Spirit of Generosity [Exodus 35]

 ²¹Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the LORD'S contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments. ²²Then all whose hearts moved them, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and bracelets, all articles of gold; so did every man who presented an offering of gold to the LORD. ²³Every man, who had in his possession blue and purple and scarlet material and fine linen and goats' hair and rams' skins dyed red and porpoise skins, brought them. ²⁴Everyone who could make a contribution of silver and bronze brought the LORD'S contribution; and every man who had in his possession acacia wood for any work of the service brought it. ²⁵All the skilled women spun with their hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue and purple and scarlet material and in fine linen. ²⁶All the women whose heart stirred with a skill spun the goats' hair. ²⁷The rulers brought the onyx stones and the stones for setting for the ephod and for the breastpiece; ²⁸and the spice and the oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. ²⁹The Israelites, all the men and women, whose heart moved them to bring material for all the work, which the LORD had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a freewill offering to the LORD. 

What strikes me the most about this passage is the emphasis on giving because your heart is stirred and your spirit is moved.  He is not asking for a head decision but one that comes from the Spirit moving in the heart.  The other thought is that God asked Moses to  communicate clearly the specifics of what was needed.  This spring Beth and I have been asking the Lord to move in peoples hearts to give to the ministry of Establishing God's Peace.  But today, I see an aspect that was missing.  We have not communicated what the need is.  I am encouraged by God's example and so expect to hear from us soon!

Father, we praise You for being such a specific God.  You give Your people an opportunity to participate in Your work and Your Spirit moves in our hearts as You show what needs to be done.  Lord, what a sweet testimony of Your goodness.