So I wanted to share about my past weekend. I had one of the best weekends in my life. Not even exaggerating. I Enjoyed it a lot and learned some really awesome things.
So my plan was to go down to Edmonton and Calgary area to visit friends. But God revealed to me that I was going with some selfish motives. I was going to visit these friends for my enjoyment. But God had other plans.
On the night before I left, God was telling me how this wasn’t a vacation, but a mini missions trip. God has made me to be a blessing to others. I often go places wondering how I’m going to get blessed. But God was teaching me how to be a blessing.
He gave me a few missions.
Mission #1
Create a “Thanksgiving Journal” and write down one thing I was thankful for every hour.
Mission #2
Pray for the people I was about to see while driving to where they were.
Mission #3
Write an encouraging note for them.
Mission #4
Give them a $20 bill
So this is what I did for my weekend. Now, just to give a little bit of a testimony of what life used to be like in the life of Jordan. I grew up with a Jewish dad and a dutch mom. So if you know anything about these two backgrounds, they are both very very cheap. I grew up with very tight fists when it came to “my” money. Now, being frugal is something that can be very beneficial in the Kingdom of God. Going out and blowing money on needless things is something I have never had a problem with. But I was really far on the one side of the pendulum. I had next to no sense of giving away “my” money. It wasn’t until right before Bible College in Summer 2011 that God opened my eyes to this way of living. I started tithing and giving away a bit of money. But I still had a long ways to go from there.
In the past year God has taught me so much in the area of Godly finances. He has taught me that He is the owner of all the money in the world and people are just stewards of it. I find it is a lot easier to give away money if we know it’s not ours. It is not “my” money, but “His” money. So if He tells me to give away $20 to all my friends, even though I could use it for other things, I need to recognize that the money is not mine to control. It is God’s to control and I need to be a faithful steward with it.
I don’t want to sound like I am boasting about how awesome of a giver I am. Jesus talks about that in Matthew 6:2-4,
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
What Jesus is talking about here is a heart attitude. People would boast about how great they were because they gave a lot away. But I want to boast in Jesus Christ to show how much He has done in my life. It is truly amazing how He took me, a tight fisted man, and made me generous. How He has shown me that giving is one of my gifts. That I am blessed to be a blessing. Jesus has softened my heart and and opened my eyes to the needs of others, not just myself. I used to be the missionary who wanted to be supported, now I’m the missionary who wants to support others. God has truly done great things in my life over the past 3 years. Let the praise and glory be unto God.
So before I left, when God was giving me my “missions”, He also gave me a verse. This was Proverbs 11:24-25,
One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
This was very true this past weekend. As I gave freely, I gained even more. As I had opportunity to refresh others, I was in returned refreshed. I am so in awe of how good God is and what He has done in my life. I can’t stop thanking Him. I filled the thanksgiving journal super easily.
I realized that I have a God that loves me, that I have friends that love me, and that I love me. Many people go through life without all three. Life has it’s trials, but we can find enjoyment in anything if we go with God. He bids us, “Come Follow Me”. As we step out and do this, we live an abundant life. I encourage you, if you want more, ask Him. He is so willing to provide for the hungry heart.
Thanks for reading!
