Generosity Isn’t Just Monetary

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At Christmastime out thoughts go to gifts we will give, and gifts we will receive. Being generous is part of living a happy and fulfilled life! Giving takes the focus off ourselves and causes us to consider what someone else might consider special or valued. As a bonus, giving empowers both the giver and the receiver!

Fortunate that 2023 has been a prosperous year? Go ahead, feel empowered and give generously with gifts to others, extra donations to charity, and yes —go ahead— spend a little on yourself. For many, however, it may have been a difficult year and money is short. So how can we be generous without spending money?

Be Generous with Your Time
Determine to build new relationships
Help out a neighbor 
Volunteer at a charity or cause
Spend time with someone who is lonely
Visit the sick or a shut-in
Offer to drive someone to the airport

Be Generous with Your Things
Share any surplus you may have 
Lend out a tool, mower, or yard game
Take food to a shut-in or needy family

Be Generous with Your Words
Always give thanks and show appreciation
Offer words of encouragement when needed
Express love and hope
Always speak positively, especially with children
Offer sincere compliment
Put others before yourself

When we give advice in areas in which we are experienced, we are being generous with our talents and skills. When we accept the generosity of others, we are also being generous. When we’re wrong, admit it. Apologize with sincerity. Be a good sport. Be patient. Be kind.

We are also being generous when we don’t gossip, judge, condemn or embarrass others. 

As we welcome our Savior into the world, it’s a good idea to take a minute to thank the Lord for His generosity shown to us through the saving grace of His Only Son.

Merry Christmas from all of us at the Stewardship Foundation. 

Gift Planning in Time of War

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The recent outbreak of war between Israel IDF and Hamas militants has the entire world on edge. The U.S. support of the war in Ukraine against the Russian forces is already straining the capacity of foreign aid overseas. How do we see the war? What can this mean for our investments? 

Our original founders were inspired by a group of three individuals, one of which was Richard Enright, a former D.C. estate planning attorney, charitable planning pioneer, and advocate for worldwide religious liberties. His vision for all men to be inherently free and maintain religious liberty inspires us everyday.

We expected U.S. economic growth to slow in 2024, but did not expect to have the events of 2023 on top of this forecast. Bloomberg has addressed the conflict’s potential to disrupt the global economy and possibly tip it into recession if more countries are drawn into the fighting.

If the conflict does widen, we may see gas prices return to over $5 per gallon and, as a result, we will likely see costs for many of the products Americans depend on everyday…food, heating/cooling, jet fuel, and so on to rise dramatically. Holding onto our savings and investments will become a more urgent priority.

At the Stewardship Foundation, we do not have our head in the desert sand (so to speak). We are adamant about being good stewards with our donors’ money and will apply our skills as charitable gift consultants to protect our investors to the best of our ability. We pray that our foundational values of stewardship and the call to Christian conscience will provide the divine providence needed to manage risk and remain disciplined to stay the course during this difficult time.

Prayer for Peace

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Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Cohort called the Italica, devout and God-fearing along with his whole household, who used to give alms generously to the Jewish people and pray to God constantly. One afternoon about three o’clock, he saw plainly in a vision an angel of God come in to him and say to him “Cornelius… Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God.”  —Acts 10:1-4

Prayers and Almsgiving. Both are acceptable to the Lord and because of this, Christian charities are stepping up to give everyone an opportunity to provide medical care, food and shelter, and humanitarian assistance to those in need in conflict areas in the Middle East, especially Israel. For guidance on giving to those in need in the Middle East, especially in Israel, please email our office at info@stewardshipworks.org attention “Give for Peace.”

A Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the true King of peace.
In You alone is found freedom.

Please free our world from conflict.
Bring unity to troubled nations.
Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart.

Dispel all darkness and evil.
Protect the dignity of every human life.
Replace hatred with Your love.

Give wisdom to world leaders.
Free them from selfish ambition.
Eliminate all violence and war.

Glorious Virgin Mary,
Saint Michael the Archangel,
Every angel and saint:
Please pray for peace.
Pray for unity amongst nations.
Pray for unity amongst all people.
Pray for the most vulnerable.
Pray for those suffering.
Pray for the fearful.
Pray for those most in need.
Pray for us all.

Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, hear our prayers.
Jesus, I trust in You! Amen.