The One Who Blesses Others...

"The world of the generous gets larger and larger;

the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;

those who help others are helped." Proverbs 11:24-25 The Message

I would like to pay tribute to the owners and employees of Associate Solutions where Michael, my brother is employed. I can see that this scripture has been fulfilled in their generosity to my dear brother. When Michael was first in the hospital, in the midst of having a broken leg, finding out he had cancer, etc., his employer told him that he did not need to worry about his job. Several of the other employees and partners visited Michael different times and were totally supportive of him as he walked through the darkest valley of his life. Three of the partners came and assisted with Michael and Shawna's move back in April and one of them, Terrie, provided food for all who came to help.

His employer continued to pay Michael his base salary and for his insurance benefit and through their generosity, I believe that this scripture from Proverbs has been lived out in this locally owned business.

In the midst of the down economy, this business received eight new clients in the month of June! Could it not be said, they have been generous with Michael in his hour of need and now they are receiving back? They could have said they were no longer able to keep him on their payroll, but they instead chose to take the high road...I have prayed for God's blessing on them...He has done that...praise the Lord!

Living Free

"Live as free men..." I Peter 2:16
How thankful I am to be an American, living in the land of the free and the home of the brave. In spite of what some have said about our nation, there has never been another in the history of the world that has been more free, or has done more for the remainder of the world. Yes, we have our scars, and presently we are scarred by such things as abortion on demand. Yet, there are many who are fighting to end this blight upon our great land.
While we are enjoying our freedoms which we still have, many in other parts of the world are languishing without the privileges that we take for granted. Part of living free is to remember them and to do what we can to promote freedom. How thankful I am for each of our men and women in the military who are giving of their best years to fight for freedom and to them I give honor. I am also thankful for those of our veterans who gave so much so I may enjoy so much. One of the nursing homes where I play piano has the honor of being the home of a woman who was a pilot way back before women in the military was so acceptable! She is something else! Now getting about in a wheelchair, she once flew planes high in the sky!
Living free means I need to give up some of the things I want and desire...the desire to get even with someone who hurts me; the need to be in control of my life and what others think of me, etc. Living free in the spiritual sense means trusting Christ completely with all of me. Oh for grace to rest securely in Him, alone!