Archives by: Gary Hoag

Will you not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Psalm 85:6

“When we think of ourselves, we are perturbed and filled with salutary sadness. And when we think of the Lord, we are revived to find consolation in the joy of the Holy Spirit. From the first we derive fear and humility, from the second hope and love.”

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) in Sermons 5 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 539.

Soon everyone will be talking about their resolutions for the new year. I want to encourage you to change the narrative from resolutions to revival.

As Bernard rightly notes, “when we think of ourselves, we are perturbed and filled with salutary sadness.” We will have regret and want something more.

This leads people to a cycle of making resolutions, which often fall by the wayside in days or weeks. So, what should we do and how does this relate to generosity?

Bernard keenly says to think of the Lord. Focus on Him. By the power of the Holy Spirit you will be revived, you will move from fear and humility to hope and love.

This hope and love then comes into view as generosity. We live differently because we have been revived. We know we are loved and cared for so we show that love and care to others.

If you want to grow in generosity in 2024, if you want to abandon the making of resolutions and get revived, then block more time to think about the Lord.

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12

“First, let me say that we have already received from God the ability to fulfill all his commands… When we use this ability in a right and fitting way, we lead a life of virtue and holiness… The virtue that God asks of us is the use of the same powers based on a good conscience in accordance with God’s command.”

Basil of Caesarea (330-379) in Rules as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 538.

People often ask me, “How much should I give?” To that question, I always reply, “How much do you have?” I say this because the right and fitting use of any resources which are perishable is to put them in play or use them.

You would not keep fruits or vegetables on the counter for a year, would you? The same is true with material wealth. And this brings up an interested example that happened yesterday.

A friend of GTP learned that our remaining need to activate the major grant was still $140,000 by 31 December 2023. But he has a liquidity problem. In the past, he could transfer $10,000 or more to GTP.

But at this time, his funds are tied up in assets. So he acted in a “right and fitting” way. He offered the use of one of his assets. Let me explain. This is a fun story.

If you click here, you will see an amazing villa in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s not just any airbnb. It has 16 beds in 7 rooms with 6 bathrooms. Enough for a multi-family gathering or a board retreat.

As a special opportunity, he has offered it for a week to the first ten people who send $5,000 to GTP and tell me they accept his offer. Of course, your don’t get a tax deduction as you receive the benefit in return, but you are able to help GTP.

The offer is good for the next 6 months or so, or from now until the summer. I checked and a week (7 days and 6 nights) in April or June goes for more than $10,000 for a week. If you are interested, act now.

You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22

“In His kindness, our Lord wished to strengthen your faith… He also wished to listen to your prayer, and so He ordained that you experience poverty, distress, abandonment, weariness, and universal scorn… God alone knows the reason for all this, yet we cannot recognize three causes. In the first place, our blessed Lord is telling you that He desires to include you among His beloved sons… for this is the way He treats His friends and makes them holy. The second reason is that He is asking you to grow continually in your confidence in Him alone and not in others… So if you have been endowed with faith and hope, He will do great things for you; He will raise up the lowly… Now there is a third reason. God wishes to test you like gold in the furnace. The dross is consumed by the fire, but the pure gold remains and its value increases… If then you remain constant in faith in the face of trial, the Lord will give you peace and rest for a time in this world, and forever in the next.”

Gerolamo Emiliani (1486-1537) in Letter as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 684.

Today’s Scripture represents one of those verses we don’t tend to think much about. Jesus promises that we will experience hatred because of our association with Him.

I appreciated today how Emiliani approached this in his letter. He explains that this scorn has a purpose which is our continued growth and the strengthening of our faith.

Do you feel like you are being tested? I know I feel this way, often. Faith is like a muscle: the more we use it the stronger it gets, but also the bigger the challenges get.

Stand fast. This ensures that your generosity will stand the test of the refiner’s fire. “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

Why reference this verse? It’s not if you will be tested but when. Jesus neither needs nor wants you and me to do good things for Him. He wants us to let go of everything else and everyone else.

Remain constant. Put your trust in the One who raises up the lowly. He will do great things for you. And you will come forth as gold and find peace and rest, now and forever.

Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11

“Above all, he who preaches peace and unity did not want us to pray by ourselves in private or for ourselves alone. We do not say, “My Father, who art in heaven,” nor “Give me this day my daily bread.” It is not for himself [or herself] that each person asks to be forgiven, not to be led into temptation or to be delivered from evil. Rather, we pray in public as a community, and not for one individual but for all.”

Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200-258) in Lord’s Prayer as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 672.

As the year draws to a close, our tendency is to take personal stock, to make sure I have enough for myself or my family or even for my local church. We don’t tend to think about the larger body of Christ worldwide.

In some places, the global church is persecuted. Elsewhere she is starving or thirsty. In most places she lacks stewardship training because missionaries brought the gospel but left nationals dependent on outside support.

I invite you to pray the Lord’s prayer afresh with me. At the heart of us you find today’s Scripture. Read it ten times thinking of those in need in the majority world and praying it in community with them.

As a gift, if you want to grow in your understanding and practice of generosity in community, click here to download the PDF of the 30-day devotional book that Travis Shelton and I wrote entitled, Community.

For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever. Psalm 9:18

“Some say Boxing Day originated with the practice of giving cash or durable goods to the less fortunate — the lower classes who were busy taking care of the higher ups on Christmas day.

Others say it was the practice of giving tradespeople — people who called regularly during the year, such as the milkman — monetary tips or food items.

Yet an older legent is that Boxing Day started the tradition of opening the alms boxes placed in churches during the Christmas season. The contents of the alms boxes were they distributed amongs the poor…

The holiday’s roots can be trace to Britain where this holiday is also known as St. Stephen’s Day. It is also celebrated in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

Today the holiday has evolved into an extension of Christmas. It’s antoher day to spend with the family and have a wonderful English roast dinner, while watching English football or having some family fun.”

Jessica Faust and Jacky Sach in The Book of Christmas: Stories, Poems, and Recipes for Sharing That Most Wonderful Time of the Year (New York: Kensington, 2002) 8-9.

Interesting how times have changed. The holiday once know for caring for the poor has sadly become another day to take a break from work, enjoy family, eat a feast together, and watch sport.

Don’t get me wrong. I hope my Aussie mates enjoy their Boxing Day Test (famous annual cricket match in Melbourne). And I trust my friends in the UK, Canada, and New Zealand enjoy special day too.

But, coupled with the fun, the fellowship, and the feasting, I hope they remember those in need. Our human tendency is to forget the needy and focus on ourselves. Notice how the tradition changed over time.

It went from opening alms boxes to giving tips to people who provide regular services to giving workers who had to work on the holiday a day off and a proverbial bonus in a box.

What I see in this progression is that the church started as the hub of giving and distributed it to those forgotten by society. History tells us the church became corrupt linked to money.

The corruption in the church contributed to the shift from the church aiding the poor to the individual serving as the dispenser of gifts. In time, the people just shared a tip or bonus with those who served them.

So, regardless of where you find yourself in the world today, if you celebrated Christmas yesterday, I want to invite you to open the alms boxes and share with the poor today by making a gift a local charity or to GTP.

Why GTP? GTP multiplies faithful stewards and mobilizes peer accountability groups (like ECFA in USA) to build trust and grow local giving in 133 countries. And notice the connection between trust and giving.

In the history of Boxing day, when trust eroded in the church, it caused people to give only through personal trust relationships, namely, people they knew. GTP helps churches and ministries follow standards to rebuild that trust.

In 2024 we have invitations to help form coalitions to launch peer accountability groups like ECFA in USA in Hong Kong, Albania, Bangladesh, Brazil, Ireland, Cayman Islands, Nepal, Czechia and Slovakia.

GTP plans to aid the needy, not with handout that creates external support dependency, but with a hand up to build them as disciples in places like China, Malawi, Ukraine, and India in the new year.

And to activate a major grant we need to hit our year-end funding target. The current need is $166,433. Please take a moment today to open the alms boxes and make a Boxing Day gift to GTP. Click here to give.

We not only grow faithful and generous stewards among the poor. Our work in teaching church and ministry workers to follow consistent standards in administration and governance rebuilds trust and local giving.

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Matthew 10:7

“The Lord is near, have no anxiety. The Lord is always near to all who call upon His help with sincerity, true faith, sure hope, and perfect love. He knows what you need, even before you ask Him. He is always ready to come to the aid of all His faithful servants in every need. There is no reason for us to be in a state of great anxiety when evil threatens, we must remember that God is very near us as our Protector.”

Ambrose of Milan (339-397) in Sermon 92 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 685.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.”

Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) in The Prayer of Saint Francis: A Message Of Peace For The World Today by Leonardo Boff (Maryknoll: Orbis, 2001).

I received an email from National Christian Foundation yesterday that referenced this prayer. I checked and, remarkably, I had never posted it as a Daily Meditation in 14.5 years. So, I did some research.

Boff explains the history of this prayer and how it was attributed to Francis.

In short, it was said to embody the Franciscan rule of life from Scripture and their ideals for living out their faith. As it summed up the way of thinking and living, it was posted widely with his picture. From there it stuck as his prayer or his prayer for peace.

Consider how this relates to Christmas and to you and me.

It’s Christmas eve. The waiting is just about over. Soon the angels will proclaim the words of today’s Scripture. They will share the good news of peace on earth made possible through Jesus who had come to save humankind from our sins.

We who have been saved, have been saved for a purpose.

Francis would likely concur that our purpose is to serve as instruments of the peace of Christ. Read the prayer again. Make it your prayer today. So that the reason Christ came will be fulfilled in your life and through your living, giving, serving, and loving.

Happy Christmas eve. Now go be an instrument of the peace of Christ.

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in Him. Job 13:15a

“It is a great comfort in tribulation if, in times of adversity, we recall the gifts our Creator has given us. Nor will overwhelming sorrow break us, if we quickly call to mind the gifts that have sustained us.”

Gregory the Great (540-604) in Job as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 665.

As we approach the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, it may not be a joyous occasion for everyone. Seriously, think of every person you know who has experienced tribulation, adversity, or sorrow this year. Now imagine their pain at this moment.

Send them a note, a text, or an email. Help lift their sights to our Creator. Share the grace you have received in hard times. And remind them that when we “call to mind the gifts” that God has showered upon us, that have sustained our lives, it helps us hold on to hope.

And if you want a gift to share with them, download the ebook called Flourish. Jenni and I wrote it with our friend Linda Maris. Download it here (along with other ebooks for free from GTP) in English, Ukrainian, and Russian. Share it with anyone you think needs help holding on to hope.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

“Why He should ask us to pray, when He knows what need before we ask Him, may perplex us if we do not realize that our Lord and God does not want to know what we want (for He cannot fail to know it) but wants us rather to exercise our desire through our prayers, so that we may be able to receive what He is preparing to give us.

His gift is very great indeed, but our capacity is too small and limited to receive it. That is why we are told: Enlarge your desires, do not bear the yoke with unbelievers. The deeper our faith, the stronger our hope, the greater our our desire, the larger will be our capacity to receive that gift, which is very great indeed.”

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) in Sermon 92 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 662.

Exercise. We must exercise our desire through prayer to grow our capacity to receive. This positions us to grow in generosity. Ponder that. If faith is like a muscle that only grows when we exercise it.

I am getting a workout right now. Perhaps you feel the same way. Waiting on the Lord is stretching!

My current situation as President & CEO of GTP has really got me exercising my desire through prayer. And then as I think about it, I realize that my faith needs to grow to prepare me for the rigorous program work in 2024.

Where are you right now? Are you waiting for a gift but God needs to grow your capacity first?

If so, join me in prayer. It grows us. “The deeper our faith, the stronger our hope, the greater our our desire, the larger will be our capacity to receive that gift, which is very great indeed.”

While my focus has been asking God to supply provision to GTP, I am learning to pray for God to grow my capacity to receive through prayer. The exercise is changing me. I pray it shapes you too.

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowly state of His servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name; indeed, His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has come to the aid of His child Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, according to the promise He made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Luke 1:46-55

“Let Mary’s soul be in each of you to proclaim the greatness of the Lord. Let her spirit be in each to rejoice in the Lord. Christ has only one mother in the flesh, but we all bring forth Christ in faith. Every soul receives the Word of God if only it keeps chaste, remaining pure and free from sin, it’s modesty undefiled. The soul that succeeds in this proclaims the greatness of the Lord, just as Mary’s soul magnified the Lord and her spirit rejoiced in God her Savior.”

Ambrose of Milan (339-397) in Sermon 92 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 645.

I know one of the things I am getting for Christmas. I can’t wait to get it in my stocking. I am getting a 1000 lumen rechargeable flashlight.

What does this have to do with today’s post or our generosity? Hang with me. As I ponder the incarnation with the saints, I look at Mary.

Her soul magnifies the Lord. That means with all of her body and spirit she wanted to make the Lord bigger, to bring Him into the light so all could see Him.

She was an ordinary girl chosen by God to accomplish an extraordinary task. She set aside her plans for her life and embraced God’s mission for her.

She had to remain chaste, pure and free from sin, keeping her modesty undefiled, as Ambrose notes. She had to set herself apart for God’s purposes.

When we do this, we are like a 1000 lumen rechargeable light. When it is charging, it is like Mary, set apart for a purpose and remaining pure.

Then, when the time comes for it to do it’s job, it will shine. It will magnify whatever is shines on. That’s my prayer for each of us, to have souls and spirits like Mary.

You are on this round ball called “earth” for a purpose, to magnify the Lord. Use every ounce of your strength and every penny of your resources for that purpose.

And then set yourself apart to allow God to recharge you daily so you bring 1000 lumens to the dark corners and difficult places of the world.