Evaporating Water

The Dead Sea is a body of water located in the Middle East. Have you thought about how this body of water received its name? The Dead Sea has multiple rivers flowing into it; however, there are no rivers flowing out of it. The only way water is able to leave the sea is through evaporation. When the water evaporates, it leaves mineral salt deposits. The Dead Sea contains a very high salt concentation; saltier than the ocean. The high salt concentration does not allow the sea to sustain any life. Only a few forms of bacteria and algae are able to live in this sea. If a fish swims too close, it will instantly die. Hence, the name Dead Sea, which is better than the Hebrew translation of its name, "Killer Sea."

In contrast, the Red Sea is one of the richest ecosystems in the world. It has waterways that flow in and out of it and contains an abundance of wildlife and some of the most beautiful coral reefs. Additionally, the Red Sea was the location of one of the greatest miracles in history -- God parted this sea in order to rescue His people.

God has unlimited resources and He provides each of us with a certain amount. God has a plan for His people to live in abundance and to distribute His unlimited resources throughout this world. We have a choice to make when God blesses us monetarily. We can hoard and consume those blessings, not allowing it to pass through us. In turn, we have the potential to not allow life to flow from us. The other choice is to live in a place understanding that the monetary blessing is just that... a blessing. It is not our's to clutch and scream, "Mine! Mine! Mine!" We can allow the blessing to flow through us in order to create life and beauty. Would you rather live with goodness and blessings that flow into your life that became stagnant and dead due to your clutching or would you rather allow those blessings to flow through your life so that something beautiful can be created?

Giving is a channel for God's heart to flow through us. Simply put, giving changes lives.

Which will you choose to be? How will you live with generosity during this Christmas season?