Fellowship is God’s Grace powerfully at work in Generosity.

Generosity is a “willingness to give money, help, or time freely.” Acts 4:32 also states, “No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” God’s grace at work in the believer creates a desire to be generous.

A few weeks ago this report was in the headlines: The happiest server at Cracker Barrel in Lincoln, Nebraska, walked away from work with even more to smile about after receiving a life-changing tip last week.

According to the Lincoln Journal Star, a man stopped in with a friend for lunch at the restaurant on Thursday and asked the hostess to seat them at the table of the restaurant’s grumpiest server because the pair wanted to use their charm to cheer someone up. The hostess responded that the chain actually didn't have a single dispirited employee and instead gave them the opposite — their happiest waitress.

The server sent to table 222 was 18-year-old Abigail Sailors, who submitted to questions from the two men about why she had such a sunny disposition. Throughout their lunch, Sailors told the patrons her story.

A sailor, the youngest of five children, was tossed around the foster care system throughout her childhood. She and her older siblings were separated and reunited multiple times, and suffered from abuse for years until John and Susi Sailors took all five of them in nine years ago.

Flash-forward to today and Sailors recently completed her first semester at Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, North Dakota. The freshman, who plays basketball and is studying psychology and youth ministry, pays for her own education. She told her inquisitive customers that she didn’t have enough money to return for the spring semester and is saving wages and tips for future tuition.

The pair left a $100 tip that was split with another Cracker Barrel server, but the best part of Sailor's day was yet to come: One of the men revealed that he was a Trinity alumnus and pulled out his checkbook. He wrote the young student two checks — one for $5,000 to the school and another for $1,000 for whatever else she needed. 

Proverbs 11:24 states: “One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
                                                            another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.”

Strongly leaning toward Fellowship is God’s Grace powerfully at work in Generosity. The question then becomes….are you a generous person? Do you give freely so as to lift others up and share what God has blessed you with so that God’s grace can be evident in your life?

You know I love ya, Don

Fellowship is God’s Grace powerfully at work in Unity.

Unity is the “condition of being one.” The early believers were committed and devoted to living as one unit for the kingdom of Jesus. Acts 4:32 states; “All the believers were one in heart and mind.” The newly discovered faith transformed thousands of people from individuals to living, breathing, and being as one group of people for the cause of loving God and loving each other. 

Later, the Apostle Paul would plead with the Corinthians church. 1 Corinthians 1:10 states, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” The recognition of God’s grace, His favor on your life, empowers followers of Jesus to strongly lean toward unity.

The power of God’s grace brings followers of Jesus to a place that is perfectly united in mind and thought. Do you seek what is best for your fellow believers or do you desire to know how church can best serve you?

You know I love ya, Don