Psalm 112 for 2012!

yesterday our senior pastor unveiled our Generosity Initiative at church called Crescendo. he mentioned something to the effect of Psalm 112 becoming a theme for us for 2012. i've read over this many times in the previous months as I helped to write our small group curriculum for this, as well as devotionals for everyone to go over. this morning, I reread it, and found something verses that really spoke to my heart. thought i'd share the entire chapter with you here.

"hallelujah! blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God, who cherish and relish his commandments, their children robust on the earth, and the homes of the upright--how blessed! their houses brim with wealth and a generosity that never runs dry. sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people--God's grace and mercy and justice! the good person is generous and lends lavishly; no shuffling or stumbling around for this one, but a sterling and solid and lasting reputation. unfazed by rumor and gossip, heart ready, trusting in God, spirit firm, unperturbed, ever blessed, relaxed among enemies, they lavish gifts on the poor--a generosity that goes on, and on, and on. an honored life! a beautiful life! someone wicked takes one look and rages, blusters away but ends up speechless. there's nothing to the dreams of the wicked. nothing."

we read a few different times in the passage about a generosity that never runs dry! what a concept! i found that thought prick something deep in my heart. this is something i want! no doubt, the temptation for many would be to say that this is not possible because eventually resources run out. however, i'm thinking this passage has to do more with attitude than resources. (i have not done an extensive study on this, maybe just what God is speaking to me today) i've found that my attitude greatly enhances or hinders my generosity, not my resources. in fact, one verse here states, "....heart ready, trusting in God, spirit firm, unperturbed...." which leads me to believe that at the very least, attitude is implied here.

if we want to be a generous people, we must first get our hearts in the proper position. i've loved the prayer by the founder of World Vision, Dr. Bob Pierce so much that i got it tattooed on my wrist. "Break my heart for what breaks yours". begin by praying that. but definitely don't wait until you feel generosity flowing from you, just begin to act generous. continually pray that God would break your heart for the things that break His, and watch it happen as you act.