THE CHEERFUL GIVER

      God gives plain and clear instruction on acceptable giving. He teaches both concerning the manner and the amount to be given. God is a giver and He expects His children to give. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). The cheerful giver opens his life to many blessings from God. "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38). Let us learn to be cheerful givers:

      The Cheerful Giver Sows Bountifully: "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully" (2 Cor. 9:6). Our giving must be a matter of generosity and not grudging obligation (2 Cor. 9:5). The result of bountiful giving is the windows of heaven being opened and an abundance of blessings being poured out; so many the cheerful giver could not receive them all (Mal. 3:8-10).

      The Cheerful Giver Plans Or Purposes His giving: Scriptural giving does not happen by accident. It is accomplished by thoughts and design. "So let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). Those who make no plans in their giving offer God only the scrapes. God expects and deserves more! Let us prayerfully consider our blessings and give accordingly.

      The Cheerful Giver Has A Part In Good Works:  Christians give generously and many good works are accomplished. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good works" (2 Cor. 9:8). Doors are open for benevolence and evangelism. Liberal, cheerful giving makes possible an abundance of good works. 

      The Cheerful Giver Will Increase In Righteousness:  There is no greater need than the need for righteousness in the lives of God's people. God increases the fruits of righteousness in the life of the cheerful giver. "(As it is written, he hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that minister to seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruit of your righteousness;) (2 Cor. 9:9-10). In cheerful giving Christians come to better understand God's righteousness and to see righteousness developed in their lives and the lives of others. 

      The Cheerful Giver Is A Gainer, Not A Loser: God, in providence, blesses the cheerful giver. "Now he that ministereth to seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God" (2 Cor. 9:10-11) God blesses us with that which will supply the needs of our own family and also bless others through benevolence and evangelism. God will multiply the seed sown. You give cheerfully and God will help you do even more.

      The Cheerful Giver Is A Blessing to Many: Christians should stand ready to bless saints and all men. "For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men" (2 Cor. 9:12-13). Cheerful giving will lead to God receiving glory, God is glorified when the poor are helped. This glory comes from all who are involved or who know of the things which are done. 

      The Cheerful Giver Is Motivated By God's Indescribable Gift: The precious gift of Jesus for our salvation motivates our giving. "Forasmuch as ye knew that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver or gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet. 1:18-19). God's wonderful gift stirs our hearts to sincerity and cheerfulness in our giving and our service to others. God has blessed us by giving His Son. Let us be cheerful givers also.

      Nothing blesses the life of a Christian more than cheerful giving. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up yourselves treasures in

heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also" (Matt. 6:19-21). The grace of God and His great gift to us demands our cheerful and liberal giving. Does your giving please God?

                                                                  Charles Box

FAMILY NEWS

PRAYER REQUEST
For Our Members:  Salem O'Dell, Ray Michael (home & doing well), Mary Glenn, Edd Marie Agnew, Marvin Allison, Mary Evelyn King, Judy Kilmer, Ed Dacus
Request for Friends/Relatives: Dot Holmquist, Melanie Beatty, Edwin Hill, William Wilson, Verla Howard, Joyce Keough, Theresa Thomas, Mary Lee Miller, Mary Jean Goshorn
Out-of-Town: Chris Sangster (having additional tests), Bobbie Ann Ridgeway, Mary Billingsley, Virginia Baxter, Yvonne Blasingame, Roy Nichols
Nursing /Assisted Living Homes: Ernestine Barron, Mary Mullinaux, Essie Brown, Clemmie Allison, Alton Willis Brown

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS
Sunday, December 10, 2006
AM Opening Prayer: Jim Brown
AM Closing Prayer: Joseph Jones
PM Opening Prayer: Wayne Close
PM Closing Prayer: James Dacus
Pick Up Attendance Cards:  Trey Rast, Riley Hubbert
Nursery Volunteers: A.M. - Alex Darst, Pam Fowler; P.M. - Donna Mars, Michelle Betty

SERVICE GROUPS
Service Group #2 will meet following the evening service to pick up assignment cards. Services Group #1, please turn in your assignment cards from last week.

IN THE MILITARY
Brad Bell (Paris Island Boot Camp, SC, son of Judy Bell)
MSG Anthony Crowell, SVC BTRY, L-7PA, 2BCT, 1 ID, Camp Liberty, APO AE 09344 (brother of Jackie Wilson)
Mitch Fletcher, a Woodland Hills resident, is home from Iraq.
(Have you noticed our Welcome Home sign on Houston Levee?)

MEMORIAL
We have received a gift in memory of Mrs. Aileen King, mother of Bob King, from Bill and Wilma Barfield.

THANK YOU
Thank you for the calls, cards and visits to me during my stay in the hospital and in rehab. I am home and doing well. Please continue to remember me in your prayers.
                        Ray Michael

Thank you for the cards and prayers during my illness. Continue to remember me in prayer as I have additional tests.
                        Chris & Claudia Sangster

I want to thank a group of wonderful people who have given their time and talent to do volunteer work for the office during the past year. You have helped me greatly. Happy Holidays!!
                        Betty Waddell

OPEN HOUSE
The congregation is invited to an Open House and Singing at the home of Wayne and Sharon Close on Sunday afternoon, December 10^th beginning at 2:00 p.m. Following the evening services at Woodland Hills, the Closes will have a Singing at their home. Please bring finger foods to the Singing. Maps to their home will be provided later.

When the Church Works Together
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers
to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil
upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even
Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
for there the Lord commanded
the blessing - life forevermore." Psalm 133

      It is an awesome thing when people work together toward a common goal. An athletic team that truly works as a team can accomplish things far beyond expectations. A business where all employees cooperate and are productive will likely achieve great success. In like manner, the church has the potential for accomplishing great things in God's sight. The condition, however, is that we work together. Since we are the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27), we must learn that 1) everyone has a place in the body, and, 2) that everyone must do the work he/she is capable of doing. Please consider the following observations.

When the church works together...