Last night while at a restaurant a friend and I were leaving where we had just eaten. While walking by I noticed an African American woman with 2 children praying and saying grace in public over their food. My friend Linda Hill and I went to discuss something and I pulled out $20+ bucks and said why don’t we go back and bless that little lady and her family with dinner. I think the Lord wants to bless them and buy their dinner. She immediately pulled out another 20 dollars and said lets give them $40 dollars. We then prayed over the money and for the lady.
So we walked back to where the lady was sitting and handed her the $45 dollars and said Jesus would like you to have dinner on him, he wants to pay for your dinner. You honestly could not have believed the look on her face. She was in total shock, her face completely changed….she said “Oh my God!” I said, that is right and pointed toward Heaven from Your God!
I remember when my oldest daughter was just starting high school and needed new clothes. It was the last weekend before school started and very hot out, so I took her to the beach. On the way there was a homeless man sleeping on the front steps of the door to a Bank. We quickly stopped at a 711 and bought a cold soda, a sandwich, chips and took a chick tract, stuck 3 or 4 dollars in it and went back and gave it to him. And started to drive away. Felicia, then just a teen said, Mom, God just told me that he is going to give me all new school clothes. I thought wonderful and then uttered a prayer to God (hope that is you Lord!) Oh yes, yea of little faith…God speaks to kids too! How could I have questioned what she heard. I am so glad I kept my mouth shut.
A few days later we got a call that someone was going to send Felicia $450 for new clothes for school!
Scripture says, He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and that which he hath given will He pay him again. Prov 19:17 KJV another translation reads…..He that gives to the poor, lends to the Lord and I will repay him, saith the LORD! Man lend to god…what a way to live!
We are giving For God, being His hands on earth! Isn’t that awesome? Wayne Meyers a missionary to Mexico always said I live to give and I give to live!
I remember a time while driving the car, when my youngest daughter Anna told me she needed a pair of sandals (we call them beach walkers in California). I had no money for such and told her she would just have to do what we always do pray & believe God! She did, and as we stopped the car to use a restroom at a little store, there on the floor Anna found a $20 bill and came running out to the car with money to buy her new shoes, fun walking with God. Everyday can be a new adventure!
Are you holding on to your hats? I just gotta tell you at least one more great true little story. I have sooooooooo many but these are special ones. Because we used to live so close to the beach, that is where I would take my daughters on weekends. Remember I am a single mom living by faith raising 2 daughters normal who “want everything they see”. As we arrived onto the Redondo beach, they both spied the pier where they sell candied apples. They both asked, “Mom can we have a candied apple?” Back then it was 75 cents each. You know my answer well just pray cause I don’t have any money (believe me we really did have money at times but it went right out on bills and we walked a walk of faith each and every day) anyway….they went down to swim in the water…And honestly I am telling you before god and all the angels truthfully…money washed right up to them in the water and they were able to get their delights!!! And we all praised god together!!!!!
When the question was asked in Jeremiah 22:15 about King Josiah Why did your father Josiah, reign so long? The answer was given…Because he was just and right (another translation says He was just and fair) in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him. He made sure that justice and help were given to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know me? Asks the Lord. Another translation says isn’t that what it means to truly walk close to God?
All my life that I have known JESUS I have tried to take opportunities to give as the Holy Spirit leads and it has “opened adventures of faith” “adventures of giving and receiving” that have been a blessing to others – usually people I will never see or met again – that could never repay you and always point them to Jesus.
Last summer when in Redlands, California I was at a cocoa’s restraint. I over heard a waitress on the phone talking to what appeared to be her daughter…..she was having an asthma attack. She was being taken to the hospital, and then told the waiters she had to leave. She scurried out the door and I did not have time to offer her a prayer before she left. I quickly finished my food, said a prayer for her daughter and ran to a Christian book store. I got her daughter a little teddy bear that had a Christian logo on it, and a little card and stuck $20 bill in realizing her mom would lose wages for the day after leaving early. I signed the card with love from me and Jesus and said I would be praying for her and her daughter and hoped she might be able to take her daughter to dinner that night on us.
It was a long time before I ever got back to the cocoa’s again, but when I did I inquired to the waitress how was her daughter. She said are you the lady who left that gift? I said yes, she just grabbed me and hugged me, saying how no one had ever done that for her.. and how grateful she was such a little thing but she had such a grateful heart daughter was in high school and doing better but she even gave me a free piece of pumpkin pie why I was there. But it encouraged her at a time that was difficult for her to walk through. Isn’t that what we all want to do – make life a little better for someone?
There are so many opportunities that present their selves during the course of the day if we keep our ears and eyes open we can touch some one for Jesus and make some ones day a little easier. I always love to find people I don’t know, who don’t know me….and bless them and sow a seed for the kingdom of God as the occasion presents itself and if I have the ability to help I do.
Blessings to you, may you find the joy in giving to people who might have a need you can fill in Jesus’ name!!! For me this is one reason while I have sent so many things into South Africa……there are so many needs and half of the people we have given to I would say we have never seen, never met, especially in the townships and squatter camps but we pray that God will be glorified and that through our giving people will be encouraged and come to know that God truly loves and cares about their smallest needs.
“and when we take your gifts to those who need them they will break out into thanksgiving and praise to God for your help. So, two good things happen as a result of your gifts – those in need are helped, and they overflow with thanks to God. Those you help will be glad not only because of your generous gifts to themselves and to others, but they will praise God for this proof that your deeds are as good as your doctrine. And they will pray for you with deep fervor and feeling because of the wonderful grace of god shown through you.” 2corinthians 9:11a-15 living bible this is what happens when you give!!
My Love and Hope for you is that you will have many wonderful experiences in Giving and Receiving for and from the Lord!
Have a great day severing the king of kings!!! You are is ambassador do something wonderful for someone somewhere!!!
Your Sister in the Harvest Field, serving a Great and Mighty GOD!
Rev. Sondra Berry Young
www.sondraberryyoung.org GO4GOD@hotmail.com
P. O. Box 92802
Pasadena, CA
91109 USA
USA Voice Mail 818-545-4672
Overseas Address: PO Box
1206Randburg
2125 South Africa