PilgrimBCSM Pentagon Campaign Newsletters Jan 2014 | Page 4

THE JOY OF GENEROSITY
Greetings, Saints of Pilgrim! How wonderful it is to continue my walk with you as, together, we seek to
accelerate generosity that you might achieve your God-inspired Vision. I would like to thank your
wonderful Pastor Dr. Larry Ellis for inviting me to share these words of encouragement as you celebrate
the milestone of reaching the halfway point in the Lifestyle Stewardship Campaign.
I want to commend you for the generosity that you have demonstrated through the sacrifices that you
have made thus far. You have been faithful in your support of your church’s Vision. But I believe that
you can do much more. We serve a great God who has called you to greater ministry, greater
opportunity, greater responsibility, and greater rewards. It is like God to call His people to greater
works. Doing greater works requires greater generosity. So how do we move from where we are to
greater generosity?
We do it by seeking to understand, in a greater way, the giving nature of God. For it is His giving nature
that gives context and meaning to our impulse to give and helps to explain the joy that comes from the
act of giving. When we view giving from this perspective, we are compelled to give with gratitude. We
can never understand God’s giving nature by looking at our circumstances. Giving must be viewed as
our response to God’s gift to us. Because of His gift to us, the impulse to give is hardwired into our very
being.
The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:10 that we are “saved by His life.” In other words, His nature, His
life, His passion, His generosity, is in us. We will never achieve our potential for accelerating generosity
until we understand and model His giving nature. My prayer is that God would help you to finish strong
by revealing this finished work in you. Search your hearts. Sensitize yourself to this connection that you
have with God. If you feel that you are doing your best, do a little more. If you are not doing your best,
then commit yourself to do your best starting right now. And if you are not on board, get on board and
help finish the journey!
Aren’t you grateful that in Gethsemane, Jesus did not give up, but instead prayed, "My Father, if it is
possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Giving, at
its best, is a joyful response to a prior gift—the grace of God in sacrificing Christ for our salvation. Help
us finish strong by demonstrating your gratitude through the sacrifices that you make as you give
through the Lifestyle Stewardship Campaign.
Thank you for all that you have done and for all that you will do and may God continue
to richly bless you and Pilgrim Baptist Church.
Yours in Him,
Brother Herman Norman
Generis Corporation

4