Stir It Up

2 Corinthians 9 says  ^“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

Did you know that when you give to others, it not only supplies the need of that person, but it stirs up thanksgiving in their hearts?  Pretty cool.

When we receive gifts on our birthday, at Christmas, or any time at all, our hearts are full of thanksgiving at the generosity of the giver.

We can cultivate and encourage thanksgiving in others by being generous this season.  In fact, these verses say that as we give, we will be given more, so that we can be generous “on every occasion.” 

There’s nothing wrong with giving your kids gifts at Christmas.  There’s nothing wrong with giving other things for Christmas instead of spending money – like time, handmade gifts, or something baked.  It’s the giving, the selfless act of caring for another person and showing them that you care, that evokes thanksgiving in their hearts.

Lavish your kids with love and giving to meet their needs this year.  Spend time with them, offer them unconditional love, surprise them with fun, and affirm them with your words.

In heaping your generosity upon those you love, they will return to God and to you with expressions of thanksgiving, and He will be most pleased.