Thanks for joining me for today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled Big Hearted Giving was written by Dave Brannon.

At the after-school Bible Club, where my wife Sue serves once a week, the kids were asked to donate

money to help children in the war-torn

country of Ukraine. About a week after, Sue told our 11-year-old granddaughter Maggie about the project.

We got an envelope in the mail from her. It contained $3.45, along with a note. This is all I have

for the kids in Ukraine.

I'll send more later.

Sue hadn't suggested to Maggie that she should help,

but perhaps the spirit prompted her,

and Maggie, who loves Jesus and seeks to live for him, responded.

We can learn a lot as we think of this small gift from a big heart. It mirrors some

instructions about giving provided by Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter 9. First, the Apostle suggested that

we should so generously. A gift of all I have is certainly a generous one. Paul also wrote that our gifts should be given cheerfully

as God leads and as we're able, not because we're under compulsion, and he mentioned the value

of gifts to the poor by quoting Psalm 112 verse 9. When an opportunity to give presents itself,

let's ask how God wants us to respond.

When we're generous and cheerful in directing our gifts to those in need as he leads us,

we give in a way that will result in thanksgiving to God. That's big-hearted giving.

The scripture reading for today from Our Daily Bread is 2 Corinthians chapter 9, verses 6 through 11.

Remember this. Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,

for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things,

...