God gives us needs to create opportunity to lavish His abundant supply upon us.

- a gem that was passed on in community group tonight

God's work in the Bible

“If one looks at the mission of God in the Bible, God wants the whole world to know him as the living God, to come into blessing of knowing him as Creator and Savior. So if the greatest possible blessing for humanity is to know the living God then the greatest possible obstacle for that is to be worshiping false gods."
- Dr. Chris Wright on this video which is really good

Four Generations: the other part

Sherrie, Bethany, Talitha, Louise, and Tabitha

How much do you want?

That Jacob knew to desire and determine to have the blessing of God, in spite of his conniving nature indicates there was some understanding of the "blessing of thy father" (Gen. 28:22).  How much we get may have something to do with how much we desire it; and yet, you look at yourself and have to ask, "Why me?"  God's sovereignty has to be involved as well.  And if He chooses to bless me abundantly above any attitude toward Him or action on my part, I can only be humbly grateful and seek to respond appropriately.

 (a lightly edited quotation from an email from my grandmother)

Four Generations

Matthew, Talitha, Jonathan and Darrell

On His Blindess by John Milton

This poem has come up several times recently due to the last line, but having re-read it, I think the poem is worth quoting and thinking about in full.

"When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,

And that one talent which is death to hide

Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest he returning chide,

"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"

I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need

Either man's work or his own gifts: who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed

And post o'er land and ocean without rest:

They also serve who only stand and wait."

-- John Milton