"A gift opens the way..." -Proverbs
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A good friend asked me once, "What would you do if you suddenly lost all your income?" I thought about it and part of my conclusion was "give more." Why? There is life in giving. I've found that when you completely surrender yourself to God and surrender what you have, He provides. Now, He provides according to His will, not my will. In surrendering yourself, that means all that you have, including your finances. I am not perfect, but I'm learning to put my money towards where God wants it, for ultimately it's His anyways. As I've been doing this, I've found an unexplainable joy, a joy that only comes by giving with God. Yes, with Him. Give as He directs. I don't have much money, but I've made it a priority in my life to set aside an extra portion of any income for giving as God directs. Why do I do this? Doing this started with a youth group leader who challenged our youth group with the phrase, "You can’t give what you don't have." So I've made it a goal to always have some to give, so when God calls me to give, I can follow through much easier. I've chose to put my money in this extra giving category before I use it on anything else. (This "giving" is not the same as "tithing"). Now saying this is of little meaning without seeing where this giving money goes. I've been blessed with a growing number of experiences of God telling me to provide or bless others. I'll share a few of them below, and will continue to update as more come.
January 2017
After a long, though good, day at the church, I was on my way home. God was speaking a number of different things to me and asking me to go down roads I didn't want to go down - mainly because they would take longer to get home. However He eventually brought me to a Wal-Mart parking lot and told me to go into the McDonalds that was in the Wal-Mart. So walked into the Wal-Mart and had the feeling that God might want me to pay for someone’s meal at McDonalds. I walked around a bit, keeping an eye on the McDonalds but I saw no one enter. So I walked over there and peaked in. A few people were eating in a corner, otherwise the room was empty. As I was walking out a dad and his daughter were walking in. God told me to pay for their meal. So I walked over and after they had ordered I asked the dad if I could pay for his meal. He happily accepted and used it as an opportunity to show his daughter how others share and bless others.
February 2017
I was daring home from an evening at church and God was taking me around the city on new routes I had never been on for. He ended me at a coffee shop where I went in to get some hot chocolates to go. I ordered and as I was walking out I heard the Holy Spirit's little whisper in my heart to go pay for the next guys order. Again, it was a dad and daughter. He, again, happily let me pay for their order, and he too used it as a chance to show his daughter how others share and bless.
February 2017
as I was driving home I was at a stoplight and noticed a homeless woman on the street corner holding a sign that I couldn't read. I normally drive past these people for I don't have that much I can do, except I can pray. However as I drove past this time, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me to go give her something. So I turned around and pulled into a parking lot on that corner. I checked my wallet and I had no cash. However I did have a McDonalds gift card. So I walked out to where she was standing (it was very cold and dark) and I asked her what I could pray for her for. She said, "that I would have food to eat." I gave her my McDonalds gift card and told her that God loves her and has a plan for her life. As I was walking a way the Holy Spirit spoke to me again. He told me that the nearest McDonald was quite a ways away and that's too far of a walk for this lady that night. Especially since on that corner there was a Burger King. So I went into the Burger King and bought a $25 gift card. I took the gift card back out to the lady on the corner. She, again, was so thankful. I could tell that it had said something to her heart, even if she didn't say anything. We talked for a bit, and then I left and spent some time praying for her.
Fall 2016
As I was in Wal-Mart I told God, as I do every time I'm in there, "Let me be a blessing to someone." I ask Him to reveal to me who He wants me to bless, if anyone on that trip to Wal-Mart. On this particular night I had decided I am going to keep walking around until God revels to me who He wants me to bless. After walking around a bit, He pointed out a lady who was in line at the check out. He told me to go and pay for her groceries. So I went and got in line behind her. I thought to myself "oh her cart isn't very full, this won't cost much." However as the clerk gave her total, I realized truly how expensive diapers and baby supplies were. Surpassing $200, her total God still wanted me to pay. So I asked her, "Can I pay for you?" She at first didn't know what to say, but then returned with the polite answer, "no I can pay for it." I told her, "I would love to bless you and pay for your purchase." After a short bit of talking, I paid for her, and she couldn't believe it. She was asking the clerk if she'd seen anything like this before and she was in unbelief. I told her that God loves her and she is blessed. As I was leaving she told me, "I will pass on the blessing." As I was pulling out of the parking lot the Holy Spirit told me, "I wanted you to pay for her purchase, and I knew that she'd pass on the blessing. She can reach people that you cannot. I wanted you to bless her so a blessing would reach someone else."
Fall 2016
Again, as I was in Wal-Mart God told pointed out a lady that He wanted me to pay for her groceries. This lady took a bit to convince that I was doing out of my heart of giving and not because I felt sorry for her. She kept insisting, "I have the money for it." Eventually she let me pay for her cart and she was without words. Afterwards I felt God say to me that she needed that and that He was doing something in her that I didn't know about. I am thankful that I was able to be a part of His work even when I don't see or get to see the whole thing.
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Every cent that is gifted to this fundraiser will go to where God directs it to go. My income is no match for where my heart wants to go, but I can't give what I don't have. I want to open the way for others; I want to bless others; I want be used by God to be a part in His mighty works.
This fundraiser is an ongoing one. As directs me, I will use every bit that I have to glorify His name and to touch the hearts of people I interact with.
Why $12,000 as a goal? It's a number. This is an ongoing fundraiser. I will strive for a high amount and expect God to move with any amount. I am hoping and praying that God will surpass my goal, but I will be happy with anything that God gives me to give.
I would love for you to partner with me in sharing this great blessing with others. If you don't want to donate, that's okay, do what you feel the Holy Spirit directing you to do. But if you don't donate (and even if you do), I encourage you to seek God and ask Him where He can use you to bless others.
Psalm 34:1 (NLT)
I will praise the LORD at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
Psalm 34:8 (NLT)
Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!
Psalm 40:8a (NLT)
I take joy in doing your will, my God,
Psalm 9:1-2 (NLT)
I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
January 2017
After a long, though good, day at the church, I was on my way home. God was speaking a number of different things to me and asking me to go down roads I didn't want to go down - mainly because they would take longer to get home. However He eventually brought me to a Wal-Mart parking lot and told me to go into the McDonalds that was in the Wal-Mart. So walked into the Wal-Mart and had the feeling that God might want me to pay for someone’s meal at McDonalds. I walked around a bit, keeping an eye on the McDonalds but I saw no one enter. So I walked over there and peaked in. A few people were eating in a corner, otherwise the room was empty. As I was walking out a dad and his daughter were walking in. God told me to pay for their meal. So I walked over and after they had ordered I asked the dad if I could pay for his meal. He happily accepted and used it as an opportunity to show his daughter how others share and bless others.
February 2017
I was daring home from an evening at church and God was taking me around the city on new routes I had never been on for. He ended me at a coffee shop where I went in to get some hot chocolates to go. I ordered and as I was walking out I heard the Holy Spirit's little whisper in my heart to go pay for the next guys order. Again, it was a dad and daughter. He, again, happily let me pay for their order, and he too used it as a chance to show his daughter how others share and bless.
February 2017
as I was driving home I was at a stoplight and noticed a homeless woman on the street corner holding a sign that I couldn't read. I normally drive past these people for I don't have that much I can do, except I can pray. However as I drove past this time, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me to go give her something. So I turned around and pulled into a parking lot on that corner. I checked my wallet and I had no cash. However I did have a McDonalds gift card. So I walked out to where she was standing (it was very cold and dark) and I asked her what I could pray for her for. She said, "that I would have food to eat." I gave her my McDonalds gift card and told her that God loves her and has a plan for her life. As I was walking a way the Holy Spirit spoke to me again. He told me that the nearest McDonald was quite a ways away and that's too far of a walk for this lady that night. Especially since on that corner there was a Burger King. So I went into the Burger King and bought a $25 gift card. I took the gift card back out to the lady on the corner. She, again, was so thankful. I could tell that it had said something to her heart, even if she didn't say anything. We talked for a bit, and then I left and spent some time praying for her.
Fall 2016
As I was in Wal-Mart I told God, as I do every time I'm in there, "Let me be a blessing to someone." I ask Him to reveal to me who He wants me to bless, if anyone on that trip to Wal-Mart. On this particular night I had decided I am going to keep walking around until God revels to me who He wants me to bless. After walking around a bit, He pointed out a lady who was in line at the check out. He told me to go and pay for her groceries. So I went and got in line behind her. I thought to myself "oh her cart isn't very full, this won't cost much." However as the clerk gave her total, I realized truly how expensive diapers and baby supplies were. Surpassing $200, her total God still wanted me to pay. So I asked her, "Can I pay for you?" She at first didn't know what to say, but then returned with the polite answer, "no I can pay for it." I told her, "I would love to bless you and pay for your purchase." After a short bit of talking, I paid for her, and she couldn't believe it. She was asking the clerk if she'd seen anything like this before and she was in unbelief. I told her that God loves her and she is blessed. As I was leaving she told me, "I will pass on the blessing." As I was pulling out of the parking lot the Holy Spirit told me, "I wanted you to pay for her purchase, and I knew that she'd pass on the blessing. She can reach people that you cannot. I wanted you to bless her so a blessing would reach someone else."
Fall 2016
Again, as I was in Wal-Mart God told pointed out a lady that He wanted me to pay for her groceries. This lady took a bit to convince that I was doing out of my heart of giving and not because I felt sorry for her. She kept insisting, "I have the money for it." Eventually she let me pay for her cart and she was without words. Afterwards I felt God say to me that she needed that and that He was doing something in her that I didn't know about. I am thankful that I was able to be a part of His work even when I don't see or get to see the whole thing.
---
Every cent that is gifted to this fundraiser will go to where God directs it to go. My income is no match for where my heart wants to go, but I can't give what I don't have. I want to open the way for others; I want to bless others; I want be used by God to be a part in His mighty works.
This fundraiser is an ongoing one. As directs me, I will use every bit that I have to glorify His name and to touch the hearts of people I interact with.
Why $12,000 as a goal? It's a number. This is an ongoing fundraiser. I will strive for a high amount and expect God to move with any amount. I am hoping and praying that God will surpass my goal, but I will be happy with anything that God gives me to give.
I would love for you to partner with me in sharing this great blessing with others. If you don't want to donate, that's okay, do what you feel the Holy Spirit directing you to do. But if you don't donate (and even if you do), I encourage you to seek God and ask Him where He can use you to bless others.
Psalm 34:1 (NLT)
I will praise the LORD at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
Psalm 34:8 (NLT)
Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!
Psalm 40:8a (NLT)
I take joy in doing your will, my God,
Psalm 9:1-2 (NLT)
I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
Organizer
Joshua Baurer
Organizer
Princeville, IL