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Mom has been gone just over 2 weeks 
It's her Birthday today, 
She would have been 82.... 
and I just read a scripture 
that was one of her core values.   

"It is more blessed to give than receive"    
Paul writes these words and attributes them to Jesus. 
ref Acts 20:35 

Growing up, especially around Christmas time
I heard these words
and saw them lived out
but struggled with them
because it FELT
way more blessed to receive... :P

Those thoughts and feelings were many years ago
and now as I reflect I am realizing
that God has done something to my heart....

He has given me Joy in Generosity
and actually much less joy in self focus
(I am discovering over the years it is really quite empty and shallow)

I still struggle when 'hit' with the initial 'cost' of being generous...
because there actually is a cost....
but then God reminds me
that what I have is His.
and
He reminds me He has me covered
....that He is actually taking care of me
and that keeping it all to myself
is quite
a losing proposition
and
That somehow He has changed my heart to
look forward to the anticipation
of passing out joy
to someone else....
in His name....

Here are some other words Jesus said;
"Give, and it will be given to you.
A good measure,
pressed down,
shaken together and running over,
will be poured into your lap.
For with the measure you use,
it will be measured to you."
ref Lk 6:38

Yeah.
Heaven's principles
worked out
on earth. :)

I am so thankful mom and dad
who modeled this to me
Whose hearts had been blessed
and changed by Jesus
as they taught me the gift of
generosity 

Thank You Lord
for Parents
who learned from You
and passed it on to me
in
living technicolor
that I might
experience too
the blessing
of
giving.

Thank You Lord

PJ