Sharing in the harvest...

 Sharing in the harvest...

The other day a bunch of people got together to decorate the church for harvest time. A lot of people brought this and that, fruit, pumpkins, quilts, flowers, leaves, baskets, dried corn, canning jars, antique wagon and chairs, old boxes...colors, colors, rich colors...abundance...and we wove it all together to make a display here and there to portray fall harvest kicking off missions month...what a blessing...sharing in the harvest...

As a child, I heard about missionaries from my grandparents and parents...we got the precious letters and reports at least at Christmas time...what a blessing...sharing in the harvest..

It brought back times when each of my kids came home from their short term missions trips to Australia, New Zealand, the Ukraine, Brazil, VBS, camp staff, Mongolia, Iceland...or when my husband and/or I returned from western China, Mongolia, Central America ....or times when we hosted families with Wycliffe...or Africa, Thailand, Nepal, Laos, South America, North America, Europe, unnamed countries, Israel, locally, Young life, YWAM, New Tribes, World Venture, Biblica, Child evangelism, Samaritans Purse, Christian veterinarians, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Crown Financial, American Indians, India missions, Jesus Film Project, etc...what a blessing...sharing in the harvest...

Plus, lately, I am hearing about trips my older grandchildren are taking with various organizations or their parents, aunts and uncles ...what a blessing ...sharing in  the harvest....

And now, our church family has honor and privilege  to hear reports this month from various missionaries ...what a blessing...sharing in the harvest...we are encouraged as a body by these reports...our hearts, souls and minds are enriched by their sharing...God is at work, as usual, all over the world and we get,  in some way, to share in that harvest...whether financially or letters, or prayer...or even personal visits...a joy...

The song, “Thank You for giving to the Lord” weaves its way through my heart and mind at times like this...our gifts (which really are God’s), given from abundance or scarcity are multiplied into a harvest...just as the one seed sown reaps a harvest...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFrdJ2V3r7Y

Some of us sow, some of us cultivate, some of us see the harvest...but God works in miraculous ways to produce the harvest...working in people’s hearts in all cultures of the world ...and we get to share in the joy of harvest...thank YOU...

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 

As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 

Now 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 enriched 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 the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 

Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others 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!

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 

From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

Acts 14:26-28

The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

Acts 15:3-4 

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you

Romans 1:8-9

But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.

1 Thessalonians 3:6

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Psalm 126:5-6