pastor louie giglio starts out the message before the women share their stories, and he says that while we tend to think of generosity as wealth, that isn't what it always has to be. because not everyone is in a place where that's what they have to be generous with. generosity is about being available. make what you do have available to God and miracles happen.
when jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish, he did not ask the disciples, "what do you wish you had to give to these people?" he didn't focus on what they didn't have. he took what they did have and he used it. whatever you have, make that available to God!
"all of us are the beneficiaries of the generosity of God, because Jesus made Himself available. and because of that, we can be generous and say, 'i want to make myself available.'" [louie giglio]
"my family went to a hotel and swam in the pool."
"oh fun. what do your parents do?"
"well my mom doesn't have a job and my dad used to work, but he died last year."
adria told her that when she was seven years old, her dad died too. she had tears in her eyes and was almost expecting a sentimental moment, but the little girl just said: "i really hate when that happens." and adria fought back tears and laughter and said, "i really hate when that happens too."
God opened Adria's heart to deal with some things she hadn't. she realized: this is why your pain has a purpose. this is why 10 years later, my pain has opened the door to help others. but her pain has opened the door for my healing too. she sensed God as her father saying: i carried you all the way to where you are now, even sharing your story.
courtney didn't know why her daughter looked so fulfilled that day when she picked her up (her daughter hadn't even wanted to go to that church that day because she didn't have friends there) but she was deeply thankful that God had answered her prayers for her kids hearts to be filled that day.
a few weeks later courtney was at a bible study with women from that church and someone said, "did you hear about adria?" courtney hadn't, so she filled her in about adria having gone through a very similar tragedy in her own family and reaching out to her daughter.
courtney was blown away. and blown away even more when she met adria and found out her dad had been killed on the same date as her husband, just 10 years earlier.
healing was happening in courtney's heart. she was in awe of how God is mindful of us, even to the details! that divine setup happened because of someone else who answered a nudging of the Holy Spirit in their heart.
kerri heard about courtney's husband's death and was devastated for her. she did not know her, but kerri and her husband had three kids about the same age, and her husband was a worship leader too. she couldn't stop thinking about it and finally felt like she should invite her to an event at the church. kerri didn't feel like she had anything to offer, but she knew Jesus would be at the event and that's really the best "thing" you can give anyone.
she had trouble finding an email address to get in touch with courtney and almost gave up - partially out of doubt, fear and intimidation - but finally did it. she was surprised when she heard back from courtney. they met and kerri hadn't planned to do anything else, but during the service she told courtney: "God is nearer to you now than He has ever been. His heart is for widows and for orphans. His heart is for YOU."
courtney was blown away again - she had just come off the hardest week yet, because it had been their first christmas without the love of her life and her kids dad. she was feeling like God had deserted her. but He hadn't. she has so many powerful things to say in the podcast about how much she has learned to trust God to pick up ALL the broken pieces and redeem them.
SO AMAZING! God is faithful and He is awesome!
don't stop with good intentions, follow through.
don't feel like it has to be a BIG thing. think about the things that have stuck with you or changed you or encouraged you most - it probably wasn't something huge. sometimes it is the "smallest" comment or compliment or prayer.
choose to make yourself available. give the money, write the card, send the text or email or pick up the phone ... just do whatever it is that the Spirit is nudging you to do. be generous, be available, be you and be blessed!
"The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale." [1 corinthians 8:11]
p.s. wow, i clearly have trouble paring something down to "the gist," sorry it took so long! i just love stories and details.
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