The Gratitude of Giving...

I love that the Lord will take something that is a sacrifice for us and then turn it into something we are thankful for. We should give with gratitude. What are we thankful for??

In 1 Chronices 29, David is preparing the things that he needs to build the temple of the LORD and he willing gives all that he has to this work. Vs. 2 says; Now for the house of my God I have prepared with a my might: gold...silver... bronze... vs. 3 Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver.

Then David asks vs. 5; "Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD"? Then the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the officers over the king's work, offered willingly. ...And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD...Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly.

For the past four weeks in a row, we have been given unexpected donations from a different person each week. All but one of the people are more acquaintances than friends. For the most part, they are only people I say hi to in passing, and some I have had small conversations with. But..they have heard God's voice and they have given willing to help bring Hope, Jacob and Samuel home. They reminded me of the scripture above because they gave what was precious unto the LORD and they offered it willing. When we give willingly we give with a heart that is thankful because the Lord has provided us the means in which to give!!

After they gave vs. 10 says; Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said:
"Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the gory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours....Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You....O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. I know also, my God that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.

My heart just sings at this scripture. I know that our country is going through some tough times but what we must remember is, all that we have comes from Jesus. Our abundance or lack there of, everything is His. He asks for us to trust and obey. What if we trusted and obeyed and gave willing to Gods work? What if we trusted God and gave beyond what we thought we could give trusting that the Lord would provide our needs? What if we trusted and obeyed God and denied ourselves worldly pleasures for the sake of Gods kingdom? What if we stopped striving for the American dream and started driving for the Heavenly dream? What if...

We would one day stand before the Lord and He would say;"Well done, good and faithful servant, enter my rest".

"God is looking for people through whom he can do the impossible. What a pity we plan to do only the things we can do by ourselves." A.W. Tozer