selfish. One of the key ways our character becomes conformed to Christ is by habitual giving. Someone once said, “Giving is not God’s way of raising money; it is God’s way of raising people into the likeness of His Son.” The Lord understands that for us to develop into the people He wants us to be, we must learn how to share our possessions freely. If we don’t, our inbred selfishness will grow and dominate us.”

Howard Dayton in Your Money Counts (Tyndale House: Crown Financial Ministries, 1996).

I am excited to share that at GTP we plan to do a webinar in July 2022 with Compass to share the Spanish edition of this classic work, Your Money Counts, with our Latin American constituents for free!

This inspired me to reflect on the book. Today’s post from Dayton echoes the pattern prescribed by the Apostle Paul: habitual giving. Each person should do it, it should happen weekly, and it relates to our income.

The habit change each of us. Collectively, it raises us up as God’s people to look like Jesus. He wants us to live simply and share generously. Those with a little get to share a little. Those with a lot get to share a lot.

When we do this, we deliver ourselves from inbred selfishness and position God to conform us to the image of Christ who is generous. It’s a process we only learn by the habitual practice.

Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

“Count your blessings” by Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1897)

On my last day visiting my parents, at their church I went to a brown bag hymn sing. It was fun. During hard times when we feel tempest-tossed taking time to worship helps us get perspective.

When we sang this song, I felt a deep sense of thankfulness. After re-reading the lyrics I look time to count my blessings for five minutes. Try it. See what happens.

My hope is that discouragmeent is replaced with comfort, that your burdens are exchanged for blessings, and that your heart is filled with gratitude to position to live generously.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self-content;
There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze the paths
Where highways never ran-
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road
Where the race of men go by-
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner’s seat
Nor hurl the cynic’s ban-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife,
But I turn not away from their smiles and tears,
Both parts of an infinite plan-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead,
And mountains of wearisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away to the night.
And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by-
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish – so am I.
Then why should I sit in the scorner’s seat,
Or hurl the cynic’s ban?
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

“House by the Side of the Road” by Sam Walter Foss (1858-1911).

My mom’s heart condition (atrial fibrillation) has persisted for about a month and a half. While it appears stable, she has an important doctor’s appointment on Friday to determine next steps for treatment. I appreciate your prayers for her. It has been good to be with her and dad this week in Florida.

I depart on Thursday, but in the meantime I asked my mom to share some of her favorite poems and she shared this one. It’s a powerful picture of humility and generosity, of grace, kindness, and hope. It touched me deeply so I pray it inspires you to be a friend to others each day. I hope it blesses you.

We are living in hard times: war, inflation, pandemic, and so many more challenges. These cause many of us, myself included, to feel alone, faint with the strife, wearisome, and embattled by cynics and scorners. So what should we do to love others generously.

Mom says, go be a friend to man.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

A beggar in the street I saw,
Who held a hand like withered claw,
As cold as clay;
But as I had no silver groat
To give, I buttoned up my coat
And turned away.

And then I watched a working wife
Who bore the bitter load of life
With lagging limb;
A penny from her purse she took,
And with sweet pity in her look
Gave it to him.

Anon I spied a shabby dame
Who fed six sparrows as they came
In famished flight;
She was so poor and frail and old,
Yet crumbs of her last crust she doled
With pure delight.

Then sudden in my heart was born
For my sleek self a savage scorn,–
Urge to atone;
So when a starving cur I saw
I bandaged up its bleeding paw
And bought a bone.

For God knows it is good to give;
We may not have so long to live,
So if we can,
Let’s do each day a kindly deed,
And stretch a hand to those in need,
Bird, beast or man.

“Compassion” by Robert W. Service.

Yesterday’s poem got me thinking about exploring poetry this week. God is nudging me to share compassion and kindness more generously this Summer, so I searched and found this gem.

I am visiting my parents, Jack and Patsy Hoag, in Florida this week because my mom is having heart trouble. My mom’s dad, Byron Drake Gregg, taught me to memorize poems from Robert W. Service so I went to his works.

This poem is powerful. “Let’s do each day a kindly deed, and stretch out a hand to those in need.” That phrase sums up my grandfather’s life and my mom too. God help her condition improve.

God make us all be generous and compassionate as we may not have so long to live and God knows that it is good to give in the days He has given us.

Then [Jesus] climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. Mark 6:51-52

“God Forgive Me When I Whine”

The other day upon a bus,
I saw a lovely girl with golden hair,
I envied her, she seemed so sweet
And wished I were as fair.
Then suddenly, she turned to go
And hobbled down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch
And as she passed, a smile.
Oh, God forgive me when I whine
I have two legs, the world is mine.

Then I stopped to buy some sweets,
The lad who sold them had such charm.
I paused to talk, he seemed so glad
And if I were late would do no harm.
As I left, he said to me, “I thank you, sir,
You have been so kind.
‘Tis nice to talk to folks like you
Because you see I’m blind.”
Oh, God forgive me when I whine,
I have two eyes, the world is mine.

Later walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play,
It seemed he knew not what to do.
I gazed a moment and then I said,
“Why don’t you join the others, dear?”
He looked ahead nor said a word.
And then I knew, he could not hear.
Oh, God forgive me when I whine,
I have two ears, the world is mine.

And with legs to take me where I go
And with eyes to see the sunset glow.
And with ears to hear what I would know
Oh, God forgive me when I whine,
I’m blessed indeed, the world is mine.

“God Forgive Me When I Whine” from The Busby Scrapbook of Poems That Touch the Heart compiled by Howard K. Busby, 1980.

My dear friend and mentor, Dan Busby, posted this poem on his CaringBridge site on Saturday. It touched me deeply, and I pray it ministers to you. Dan has been told he might have only short time left to live. So, rather than whine about it, he has resolved to focus on his blessings and live every day to the fullest without whining.

It got me thinking. We are all terminally ill. Unless our LORD returns first, we are all going to die. So, how should we live? Today’s Scripture offers the answer. We must remember that Christ is with us in the storms of life, and rather than whine about hard times and develop hard hearts, we can rest in knowing we have all we need in Christ.

That was the lesson of the loaves. When we give God what we have, He always makes sure we have enough. We can share our blessings and trust Him with our challenges. This way of living becomes our most generous contribution to the world around us, where lots of people are whining. Thanks for not whining, Dan! God forgive us when we whine.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 1 John 2:15

“Living a just and holy life requires one to be capable of an objective and impartial evaluation of things: to love things, that is to say, in the right order, so that you do not love what is not to be loved, or fail to love what is to be loved, or have a greater love for what should be loved less, or an equal love for things that should be loved less or more, or a lesser or greater love for things that should be loved equally.”

Saint Augustine, On Christian Doctrine, Book 1.27.

The challenge for the person wanting to live a just, holy, and generous life is to keep their loves in the right order.

We say, “I love this restaurant” and go there often. We say, “I love this activity” and do it often. We say, “I love this house” and we pour resources into it.

Then soon we forget that these are just gifts from God and not God. We have diminished margin for generosity. But sharing these gifts with others releases their power over us.

What do you love? Pause to reflect today on the gifts you enjoy and the Giver who supplies them. Consider how you might put your loves in the right order by balancing loving and sharing.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5

A Prayer of Relinquishment

Today, O Lord, I yield myself to you.
May your will be my delight today.
May your way have perfect sway in me.
May your love be the pattern of my living.
I surrender to you
my hopes,
my dreams,
my ambitions.
Do with them what you will, when you will, as you will.
I place into your loving care
my family,
my friends,
my future.
Care for them with a care that I can never give.
I release into your hands
my need to control,
my craving for status,
my fear of obscurity.
Eradicate the evil, purify the good, and establish your
kingdom on earth.
For Jesus’ sake,
Amen.

Richard Foster in Prayers of the Heart (New York: HarperCollins, 1994) 24.

Soak in this prayer on this Saturday.

Discover that only in releasing do we gain, only in surrendering our will do we discover God’s good and perfect will, and only in yielding do we find freedom.

Ultimately it celebrates God’s generous care for each of us.

Imagine trying to live the generous life without dependence on such care. We’d have no peace, no joy, and no contentment! Only through relinquishment do we receive all God has for us.

And as our situations constantly change, we get to relearn this daily.