The Joy of Generosity

“Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7

So what does God want?  Love. Love for God. Love for Neighbor as yourself. So how can we use God’s gifts to create Love?  At First Presbyterian, we see the formula as:

Be in Christ + Be Loved + Be of Use

Christ Has No Body

Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

-Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Our participation page lists a number of activities that are possible to experience God & friendship and to bring the love of God to our community – from our members, to our local San Bernardino neighbors, to our world.   Not only are we Christ’s hands and feet, the active presence of God’s healing in this broken world, but we ourselves meet the living God when we serve others.

‘…as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,^[a] you did it to me.’  (Matt 25:40)

Living as God’s Steward – Being God’s beloved, giving and receiving love can be a life of joy when we live it together with all the members of the body freely, excitedly, and wholly contributing their gifts and receiving the abundant life God has provided in Christ Jesus.

Be in Christ + Be Loved + Be of Use