Give

A sleety rain pummeled Cole and me as we walked to the van after dropping the girls off at Kita yesterday morning. "Wet, wet -- mess!" said Cole, pointing to the windshield as I buckled him into his car seat. But when we got home, I decided to go ahead with my plan to go out for a run. I knew we would both be better off for a little fresh air and a change of scenery, and the downpour had stopped, so I bundled up Cole and put him in the stroller and we set out.

Thoughts from the jogging trail: sacrificial, continual giving seems to be something God wants me to pay attention to right now. The decision to apply to a mission on an Indian Reservation this summer was based on this stirring in my heart to not just receive but also to give from the abundance that has been given to me.

When I was in Maastricht Jeff pointed out to his class that in Paradise Lost God's power is shown by giving it away (conferring it on Jesus) while Satan tries to show his power by grasping as much as he can for himself, and by obtaining more by force.

Tim Keller was preaching to me on my Sunday run about the story of the prodigal son. In order for the younger son to be reinstated in the family and the estate, the elder son (who had become the sole heir) had to sacrifice. He was not willing to do that, and I found myself wondering if I was willing to sacrifice in order that others could come into the kingdom when wham! Tim Keller turned my thoughts upside down. "The Elder Brother in your story, of course, is different. He was willing to sacrifice His life for you." I confess again to the problem of starting with myself, considering what I have to give up or do, hoping I'll be up to the difficult task. Tim Keller was exactly right: I need to first look to Jesus and what he has done and the willing sacrifice flows out of that.

Yesterday this verse in John 16 astounded me: "He [the Spirit] will bring me [Jesus] glory by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." I could not get my mind around "he will bring me glory by taking from what is mine." This is the paradox: taking away does not result in less. 


A post from Ann Voskamp's blog adds a quote to my sea of thoughts:

Christian hands never clasp
and He doesn’t give gifts for gain
because a gift can never stop being a gift—
it is always meant to be given.

A gift can never stop being a gift. What have I received? What have I not received? And so, how can I give today?