Since I have been back from the Race, occasionally I receive emails from folks I met along the way asking for money to help a need they have. The other day, I got an email from a friend in Moldova who was raising money to attend a leadership conference. I really wanted to help.
(at this point, you may have already scrolled down to see how long this entry is, and I admit, it’s one of my longer ones, but it’s GOOD, so bear with me!!…just 5 minutes of your time is all it will take…)
2 Corinthians 8:3-4
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
So, I prayed about the amount God would have me give. Last time I did this, God laid it on my heart to donate all the tips I made one evening above and beyond $100 and He blew me away by sending in all kinds of people on one of the slowest nights of the month. I tried this method again, but I wasn’t intentional with my prayers and ended up with $6 to donate. Hmmm…not exactly what I had in mind. I knew my friend still needed $100 and based on what the scriptures teach about giving sacrificially, I knew that I was called to give more.
The next morning as I sat at my desk, I came across the address of this lady who buys old Mary Kay product from former consultants (don’s ask…) & I had contacted her about buying some of the hideous shades of lispstick that had been sitting on my shelf for the last 7 years. She said she could offer me $24 for what I was sending her (the stuff was worth something like $190 retail), and since it has literally been collecting dust for 7 years, I was willing to take anything. It would cost me $5 to ship the items to her, leaving me a net of $19. That was it! The money I would get from selling the makeup, plus the $6 from my excess tips the other night would be my donation: $25.
Now I needed to figure out if this was just my own ludicrous way of coming up with the donation amount or if this was God working through me, and hopefully teaching me something along the way. It certainly didn’t feel sacrificial only donating $25.
So yesterday, I went for a walk to get some errands done and I remembered that Harry’s Guitar Shop was right around the corner from where I was. I had been wanting to get a guitar stand for what seems like forever now, so I thought I would pop in to check out their inventory. I told the guy I was just looking for something cheap but functional. He showed me one for $15, but the cushiony rubber protector thingys were bright neon orange, so I asked if he had anything else. He showed me a similar stand in all black, but the place where the neck goes seemed small, so I told him it was for a classical acoustic. He paused and then said he had the perfect stand for me. He brought me over to this beautiful wooden guitar stand. It really was perfect. Exactly what I wanted. And I wanted it. I knew it would cost more than the first one he showed me so I asked him how much. He replied with: “$25.”
Dang, Jesus! There was the sacrifice He was looking for. It wasn’t so much the money God was calling me to give but what the money could buy.
So, that’s it folks. Sure, I’m still guitar-standless, but I know that the money I could have spent on it is going to help build up His kingdom by training new disciples all over the world, and that is so much more rewarding. It’s all for the glory of God.
And, just in case you were wondering, here are some of the ways that God worked with the money that was raised to share the hope of the truth of Christ throughout the world:
Thailand
1.) Volunteered/housework/yard cleanup at Tree of Life Orphanage
2.) Taught English at primary & secondary schools
3.) Painted/cleaned up playground at a village school
4.) Prayer walked through Monk Wat (temple)
Cambodia
5.) Volunteered at Bethlehem night shelter for street boys
6.) Taught English to prospective midwife students at Value Life program
7.) Shared testimonies w/young mothers at Value Life village clinic
8.) Delivered food/water to local slums in Phnom Penh
9.) Visited/encouraged/prayed for Kaleb Cambodia-sponsored families in the villages
10.) Cleaned up trash in the streets of Phnom Penh
11.) Served lunches at the local soup kitchen
12.) Prayed with/visited patients at AIDS hospital
Australia (Indigenous Ministry Links Australia)
13.) Shared testimonies at Aboriginal church in Katherine
14.) Led women’s Bible study in Aboriginal community of Beswick
15.) Led worship service/Preached message at Aboriginal village of Weemol
16.) Trained/encouraged local leaders in Aboriginal communities
Malaysia
17.) Shared testimonies at prayer center in Ipoh
18.) Shared testimonies at several home visits in villages
19.) Led worship at Immanuel Church in Kuala Krai
20.) Prayer walked over new land for Immanuel Church Center
21.) Led worship/shared message & testimony at Gereja Presbyterian Chinese Church Kuala Krai
22.) Led children’s program at Gereja Presbyterian Chinese Church
23.) Led children’s program at Kerilla plantation
24.) Preached Good Friday Message at 2 churches in Ipoh
25.) Put on “Give your heart to God” skit at Easter youth campfire (entirely unrehearsed and hilarious)
India
26.) Led week-long Jireh Summer Kids Club in Bangalore
27.) Volunteered at Jireh Children’s Home/Led devotions/Bible Studies
28.) Shared testimessage at village church
29.) Shared message/led worship at the Abhayam addiction center
30.) Visited with children at Accept Children’s Home
Nepal
31.) Prayer walked/home visit prayers for healing in Kathmandu
32.) Shared message at home fellowship
33.) Shared message at NIPC (Nepali Indigenous People’s Church at orphanage)
South Africa
34.) Led Soccer & Surfing bridge ministry in Coffee Bay
35.) Led baptisms (about 26 were baptized!) post-ministry
36.) Led village church service/worship (Gamestop Assembly!)
Mozambique
37.) Built house (out of bamboo!) for the missionary family for Africa on Fire Ministries
38.) Shared testimonies at Church in Maputo
39.) Evangelism Outreach to villages
40.) Shared message at new church plant (1st service!) in local village outside Chibuto
41.) Produced promo video for Africa on Fire ministries
Swaziland
42.) Volunteered at Carepoints (helped teach pre-school/helped with daily feedings)
43.) Volunteered at Timbali Crafts (sorting/tagging/folding)
44.) Led MK Day for missionary children in Swazi
Ukraine
45.) Built future dorm for orphan kids in Kolentsi (Jeremiah’s Hope)
46.) Catered a wedding (what!?!? random…)
Moldova
47.) Led English Club for 1 week in Transnistria with New Life Moldova Ministry
48.) Shared testimonies at “American Party” for students
49.) Led English club for 2 weeks in Chisinau
50.) Hosted 2nd “American Party” complete with “Jesus takes away your pain” skit and Gospel message (Hannah–you rock!)
2 Corinthians 8:3-4
New International Version (NIV)
New International Version (NIV)
For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
The Message (MSG)
Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.
The Message (MSG)
Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.
