Nancy writes:  I got this idea from Pat and her beautiful daughter-in-love, Jenny in an email about two weeks ago, so I decided to use it first.  I quoted her email here to give the directions.

"what if you took Jennys idea about showers of blessings and if we all told about a time God showered us with a blessing and how we paid it forward to bless someone else or how we had done something for another and in turn were blessed."  Share a verse or worship song that touches your heart for this assignment.

I'm coming in late to do this assignment, so I'll keep it short.   Over the years, our family has been blessed by the generosity of others many times.  When we lived in New Jersey, our wonderful church family was so helpful.  We were expecting our second child, and had only a vague plan of where Harrison would sleep once the new baby outgrew the cradle I had.  One of the church families gave us a twin bed.  Another lady in the church often blessed us with childrens clothes she had purchased at the store she worked at - when things came off the racks as discontinued, the employees sometimes had opportunity to buy the items for practically pennies.  This lady would buy things up and then give them to families at church.  When we moved to Maryland, we found that church folk here were just as generous and willing to help.  Some of the things we've been blessed with from various people are kids clothes, a bed, and even a TV for the kids to use for their game system.  We have tried also to be generous when we hear of someone else with a need - we have passed along to others a bed, toys, many kids clothes and many baby items.  Most recently we were privileged to be able to supply our youth pastor and his wife with a crib for their new baby.  I'd like to be able to do more and to give away more of the many things we have accumulated that we really don't need any more.  Perhaps never needed in the first place. 

I've learned that there are many people who are reluctant to ask for help when they need it, to accept a gift or offer of help, or to admit that they are in need and allow others to help.  I am like that myself!! But I've also learned that the giver is blessed simply by giving.  It really is true that "it is more blessed to give than to receive"  Don't turn down the help that a fellow believer offers, because you may be denying them the blessing of being able to share what God has given them for just that purpose.

It's interesting that our Scripture reading for this morning was from II Corinthians - where Paul has a lot to say about giving.  So I picked these verses from what we read to share for the assignment:

No he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overlowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.  And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

~ II Corinthians 9:10-15 ~