Giving Through God's Grace

I wanted to share with everyone the letter I wrote for our new church home, Freedom Christian Church, about a special gifting that we are planning for Christmas. One of the reasons I wanted to post this was because this applies not only just for Christmas, but at ALL times through the year. Gifting and caring for others is something we should be doing daily! Please enjoy, and if you feel inspired, please give to these organizations. They have websites and do accept donations through PayPal and other various means.

Greetings friends,

As you are very aware, Christmas is fast approaching. This has been a very difficult year for many, financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Thankfully we have the promises of God that He will always provide and care for our needs, no matter how things appear through our natural eyes!

One of things we should consider is “the reason for the season”. God gave us the gift of freedom and eternal life in the form of Jesus Christ. It was through the crucifixion that Jesus committed the selfless act of becoming sin so that we may be forgiven and no longer separated from God, that we could come to His throne of Grace boldly. As Christians, we may be the only example of Christ that some people may ever experience. How can we, as sons and daughters to the King, be that example to others? Let us look to the Word and examine one area of giving during this time:

Deuteronomy 15: 7-11 states: When you happen on someone who’s in trouble or needs help among your people with whom you live in this land that GOD, your God, is giving you, don’t look the other way pretending you don’t see him. Don’t keep a tight grip on your purse. No. Look at him, open your purse, lend whatever and as much as he needs. Don’t count the cost. Don’t listen to that selfish voice saying, “It’s almost the seventh year, the year of All-Debts-Are-Canceled,” and turn aside and leave your needy neighbor in the lurch, refusing to help him. He’ll call God’s attention to you and your blatant sin. Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors. (The Message)

And James 2:14-17 states: Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup-where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? (The Message)

God knows that we have all had our financial struggles during this season. With the struggles our economy has suffered and the loss of jobs all over the place, people are often afraid to give. We see our checkbooks and we wonder where the next dollar is going to come from or how we are going to pay bills. The Bible plainly states that there is no fear in the Lord. There is an overflow that comes from gifting to others, and God does provide for a means of giving. He fills our cups to overflowing so that we may bless others according to how He has blessed us. We are not expected to give what we can’t but rather to give from what God has given us.

2 Corinthians 9:11-15 states: This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the BARE needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, His gift. No language can praise it enough! (The Message)

If you look even further, you can see the overflow of giving and how it can work in your own life. The Macedonian churches in New Testament times are a prime example of this. The Christians there were deeply poor, lacking in many areas and at times barely having the basic necessities. Here the word clearly shows how if YOU give out of the abundance right where you are into another’s life, how YOU and THEM can be abundantly blessed.

2 Corinthians 8:2: Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. (The Message)

There are three areas I would like to see Freedom Christian Church give into this Christmas season. Locally there is the Hope Pregnancy Center based here in Killeen. They provide services to women who think they are pregnant, or those who are pregnant and unsure of where to turn. They try to fully educate women on their choices once these women have discovered an unplanned pregnancy, they provide ultrasounds to these women, encouragement right where these women are, prayer for these women to make good solid choices, and so much more – all free of charge to those who use their services. The Killeen location is right next door to the abortion clinic and often Hope is left to council women that have been traumatized by the abortion procedures. WWW.HOPEPC.COM

Regionally, I would like to see our church gift into Soldiers Hospitality House located on Fort Hood. The Soldiers Hospitality House, SHH, is a Fort Hood ministry that provides a place for military personnel who are far from home, family, and friends to feel the warmth of a "home away from home." The Soldiers Hospitality House is a soldiers ministry sponsored by Cadence International, a mission organization dedicated to ministering to those in the military. The Wootens, directors of the Hospitality House, offer Bible studies, home-cooked meals, and off-duty activities as well as a close family environment. The Fort Hood military community, with over 100,000 people, including 46,000 soldiers, is the largest military installation in the world. Approximately 16,000 are single soldiers. Currently, the SHH is also helping to provide services to the wounded from the Fort Hood tragedy and their families. Their web address is: WWW.SOLDIERSHOSPITALITYHOUSE.ORG

Internationally our church should continue and strengthen our support of our World Vision child. His name is Hector and he is 8 years old. Located in central Mexico, he lives with his parents, brother, and 2 sisters. His father is an agricultural worker and tries to support his family. Most people living in this particular area live in one room only homes and eat things like beans and corn tortillas with occasionally being able to add chicken or beef into their diet. Our support of this community provides things like school supplies, immunizations, well checkups, dental exams, clean water, improved nutrition and education to help with training to improve the standard of living for the area. Most importantly, our support through World Vision brings the Gospel to people like Hector and his family, allowing them to hear about the Salvation of Jesus Christ.

I pray that you seek God’s face over the next few weeks in regards to giving. On our Sunday service, December 20th, we will be collecting a special love offering during our message specifically for these three organizations that we have chosen to support. Seek God’s will; see where He wants you to give and where you can give.
Remember, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” (Psalms 24:1 NLT) Do not have fear about gifting. God always provides and blesses us according to His riches and glories. Whatever way we are able to give, God will bless. He commands us to think of the less fortunate, and Jesus compares our giving as if we were giving to Him; “Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me- you did it to me”. (Matthew 25:40, The Message)

Thank you for considering this, and be blessed in Christ!