If we willingly do good deeds from the heart and not for our own personal gains but, for the glory of the Lord, we should and could expect a reward from God for our kindness. All that is required of us, is willing hands and feet and open hearts to help. Every day we are faced with opportunities to do good; some of us welcome the opportunity while others turn the other way. But, know that when you open your heart to help the poor, your gifts will ascended as a memorial offering before God.

2 Corinthians 8:11, “Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means.”  My brothers and sisters in Christ, God wants us to pursue good works and complete them. No good deed is insignificant in His sight. His will is for us to succeed and not fail. Let us therefore continue on to do all such good works that make for peace and build up each other.

My friends, God loves a cheerful giver. He knows our hearts and exactly what we are capable of giving or doing. The person in need who approaches you may not be happy with what you have given him, but, if you have given your best, if you have given from a willing heart, it is God who will judge you. If you should give or do anything to help anyone, do so with a willing mind. God has blessed us, so that, in turn we could all be blessings to our brothers and sisters in need. God will not judge you according to what you have, but how much and how willingly you have given.

“Cry out to the Most High God for it is He who accomplishes all things for us. May he equip you with all you need for doing His will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to him forever and ever!” Amen.

What is the gift that God has given you that you are yet to begin using, or are you still trying to figure it out, or are you using the gift for selfish gains? If you are still unsure of your gift or how to use it, you need to be spending more time with God. We get our directions from God and many times we misuse our gifts because we do not spend enough time with Him, to seek him out, to understand what he requires of us. My brothers and sisters in Christ, God needs our undivided attention in order that we may know what his plans are for us and the directions we must take in order to please him.

Because, nothing and no one comes, anywhere close to my God; with a cry of praise my heart will proclaim, You are good You are good, in joys or pains, sun or rain, my life celebrates, You are good, You are good Lord! Thank You! We must learn to give God thanks and praise for all the many blessings of this life, especially the small and troublesome blessings.

Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock. Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

Thus says the Lord, “In a favorable time I have answered You and in a day of salvation I have helped You; and I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people.” Our timing is not God’s timing, but He is always on time.

When my daughter was just a little girl, she was chosen to recite this poem “Time to Pray,” at one of our Harvest Cantata and it has stuck with me all these years. I am hoping that if this is the first time you are learning of this poem that it will have a lasting effect on you too.

TIME TO PRAY!

I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day; I had so much to accomplish that I didn’t have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task. “Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered. He answered, “You didn’t ask.”

I wanted to see joy and beauty,  but the day toiled on, gray and bleak; I wondered why God didn’t show me. He said, “But you didn’t seek.”

I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock. God gently and lovingly chided, “My child, you didn’t knock.”

I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day; I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

We are reminded in Proverbs chapter 27, that, we should not boast about tomorrow, for we do not know what tomorrow will bring forth. In Matthew chapter 6 we are reminded that we should not worry about tomorrow or what we should eat or what we should drink, or what we should wear, because our Heavenly Father has already taken care of that. He says, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, worrying or boasting will not bring us any good. God has all of our needs and concerns in the palm of His hands, all we have to do is to trust Him.