You must each decide in your heart

how much to give.

And don’t give reluctantly

or in response to pressure.

“For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

2 Corinthians 9:7

Remember this—

a farmer who plants only a few seeds

will get a small crop.

But the one who plants generously

will get a generous crop.

2 Corinthians 9:6

…we are the temple of the living God.

As God said:

“I will live in them

and walk among them.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

2 Corinthians 6:16

Online photo of light pillars by Nicholas Johnson

…God says,

“At just the right time, I heard you.

On the day of salvation, I helped you.”

Indeed,

the “right time” is now.

Today is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2

…God is making his appeal through us.

We speak for Christ when we plead,

“Come back to God!”

2 Corinthians 5:20

…anyone who belongs to Christ

has become a new person.

The old life is gone;

a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Because we understand our fearful responsibility

to the Lord,

we work hard to persuade others.

God knows we are sincere,

and I hope you know this, too.

2 Corinthians 5:11

…we know

that when this earthly tent we live in

is taken down

(that is, when we die

and leave this earthly body)

we will have a house in heaven,

an eternal body

made for us by God himself

and not by human hands.

2 Corinthians 5:1

…we live by believing

and not by seeing.

2 Corinthians 5:7

…never give up…

our spirits are being renewed every day.

…don’t look at the troubles we can see now;

rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.

For the things we see now will soon be gone,

but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:16,18