Bill Lynch shares the importance of these gifts in his devotions for us this week:
Genesis 24:19
When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw
for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”
This is a passage about a wife for Isaac. A wonderful, loving
person and a God given gift, to not only Isaac, but to all of us, as we witness
her faith and values. Rebekah was a woman that the servant of Abraham was led
to by an angel of God. Wow! What more could any of us ask for in a life
mate?
Abraham’s servant traveled to Mesopotamia to seek a wife for
Isaac. The servant came with beautiful gifts. It was evening and the servant
went to the well at the time when the women would come to get water. The
servant had his camels kneel at the well. Then the servant said a prayer. A prayer
asking God for help in finding a wife for Isaac. Before the servant had
finished praying, the prayer was being answered.
Rebekah arrived at the well and gave the servant a drink of water
and gave the servant’s camels some water as well. Rebekah kept running to the
well and giving and giving and giving water until all the camels had enough to
drink.
Beautiful Rebekah, beautiful in vision but beautiful more so for
her spirit of giving and love and faith. The angel of God and surely God
himself, was directly involved in this moment of giving.
This is where we are blessed with this story of Rebekah. We have
been given wonderful opportunities to learn ourselves and to give learning to
others. As we observe the giving heart of Rebekah that returns to that well of
water time after time, we can give likewise to another person, or perhaps many
people in need. The heart of Rebekah led by the Spirit of God to give from that
life giving water in that eternal well of giving, can also be the heart and
spirit from which we give.
Lessons learned and actions taken out of giving love. A love
displayed through our Savior, Jesus Christ, and a love emulating the love of
Jesus in Rebekah’s kindness and beauty. All lessons learned from the gift we
have been given of Holy Scripture. A Book placed into our hands early in our
Christian life through which we witness faithful lives of God’s people
throughout time. A wonderful gift of love given to us and placed before us from
our baptism forward into eternity. A gift that witnesses God’s Gift to us.
Many families can barely afford to send their children to school.
And paying for textbooks can be even harder. Books for an entire classroom help
20 or more school children learn essential subjects like math, science and
language. These books are building blocks for a brighter future.
Through the Good Gifts giving initiative of the ELCA you can help
students learn and build a future that brings new life and hope and opportunity.
Consider a gift and give from the beauty of your heart.
Prayer
Lord; open wide my heart of faith and love and giving, that I too
may return to the well of the living water and give to another in need. I thank
you for giving me the Bible to read and come to believe in all you have done
for all people. As you speak to me through your Word, may I also act boldly in
love. --- Amen
Total Gifts Given - 186 (our goal is 300!)
Dollar Amount of Gifts Given PLUS Wednesday Night Offerings- $6,440
Global Barnyard
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24
|
Goats
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36
|
Chicks
| |
18
|
Pigs
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20
|
Ducks
| |
Sheep
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2
|
Fish Pond
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Water
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Water Jugs
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2
|
Set of Water Purification Tablets
| |
Health Care
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Health/Dental Kits
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Child Vaccinations
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Malaria
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Mosquito Nets
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Malaria Protection Women and Children
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2
|
Medicine to Treat Malaria Patients
| |
Agriculture
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4
|
Fruit Tree Seedlings and Farm Tools
| |
Grow the Church
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Bible and Hymnal
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Women and Children
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Food -Orphan
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Textbooks for Children
| ||
Food for 10 soup kitchen
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1
|
Microlean
| |
School Fees for Children
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We have also received donations for five blankest and $250 toward the digging of a well.
Thank you for you continued efforts!
Peace
Pastor Charlie
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