“God’s Blessings in Generosity”
“And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will...But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” - 2 Corinthians 8: 5 & 7
Stop for a moment and consider all the things that have gone well in the past 24 hours. As sinners we are drawn to thoughts of all the “bad” things happening (our stresses) but try to count the blessings God has placed in your life just in the past day. Start with the gift of life eternal in Christ. A pretty big deal and yet it is so easy to go through a day and not even consider this undeserved gift. Where do your thoughts go from there…family, friends, health, home…down to the little things like clothes and food?
We have a generous God! Wow does He take care of us! As a joy-filled Christian, our response is to give back to Him as we are able, and more. The passage from 2 Corinthians clearly states that God wants us to be “right” with Him first. Once our relationship with Him is on track, we then have the opportunity to experience what Paul describes as the “grace of giving.” What a great phrase. We give because God first gave to us…life eternal in Christ. Our response to this gift is only made possible through the outpouring of the Spirit in our hearts. When our priority is in our relationship and our walk with Christ, we soon find joy in the opportunity to help support God’s work on earth!
As the market continues to fluctuate, as we continue to hear about the fears of recession and inflation, don’t lose site of the blessings God places in your life. All that we have on this earth is His. We are simply stewards and we can experience so much joy when we can be a part of sharing His blessings – a true “grace of giving.”
School ministry has many needs that aren’t met through the general operations and budget of the school. Below is a list of projects / wishes on the horizon at Lincoln Lutheran. Please look it over and consider if any of these needs might provide you with a chance to take part in the “grace of giving.” Consider whether or not God might be challenging you to reach out to those in your sphere of influence (friends, employers, grandparents, aunts and uncles) to encourage support of this mission. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please don’t hesitate to call me at school – 467-5404. '
Scott Ernstmeyer
The following items have been identified as "Wish List" items to benefit the ministry of Lincoln Lutheran's students. Please call if you need more information - 467-5404
Summer 2008 - Wish List
Serger machine for Family & Consumer Science Dept. $500 - $1,000
Two stoves for Family & Consumer Sciende Dept. $700 each
Fitness equipment for Physical Education Dept. $2,000 plus
New microphones for Chapel - Main gym $3,000
Stage curtain repair $3,000
Improve microphone resources in small gym - Drama Dept. $5,000
Science Equipment - Chemistry $3,000 - $5,000
Parking lot repair $6,000 plus
Air handler replacement in main classrooms $10,000 plus
Marching Band uniforms $20,000
Roof repair $30,000
Air conditioning in main building classrooms TBD
