Archives by: Gary Hoag

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1

“Scatter money in a crowd, how they scramble for it; offer bread to the starving, how greedily they seize it; throw a rope to the drowning, how he eagerly grasps it! With like eagerness and earnestness may the Spirit of God help you to lay hold on Christ.”

Thomas Guthrie in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 592.

Our enthusiastic behavior reveals our deep motivations and affections. What do you seek after earnestly?

Today I have important meetings with a foundation director in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I am not alone. Thankfully I am joined by René Palacio, the chair of the board of GTP. We are here 2×2, and we would love for them to partner generously with GTP.

There is One who support is more important to us than any amount of foundation money, and that is Christ. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. With Him, all things are possible. If you believe this too, join me in eagerly and earnestly seeking Christ daily.

In Him we have everything we need. Living in light of this is the secret to living a life of peace and generosity.

Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

“Love is the greatest thing that God can give us, for Himself is love; and it is the greatest thing we can give to God, for it will also give ourselves and carry with it all that is ours.”

Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 392.

As you think about gift giving, make sure to include love. It’s the greatest thing we can give, and it holds nothing back, so appears as sacrificial in nature.

Think about it. As we approach Thanksgiving (in the USA) and Christmas we realize that God held nothing back. He sent His only Son with love. We get to follow suit.

What will that look like for you to love in a sacrificial way in the coming days? As we think about generosity, remember the greatest thing we can give is love.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

“A living man must have a living God, or his soul will perish in the midst of earthly plenty, and will thirst and die whilst the water of earthly delights is running all around him. We are made to need persons not things.”

Alexander Maclaren in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 390.

For years we got a newspaper because it had the advertisements on Sunday to tell us where to shop for good deals. I learned from my daughter, Sophie, that in America you can already see the Black Friday advertisements to shop for things. There’s apps out there that feature the forthcoming deals.

Black Friday is a huge shopping day in America, labeled as such as the big sales help retailers go from having a deficit or being “in the red” to being “in the black” financially speaking. It is the day after Thanksgiving, which is 28 November 2019 this year.

God made us to need and depend on Him rather than things. The worldly, things-centered mindset is a leading obstacle to generosity. When we seek Him first, and ask Him to supply our daily needs, we grasp life. All the things will be sorted when He is in His rightful place.

So, this shopping season, don’t hesitate to save money on things you were going to buy anyway for your living, giving, serving, and loving. But, more importantly, be diligent to seek God first and enjoy and generously share all He richly supplies.

Focus on persons not things, and make God the number one person in your life.

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Romans 14:12

“At the beginning of the twenty first century, an unprecedented opportunity exists to disciple the church in the fundamental biblical pattern of holistic stewardship. As the church becomes increasingly aware of issues of sustainability, seeks to understand and foster the role of business, and expands the message of the grace of giving as a central motif of the Christian life, an environment for transformation takes root: personal and corporate. Christ-centered stewardship — that is, management of God’s resources for His intended purposes — will begin to foster more accountability for business and ministry, more collaboration among ministry efforts for greater effectiveness, and healthy motivations and patterns of giving in the lives of all Christians, regardless of wealth, location or status.”

Ram Gidoomal in “Kingdom Stewardship” (Preface to Cape Town 2010 Advance Paper).

The Apostle Paul reminded the Roman church to work collaboratively and use resources for the edification of each person because we will all have to give an account of ourselves to God.

We live in a global world and people everywhere are calling for more accountability, more collaboration, and more healthy motivations and patterns of generosity.

Having just returned home from meetings at CCCC outside Toronto, I am hopeful that collaboration with GTP on the topic of accountability will result in more generosity in Canada and globally.

They are doing some good stuff there that may help groups in other nations and vice versa. Like the Apostle Paul, it’s a privilege to be in the middle to exhort groups to edify each other.

How are you promoting a biblical pattern of holistic stewardship where you serve? How has the grace of giving transformed you and your congregation or community?

With Gidoomal I believe there’s never been a better time than now to promote a holistic stewardship, to champion accountability, to collaborate, and to encourage healthy motives and patterns of generosity.

The best part is that it prepares everyone in this growing movement to give an account before God.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

“One of the best things in the gospel of Jesus is the stress it lays on small things. It ascribes more value to quality than to quantity; it teaches that God does not ask how much we do, but how we do it.”

J. F. Clarke in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 387.

Last night I flew to Toronto for meetings with John Pellowe and others at CCCC, the peer accountability group serving ministries Canada today. I am here to build relationships, to learn about the work of CCCC in Canada, to share about GTP and discuss possible areas of global collaboration.

As I serve here and as you labor where God has you, join me in giving thanks that we serve a Lord that does not expect results from us (quantity) but wants us to work for Him doing little things with all our heart (quality). Think about it. In the Great Commission, He does not say “go and make 100 disciples” (quantity), but says to “go and make disciples and teach them to obey everything He commanded” (quality).

When we do the small things with great love and rich generosity, our Lord takes care of the results and, more importantly, our lives (and specifically our love and generosity) bring great glory to Him!

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4

“4 February: This evening I called on the owner of the land on Ashley Down, about which I had heard on 2 February, but he was not at home. As I had been informed that I should find him at his house of business, I went there, but did not find him there either, as he had just before left. I might have called again at his residence, at a later hour having been informed by one of the servants that he would be sure to be at home about eight o’clock; but I did not do so judging that there was the hand of God in my not finding him at either place: and I judged it best therefore not to force the matter, but to ‘let patience have her perfect work.’

5 February: Saw this morning the owner of the land. He told me that he awoke at three o’clock this morning and could not sleep again till five. While he was thus lying awake, his minds all the time occupied about the piece of land, respecting which inquiry had been made of him for the building of an Orphan-House, at my request; and he determined that if I should apply for it, he would not only let me have it, but for £120 per acre, instead of £200; the price which he had previously asked for it. How good is the Lord! The agreement was made this morning, and I purchased the field of nearly seven acres, at £120 per acre. Observe the hand of God at home last evening! The Lord meant to speak to His servant first about this matter, during a sleepless night, and to lead him fully to decide, before I had seen him.”

George Mueller in Answers to Prayer by George Mueller (Nashville: B&H, 2017) 42-43.

Two days ago I had my monthly coffee with a mentor and friend, Rich Haynie. He stands with me in prayer as CEO of Global Trust Partners like Abiathar the priest stood by David in the Old Testament. He asked me how I was doing. I shared that for some needs for GTP I was having to wait patiently on the Lord.

He smiled widely as God had led to read this story to me. He wanted me to know that I should “let patience have her perfect work” and reminded me to let my requests be made known unto God so that the peace that passes all understanding would guard and keep me in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

This filled my soul with joy. How good it is to have friends who pray for us and remind us to trust God with our needs. This inspired me, since GTP is just getting going, to journal answers to prayer. That’s my plan. So that God’s glory might be made known as He supplies answers to prayer. just like Mueller and the Orphan-House.

Near the end of our time, he shared this prayer with me from the book (40). He prayed it for me and I share it now praying it for all readers of this meditation. May the Holy Spirit give us eyes to “observe the hand of God” and rest in the fact that we are kept in His faithful hands.

Father, reveal to me an area in which my faith might be tried today. A place You are asking me to remove my hands, my control, and my mind, and to trust You with the strategy oof my life and portion. That’s a hard thing to let go of, and I know You know this, as You sent Your Son to be ridiculed, mocked, and crucified by men who misunderstood, were blind, and were disobedient to You. I know that letting go of my need to control my life means it will appear to be in the hands of those who will not be faithful with it, But, Father, show me how I am kept in Your hands. Show me how You are a “very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Give me eyes to see that You are with me and in control, and give me a worshipping heart in response to Your care — even if I falter along the way. In the name of your Son. Amen.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

“Kindness has converted more sinners than either zeal, eloquence, or learning.”

F. W. Faber (1814-1863), an English minister, in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 363.

Imagine for a moment that you are Micah.

God’s people have gone astray and He gives you this message to deliver. God does not want offerings. He wants His people to treat each other fairly, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with Him.

Essentially Micah was to tell the people that God did not need them to do things for Him. He wanted them to follow His design for living. It was to show in their daily interactions with others and in their walk with God.

When we pause to reflect, it becomes clear why God would desire this. He wants His people to present Him to the world through their everyday living, giving, serving, and loving.

And the wise minister, F. W. Faber, reminds us that such behavior will win more people to faith than “zeal, eloquence, or learning.” Remarkable. And, these traits are accessible to everyone.

What’s the lesson for us today related to generosity?

As we enter a season of thankfulness and giving in the USA, let us humbly give the gift of kindness wherever we go in order to win people to faith in Christ with a generous balance of actions and words.

Kind words are like honey — sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24

“The art of saying appropriate words in a kindly way is one that never goes out of fashion, never ceases to please, and is within the reach of the humblest.”

Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 363.

I pulled off the road and shot this new header photo in the Black Hills region on my way home from hunting. Short stops like short quotes give us perspective. This one sure does. Hear it again.

“The art of saying appropriate words in a kindly way is one that never goes out of fashion, never ceases to please, and is within the reach of the humblest.”

This comes easy for some people. Not me. When you have a prophetic gift, you know the appropriate words to say, but the delivery is not always kindly. Notice Scripture says that kind words are like honey to the soul.

This behavior “never goes out of fashion, never ceases to please, and is within the reach of the humblest.” So there’s hope for people like me to dispense such honey, and perhaps you too!

Our greatest acts of generosity require discernment more than dollars and wisdom more than wealth. May God help us grow in these areas for His glory.

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32

“Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindnesses and small obligations, given habitually, are what win and preserve the heart.”

Humphry Davy in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 368.

In today’s Scripture, a tiny seed produces a huge plant. Likewise, little things can make a big difference when done habitually with smiles and kindness.

I’ve enjoyed a great hunting trip with John Roswech and with Hope St. Teresa and Joy St. Clare (our son’s dog and our dog). Today I head home slowly through a snowstorm.

This has been one of God’s message to me for every corner of my life from this hunting retreat: do little things with great love and kindness.

But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand. Isaiah 32:8

“The true use of a man’s possessions is to help his work; and the best end of all his work is to show us what he is. The noblest workers of our world bequeath us nothing so great as the image of themselves. Their task, be it ever so glorious, is historical and transient; the majesty of their spirit is essential and eternal.”

James Martineau in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 361.

Martineau inspires us to make sure we are using what we have to show the world who we are. What does your work say about who you are? Noble workers make plans and put to work all they are and all they have. Do you?

Today is my last day of pheasant hunting. We are getting a snowstorm so we made plans to hunt where we think we quickly find birds. We saved the best hunting spots for today. God, grant us favor.