Look again at the title. Really? I don\u2019t write this stuff – I just report it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beloved ones, we must tell you about the grace God poured out upon the churches of Macedonia. For even during a season of severe difficulty and tremendous suffering, they became even more filled with joy. From the depths of their extreme poverty, super-abundant joy overflowed into an act of extravagant generosity. For I can verify that they spontaneously gave, not only according to their means but far beyond what they could afford. They actually begged us for the privilege of sharing in this ministry of giving to God\u2019s holy people who are living in poverty. (2 Corinthians 8.1 – 4, TPT)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some simple observations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve seen it both ways: joy in Haiti, misery in the U.S. Poor people who contribute to missions, wealthy people who don\u2019t. Perhaps the secret is in the next verse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n They exceeded our expectations <\/em>by first dedicating themselves fully to the Lord<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>and then to us, according to God\u2019s pleasure. (2 Corinthians 8.5, TPT, emphasis mine)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Look again at the title. Really? I don\u2019t write this stuff – I just report it! Beloved ones, we must tell you about the grace God poured out upon the churches of Macedonia. For even during a season of severe difficulty and tremendous suffering, they became even more filled with joy. From the depths of … Continue reading Poverty + Joy = Generosity<\/span>