When we serve, we impact three groups of people in a positive way: the one who serves, the ones you serve, and the ones with whom you serve.

Jerusalem had a history of being a city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers—and that it refused to accept correction. Yet Jesus loved it, ministered to it, preached in it, and sought to transform it anyway.

A right vision, shared with the right people, at the right time, for the right reason, will accomplish more, in less time.

When we claim the promises of Jesus in our lives, we see the same power working in us that we would have if Jesus were physically present.

God will create again. Everything will get a new start. And this is not only a future plan but also a present reality. God continually makes things new. This is the Gospel. This is love. Believe in God as Creator.

Our heavenly Father knows about our life and the challenges and perplexities we face. As His children it’s important to remember that there is nothing we will encounter that will take Him by surprise.

Without wavering, we should believe He will answer our prayers and fulfill our requests as long as we are in His will and are willing to obey Him. We are to expect good things from God. The Christian life is an expectant life.

The more we seek for ourselves, the less we will have. The paradox of this reality is that the more we love God and put Him before our desires, the more blessed our lives will be.

Our generosity can reveal greed; our love can reveal hate and prejudices; our kindness can reveal rudeness; our faith in God can reveal disparity and lack of trust; our assurance of salvation reveals fear of the future; our hope reveals hopelessness; our faith in the living Jesus reveals . . .

Though you cannot help all the poor, you can begin by helping one.

Ask God to reveal to you hurting people that surround you, and when He does, minister to them.

While we are alive, we can decide how, where, how much, and to whom our donations and actions will flow.

Generosity doesn’t buy our salvation. It is evidence of our salvation. The more clearly we visualize the sacrifice of Jesus, the wider we will open our hands to help others.

If God, in His infinite mercy, tomorrow should send you a check for a million dollars, what would you do with it? How would you impact the world? How would you help your community?

If you wait for all conditions to be just right, you probably will never serve. . . . . Ask God to open doors and then walk through them. Serve in something that stretches you.

Every act has its motivation. God not only sees the acts, He knows the intentions of the heart.

Grace is free, but ministry takes resources. If God has blessed you, He did so that you could be a blessing to others.