Giving and receiving

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, you will be measured.”*ISV International Standard Version.

I would like to share with you a case where this scripture was fulfilled again. About two months ago I was talking to John, a friend, about my need to replace or repair a portion of our floor. In the kitchen the vinyl was torn, and the entry way and dining area had shabby looking oak. John looked at the floor and said that the oak was only engineered and after 20+ years would best be replaced. He suggested that both the vinyl and the oak be removed and replaced.
John’s trade was installing and finishing hardwood flooring. John had not been working for quite a while. But, nonetheless, he offered to do the work for us for no cost other than the materials. As he offered I remembered the scripture, “Acts 20:35 In every way I showed you that by working hard like this we should help the weak and remember the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” I felt in my heart that if John did this then God would bless him abundantly for his giving out of his heart.
About a month ago, John was on the last day of finishing the new floor, which had doubled from 400 square feet to about 800 square feet. At that time John got contracts for two floors, and the next week started training for a new job. For the last month John has been so busy that he couldn't’t see daylight. Yesterday he called and told me that he had finished training. During the next two weeks, which were his first two weeks on his own at the new job, his earnings were over $3700. Not bad, for a newbie. But God is God. Why should we be surprised!?

retired or not retired

Last fall I was in Spokane at a Healing Rooms Conference. After morning prayer, I was sitting in the presence of the Lord, and realized that my confession, when I introduced myself, was incorrect when I said that I am retired. So I told the Lord that I would change my confession to, "I am a full time servant of the Lord." He said what will you do? I said, "What ever You put in front of me." Then I wandered out to the foyer and asked a young man who was working on the equipment that live steamed the event on the internet, "How much bandwidth does it take to stream this event?" He said, "I don't know. But, we do need someone to run a camera." I then was given camera three to operate on stage right. Since then, I am always busy with pressing things that need to be done.

Angels singing above

Yesterday evening I was sitting at my desk, writing out checks and enjoying the aroma of chicken and noodles that were cooking upstairs. Soon something not so usual occurred. I heard angelic voices being raised in song. The sweet sounds uplifted my spirits at the end of this day. After a song or two the singing stopped. But the voices didn't they just went into a fast kind of twittering conversation, interspersed with giggles and laughter. Then the wonderful, delightful singing resumed, and the joy swelled in my heart, once again! This cycle went on for several times, and then stopped. I heard the door upstairs open and close. I went upstairs to find my wife cooking dinner in the kitchen. Gaby and several friends were sitting in the great room talking.
Now I understood the enchanting sounds that I heard. Gaby and eight friends were practicing for their ensemble performance for Bothell High School.
In my life I have experienced many things. I have received hundreds of trophies for driving my sports car fast, have made exciting business deals, have traveled to distant lands, have done things that are unspeakable. But nothing compares to the feeling and sense of peace and joy that I was given yesterday evening. I am so glad that I decided to marry and have children. I must thank the Lord for bearing with me for decades. He makes it all worthwhile in those special moments.