generosity

you have two friends, one is generous and the other is selfish. who would you like to spend time with? the generous or the selfish? most people would probably choose the generous ones without a doubt.

but let's think again. who do we want to be? the generous friend or the selfish one? if we choose to spend time with the generous friend, then we are the ones who are selfish. and vice versa. we are often able to judge others, but when the situation comes to us, we could not judge at it clearly.

if you want to be the generous friend, then start spending time with selfish friends. :)

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17 september 2006 sermon notes
rev. dave kenney

i. god is generous

acts 20:35
in everything i did, i showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the lord yesus himself said: "it is more blessed to give than to receive."

ii. god wants to protect us

timothy 6:9-10
people who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and distruction. 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.

timothy 6:17-19
command those who are rich in this present world not be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in god, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. commend them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. in this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

• chasing after money causes many dangerous problems.
• we need to put our hope in good instead of money.
• we are commanded to be generous.
• when we are generous, we store treasure in heaven.

iii. we gain when we are generous

acts 20:1-4
at caesarea there was a man named cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the italian regiment. he and all his family were devout and god-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to god regularly. one day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. he distinctly saw an angel of god, who came to him and said, "cornelius!" cornelius started at him in fear. "what is it, lord?" he asked. the angel answered, "your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before god."

• our generous gifts to those in need are offerings to god.

2 corinthians 5:6-11
remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for god loves a cheerful giver. and god is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. as it is written: "he has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." now he who suppplies the seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. you will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to god.

• god will return to us the same way we give.
• we will gain spiritually as well as materially.
• we will gain other riches in addition to the ones we give.
• people will praise god because of us.

iv. we can all be generous

romans 12:6-8

we have different gifts, according to the grace given us. if a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others; let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

• generous with our time.
• generous with our talent.
• generous with out things.
• be generous with what you have.
  

quarter life crisis

had so much on my mind a few weeks back then. i guess i was just thinking too much.

quarter life crisis = stress = gastric attack

bad. one of the worst i've ever experienced. my usual doctor's prescription apparently wasn't working well. it made me stayed home for almost one whole week. lucky enough, my dear sis mentioned my condition to mira. mira then refered me to this internist. he got me back to back to work in just three days. :)

and now, i have lots of restrictions to food. hot, oily, sour is definitely out of the range. i love chilli so much, it's such a torture not having them. but having them torture me even more. haha. ironic, i guess.

just have to take life easy from now. most important of all, i've learnt to appreciate a lot of things more these days. thank god for that. my family doctor says, the most important thing is learning to cope with the stress and eat on time.

i'm greatful for all those people who were there while i was low. i'll love you guys. always.

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one thing for sure. gastric attack does burn the pocket.