Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

Read

Psalm 112 (NRSV)

Praise the LORD!
Happy are those who fear the LORD,
who greatly delight in his commandments.
Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved;
they will be remembered forever.
They are not afraid of evil tidings;
their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD.
Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn is exalted in honor.
The wicked see it and are angry;
they gnash their teeth and melt away;
the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

Reflect

My church has been filled with righteous people who, because they have shared their gifts, will be remembered forever. Their tithes, their anonymous donations as Christmas angels, their smiles, and their prayers for others, like ripples in a pond, have had a domino effect.

When I look around my church and my community, I see a prayer garden, a church van, a nursery, an organ, a park bench, a caravan of hope—all given by people with a cheerful heart. Many of these gifts were donated years ago by people who did not seek recognition. Their gifts, however, have made a difference in the lives of our church members and our community.

People continue to find peace in the serenity of our prayer garden, which was built by an Eagle Scout and his dad. Every week children board a van given in memory of a cancer victim. Every Sunday music still flows from the church organ whose donor died over forty years ago.

These righteous givers have set an example for others to follow and have scattered their gifts wide. The givers and their gifts will be remembered forever.

Pray

Dear Lord, thank you for all the righteous people in my family, my church, and my community. Thank you for their vision and for the impact their lives have made. Amen.

Go with God.