What A Lady!

Yesterday I had the privilege of sharing from my heart with my church, Anderson Mill Road Baptist, during our Wednesday night service.... Matt and I were asked several months ago to share about the word "Sacrifice" in relation to our trip over seas and how we are gonna sacrifice...

At first we both just jumped at the opportunity.... We begin thinking about how we could use that as a time to raise money for our trip and get partners to pray and support us in future years we may serve......

As I prayed about what to say though, I told Matt that I didn't want the service to be about us.... but about people we met in the Philippines who really did sacrifice..Les and Sara Lee, The Filipino Crew, Pastor Reuben........ The more I thought about the move.. I just didn't feel like my sacrifice was something worthy of praise....I knew people who had sacrificed way more than me.....

God has really been working on me lately about what I am sacrificing for Him...... Yea I am moving to the Philippines now..... but what have I done for the last 6 years since Africa.....

I was so convicted about my lack of sacrifice and generosity by a story in a book that Les Tilka, the missionary we will be working with in the Philippines, sent to Matt and I to help with raising our needs for the move.... The book is called "Friend Raising: Building A Missionary Support Team that Last"

The story talked of a pastor who challenged his poverty stricken church in South America to be generous...... I know what you are thinking... "If they have nothing... How can they give?" The pastor went on to say that God's principles are His principles regardless of our circumstances....

CAN YOU SAY WOW!!!!......How many times do we not give of our time, money, resources, etc. because we think we have nothing to give... Let me remind you if you even have a home you are in the top 5% of the wealthiest people in the world..... We are truly so BLESSED....Even our poor in America live better than most of the world!!!! Those of you who think you are poor check out these pics.....There not here to guilt you into serving and sacrificing....just to make you appreciate all the more what you have..........

........the pastor told how he challenged the group to set aside a portion of the Lord's blesssings to sell and give to those in need......and as he challenged they gave........Some gave rice, fruits, vegetables, etc......Can you imagine these poor starving people giving away what they had..... not because they would get anything in return, but because God asks his children to be generous........ All one lady had to give was a single tomato............

What an example she is to ALL of us....... We have so much more than one tomato........It is my prayer that I learn how to give and be generous just as this lady did.... I hope to meet her in Heaven one day..... What a Lady!!!

PS..... We got our plane tickets booked today.... June 30th is our official departure date.....Start planning our going away parties now!!!