The Key to a Healthy Life is Generous Giving!

(Image credit: http://www.balancebydeborahhutton.com.au/may-i-pay-you-a-compliment/)

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” (Maya Angelou)

In this season of thanksgiving I have discovered the fountain of youth! It is not the latest cosmetic wrinkle cream or the latest fad diet. The way to live a long happy life is to give, give, give, with love, love, love.

New research on generosity has been compiled in a book entitled: Why Good Things Happen to Good People, by Stephen Post:

          “The inspiring new research includes a fifty-year study showing that people who are giving during their high school years have better physical and mental health throughout their lives. Other studies show that older people who give live longer than those who don’t. Helping others has been shown to bring health benefits to those with chronic illness, including HIV, multiple sclerosis, and heart problems. And studies show that people of all ages who help others on a regular basis, even in small ways, feel happiest.”

Sarah Bernhardt also knew this when she said, “Life engenders life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.”

Our beloved Church of the Roses is here as a sacred avenue to help you show the love of God, engender life, create energy, and give of yourself.

Our stewardship season’s theme this year is: “The Love in the Giving.” Our church needs your pledges to enable our faithful planning for 2015. Our hope is that through giving to our church you will feel God’s love as you share your blessings for the work of God.

At this time in the life of our church our future looks very bright! We have new members, some inactive members returning, our choir is growing, the number of adorable children attending has increased, and most importantly, the way we are providing care for our members and the community is expanding as well. For example, a new Grief Support group is starting November 16^th,at noon and again on Wednesday, November 19^th, at 6:30 p.m. hosted by our Stephen Ministry. These GriefShare Support group sessions will provide education and emotional/spiritual support for those who have suffered a loss. See: www.griefshare.org for more details.

Mother Teresa once said,"It is not how much we give but how much love we put in the giving." The love works both ways. When you give with love, the love comes back to you in various ways. 

Those who give, live longer because we thrive when we help others thrive. Proverbs 11:25 explains the connection between giving and living:

         “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (NIV)

So may you be refreshed this Thanksgiving and through the Advent season by pledging to give generously as you are able. I am so thankful that our God is good and knows what is good for us! Happy Thanks-giving!