Here I am at 36,000 as I am leaving Costa Rica. What a wonderful time and trip in so many ways. I wish you all were with me.
In Costa Rica, Christmas is different in my eyes. Trees are all around, but not in the abundant overkill that we have at malls and such in the states. These people do love Christmas though and they enjoy it thoroughly. If you lived here your yearly salary would not be divided into 12 installments, but 13. Because of that, in December you get paid twice. It is a nice, systematic way that saves for gift-giving or bonus money at this beautiful time of year.
The headline in the paper today said this – Snow Unlikely – as if that was news. The temps here have been in the 80’s and yesterday in the western part of the country where I was it was in the 90’s. That does not hinder the celebration. For all of you who contributed to this endeavor (30 of you), I want to say ‘thank you.’ Your giving and heart for people you do not even know made a huge impact in their lives. Just imagine how you would feel if someone that you did not know gave something to you. You may never see this person, know this person, or communicate with this person, yet they gave you something that you might not be able to give yourself. It makes you feel as they feel… loved by God.
Paul wrote in his second letter to the Corinthians…
“God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As the Psalmist puts it,
He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out.
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great thanksgiving to God.”
This is what happened this week. God was thanked for what you did. You caused worship to happen and lives to feel as if God loved them through you. When we see what we have as a blessing from God, and not just for us, we are ready to give, bless and help others. The God who is generous to a fault works through you and you become like him, generous to a fault. And that makes God look good.
So, this week, it snowed in Costa Rica, even though the forecast said it was unlikely. It snowed blessings from your heart, inspired by God’s making you able to give. I want to say ‘Thank You.’ I got to see the faces, hear the expressions and enjoy the moment you created with love. God looked good this week and you are his partner.
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