generous love

Discover the Joy of Living “Others First”

by Becky Kopitzke

God blessed me with the spiritual gift of giving. Over the years He’s placed amazing books in my path on the topic of giving. Each one has encouraged me and inspired me to use my God-given gift to a greater degree.

I spotted this book at our local Christian bookstore. I flipped the book over to read the details. On the top are the words: A Fresh, Down-to-Earth Look at Living and Loving Well. Further down I discover, this book will give me inspiration, practical tips, and ideas I need to make the most of the opportunities around me and reach out with love. I smile as I write this. The Lord knows me well. The book went home with me, and what a treasure it turned out to be.

In the Introduction, the author states, “Generous love is more than a singular act of kindness or an isolated whim of generosity. It’s a habit. A lifestyle. A default choice.” She asks the question: What would the world look like if we all made intentional efforts to bless one another?

A great question, and after reading this book, readers will realize that blessing others is biblical, and not as hard as one might think. We are surrounded by men, women, and children of all ages and from all walks of life. No shortage of people to bestow a blessing upon.

The author does a brilliant job in showing readers the what, why, and how of loving others through generous blessings. Scriptures verses are provided to support what is written. She openly shares tidbits from her own life and that of others. Readers can relate with what she is saying. No condemnation nor judgment will be found in this book. Each chapter ends with, Let’s Dig Deeper, where a series of questions are asked pertaining to the chapter just read.

I enjoyed the whole book, especially the chapters devoted to the Four P’s of Blessings.

# 1 Presence – Blessing with our presence means giving our time, our attention, and our involvement. There is something for everyone among the 50 Ways to Bless with Your Presence.
So often the best gift we can give is of ourselves.

#2 Possessions – God is constantly inviting us to get creative to share what we have even when we think we don’t have enough. How attached are we to our stuff? Are in tune to the needs of others? Tears filled my eyes as I read the story of Olivia. The kindness she exhibited in her short-lived life left a huge impression on people, including me. When I read the 50 Ways to Bless with Your Possessions, I discovered things I had not considered. Giving a blessing can be so simple!

#3 – Perspective – How do we actually see people? Are there bias and misconceptions that need to go? What about the people who are different from us? Unique suggestions are given under the 50 Ways to Bless with Your Perspective.

#4 – Prayer – Prayer can make a tremendous impact on individual people, and God’s kingdom as a whole. The power and promises of God can be directly summoned through prayer. A series of questions on prayer are asked with the answer provided such as: Does God really hear my prayers? Why should I pray when God already knows my needs? Does prayer change God’s mind? The 50 Ways to Bless with Your Prayers stretches reader’s minds on how to bless others through prayer.

The book ends with an Epilogue – A Life Well-Lived. Readers are given a glimpse into the life of Jon, and how he chose to love others generously by applying the four p’s of blessing in his daily life. He will forever be remembered by how much he loved. God gives us the opportunity to do the same.

Becky Kopitzke’s book will be kept as a resource in my Faith Library. Jesus said, “It more blessed to give than to receive.” I know this to be true. What a blessing to have a book on hand that shows how to bestow generous love upon others. You, too, will be greatly blessed by reading this book!

Anne-Marie Madore is the author of God Said, “I WILL” Promise Book. A God Inspired Blog is found on anne-mariemadore.ca.