"Filling the world, he lies in a manger!" ~Augustine

"The glory of the incarnatino is that it presents to our adoring gaze not a humanized God or a deified man, but a true Godman--one who is all that God is and at the same time all that man is: one on whose almighty arm we can rest and to whose human sympathy we appeal." Benjamin B. Warfield

This week I thought I'd share some great quotes from believers who have gone before us. Anthony of Padua wrote the first one.

"The Son came out from the Father to help us to come out from the world; he descended to us to enable us to ascend to him." 

Some people go to church because someone else brings them. Others go to church to get something for themselves. Some go because it's just what they do on Sunday. Still others go to church to sacrificially give. Have they all missed it?

Nicole told me on Saturday that it was her one year anniversary of knowing Christ. I was filled with joy as I listened to her describe the transformation in her life. That scenario is exactly why we go to church -- to find joy in God and in what He's doing in transforming people's lives. There is a kind of joy that's so great that we can seek it and yet it's not just about us.

The angel announced to the shepherds, "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people." There is a kind of joy that embraces God's work of salvation in all people. So why do you go to church?

Back to creative ideas for generosity -- one person suggested providing hot chocolate and cookies to shoppers at area retailers. Cool idea because it gets us out from the church and into the community.

Without knowing it the American church has mistakenly turned Christianity into something that's done in a building at a certain time. Effectively people have to go to church to hear about Jesus. That's a problem because people are increasingly distanced from church. So we need to hear Jesus' call to "Go and make disciples." Serving the community helps us do that. Any new thoughts on writing a story of generosity?

Here's a service project example I found on the web. I share it here just to spur on our thoughts.

Generosity stories are springing up. One woman told me that she and her husband have been going through some very challenging financial times. Paying the mortgage has been a serious challenge. But God provided just when they needed it! During this time frame of not knowing if the mortgage could be paid, God touched her heart to invite a single mom to our Women's Candlelight Dinner this weekend. The single mom did not have the money to pay for the ticket so this woman told her that the ticket would be covered. The next day someone left a $20 bill on her coat which she found after a meeting -- enough to pay for the ticket!

Let's write a story of generosity. What's your story?

I heard of a church that paid for the materials of a new home, supplied free labor to build the home, sold the home for a profit that was under market cost to a family that needed it, and used the profit to help people in their community. That's quite a story of funding generosity! What are your ideas? (Check out 2 Corinthians 9:12-15.)