The life of a giver....

The life of a giver.....

The scene is a small church in northern Nevada...the year, 1972..Sunday morning..the back pew of a small, newly formed church...the treasurer counting the offering at the end of the church service...7 crisp $100 bills...10 % of a sale of a house...I can see it still, 40 plus year later....

Thus, the inauguration of a giver....oh, the decision had taken place earlier in the week to give, but surprise, smiles of the treasurer had made it worth it...the fledgling church needed the funds...but the heart of the giver was blessed as well....

Then, later, studying the gifts given to believers, the understanding of giving...and others...how people are motivated...how he was "wired" .....what a encouragement...

That was the beginning....new missionaries, pilots, churches in various places around the world...worthwhile ministries that touched millions or a community....start up and continuing Christian radio stations, families....Christian schools...a Bible college, homeless people, children of prisoners, the elderly, groceries for various people over the years....businessmen down on their "luck".... Teenagers going on their first short term mission experience....church groups building houses in Mexico.....seminary students...sleeping  bags for scouts, grand children....Bible translations...teacher training in Mongolia....orphanages....children in need....a truck for a missionary to ranchers/native Americans.....hospitality for a multitude and variety of people .....the list goes on....

There are memorials at various places,names written in stone or on a metal plate or in Bibles in hotel/motel rooms ....but they will pass away...the important "memorials"  are in the lives of the giver's children, grandchildren and generations to come.....plus the lives that were affected over the years...there is not way of counting the people affected, nor is it important....the importance is the following of a call, using the gifting that GOd bestowed...God does the rest, the multiplication of a gift used in every person's life...

this person wasn't perfect....not to be put on a pedestal ....but in obeying God and using the gifting .....brought light to many...encouraging others to use their gifting in the way they were bent..."well done, good and faithful servant".....you have taken a little and made it into much....

Thank YOU, for this giver in my life....YOU in my life and in the lives of the world...help us each to follow the paths that you have chosen....use the gifts that You have given to multiply  and glorify You....the real Giver ....


Romans 12:8
if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

2 Corinthians 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Matthew6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.