Changing the Generosity Index

 Ps 112:5: "Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely").

We live in a want want want world with a spend spend spend mentality. Now that Black Friday is over I wanted to give you a few facts to think about.

           The United States Charitable Index is only 1.38% of our personal income.  That means that if you add  all the individual tax returns and divide that by the itemized charitable deductions (all donations) Americans only give 1.38% of their income. Christians on average only give 2.3% of their income according to the 2010 figures!  The facts even get more depressing when you realize that people that earn $20,000 a year or less are twice as generous as people who earn $100,000 or more!

          Let’s change those figures. Let’s be a nation that helps others. I understand that many of us do not have extra money to give away at the end of the day.  You can give with your time and kindness too. Debbie Macomber wrote a lovely book called “One Simple Act, Discovering the Power of Generosity” this is a poem from that book.

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.”

― Debbie Macomber

         The widow in Mark 12:41-44 is the perfect example of giving with a pure heart. She was a poor widow but still gave what she had with a pure heart and with no expectations for her personal benefit. Pastor Matt Anderson of McDowell Mountain Community Church said, "Generosity isn't about money, it is about our hearts." In The Simple Truths, Kent Nerburn states: "Giving is a miracle that can transform the heaviest of hearts. Two people, who moments before lived in separate worlds of private concerns, suddenly meet each other over a simple act of sharing."

Let's start giving generously today!

Appreciate What You Do Have

Harry and I, recently, had a wonderful dinner with our Costa Rican (Tico) friends Jose Pina and Neida Galindo. Harry lived with Jose and Neida 14 years ago while he was taking Spanish lessons from Neida at a Spanish immersion school in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Jose and Neida had built a new home since Harry was there and repeatedly warned us how small it was. They picked us up in their very first car (Jose still hasn't learned to drive so Neidia does all the driving) at our hotel and drove us to their home. Many of the roads in Costa Rica are dirt, rutted by rainstorms, and passable only by a four wheel drive vehicle. Theirs was this kind of road (we would call it a jeep trail). We were so surprised to see their beautiful little two bedroom home with an unfinished loft. They had new tile on the floors and teak paneling on one wall. They explained to us that a lot of their choices were to help keep the house cooler. It had a beautiful garden and was overall a wonderful home. Most importantly, it was full of love and happiness. Jose has been a pastry chef  in Tamarindo for 13 years, but his expertise does not stop there, he is a wonderful cook. Jose then got busy in the kitchen cooking the red snapper and making a wonderful sauce to compliment the fish, rice, and vegetables. What a special treat!

Later that night, Harry and I were talking about how we all need to be thankful for all that has been given to us no matter how small. Our friends have a small home (by American standards) in Costa Rica but it is full of love, happiness and contentment. Many people in this world do not have the same comforts that many of us enjoy, but they are still happy. I took a picture of a barrio (low income subdivision) outside of San Jose, Costa Rica that shows you the diversity of living conditions in this world.

No matter if you live in a one room shack in the barrio or a castle on the mountaintop, remember that the Lord has given you love and friendships and so much more.  Just don't forget to be thankful every day.