Matthew 5:16
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Galatians 6:9
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Don’t give up! (Taken from bibleref.com)
Paul urges the Galatians not to grow tired of doing good. Doing good is hard work, especially if someone begins to doubt whether it matters. Paul is urging the Galatians to keep living in a way that is consistent with what they believe. They are free people in Christ, and God’s Spirit is with them. Eventually, the crop of eternal life will come up and they will see it for themselves.
In a more immediate sense, the good works the Galatians are doing in the power of the Spirit will also bear fruit. God will often allow His people to see how their investment of themselves to do good matters both in this life and in the life to come.
The Story of the Ham Generosity Snowball
On Friday, a lady who comes with her friend to our Ladies Knitting and Social, decided to buy 60 hams and donate them to be used by our congregation as we saw best. For a time, I didn’t know how big these hams were and how much freezer space was needed; many of you offered to help even though you didn’t know everything about the hams either. As it turned out, they are a manageable size,, being 3 lbs each. We have found freezer space for all of them and actually, now, only have about 34 left.
So far, we have used the hams in the following ways:
- Helping out those in our congregation with their grocery bill.
- Offering them to neighbours/co-workers as a conversation starter, telling them where they came from and some of the things our church is involved in that inspires outside generosity.
If you know someone who could use a ham, or if you want to use it as a conversation starter, please let Hope know and she will be sure that you get one.
The Ham Generosity Snowball is growing as people have learned how our church gives back to the community through our Wednesday Lunches, Brown Bag Lunches and Christmas in Marlborough. We have had neighbours and co-workers offer to contribute to our Christmas in Marlborough Annual Gift Drive this year, which we hope will be unveiled on Sunday, November 3rd. The City of Calgary has offered to partner with us for our Christmas in Marlborough Party on December 7th and will provide 100 Goodie Bags for children who attend. They will also be helping Hope to solicit donations from various local businesses and more partnership ideas are on the horizon.
Church, the small light that we hold up for God and shine to our city is being magnified, as only God can do. Sometimes, we encounter roadblocks and setbacks and these can be frustrating. Honestly, I (Hope) have been especially frustrated by them lately. But then we receive a donation of 60 hams, which requires a bit of work and organization, on a day off, but is still uplifting, encouraging and helps us to refocus on the light that you all help to shine from this building and we are assured that through this church God is being glorified on His throne.
Thank you, Church, for being faithful to what God has called us to do for Him in Marlborough.
