Margaret Mary Alacoque: Inexhaustible source of all good

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1

“See, My daughter, whether thou canst find a father whose love for his only son has prompted him to take care of him or to show him such tender proofs of his love as I have given and will yet give thee of Mine; for from thy earliest years My love has borne kindly with thee, and has trained and formed thee after My own Heart, awaiting thee patiently without growing weary of all thy resistance. Know, therefore, that if ever thou shouldst forget the gratitude thou owest Me and shouldst not refer the glory of everything to Me, thou wouldst thereby, as regards thyself, dry up this inexhaustible source of all good.”

The Lord to Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) in Saints’ Quotes: Holy Quotations for Purification of the Soul, Collection on Gratitude.

It’s a powerful idea that when we forget gratitude and fail to give God glory for everything, with regard to ourselves, we dry up the “inexhaustible source of all good.”

It makes perfect sense. We serve a God who inhabits the praises of His people. While He is always with us, He draws near to those who praise Him, rely on Him, who rest in His love.

But not everyone acknowledges this. I am not immune to thanklessness. It happens when circumstances get rough. When God seems silent. All the while He remains patient despite our resistance.

So, the lesson for me today as I prepare to leave Africa is clear. If I want God to continue to draw near and supply the needs of GTP’s work in remote places, I must praise Him with gratitude and give Him all the glory for what He has done here.

I praise God for all He did in Malawi, pictured above (click here to read the trip report). Even the government officials and news media proclaims acknowledges how God is at work (click here to view a two minute video).

And I invite the world to join the movement by making a gift to GTP. We are praying for $80,000 right away to deploy staff to spread the vision of Palmful of Maize to 16 more districts. Pray with me for this. Thanks.

And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2

“Since then the only-begotten Son of God has been sent from the Father as propitiation for the world, may we, the blind, see again, we captives be freed, we oppressed be forgiven. Who is blind? One short-sighted through attachment to the passions. Who is captive? One led away by unseemly thoughts. Who is oppressed? One broken by sins. The Lord heals them; for He is a physician of souls as well as bodies… Let no one then remain unenlightened and unhealed, but let them draw near with faith and they will receive blessing from the Lord and mercy from God their Savior.”

Theodore the Studite (759-826) in Saints’ Quotes: Holy Quotations for Purification of the Soul, Collection on Attachment.

My prayer today for everyone reading this is enlightenment and healing.

Jesus Christ not only served as the propitiation, the atoning sacrifice for our sins, He helps the blind see, sets the captives free, and forgives the sins of the oppressed.

This generous blessing and mercy is for everyone who draws near to God.

The reality is that many people have experienced the propitiation but they are still slaves to their passions. Christ is their atoning sacrifice, but they remain blind, captive, and/or oppressed.

Disordered attachments enslave and limit our generosity.

This comes into view as attachments to things like money or other possessions, slavery to addictions or debt that limit our present and future impact, and other sins that so easily beset us. All of us, me included.

So we must be free and healthy to help others. To experience this we take steps toward God.

Theodore would suggest that when we draw near to God in faith, so we experience enlightenment and healing to live in light of the freedom and forgiveness we have in Jesus.

If that sounds too complicated, just ask God what you need to detach or find freedom from to grow in generosity.

At the Global Gathering for GTP we replicated a training called Stations of Generosity which I pray spreads around the world through enlightened and healed people.

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:12-14

“I see that the sweet God is so solicitous for the welfare of the soul, that no human being could have a like anxiety to gain the whole world even if he were certain to obtain it by his efforts; when behold the love he displays in providing us with all possible aids to lead us into heaven, I am, as it were, forced to say that this sweet Master appears as if he were our servant. If man could see the care which God takes of a soul, nothing more would be necessary to amaze and confound him than to consider that this glorious God, in whom all things have their being, should have so great a Providence over his creatures; yet we, to whom it is a matter either of salvation or damnation, hold it in light esteem.”

Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) in Saints’ Quotes: Holy Quotations for Purification of the Soul, Collection on Providence.

Today’s biblical text are the verses that Simon Rattray of Project 114 spoke over the staff in our commissioning service on Friday night. They have been in my heart since. Then early this morning I read this post by Catherine of Genoa.

I realized afresh that God cares more about my needs than I do. He is more solicitous about the Palmful of Maize vision spreading across Malawi than I am. He loves GTP more than I could ever dream. So I rest in His care today.

This is significant for me because the costs of convening and deploying everyone have risen. So rather than fear, because I have been amazed and confounded by His sweet Providence which fuels our generous service, I trust Him to supply.

Join me in this. Pause today to reflect on the goodness of our sweet God. May the reality of His attentive care amaze and confound you and root out all fear and deepen your faith to live, give, serve, and love generously.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

“The key to the missionary’s work is the authority of Jesus Christ, not the needs of the lost. We are inclined to look on our Lord as one who assists us in our endeavors for God. Yet our Lord places Himself as the absolute sovereign and supreme Lord over His disciples. He does not say that the lost will never be saved if we don’t go — He simply says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” He says, “Go on the basis of the revealed truth of My sovereignty, teaching and preaching out of your living experience of Me…Go therefore…” To “go” simply means to live. Acts 1:8 is the description of how to go. Jesus did not say in this verse, “Go into Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria,” but, “…you shall be witnesses to Me in [all these places].” He takes upon Himself the work of sending us.”

Oswald Chambers “The Key to Missionary Work” in My Utmost for His Highest on 14 October.

The GTP board, staff, regional facilitators, and special guests convened this week. As we go forth from here, I am thankful that my mom sent me this post which serves as a generous reminder.

We go with the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our lives witness to His sovereign and supreme power and authority. As we live in light of it, may we have victory and bless other generously.

The Lord replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

“In all your affairs lean solely on God’s Providence, by means of which alone your plans can succeed. Meanwhile, on your part work on in quiet co-operation with Him, and then rest satisfied that if you have trusted entirely to Him you will always obtain such a measure of success as is most profitable for you, whether it seems so or not to your own individual judgment.”

Francis de Sales (1567-1622) in Saints’ Quotes: Holy Quotations for Purification of the Soul, Collection on Providence.

God has been with us at the Global Gathering for GTP as 34 people from 20 countries have convened to share testimony of God’s faithfulness, to discern direction, to map plans in co-operation with God.

As the meetings draw to a close today, we will rest satisfied knowing that we understand our role and we can trust God to do His part. The same is true for you. May God’s presence be with you today and give you rest.

What a generous God we serve! He calls us to give our lives generously and simultaneously restores us for service through fellowship, co-operation, and rest. And only in Him can we rest satisfied.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Matthew 6:30

“I have never worried about our temporal affairs, and I have seen by experience that God has always provided for us. When we were two, providence provided enough for two; for four when we were four; and when our number increased the needs of all were supplied, thus verifying the divine promise. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33) “Be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on.” (Matt. 6:25).”

Paul of the Cross (1694-1775) in Saints’ Quotes: Holy Quotations for Purification of the Soul, Collection on Gratitude.

I really needed to hear this for GTP as we are growing. And I even had to look up the word “solicitous” because I wanted to understand the nuance. It’s basically concerned to the point of anxiousness. I am tempted to fear often.

Seriously, we went from 5-10 staff members in the last 6 months. Four of the positions were directly funded by grants but we still have some significant unmet financial needs. Should I worry? Not for a minute.

I reminding myself to pray and to invite people to participate with GTP in God’s work. For an example of the impact, check out the national news story about Palmful of Maize in Malawi.

At GTP, our efforts are breaking the dependency syndrome, as the Malawi government minister described it, and we are building generous disciples of Jesus Christ in the process. Please join in this work by giving here.

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. Psalm 125:1

“The more you abandon to God the care of all temporal things the more He will take care to provide for all your wants. But if on the contrary you try to supply all your needs Providence will allow you to continue to do just that, and then it may very well happen that even necessity will be lacking to you. For God will reprove you for your lack of faith in reliance on self.”

Jean-Baptiste de la Salle (1651-1719) in Saints’ Quotes: Holy Quotations for Purification of the Soul, Collection on Gratitude.

When we have needs, we must trust in God rather than ourselves to sort them. He whose reliance on self will find a fruitless existence, but the one who depends on God’s providence will have his or her needs supplied.

Where are you on this matter? Whom do you trust to supply your needs and wants? The answer reveals where you place your trust. We cannot be generous unless we abandon to God the care of all things.

IF this seems difficult, start with a step. Trust God for orange juice or coffee. For something small, and see what He can do. As I convene with the world in Cape Town, my highest prayer is that all learn to trust in Him.

He’s good and faithful. His love endures forever. Those who trust in His love, His kindness, His provision, are not shaken, but rather endure with stability and abundance because of His goodness and generosity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:15-16

“Would that I could exhaust myself in acts of thanksgiving and gratitude towards this Divine Heart, for the great favor He shows us, in deigning to accept our help to make Him known, loved and honored; He reserves infinite blessings for all those who devote themselves to this work.”

Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) in Saints’ Quotes: Holy Quotations for Purification of the Soul, Collection on Gratitude.

Today is the GTP board meeting. It happens in anticipation of the arrival of the regional facilitators and special guests from around the world. But I have much work to do today. There are funding needs and reports to finish, etc… but God is telling me this morning to be thankful.

He’s beckoning me to rest in His peace and exhaust myself in thanking Him in gratitude for the great things He has done and is doing. Perhaps you are like me? Or like Martha instead of Mary in the Scriptures? You wrestle to rest and celebrate when there is work to be done. This is my challenge often.

God help me. He’s telling me to pause. To exhaust myself in His goodness and love, His blessings and favor. For example to rejoice in the news media coverage of Palmful of Maize. View it here. So, with much to do today, I resolve to start my day by worshipping Him in gratitude. Join me.

Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” Joshua 3:5

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malignant enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me,
And bid me come to Thee,
That, with Thy Saints, I may praise Thee,
For ever and ever.

Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) Anima Christi.

Today’s Scripture was on my mind yesterday as the GTP board arrived to Cape Town from around the world. We must consecrate ourselves to invite God to work among us. Anima Christi is a prayer of consecration that I am praying today for each of us here in South Africa, and for Daily Meditation readers around the world.

May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ sanctify us, save us, inebriate us, wash us, strengthen us, hear us, hide us, defend us and call us to Himself so that we may praise Him forever. Amen.

This line sticks with me today, as this global movement was started by Dan Busby whom the Lord recently called home: “In the hour of my death, call me, and bid me come to Thee, that, with Thy Saints, I may praise Thee, for ever and ever.” Join the celebration of his life which I will host on 21 October 2022. Click here to register.

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. Acts 3:1-2

“If we should be saved and become saints, we ought always to sit at the gates of the divine mercy to beg and pray for, as an alms, all that we need.”

Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) in Saints’ Quotes: Holy Quotations for Purification of the Soul, Collection on Alms.

Alphonsus got me thinking about the scene in today’s Scripture with this quote.

He’s right. Like the lame man in the text. We must see ourselves as helpless and imagine ourselves at the gate where our Lord dwells, asking for alms, all that we need. And, once we receive all that we need, we must in gratitude, give generously to all in need.

On this Lord’s day, let us pause to give thanks for the fact that when we were helpless, we got help because of divine mercy. And let us help others generously. Click here to view learn about the Palmful of Maize effort among the poor in Malawi.

This clip is what the national news station said about this vision spreading across Malawi. In their words, it’s breaking down the dependency syndrome. In so doing we are building disciples together.

If you want to give alms to help the work of GTP lifting up the poor in Malawi, click here to give. Even as God has helped you, give to help others in Jesus name.