I have too many which makes me wonder why I don't tap into it more... sometimes I close myself off, I am working on gratitude for all things... I really have been blessed throughout my life. He has been there for me and never walked away...

Amen! No one can outdo God in generosity and he always seems to give exactly what we need when we need it. <3

That's amazing! I love how God uses the generosity of others to bless us as well. Im glad it came in awesome timing!

I hope I won't upset anyone by saying this, but I don't think I believe in God. I do however believe in Karma. I believe that if we do good things we'll be rewarded for that. And if we do bad things bad things will happen to you.

The law of sowing and reaping is in God's Word. I have found it to be true in my own life. The bible also says that God loves a cheerful giver. When you give because you want to give, you'll be blessed. It might not be material but you will find blessing in some area of your life because you gave. I'm happy for you that you saw this for yourself.

The cool thing about God's blessings is that I give--and he gives back according to MY need. I used to wonder if what I gave were adequate or important, but now I realize that when I give, God will make sure that the one who needs it receives it.

I have many stories where God has given after I gave more than I thought I could. I never got rich or won something huge - but I always have enough. That's the beauty of God!

It's always encouraging to hear stories of His faithfulness! Thanks for sharing over at Inspire Me Monday!

JUST LOVED READING UR STORY,&, I HAVE A STORY OF MY OWN. THE DAY BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY, I ASKED GOD TO ALLOW ME SOMETHING HE KNOWS I WOULD LIKE, PERHAPS A PICTURE FOR MYSELF? I WALKED IN, LOOKED AROUND, THEN TURNED TO SEE A FRAMED PICTURE I'VE WANTED,&, SEARCHED FOR YEARS FOR- A HUUUGE IMAGE OF THE HANDS ON MICHELANGELO'S "THE CREATION OF ADAM". I WAS ASTONISHED AS THIS WAS A PIX I'D WANTED MORE THAN ANY OTHER (AT THIS SIZE) FOR SOO LONG,&, GRATEFULLY, BOUGHT IT. IT SO HAPPENED THAT MY DEAR OLDEST BROTHER WAS TOLD I'D ACQUIRED THIS VERY PIX THAT VERY DAY, WHICH WAS ONE HE WANTED FOR SOMETIME. AT HIS BIRTHDAY A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER MINE, I GAVE MY BROTHER THIS PICTURE THAT I'D HOPED TO HANG IN MY HOME, SAYING "I'M NOT GONNA LIE, I LOVE THIS PICTURE, BUT, I LOVE U MORE, &, I THANK U FOR EVERYTHING U HAVE DONE FOR US GROWING UP...IT WOULD HAVE HURT ME MORE TO GO HOME AND SEE THAT PICTURE WHEN I KNOW HOW MUCH U LOVE IT..." . WELL, AFTERWARDS, I DID SAY TO THE LORD, "IT'D BE GREAT IF, MAYBE ONE DAY, I CAN HAVE ONE AGAIN. .MAYBE, THE FULL ONE TO HANG IN MY OWN HOME ONE DAY.." TWO DAYS AGO, EXACTLY 15 DAYS AFTER GIVING THAT PICTURE AND FRAME TO MY BROTHER, I WALKED IN TO THE SAME PLACE TO BROWSE,&, AT THE END OF MY AISLE, LOOKED UP TO SMILE...AND, CHUCKLE.... AND, SEE, A HUUUGE FRAMED PIX OF THE FULL SCENE OF "THE CREATION OF ADAM"!! WHAT'S TRULY REMARKABLE IS THAT THE PICTURES WERE FOUND AT A SECOND HAND STORE FREQUENTLY VISITED WITH THE HOPES OF FINDING THIS PICTURE:-) GOD BLESS AND BE WITH U ALL

This is so true! Sometimes I've even found that as I'm planning to give away something, someone reaches out to me with something they want to give me also. Truly God can't and will never be outdone. Congrats on winning the book.

Time and time again. When you give you are always flooded with great JOY! God always provides and usually its more than you gave.

Marie
@spreadingJOY
spreading-joy.org

There are so many times in my life where God has given back to me what I have given out. Sometimes it's not even tangible things. But the thanks and the knowledge that I've done the right thing, and given someone else joy can often be enough!

I was inspired by a speaker sharing his story of his generosity and how he felt that he should have done more. He saw a homeless person and gave him his coat - then bought himself a new one because it was freezing outside. He said he should have given the homeless man new coat instead of his used one. It was then he quoted the bible saying God will not be outdone in generosity and he invites us to test him. I was a single mother barely getting by but I had big dreams for my son to get an education so he would not have to live in poverty. So I decided to give more each year to the Archbishops Appeal. I started at $100.00 which was a fortune for me at that time. People came into my life and made life easier. I 'tested' His generosity and experienced Him outdoing me. My wishes for my son exceeded my hopes and good things came my way as well. When I write that check every year I know others in the similar situations will benefit from my charity. I went to college at the same time as my son and we both graduated - he went on to a Masters degree and I became a Vice-President at a large corporation. I know in my heart God was outdoing me in such good ways. My son is carrying on our tradition to give and help those in need. I can't find the words to describe how good it makes us feel to know God is in my life everyday and every moment. He has helped me even when I did not ask. Every day I find a way to be kind and giving. I am so moved at Mass to know he is with us and it makes me cry for joy. For He said when people are gathered in his name, he is present.