Generosity

On my mind today is the generosity of God. I've been encountering that word quite often lately as I've been reading Acts (The Message) and also today in Brennan's devotional. "God's love is not a conditional love; it is an open-hearted, generous self-giving which God offers to men. Those who would carefully limit the operations of God's love...have missed the point." I don't want to miss the point. I want to realize the love of God for myself and for all those I share life with at this time on this beautiful spinning ball. I want to learn to be generous, open-hearted and self giving, too. But it goes against my nature. I am naturally private, closed and fearful. So I join in Brennan with this prayer today. Abba, help me to see people with Your eyes. Remind me that I am forgiven much. Fill me to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit so that I can pour out love to others. Amen.

It reminds me of Rich's song The Love of God. Here are the lyrics:

There's a wideness in God's mercy
I cannot find in my own
And He keeps His fire burning
To melt this heart of stone
Keeps me aching with a yearning
Keeps me glad to have been caught
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God

Now I've seen no band of angels
But I've heard the soldiers' songs
Love hangs over them like a banner
Love within them leads them on
To the battle on the journey
And it's never gonna stop
Ever widening their mercies
And the fury of His love

Oh the love of God
And oh, the love of God
The love of God

Joy and sorrow are this ocean
And in their every ebb and flow
Now the Lord a door has opened
That all Hell could never close
Here I'm tested and made worthy
Tossed about but lifted up
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God.