Happy Wednesday!
Photo: Emily Wall Balsamo (since this blog is going to be about her)
If you haven’t done so YET… go back and read the past two blog posts AND comment with your personal verbs! It’s one of the funnest brainy things I’ve done with myself in a long while. Try it… you’ll see!
My aunt Kim is in from Maine… so we decided to host my entire family at our house last night. Even though a few couldn’t make it… the moment was a classic one for Emily and I.
Acts 20:25b You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: It is MORE BLESSED to give than to receive.
Isn’t that true!
The older I get, the more I find myself wanting to SERVE and GIVE to other people, rather than to be served and given to. I mean YES, I love receiving gifts and I really appreciate when people serve me and my family.
All gifts are a BLESSING and GIVING gifts is a GREATER BLESSING!
Gifts are an expression of LOVE.
John 3:16 For God LOVED THE WORLD SO MUCH that HE GAVE his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
As you might know… Emily’s dad is in the hospital really going through it. I think he’s been there for more than a week now… and after something like 8 blood transfusions, his white blood cell count remains at zero. Please don’t feel bad for us… instead, believe with Merle and with us that his body will respond to our FAITH and PRAYER! Believe that things will change for Merle over the next few days… and he will come home from the hospital to continue with us as a solid rock of character and inspiration!
When we scheduled last nights dinner at our house, we hadn’t planned on Merle still being in the hospital. So as the day got started, my Aunt Sherry sent a very kind facebook message stating that everyone decided to let us off the hook by postponing the party to another day sometime in the future.
So I met with Emily and asked her how she felt… and her response was instant. She couldn’t think of ANYTHING else she would rather do than to SERVE people we love at our house last night. She said, “I spent quality time with my dad yesterday and we’re going to see him tomorrow… so tonight I want to have this party.”
In the middle of Emily’s trial, she knew without hesitation… that it is MORE BLESSED to GIVE than it is to receive. This is ONE reason I admire Emily so fanatically!
And as we hosted my family… we had the time of our lives. Everyone seemed to have so much fun enjoying good company, admiring the water gardens, feeding the fish, watching the frogs, playing the corn hole game, swimming in the pool, eating GOOD FOOD, and sitting around the fire roasting mellows and making smores!
This was the very BEST thing Emily could have done yesterday… and the BLESSING was all hers… the underrated satisfaction that comes with GIVING! I thank God, my family honored us by coming to our house and ALLOWING us to honor them.
Most people turn INWARD when they encounter hardship… they hoard during times of lack… they cancel life to hover over the pain of their situations. Sometimes, it’s very important to hide away and FIND PEACE and GRACE in seasons of prayer and fasting. But this is not ALWAYS the path of healing.
Many times, our victory is FOUND in reaching out! The answer to lack is not found in hoarding… it comes through GIVING! In times of pain, the answer is not found in hoarding our love… it come when we GIVE OUR LOVE AWAY!
Have the hardships of life driven you into a place of seclusion? Are you wondering why there is no victory… no answer to your prayers for help? Maybe… the answer is found in todays blog! Instead of hiding and hoarding… BE BRAVE… try something NEW! Put yourself OUT THERE and GIVE AWAY ALL THE LOVE YOU HAVE LEFT… and watch what happens NEXT!
Luke 6:38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full-pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you GET BACK.
I pray that todays blog adds tremendous value to your amazing lives! Please leave your comments… have a super day!
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