This verse is a good reminder that God sees what we give. Cornelius was a God-fearing man even though he did not really know the God he served. Many people all over the world are like that. They know there is something, or someone out there, they talk to Him.

Back to Proverbs today for another deep truth from this wise writer. Where do you fit into this verse? Are you someone who wants to be around the rich and famous or would you never do that sort of thing? Do you brag about the rich or famous people you know?

For many of us today it is a season of giving. We are preparing to celebrate Christmas, so are spending lots of money on decorations, food and gifts for family and friends. Our aim is to give pleasure to others. May each of us be blessed in our giving.

Paul is writing to the Corinthian church to encourage them to send a generous gift to the new Macedonian church. This short phrase is in the middle of several verses which in my Bible are under the heading Generosity Encouraged. I can think of no better comment for today.

Jesus is still healing people. Today we read of the origin of that in the first verse of a chapter which I often refer to as the Bible school for the first disciples. Jesus gave them just a few guidelines, then told them to go and heal, and they did!

Luke was a doctor who has given us more accounts of healings performed by Jesus than any of the other gospel writers. I have chosen this verse because of the expression: gave sight. It seems to me so much stronger than just healed. Sight is a gift we all appreciate.

The constant message of Paul was the fact that Jesus gave Himself for us. When He became a baby on earth, that was not the beginning of Jesus. His Spirit had been alive forever and was part of the heavenly discussion about how to save the fallen world.

Before He created anything, God knew what He would do. He knew that Adam and Eve would mess things up. Joshua, who led the Israelites into the promised land after the death of Moses was not born until about 400 years after Abraham had received the promise of the gift.

We live in the west of France. The winter can be too cold, the summer too hot. At the beginning of this year we had too much rain, we could not wait for spring. But then spring was so dry we had to keep watering the garden and we complained!

Sometimes I have to be reminded that God is an all seeing God. He really does not miss anything. The books that will be opened on judgement day will have recorded all the good and bad things we have done. As well as much we think of as being in-between!