Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled, Gifted with Love, was written by Patricia Raybon.

On her wedding day, Gwendolyn Stultes wore the wedding dress of her dreams.

Then she gave it away to a stranger.

Solgist believed a dress deserved more than sitting in a closet collecting dust.

Other brides agreed.

Now, scores of women have bonded on her social media site to donate and receive wedding dresses.

As one giver said, I hope this dress gets passed from bride to bride to bride,

and it just gets worn out and is in tatters at the end of its life

because of all the celebrating that's done in it.

The spirit of giving can feel like a celebration indeed. Proverbs chapter 11 versus 24 through 25 reads,

one person gives freely, yet gains even more, another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

A generous person will prosper.

Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

The Apostle Paul taught this principle in the New Testament.

As he said his goodbyes to the believers in Ephesus, he gave them a blessing

and reminded them of the importance of generosity.

In Acts chapter 20, Paul pointed to his own work ethic as an example for them to follow.

In everything I did, he said, I showed you that by hard work we must help the week,

remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said,

it is more blessed to give than to receive. Being generous reflects God, for God so

loved the world that he gave. Let's follow his glorious example as he guides us.

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