In February of 2013 my husband and I attended a conference on fund raising.
Now you might be thinking, "Ugh! The dreaded fundraising".
And to be honest, that was one of my initial thoughts too. We'd heard through a network of church planting friends that this was different. That this so called, boot camp, was to change the way we thought about fund raising.
We started off by reading the text book. I read it cover to cover. My husband and I did the extensive Bible study associated with the book and the upcoming seminar. I took the suggestion of the book and began praying for the people that would be on our "financial support team". We kissed the kids goodbye and flew to our old stomping grounds near Portland, OR for a whirl-wind weekend on fund raising!
Little did I know that the time spent with Steve Shadrach would change our perspective as well as our lives.
You see, it's almost one year since I heard him say that living on support would grow my faith. It's been seven months now that I've had the opportunity to witness first hand the things he was talking about that weekend. I've been a Christian all my life. I've NEVER wondered about the faithfulness of God. His ability to provide has never before been questioned. However, in the last seven months I have seen more clearly God's provisions. It's more than I would have ever dreamed. In many ways, it has restored my faith in God's ability to work through His people.
To live on support, is to live fully dependent. We trust that faithful people give to God, and that God in His faithfulness gives to us. This is a perspective on giving and on receiving that I had never seen before.
A few years ago we went through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. At that time I felt overwhelmed by money and the hold it had over our lives. In becoming debt free, we gained a freedom from that hold. It was a very spiritual process for us. In the same way, living on support we has drawn us closer to God by recognizing that EVERY gift comes from the Father of Lights!
I feel as though I've not done the experience justice. You see, living on support is not just about trusting in God to provide monetarily, but it's a matter that deals directly with our emotions as well. There are many in this world that have all they need and yet they are miserable and controlled by their money. There are those who are poor and are filled with bitterness and resentment in the fact that they are unable to have all they desire. There are some who are very content with their financial situation, this can fall into the category of either rich or poor (and everything in between!) This is the key. When I know that God is the one meeting my needs, then I don't have to worry, stress, or be burdened with a bad attitude. He takes care of that.
It doesn't mean I'm perfect, or without worry. But it means my attitude toward money is different. My attitude toward giving is different. My attitude toward myself, my spouse and others is different.
Each month as our monthly givers send their checks, I am drawn closer to our Lord. I am blessed by their faithfulness to our God who is faithful in all things.
Philippians 4:19
Now you might be thinking, "Ugh! The dreaded fundraising".
And to be honest, that was one of my initial thoughts too. We'd heard through a network of church planting friends that this was different. That this so called, boot camp, was to change the way we thought about fund raising.
We started off by reading the text book. I read it cover to cover. My husband and I did the extensive Bible study associated with the book and the upcoming seminar. I took the suggestion of the book and began praying for the people that would be on our "financial support team". We kissed the kids goodbye and flew to our old stomping grounds near Portland, OR for a whirl-wind weekend on fund raising!
Little did I know that the time spent with Steve Shadrach would change our perspective as well as our lives.
You see, it's almost one year since I heard him say that living on support would grow my faith. It's been seven months now that I've had the opportunity to witness first hand the things he was talking about that weekend. I've been a Christian all my life. I've NEVER wondered about the faithfulness of God. His ability to provide has never before been questioned. However, in the last seven months I have seen more clearly God's provisions. It's more than I would have ever dreamed. In many ways, it has restored my faith in God's ability to work through His people.
To live on support, is to live fully dependent. We trust that faithful people give to God, and that God in His faithfulness gives to us. This is a perspective on giving and on receiving that I had never seen before.
A few years ago we went through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. At that time I felt overwhelmed by money and the hold it had over our lives. In becoming debt free, we gained a freedom from that hold. It was a very spiritual process for us. In the same way, living on support we has drawn us closer to God by recognizing that EVERY gift comes from the Father of Lights!
I feel as though I've not done the experience justice. You see, living on support is not just about trusting in God to provide monetarily, but it's a matter that deals directly with our emotions as well. There are many in this world that have all they need and yet they are miserable and controlled by their money. There are those who are poor and are filled with bitterness and resentment in the fact that they are unable to have all they desire. There are some who are very content with their financial situation, this can fall into the category of either rich or poor (and everything in between!) This is the key. When I know that God is the one meeting my needs, then I don't have to worry, stress, or be burdened with a bad attitude. He takes care of that.
It doesn't mean I'm perfect, or without worry. But it means my attitude toward money is different. My attitude toward giving is different. My attitude toward myself, my spouse and others is different.
Each month as our monthly givers send their checks, I am drawn closer to our Lord. I am blessed by their faithfulness to our God who is faithful in all things.
Philippians 4:19
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