Hello Everyone!
I thought I would write a quick post about what's been on my heart lately.
Giving back, or giving in general.
Some people have nothing, and are the happiest people I've ever met. I witnessed this many years back when I went with Grace Church in Des Moines to Jamaica on a missions trip. When you typically think of Jamaica you think of Sandals resorts right? All the gorgeous teal water... white sand... palm trees.. paradise really. Yes, it is that in parts, but definitely not all that.
We spent about a week up in the mountains of Jamaica and it was I think thee most mild blowing, eye opening experience I have ever had. I remember when we started that week, I looked at the children who we would soon have for the entire week of Vacation Bible School. They all looked pretty well dressed, nice clean(ish) looking clothes, hair done up in braids.. this shouldn't be too hard on my heart this week, they must be doing ok. (I remember thinking)... until, the second day they came with the same outfit, and the third day.... and the fourth day... Some by the end of the week had a different outfit on, but some still had the same outfit on that they wanted to make their first impression with at the beginning of the week. I think of it like the "Sunday Best" that Laura Ingalls wore in Little House on the Prairie. It was the one nice thing that they had to put on for something special, and they were so proud of it. They were just that, so proud of their outfit. I remember them fluffing their dresses as if to say, wow, I look so nice.
I should have known it would be a challenging week as we climbed up the mountain in our bus. Make shift houses lined the dirt roads, made of metal sides, no windows, and barely a roof to speak of. Even the "nicer" houses would be considered unlivable here in the U.S.
Yet, these people were some of the nicest people that I have ever met in my life. The relaxing lifestyle of the Jamaicans continues up into the mountains. They are not concerned about time, or anything outside of their world. They are content and SO thankful for anything they have.
Makes me think about us. Myself.. my family. What is it that I need right now? What do I WANT? The people in the mountains of Jamaica live so frugally, (because they have to) and yet we are always concerned about getting the latest and the greatest. Why? Because we have the resources and are CONSTANTLY surrounded with ads, billboards, tv shows, radio.. and everything else telling us that what we have is not good enough. We always need more.
I have had this on my heart lately. Giving back. Giving to people that have less than we do. Giving to people that need a little extra help, because we can. Even as the widow's offering in Mark 12.. she gave what she had, all of what she had.. it wasn't much, but the Lord said that she gave the Most! Even if we don't have a lot to give we should do what we can because the Lord calls us to. Whether it is tithing, giving to the poor, helping the widows and orphans, helping your neighbor or family in time of need, whatever it may be.... we should give.
Deuteronomy 16:17Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
Whatever God has given me to give I should. I don't think the Bible's "giving" passages only talk about physical money giving... I think its giving of the blessings you have. Whether it's a blessing of cooking and you can make meals for a family in need, whether it's financial and you have the ability to help people are are struggling financially to get on their feet, whether you can build things and you can help do construction for a organization or family.. whatever it is, God wants us to be cheerful givers.
I recently have been looking into an organization that accepts expired coupons that the troops can use abroad. They troops are allowed to use coupons 6 MONTHS past the expiration date! Believe it or not, even with all my great deals, coupons get away from me and I always have lots of expired coupons left at the end of the allotted time to use them. I'm have emailed about being matched with a military family that I can share my coupons with.
** If you are interested in donating coupons to my stash of expired coupons to send, message me and I'll give you my address. They don't HAVE to be expired, but this is just the point of the whole thing is that they are able to use them for a long life after the expiration date. I will most likely be sending a package monthly to the family that I get matched to so you are always welcome to send me yours monthly and I'll send them along!
I'm really excited about this! I recently heard about it what a GREAT way to be able to show, even in a small way, to our troops that we are thinking about them and want to help them! I will post if I come up with a family match that we can send to!! :)
I am excited about the things that God has laid on my heart to pursue in giving, and giving back.
We are blessed. We have everything that we NEED, and more.
God has given me some abilities and I am anxious to see where He takes them. Where He can use me.
I'm ready! Time to give.... and I'm SO excited about it!
