Act 32 - Anon

Are we any good at performing acts of generosity from which there will be zero reward? Is part of what feels good knowing other people will think well of us? Churches are full of plaques, plates and engravings which tell us which individuals donated the money to pay for beautiful windows, the new font, the organ restoration etc.
Are we really ok with only God knowing what we've done? There's so many issues Jesus wasn't clear on, but charity isn't one of them:

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

(Matthew 6:3–4 NIV)

Act 28 & 29 - Show & Tell & BOGOF

Got behind for the first time, which isn't bad going when I think about how hectic the last 2 weeks have been.

I have to be honest I couldn’t think of a skill I have that I could share with someone else, or something useful to write about that without it sounding like false modesty. I'm a pretty average girl who has never shone at any particular thing, and I'm really ok with that. Our culture teaches us that we're all special, and in terms of how God sees us that's true, but it's also ok to just be average, to not "be the best". Of course if anyone would like the loan of my husband with one of his many amazing skills it can be arranged!
My own greatest skill is passion and enthusiasm, a love of and duty towards the things I do, especially my work. I don't know how to teach that but I believe it can be infections, reflected in the fact that about 7 nurses who were students under me have gone on to work on my unit.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

(1 Peter 4:10 NIV)

Being a disorganised duo, as we are, we often lose things and end up buying another, part of my intended post-training blitz and de-stuffing of the house is to give away anything we have two of.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. (Matthew 25:35 NIV)

Act 15 - More

Today I had many opportunities to be generous and didn't take them. There was ample chance to give more and I didn't. At the end of the day they left me feeling lousy. Some days are like that - more selfish - but all it did was leave me with a sense of disappointment at wasted opportunity and disappointment in myself.
Yet people were generous to me- it all sorts of ways; kind words, a discount at lunch, time spent listening and a really big box of M&Ms!!
Being generous works guys! It benefits others and ourselves, whilst squandering a chance to be generous helps no one and leaves us unsatisfied.

I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need. I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfil His purpose – I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.] (Philippians 4:12–13 AMP)

Act 8 - Dirty cash

Financially the end of Feb is usually our lowest point. After Christmas we have 4 major birthdays in January, plus my nursing registration fees to pay. Even so every Lent we set up a jar in the hallway and all of us - even the kids - put in it whatever we can. The children decide what charity to give it to.
It's a very small thing in terms of stewardship but it's a start, and all things must start somewhere.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (I Timothy 6:10 NIV)

11th December

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. -Luke 2:6-7

There's a popular theory in progressive Christianity (the model of Christianity I buy into) that the sin of Sodom is not a sexual sin but (if you read the book of Genesis carefully, and Ezekiel who states it quite plainly) their sin was a lack of hospitality. They had plenty but didn't share it with those in need. If this, as I believe, is the case then being hospitable and sharing with those in need is one of the most important things we can do as it's one of the things God values most.
We know very little about the people or person who took pity on Mary, about to give birth, and Joseph, anxious at her side, but they did something wonderful.
Whilst my husband has been looking for work we've found the most overwhelming generosity of spirit amongst people, sometimes people we don't even know that well. It's a timely reminder that people are good, and often reflections of God in our lives.

Be More Generous

I like this task as it gives me a chance to use my imagination. I decided a couple of weeks ago who would be the recipient of my random gift, which I won't get to give until Friday, but it's all ready.
Generosity is such an amazing thing because everyone involved wins! The receiver of generosity feels good, which makes the giver of generosity feel good. I do honestly feel happier when I give something, it's a wonderful and peculiar sort of magic. For it to be a random gift- no expectation on either side- is even better. Giving just for sake of being generous. That's how I believe God gives, and delights when we do the same.

2 Corinthians 8:7
Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

Be More Giving

Confession time- I have a large jar half-filled with loose change that I started to fill during Love Life Live Advent that is still sat in my hallway...so now I maybe get the chance to fill it to the top during Lent! The children want the money to go to the hospital where I work.
I think, on the whole, we can be quite a generous nation. We only need to look at the money Comic Relief, Sport Relief and Children in Need raise to confirm this. We don't all have money to give, yet LLLL throughout Lent gives us so many suggestions of other things we can give- time, kindness, a smile, hospitality. There are so many ways in which, with a little thought, we can be generous to each other.
A world where generosity of spirit was prized over all else would look like a rather spectacular thing.

john 2:9-10
When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have now become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until .’

Be More Giving

Today has been so full- there's been so much to do and so much to think about.
Today's action was to set aside a jar for loose change to donate to charity and the kids decided they want to give the money to cancer research. As I work in oncology I was really pleased with their choice.

The Bible passage on today's LLLL page is all about the wedding at Cana and the overwhelming generosity God displayed. It's a reminder that there's ways I can be generous that don't involve money. A phrase I've heard, don't particularly like, but feel applies to me is "time poor". With my work, family and ordination training I have to choose really carefully how I'm going to spend my time and something always gets neglected.
On Sunday, whilst working a 13 1/2 hour shift at work, I found out my children had been asked to dress up for World Book Day- which is today. I had a mild panic knowing that between Sunday and today I was only not in work on Monday morning, but needed to shop then. How on earth was I going to sort costumes?! Things like this happen all the time and I can often feel that I'm not giving my children enough of my time. They did, thankfully, mainly sort their own costumes (with a bit of help from dad) and I sent a panda and Emmet the Lego guy happily to school.

Later on years 3, 4, 5 and 6 from the school joined us in church for a teaching Eucharist service where I preached about LLLL and each child was given a prayer card based on it's principles.
Tonight I was back in college after the half term break, where I was reminded that I'm not the only one struggling with time.

So how on earth do I give more of the thing I haven't got? I want to give more time to my family and my friends but I don't have it to offer them. I don't have an answer to this but as part of my challenge I can think about how I'm spending my time and what my priorities are.

John 2.9-10: When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’

Be More Generous

I was very excited about today's task as it involved giving someone we know a small gift. It's actually quite difficult to pick out one person in our lives to give a gift to. Should it be one of our parents who do so much for us? A supportive friend? Someone who's going through a tough time? Someone who serves our community?
Then when you've chosen a person what do you give? Wine? Flowers? Chocolate?
We decided to give our gift to someone in need of a pick-me-up and a reminder that they are appreciated. Our lovely priest, Vicky, has been rather under the weather recently and has now come down with laryngitis- not great for a vicar to have no voice! To help cheer her up we gave her a bottle of real ale- which she's particularly fond of.
It feels lovely to be more generous- I would urge everyone to give an unexpected gift. The joy you get from giving is so unique and delightful.

Acts 20:35
It is more blessed to give than to receive

Be More Giving

My mum (who lives with us) has just popped through and presented me with the notes I asked the kids to write yesterday to say sorry to each other. Jacob is sorry he hit Faith and Faith is sorry she stood on Jacob's lego box. I pray that this spirit of forgiveness lingers a bit longer!
Today's LLLL task is lovely and simple- save up your loose change and give it to charity at the end of Lent. When the small people come home we'll discuss who we want to donate it to. Faith has already suggested Water Aid but my choice will be The Booth Centre- a Christian charity helping the homeless, based here in Manchester, which just happens to share my maiden name.
The LLLL book has kindly reminded me today of Jesus' miracle at Cana, turning water into wine. This is a timely reminder of my abstinence from alcohol during Lent- something I've only managed before during pregnancy.  As it's Valentine's Day today I've extended my "be more giving" instruction to my husband, Mike, who often feels (and often is) a bit low on the list when it comes to demands upon my time. I've made a gluten free tiramisu, something we used to eat a lot in his gluten-filled days, and there's a bottle of the finest alcohol free cherry cordial to wash it down with. I may even let him watch Notting Hill for the 57th time without groaning.

http://www.boothcentre.org.uk

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.