Hawk Nelson: We can change the world!

Teach us to number our days, that we might gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Why have daily office in the Word coupled with studying what saints through the centuries said of its teachings related to Christian generosity?

Why do this for 1,000 days in a row (and counting, because today’s the big day)? I think this song sums it up.

“I’ve seen an orphan’s heart filled with the Father’s love
I’ve heard the hungry and the thirsty say I’ve had enough
Yeah I’ve seen hopelessness get swallowed up in hope
When all God’s people say okay here we go

We can change the world, you and me
We can make a difference if we just believe
When the hands and feet start moving together
We can change the world forever

I’ve seen the broken one get healed of his disease
Witnessed the beauty of forgiveness save my family
So many cities need revival of the soul
And all God’s people say come on here we go,
come on here we go

We can change the world, you and me
We can make a difference if we just believe
When the hands and feet start moving together
We can change the world forever

We know what we’ve gotta do
It’s time for us to show the truth
It’s up to me, it’s up to you

We can change the world, we can change the world

We can change the world, you and me
We can make a difference if we just believe
When the hands and feet start moving together
We can change the world forever”

Hawk Nelson: We can change the world. YouTube Music Video:

In celebration of 1,000 days as the Generosity Monk, over the next 10 days or so, I will share some spiritually rich songs from my iTunes that encourage my journey of Christian generosity. I pray they are a blessing to you too.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

“One of the elders said: Just as a bee, wherever she goes, makes honey, so a monk, wherever he goes, if he goes to do the will of God, can always produce the spiritual sweetness of good works.”

An unknown Desert Father cited by Thomas Merton in The Wisdom of the Desert (New York: New Directions, 1960), p. 71.

If I am counting correctly, it was 1,000 days ago that I dedicated my life to encouraging Christian generosity, so on the eve of my 1,000th meditation (tomorrow), join me in this prayer, which came to mind after discovering today’s meditation:

God, I surrender all I am and all I have to you. I commit to do your will and walk in your ways as outlined in your Word, even when they are the opposite of what the world is doing around me. By the power of the Holy Spirit, help me love people deeply, live life simply, and give generously from the spiritual and material abundance you so richly provide. With gratitude, I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

“Sit in your cell as in paradise. Put the whole world behind you and forget it. Watch your thoughts like a good fisherman watching fish…Empty yourself completely and sit waiting, content with the grace of God, like the chick who tastes nothing and eats nothing but what his mother brings him.” Silence in the presence of God renews and refreshes the spirit–and gives you the ability to give generously in return.

Romuald of Ravenna (c. 950-1027) founder of the Camaldolese order of monks (a.k.a. “hermits”) as cited by Paula Huston in Simplifying the Soul: Lenten Practices to Renew Your Spirit (Ave Maria Press: Notre Dame, 2011) 73-75.

“Abba Theodore of Pherme had acquired three good books. He came to Abba Macarius and said to him, “I have three excellent books from which I derive profit; the brethren also make use of them and derive profit from them. Tell me what I ought to do; keep them for my use and that of the brethren, or sell them and give the money to the poor?” The old man answered him in this way, “Your actions are good; but it is best of all to possess nothing.” Hearing that, he went and sold his books and gave the money for them to the poor.”

Abba Theodore and Abba Macarius (4th century) as cited by Benedicta Ward in The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1975) 73.

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Isaiah 55:1 (cf. Mark 10:13-31)

“If you’re interested in God doing a work in you like He promises to do to Israel [in Isaiah 55], you need to meet two requirements:

(1) You need to be thirsty, and (2) You need to be broke.

God’s invitation doesn’t go to those who think God would be lucky to have them. It goes to people who are needy and have nothing to offer God.

You may have come here this morning reluctantly because you don’t think you really have anything to offer to God. You are just the person He’s looking for.”

Rich Cathers of Fullerton Calvary Chapel, sermon notes on Isaiah 55:1.

For complete notes see: http://www.calvaryfullerton.org/Bstudy/23%20Isa/1999/23Isa55a.htm

“For as the good fruit is not the cause that the tree is good, but the tree must first be good before it can bring forth good fruit; so the good deeds of man are not the cause that maketh man good, but he is first made good by the Spirit and grace of God, that effectually worketh in him, and afterward he bringeth forth good fruits.” (cf. Matthew 7:15-20).

Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) recorded in The Church of England: Quarterly Review 1842: 154.

“If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me.”

St. Patrick (c. 450) in the Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus translated from the Latin by John Skinner in The Confession of St. Patrick (1998).

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”

Mother Teresa (1910-1997) in Spiritual Gems from Mother Teresa ed. Gwen Costello (2008) 11 (cf. Matthew 25:31-46).

To sponsor a child through Potter’s House International, visit: http://www.pottershouse.org.gt/sponsorship/

“The New Testament gives us three areas where we need to be content:

Content with your current possessions: Hebrews 13:5, “be content with what you have.”
Content with your current provisions: 1 Timothy 6:6, “if we have food and covering with these we will be content.”
Content with your current paycheck: Luke 3:14, “be content with your wages.”

If we get a handle on these three areas of our lives we will experience a level of financial, spiritual and emotional contentment and freedom beyond anything we have every known before.

Keep in mind there is a huge difference between being financially independent and being financially free. You can be financially independent and not be financially free. Likewise, you can be financially free without being financially independent. I know some very wealthy people who are clearly financially independent, but they are anything but financially free. They are “slaves” to their possessions. I also know people who do not have “two nickels to rub together” and they are anything but financially independent. Yet, they are entirely financially free.

Our goal is to be financially free. We may never realize financial independence in our lifetime. But let me ask you, what would be wrong with living a hand to mouth existence if it is God’s hand to your mouth?”

Jay Link, excerpt from How Much is Enough? blogpost for March 2012: http://www.stewardshipministries.org/blog/2012/03/01/how-much-is-enough/

And for his [Jehoiachin’s] allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived.” 2 Kings 25:30

“In this He provides us with a picture of the happy position of all the Lord’s people. A daily portion is all that a man really wants. We do not need tomorrow’s supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are yet unborn…

if we have enough for each day as the days arrive, we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all that we can enjoy. We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day’s supply of food and clothing; the more we have the more we have to store, and we worry about it being stolen…

This is all that we should expect; a craving for more than this is ungrateful. When our Father does not give us more, we should be content with his daily allowance. Jehoiachin’s case is ours; we have a sure portion, a portion given to us by the king, a gracious portion, and a perpetual portion…

In Jesus everything you need is provided for you. So enjoy your continual allowance. Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy.”

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) Morning by Morning: A New Edition of the Classic Devotional Based on the ESV ed. Alistair Begg, reading for February 14 (Wheaton: Crossway, 2007).