Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1Timothy 6:18
I have been praying and meditating in this new year about transformation and what it means to be a person who is being transformed by the Holy Spirit as a follower of Christ Jesus. Sometimes our lives become focused on duties and activities or rules or adherence to doctrines and we can lose sight of that daily submission to God’s work as it comes to us through every aspect of our daily lives, drawing us to open each and every secret recess and attitude of our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit.
I know that sometimes fear has kept me from living freely and generously. The Holy Spirit has taught me through my friends who have experienced hunger or other real distress because of lack of money. Some of the most genuinely generous people I know have very little in worldly goods—often just getting by. But they are like the widow giving her mite and I know that God is so pleased with the way they freely share what they have with others. I have seen how they release the plotting and planning and controlling that come so naturally to me in order to share with someone in need. Because they have known real need, they give out of their scarcity and so give so much more than those whose giving costs them nothing.
I am praying that God will be at work in me in this new year, helping me to live more generously, more freely and more abundantly. I AM PRAYING that the work of the Holy Spirit would keep helping me to let go of fear and smallness of heart so that I would be transformed into a person who lives and gives fully, trusting God to be my source in all circumstances.
We are grateful for your gifts to support our work here in Minneapolis over this past year. We live by faith, trusting God to provide for us and our family and the persons he has given us to love, serve and shepherd. God is using your gifts to keep bringing blessing and the love of Jesus to this precious place and the people to whom we are called to serve to God’s glory.
Christ's Children Ministries 
Hi Lisa and Chris,
Your January Newsletter has convicting and inspiring thoughts, as usual. So, I shared parts of it at Men’s Prayer Breakfast on the 15th, as it arrived just shortly after our Wed the 8th breakfast.
Jeremiah Tulay took the print copy I had (with permission!) and asked to be added to your email list for your letters. So, would you please do so for his information and interest?
As always, your work and dedication in ministry to the Lord Jesus Christ in the Central Neighborhood is inspiring and highly respected as well as remembered and prayed for in our humble prayer group.
Blessings of the Lord,
Gil Kahle
Hey Gil–thanks for reading and sharing. I can’t add Jeremiah-he can add himself by typing in his email on our web page in the box for followers. Please let him know as I don’t have any of his contact information.