“A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over…”

Some cooks add a pinch of this and a handful of that.

My mother would measure a teaspoon of salt by cupping her hand and pouring a bit into the small indentation in her palm … close enough!

Other cooks measure with precision accuracy. My husband would chuckle watching me bend down to get the measuring cup at eye level so that half cup of water or quarter cup of oil was just right.

The Apostle Paul talked about measuring. He said, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Luke 6:37-38

Apparently there is some connection with God between the measure of our giving and the measure of our receiving. When we offer blessing and forgiveness in generous measure, we will receive blessing and forgiveness in return. And not just in small amounts!

In God’s economy, there is a powerful connection between being generous without measure in our actions, in our love, in our sacrifice, in our sharing and being blessed in return.

October is Stewardship month … a time to think about how we are called to be good and generous stewards of all that God has given to us and to be willing, out of gratitude and faith, to return to God “a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over!”

We give not for what we hope to receive, but we give out of gratitude for what God has done for us. And in doing so, we are blessed.

This month you will receive a mailing inviting you to pray about how God is calling you to offer financial support in 2020 to Christ’s ministry at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church and through your commitment to bless others. Sunday, October 27th (10:00am) will be the Consecration Sunday Hymn Festival, when we will receive and bless the commitments made to Christ and worship in gratitude.

Blessings,
Pastor Cheryl