GOD IS LOVE
     I JOHN 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; 
 and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

STEWARDSHIP - GIVING THANKS
       By: Bishop Leslie Mary Trombly
Copyright(c) 2001-2002

Bible Reference: Luke 12: 41-48

      Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?" And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming', and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and
at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful.  That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much w ill be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded."

     I began to reflect on what a responsibility we undertake when we use or share what does not belong to us. In so many ways we are guardians and stewards of what does not belong to us alone.  I began to ask myself, does anything in this world really belong to me? This is God's world. He is Creator and Redeemer. Of his grace and free will he gives us life and
breath and all the blessings of this life. My house and the Church in which worship I cannot call my own. Others, like me, shared them before me, and hopefully others will after me. "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked shall I return" said Job. "You can't take it with you", are words often addressed to those who would cling to earthly possessions, for they are not ours. We hold them in trust from God, but how we make use of them while they are in our keeping is a very serious matter. Even our nearest and dearest we cannot hold back when God calls them to himself. "All souls are thine, dear Lord, who gavest them to us, yet as thou didst not lose them in the giving, even so we do not lose
them on their departing from us". Our Christian hope and trust is that those whom we have loved and lost we shall meet again in God's eternal kingdom - but the loss is sad and severe at parting. How important it is therefore to appreciate, cherish and preserve those people and things that God has given us. Wise stewardship is one of those important lessons that Jesus teaches us in the Gospels. We must be ready to give back to God all that we say we own.

     One of God's greatest gifts to us is time, yet we often hear people say "I'm sorry but I have no time" (even to pray!). What they really mean is "I have all the time in the world (as we all have), but I have not organised my life, my priorities aright. Truly we live under pressures today; but the problem is not lack of time but control of it. Jesus died young, but the quality of his short life far surpassed that of those of us who have grown old. What he attempted, by God's grace he achieved. In Church we make our offerings giving back to God what he has first given to us. "All things come of thee", we say, "and of thine own do we give thee". Jesus had much to say about the poor and the rich, about generosity and covetousness. Some of his most stringent teaching concerned the love of riches. What we give to his service is a measure of our love and what he means to us. Someone once asked, "When do we know when to stop giving?". The answer is simply, "Stop, when the Saviour stops giving to you".

     But it is more than that. It is giving thanks to God for all He has done for us each and every day of our lives. When we give thanks to God, we also share in what we have with others. It is a simple matter of giving to others some of what God gives to us. Each and every human being on this planet has something to be thankful to God for...no matter how big or small it may be. A good way to be thankful for what God has blessed us with is during this thanksgiving season to give to another less fortunate than you are. For example. Have you ever invited a homeless person in for a meal or given them a warm coat or even provided a blanket to keep them warm?  How about helping them find the resources
they need to have a place of shelter from the winter's harsh cold and snow? You see, being thankful for the blessings that God has given you is all fine and well, but it is what you do unto others that makes those blessings from God and your thankfulness more meaningful. How would you feel if you saw the Lord  and others receive Blessings from our Father in heaven and you got none of the blessings? Hurt? angry? Feeling left out out or excluded? Well that is exactly what we do when we do not pass the Blessings of God onto others. In order to be truly thankful for what God has given to us, we must in turn bless others as He has blessed us. That is being truly thankful.

I will close with this Thanksgiving Prayer:

     Lord, as we gather together, this year, with family and friends; Let us not forget those who are no longer with us to celebrate This Thanksgiving of Blessings and Grace You have bestowed upon us. We are grateful for Your Love and Mercy - We lift our Praises to You!

     Lord, we know that the year has been full of many things not understood They give us pause to think and ponder over what is really meaningful.  We live each day, never stopping to think about tomorrow or those we love, And focusing too much on the things in this world and not of your world.

     Dear Lord, let us not be selfish with the blessings you give us; But sharing what you have given us with others who are in need... Then with true hearts and righteous feelings we can be truly thankful For all that you have bestowed on us and bring some joy to others.

     Dear Lord, Help us to remember and never forget the Sacrifices made for us.  And those whose lives were sacrficed so needlessly. They are our heroes.  Help us to understand and see clearly that one day isn't enough for Thanks.  Our thanks, today, are far too small - for the blessings You pour out to us.

     On this Special Thanksgiving, dear Lord, our thanks are sincere and true; For all the blessings You have bestowed upon us throughout the passing year.  For health, for work, for special joys, for family and friends not forgotten, For Our Nation - May it remain "One Nation Under God", Forever protected.  Amen.