A Beautiful Thing -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

Have you been blessed by one of these "Beautiful Thing" devotionals across these five weeks? Have you been touched by one of the songs or inspired by one of the sermons? How has God challenged you as you've been praying about your involvement in the campaign? You've been reading these daily devotionals -- and now it's YOUR turn! In this week's sermon, Pastor Tom wants to read as many notes as time will allow. Write him at tom@hbcaustin.org.

A BEAUTIFUL THING
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Hillcrest Baptist Church
www.HillcrestAustin.org

Day 5 Devotional (Week 5)
Friday, May 13, 2011

"Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you. And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name -- you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, the Levites in your towns, and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows living among you." -- Deuteronomy 16:10-11

Gabriel loves to give me gifts. He sometimes plans them for months. They are heartfelt and generous. To be honest, gift giving doesn't come as easily to me. Often I want to balance the time, effort and money spent on the gifts I give with what I feel the recipient deserves.

God sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins. There is nothing we could ever try to do that could match or top that. God knew that and made a way for us to be reconciled to Him anyway. He gave us the ultimate gift and continues to bless us today. In return, we are called to offer back to Him from what He has given us. Not just with our monetary resources, but with the other gifts and talents we have been blessed with.

Reminders of God's amazing grace are on our hearts as we pray, reflect, and prepare together for this campaign to beautify God's house and rejoice before Him. How wonderful that we serve a God who delights in our gifts to him and eagerly wants us to share in a relationship with Him!

Heavenly Father, thank you for all the wonderful gifts you have given us! Make our hearts open to returning back to You what is Yours. Help us to have joyful hearts that desire to work to match your generosity. Amen.

Prepared by Gabriel and Christina Perez

To prepare spiritually during our “A Beautiful Thing” campaign, you will receive a devotional written by our own members every Monday through Saturday for five weeks. To opt out of these daily devotionals, click here. To read the announcements from the “ABT Weekly Update,” click here.

A Beautiful Thing - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
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Have you been blessed by one of these "Beautiful Thing" devotionals across these five weeks? Have you been touched by one of the songs or inspired by one of the sermons? How has God challenged you as you've been praying about your involvement in the campaign? You've been reading these daily devotionals -- and now it's YOUR turn! In this week's sermon, Pastor Tom wants to read as many notes as time will allow. Write him at tom@hbcaustin.org. Day 5 Devotional (Week 5) Friday, May 13, 2011 "Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you. And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name -- you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, the Levites in your towns, and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows living among you." -- Deuteronomy 16:10-11 Gabriel loves to give me gifts. He sometimes plans them for months. They are heartfelt and generous. To be honest, gift giving doesn't come as easily to me. Often I want to balance the time, effort and money spent on the gifts I give with what I feel the recipient deserves. God sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins. There is nothing we could ever try to do that could match or top that. God knew that and made a way for us to be reconciled to Him anyway. He gave us the ultimate gift and continues to bless us today. In return, we are called to offer back to Him from what He has given us. Not just with our monetary resources, but with the other gifts and talents we have been blessed with. Reminders of God's amazing grace are on our hearts as we pray, reflect, and prepare together for this campaign to beautify God's house and rejoice before Him. How wonderful that we serve a God who delights in our gifts to him and eagerly wants us to share in a relationship with Him! Heavenly Father, thank you for all the wonderful gifts you have given us! Make our hearts open to returning back to You what is Yours. Help us to have joyful hearts that desire to work to match your generosity. Amen. Prepared by Gabriel and Christina Perez To prepare spiritually during our “A Beautiful Thing” campaign, you will receive a devotional written by our own members every Monday through Saturday for five weeks. To opt out of these daily devotionals, click here. To read the announcements from the “ABT Weekly Update,” click here.