A few years back I was intrigued by the word gracious, what is gracious, what is a gracious home, wife, mother and life? I thought about this for quite sometime and then prayed that God would help make me a Gracious Women. Well, I guess I don't have tell most of you what happen next, yes, indeedy deed, all **** broke lose. Time to become gracious quickly. I am afraid to say there were many times I failed at being gracious through out that trial. Yet, I do believe I have learned a little of what it means to be gracious. Still a long way off from my original idea of where I thought I was let alone where I want to be, but then that is why I am so thankful that God is the ultimate gracious being.
So, what does this have to do with bountiful, you ask? Only that it is a word that has intrigued me as gracious once did. I am thinking about and turning around in my heart what true bountiful means.
2 Corinthians 9:6
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
I am sure many people take this verse to mean as you give money, money will be returned to you. I don't! God is so much bigger than money. Well, at least I don't think money is the beginning and ending of this verse. Money may be included but God wants so much more for us.
Bountiful, as I see it from where I sit right now means, the opposite of sparingly, to spare is to hold back, set aside, reserve for a later time. So, the opposite of this would be to not hold back, do not reserve, do not set aside for a later date, but give your all, give when you can, what you can. Give profusely, totally, lavishly, and unrestrained. The word sparingly has a hint of negativity, stingy, mean, but bountifully hints at joyfully, happily, or positive attitude.
So, with that in mind what are we to give. Ourselves, our time, our talents, our hearts. I believe that is what God is talking about. As we give ourselves to the need of the moment, whether it's our family's, our neighbor, our brothers and sisters in Christ or the body of Christ at large we are blessed in that measure. I want to be bountiful! Just some thoughts running through my brain. ~Laurie
6 comments:
What beautiful thoughts! Thank you for sharing. I just heard a similar sermon to this at church. And there are so many ways we can give, and it's not just with money. God takes everything we have to give, if we give with a cheerful attitude and a right heart!
Is that your old house at the Mansion? Or is it your current home? Either way I love the flowers! :)
Oh yes! To give back to the Lord abundantly in the same manner He gives so abundantly to us! How stingy we can be at at times, eh? :::sigh:::
Thanks for stopping by my daybook, Laurie. I had to stop by and see what empty nesting looked like since it's soooooo FAR in my future! :-)
Blessings,
Tammy ~@~
Hi Sabrina, Yes, this is the duplex at the bottom of the hill at His Mansion. I love that house, well actually I loved each house we lived at while there. Each had it's blessings. ~ Laurie
Thanks for posting your thoughts, Laurie. I was blessed and they are good words for me to reflect on. I wish we were sitting in your home with a cup of tea discussing it in person but this is nice just the same. You were always so hospitable during discipleship and I always looked forward to retreating to the haven you created in your home. The special touches did not go unnoticed.
Thanks for those sweet words Rachel. I enjoyed having you over as well. Those were hard but good times. I really do appreciate your comments. Have a great day!
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