Remembering the Reason: Day 25 of 25 Days of Kindness

Posted on
Reply
Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness.
Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. – Scott Adams
 
The Ripple Effect.  We’ve talked about being generous in acts of gratitude, sharing, encouragement, good deeds, forgiveness, seeing others through God’s eyes, giving, listening, hospitality, hope, celebrating, caring for others, taking time for the eternal things, prayer, sharing our faith stories and serving.  If we commit to just one simple act, miraculous things will happen.  Here are five things we can know for sure:
 
1.  Giving not only changes the recipient, it changes us.
2.  Giving aligns us with the very heartbeat of God.
3.  The Bible says that we can take it with us. (Matthew 6:19-20)
4.  We are called to give–cheerfully and joyfully.
5.  Giving is an act of worship.
 
One day we will be able to see what the Lord has done with our offering.  Heaven will be richer because we will have discovered that we can, indeed, take it with us.  When we see the ripple effect and experience the real power of generosity, our lives will be changed forever.
 
 
Source:  One Simple Act – Discovering the Power of Generosity

Remembering the Reason: Day 24 of 25 Days of Kindness

Posted on
Reply
Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.  ~Samuel Johnson
 
Reaching Out.   One simple act of generosity can change a life, a community and the world.  And every act, no matter how small, gives back to the giver and moves us closer to the very heart of God.  If we are going to seek a servant’s heart, we’re going to need to reach out to our neighbors, in the largest sense of the word.  John Wesley’s rule states our mission of service succinctly:
 
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.  
 
What are some ways that you reach out to others? Share some of your ideas with us. 
 
 
Source:  One Simple Act – Discovering the Power of Generosity

Remembering the Reason: Day 23 of 25 Days of Kindness

Posted on
Reply

Each person must live their life as a model for others. – Rosa Parks 

Modeling Generosity.   The best way for us to share the lifestyle of generosity is to model it.  The heart that chooses to serve others will multiply the happiness in this world and reap the eternal reward of joy in heaven.  Such a heart is aligned with the very heart of God. Here are ten rules for happier living that can help us model a lifestyle of generosity:

  1.  Give something away–no strings attached.
  2.  Do a kindness–and forget it.
  3.  Spend a few minutes with the aged–their experience is priceless guidance.
  4.  Look intently into the face of a baby–and marvel.
  5.  Laugh often–it’s life’s lubricant.
  6.  Give thanks–a thousand times a day is not enough.
  7.  Pray–or you will lose the way.
  8.  Work–with vim and vigor.
  9.  Plan as though you’ll live forever–because you will.
10.  Live as though you’ll die tomorrow–because you will, on some tomorrow.

 
 
Source:  One Simple Act – Discovering the Power of Generosity

Remembering the Reason: Day 22 of 25 Days of Kindness

Posted on
Reply
It’s difficult to share the love of Christ with our words unless
we love like Christ with our lives. – Stephanie Shott
 
Earning a Listening Ear.  Today’s kindess post features Stephanie Shott, a local Jacksonville author and speaker.  In her blog post, 10 Ways to Give Beyond Your Four Walls, she shares some outreach ideas. Check out her ideas for giving.
 
 
How do you give beyond your four walls?  Share some of your ideas with us.
 
  
 

Remembering the Reason: Day 21 of 25 Days of Kindness

Posted on
Reply

I think if the church did what they were supposed to do we wouldn’t
have anyone sleeping on the streets. – Michael W. Smith

 A Weekday Faith.  If the church is going to be relevant, we need to roll up our sleeves and offer service to a hurting world.  That world no longer has patience with a Sunday Christian.  They’re looking to see Christians who live out their faith.  The church is God’s sent people.  That means when everything is stripped away–the building, the events, the activities, the leaders, and other identifying markers for the church–the people are the church and church is the people.  Therefore, wherever God’s people are corporately or individually, there is the church.  Church is at home, in the car, in the restaurant, the beach–wherever God’s people find themselves in their daily lives. 

We don’t want to go to church or do church, we want to be the church!  How do you “be” the church in your daily activities? Share your ideas with us.
 
 
Source:  One Simple Act – Discovering the Power of Generosity

Remembering the Reason: Day 20 of 25 Days of Kindness

Posted on
Reply
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of 
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him. - Colossians 3:17 
 
Offer Your Loaves and Fishes.  We can serve with the loaves and fishes of the resources we have no matter how modest.  An elderly woman did just that.  Restricted in her activities she was nonetheless eager to serve the Lord.  After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano.  The next day she placed a small ad in the newspaper:  “Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent – the service is free.”
 
The ad included the number to dial.  When people called, she would ask, “What hymn would you like to hear?”  Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people.  Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them.
 
We don’t need wealth or award winning talent to be generous and kind.  All we need is to be faithful with the resources that God has already provided.    
 
Do you have a talent that you offer in service to the Lord? Share your story with us.
 
 
Source:  One Simple Act – Discovering the Power of Generosity

Remembering the Reason: Day 19 of 25 Days of Kindness

Posted on
Reply
I consider it a priority anything that helps
 another person. – Ruth Stafford Peale
 
Service Groups.  There are few gifts as precious as the gift of service.  Gather some friends and neighbors and start a service group in your community.  Meet once a month with the goal to help as many people as you can.  While the focus is on your community that doesn’t mean you can’t help people in other areas of the county or world for that matter.  Here are some things you can do:
 
Make Freezer Meals
Assemble a dozen or so complete meals each time you gather.  Keep your freezers stocked so you can give these meals to those in your area who have ongoing illness in their families, or those in the process of moving or just to families who need to know that someone cares.
 
Yard Clean up
Gather some young men and women together and help clean up the yard of a family whose dad has been sick and can’t work or a single parent who needs some relief.
 
School Supply Donations
Collect school supplies to donate to kids that are in foster care.
 
Visit With the Elderly
Go to an assisted living home and play games with the residents.  
 
Have you been part of a service group? Share some of the things you have done.
 
 
Source:  One Simple Act – Discovering the Power of Generosity