LLLV19 LLL 1-22-2018 Dave Thomas-Corrie ten Boom on Giving
The LLL article from Monday, 1-15-2018, produced a river of favorable comments, for which I am thankful. You may recall the theme was on giving from pure motives and I quoted the Rabbi, Moses Maimonides. He wrote extensively on the subject. Here’s a gripping comment from our Associate Pastor, Dave Thomas. (Trying for a raise)?
“Larry; a memory came to me as I read this piece. It has to do with those I've heard over the years who complain they are so poor they have nothing to give. That's a matter of having a wrong perspective.
I remember a portion of Corrie Ten Boom's book, "The Hiding Place". She told of being a captive in one of the infamous concentration camps of WW2, and of times when the female prisoners were assembled outside in freezing weather, never with anything near adequate clothing, sometimes none at all. There were times the heavier women would purposely stand on the outer perimeter of the group, thus shielding from the fierce wind those who were weaker and less healthy than themselves.
My question would be: at what point do we reach the level where we have nothing to give? It depends on our perspective, doesn't it? Bro. Dave.”
That heavier women would give of their excess flesh is a grand way to demonstrate the true spirit of giving. It shows that no matter how bad things get, we can still show the spirit of Christ in human flesh. I heard a teacher declare that each person, especially Christians, always have something to share when we look at our vaporous span on earth as consisting of time, talent and treasure. These three are so entwined that each affects the other without diminishing its self.
I admit when I read Dave’s piece about Corrie ten Boom, I wept. She was a woman for the ages. She brought home to our hearts the horror of Hitler’s camps. Everyone should read her books as well as Frankl’s on the subject. The life worth living will reveal a predisposition to share what God has given to us as a gift to others.
The question, “Why do I have to give,” when changed slightly, will change your life dramatically with phrases like; “What do I have to share?” Here’s Paul in 2Corinthians 8:1
“Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.” (NKJV).
Copyright © 2018 Larry Lilly
Top Notch IT. Oral Deckard
The LLL article from Monday, 1-15-2018, produced a river of favorable comments, for which I am thankful. You may recall the theme was on giving from pure motives and I quoted the Rabbi, Moses Maimonides. He wrote extensively on the subject. Here’s a gripping comment from our Associate Pastor, Dave Thomas. (Trying for a raise)?
“Larry; a memory came to me as I read this piece. It has to do with those I've heard over the years who complain they are so poor they have nothing to give. That's a matter of having a wrong perspective.
I remember a portion of Corrie Ten Boom's book, "The Hiding Place". She told of being a captive in one of the infamous concentration camps of WW2, and of times when the female prisoners were assembled outside in freezing weather, never with anything near adequate clothing, sometimes none at all. There were times the heavier women would purposely stand on the outer perimeter of the group, thus shielding from the fierce wind those who were weaker and less healthy than themselves.
My question would be: at what point do we reach the level where we have nothing to give? It depends on our perspective, doesn't it? Bro. Dave.”
That heavier women would give of their excess flesh is a grand way to demonstrate the true spirit of giving. It shows that no matter how bad things get, we can still show the spirit of Christ in human flesh. I heard a teacher declare that each person, especially Christians, always have something to share when we look at our vaporous span on earth as consisting of time, talent and treasure. These three are so entwined that each affects the other without diminishing its self.
I admit when I read Dave’s piece about Corrie ten Boom, I wept. She was a woman for the ages. She brought home to our hearts the horror of Hitler’s camps. Everyone should read her books as well as Frankl’s on the subject. The life worth living will reveal a predisposition to share what God has given to us as a gift to others.
The question, “Why do I have to give,” when changed slightly, will change your life dramatically with phrases like; “What do I have to share?” Here’s Paul in 2Corinthians 8:1
“Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.” (NKJV).
Copyright © 2018 Larry Lilly
Top Notch IT. Oral Deckard