The gift.

Have you ever given someone a gift and in the back of your mind said, "I hope I get a good present back?" OK, so you dont have to admit out loud, but we are human so the answer is, of course we have. Me included. So how does the Lord want us to give? "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have recieved, freely give." Matthew 10:8 I believe that when you give with an open heart the gift means that much more to the person who is recieving it.. Its not the quality or quanity of the gift, it is the thought and the love you put in it. It is easy to give someone what they tell you they want but the gift that you put your heart and soul into is the one that will forever hold a place in their heart. Believe me I know..... So give with a good heart and expect nothing in return and you will feel the blessings that come with it. "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Galatians 6:9 I hope you dont think that I am preaching to you here but I came across a scripture that opened my eyes to the way I give and recieve gifts, nice words, etc.. It comes from Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." I hope you got the same message from that scripture as I did. Give and recieve with an open, loving and caring heart and it will be given back to you... I am going to leave you with a quote from Helen Pearson, " Jesus' words are as jewels, treasures worth giving up all life's ambitions to find. The Lord can do great things through those who dont care who gets the credit." I am going to start giving like I don't care if I get the credit. The Lord deserves the credit. I want the the Lord to be present when I give and recieve with my whole heart. Is your whole heart in it?
Love in Christ,
Des