This week I received the following note from a Mars Hill member:

A good friend of mine has been working for her company for at least 15 years. The builder she works for has had 3 mass lay offs in the past 2 months mostly because banks wanted them to lower their overhead to keep funding their loans. She laid herself off so her coworker could stay on. She will continue working/volunteering at her company but for free. She has always been helping others and giving. When she told me today, all I could do was cry. She’s a living example of Christ’s humility, generosity, selflessness, and a great testimony of Jesus in her life. I’m very blessed and touched.

During a season that celebrates excess and at a time of financial volatility, we as God’s people have the unique opportunity and privilege to express Jesus’ truth and love in very tangible, noticeable ways. The economy may be dismal, but Christians are called to live differently, leading in generosity, compassion, and unconditional joy. Our treasure in heaven outshines the best of earth’s wealth.

Join us this Sunday and next for a special two-part series, Generous: 2 Corinthians 8 & 9. I will join Pastor Mark for a portion of the sermon to help explain the message as it pertains to our specific church community, and the time and place in which God has appointed us to serve.