You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
–Psalm 119:68
Freely Giving
(2 Corinthians 9: 6-7; Matthew 6:19-34)
I’ve been thinking about doing a post related to this, and this morning I was even more inspired to share. This morning I woke up and heard my little brother, Jacob of 10 years, talking with my Mom. He said, “You know what I would really like to have right now?…. I would really like to have $5,000”. I heard him and was almost instantly frustrated by what I misinterpreted to be greed, and as I heard Him explain why, my emotions and thoughts were like a big foot I just put into my mouth (Have you ever had that happen?).
He began explaining to my Mom “[I could give to Sissy whatever she has left to raise, and then I could give some to charity…”, and appropriately as any 10 year old would request, which made me chuckle in my mind, his third desire of use with the money was to save just a LITTLE bit for a couple of legos.
Over the past few months Jacob has taken every little bit of money that he has earned from chores and however else to help fund me for the World Race. I don’t believe that He gives because He is “supposed to”, but I think of a much better belief of security down deep inside. He knows that as he gives away all he has, our mother and father are going to supply everything he needs. He needs not worry about saving for what he fears he might need like food, drink, shelter, but he fearlessly trusts and believes it will be provided.
As I grasped this I realized how much more we should be like that with God. With tithing, with giving to charity, whatever it may be we should freely give generously, knowing that Abba above will provide our every need. We should not live in fear and disbelief which makes us cling to our money. We start a cycle when we begin to worry about our money lasting us the month. As soon as we get to the next month we worry about it the next month… and so on… and so on…
Testimony of Giving
(James 1: 2-18)
When I started seminary, two years ago, I was living on a very slim budget. The first year I really stressed about money and budgeting because it was the first year I had ever had to. So many times in that first year I become anxious about how the money was going to get me through. But as I saw God faithful time and time again with every financial crises I ran into, I was able to let go of the grip on money. I knew I was doing what He wanted me to do and that I was walking in His will… and He would provide everything I needed to walk in obedience.
I learned to faithfully tithe my money to the church. I forced myself to pay my tithe first thing as soon as I got my paycheck. I trusted that the Church was using it wisely and giving generously with it to missions, adoption, and other essential needs of the church. I found that even when I looked at what I was giving and really wondered if I would have enough to make it through… I learned to give and trust. I learned that in giving of what I had in caring for the homeless, God cared for me. It was funny how in those weeks when things were slim because I chose to give, people and my church family (without knowing about my financial situation) would have me over for meals and provide for me… it was so timely, because as we all know, He is an on time God.
General Understanding of Money
(Matthew 25:14-30)
The biggest thing to learn about the money in your wallet, account, hands, etc…
IT’S NOT YOUR MONEY.
The sooner I realized that, the more at peace I felt and the more freely I lived.
Anything that we have on this earth, including money, will not go with us when we leave. Everything that we have on this earth is all on loan to us from God to use wisely, and steward well.
My Convictions on Fundraising and a Testimony of God
(Acts 18: 1-4)
I have had a very unique conviction related to fundraising. One that many may not agree with, but one that I could not fight, and I knew that in order for me to raise this money, I had to be faithful to follow it. Disclaimer: I hold this conviction with open heart and hands. I am beyond willing to drop it as soon as I am convicted otherwise, or unless biblically am proven otherwise.
I have not directly asked people for money. Instead I really desired to provide a service or something in return for people’s money. I have not had a problem, however, with people knowing what I’m doing and freely giving as they have trusted what God is doing in my life.
The reason I am sharing this is not because I believe my way is better, everyone has different convictions on fundraising. Trust me, it’s not a thing in which I’m not comfortable asking for money. In fact, I think that would be a lot easier than trying to come up with creative things to sell. I share this as a testimony to God. That he honors when people are faithful to the convictions given to them that are sifted through the grid of scripture.
I had the conversation with God at the beginning of this journey… “You know you have to raise this money, right?” and He said “I know”. Since then, I have had little concern about raising $18,200 in one year. Now here I stand, 2 months from launch time, and I have less than $3,000 left to raise. I don’t even have to have it all until January of 2019. Honestly, it’s just silly! In 10 months, $15,200 was allotted to me so that going on this mission trip may be a thing. Ha!
Thank you Supporters!
(Philippians 1: 3-5)
I have been so incredibly blessed to all who have supported me; some have really gone over and beyond! Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this possible! Because of God, and because of your obedience to Him, I am able to serve with an incredible organization and an incredible group of co-laborers to see that the gospel reaches the nations!
With love from the Father,
Kaylin A. Starbuck
