As I reflect back over my life and experience in the Presbyterian Church USA, I find that I have lived my life in the midst of a set of givens: human beings, things, ideas, opportunities, resources, gifts, talents, faith, hope, love. What a list! All of this has been given by the awesome, passionate, caring, purpose-pursuing, future-creating God that I (and you all!) have come to know in Jesus Christ. I have been given far more than I have given. I think that is true for you -- true for all of us. Amazingly, these blessings continue to be given by a loving God.

And I must confess, some of them I did not think of as blessings at the time they were given. But I have learned that even in life's difficult places and times, God is there working for the good. That does not mean that the things that have happened are good; many of them are not. But it does mean that God's grace can work in the toughest of places and times. Hindsight shows us the blessing.

The truth is, God fills life with blessings. Some of them are free; some of them we work hard for. Some of them we receive because we are in teh right place at the right time. Some of them are expected, and some of them are wholly unexpected (some of the best fall here!). But if the truth is to be known, we do no deserve them, nor do we earn them, nor can we anticipate them. But they are given and we may certainly enjoy them. And these blessings are not diminished by our problems, emotions, anxieties, hurts or anything else that threatens us. They teach us that God intends something whole, good and joyous for every part of creation.

What should be our response? That is the question! How would you answer? How would you answer, especially in light of the gifts, talents and resources you have been given? How would you answer, especially in light of the fact that stewardship season is approaching for First Presbyterian?

Shalom,

Harry Daniel

Interim Pastor

Nearly two thousand years ago, a poor widow reached into the offering plate and gave all that she had. It wasn't much -- just two copper coins -- but Jesus tells us that she gave more than all of the rest because she gave all that she had to live on, while they gave out of their surplus.

Little else is known of this woman, but someone of such faith was surely faithful in other ways as well. It is easy to imagine that she probably comforted others in their time of sorrow. She probably gave to others when she had something and they did not. And as we know, she gave a devoted offering to the church despite it being all that she had.

With her hands, this poor widow demonstrated the enormous faith that she had in God to watch over her, even if she had nothing to live on. With her hands, she performed a simple act that was noted by her Savior and that is still talked about today. With her hands, she engaged in an act of devotion that serves as the focus of our stewardship efforts for 2010, which we have themed "With These Hands."

Take a moment now to look at your hands. Think about how God has uniquely graced you with the time, talents, and financial resources that are yours alone. These things are different for each of us, but one thing is the same -- He wants us to use what we have, at this time and in this place, to do His good work.

Consider how God has blessed you. What does He have in mind for your life? Are you good with kids? Perhaps serving as a tutor at El Buen Pastor is where you are being called. Are you a good listener and conversationalist? Maybe visiting those who can't make it out of their homes very often is a way you can serve. Do you have a unique ability to look past previous bad judgments and encourage the good in people? Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries may just be the place that God wants you to be.

Think too about the example that the poor widow sets for us with regard to our finances. Are you giving out of faith and obedience, out of obligation, or not at all? What would it look like in your life for you to move towards the poor widow's faith? These are questions that can only be answered in prayerful consideration between you and God. But these are questions that are critical in our walk with Christ.

This stewardship season I invite you to take a good look at your hands and figure out how God wants you to use them to do His work. Whether it is swinging a hammer in a Habitat for Humanity build, holding a book that you are reading to Sunday school students, or writing a pledge commitment that faithfully and obediently responds to God's call, I'm excited by what God has in store for each of us!

Your servant,

Michael Lamphier

Chair, Stewardship Committee 2010