Cheerful Giving

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44)

I was reminded of this story in the Bible on my first day back in Haiti. It was Sunday so we headed across the border to Pastor Daniel's orphanage for church service. We sat down in the wooden pews towards the back. Church was very fun to be part of. They sang several times and we got to watch all the orphans sing songs of worship.

The time came for them to pass around the silver plate for tithes and offerings. I watched as the plate was passed around. I immediately noticed a small orphan girl who was anxiously awaiting the silver plate to come to her. She had a big smile on her face and was proudly holding a small coin in her hands. When the plate came to her, she dropped in the coin and smiled widely.

That story in Mark about the widow's offering instantly came to mind. That little girl was so excited to give. I don't know how much the coin was worth, but I can only imagine it was not worth very much in American standards. But that did not matter.... that little girl was so excited to give. I felt like I could learn so much from her. If only every time I gave, I had that type of enthusiasm and excitement. It was such a beautiful picture of someone with a pure heart and love for The Lord.

"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." 2nd Corinthians 9:7

It was a perfect start to my first week in Haiti.

Some thoughts to ponder....

Lately, I have read several quotes from missionaries and people who inspire me that are uprooting their wholes lives to go and serve the poor.  I wanted to share some of these quotes with you. 



"People often ask if I think my life is dangerous, if I am afraid. I am much more afraid of remaining comfortable. Matthew 10: 28 tells us not to fear things that can destroy the body but things that can destroy the soul. I am surrounded by things that can destroy the body. I interact almost daily with people who have deadly diseases, and many times I am the only person who can help them. I live in a country with one of the world’s longest-running wars taking place just a few hours away. Uncertainty is everywhere. But I am living in the midst of the uncertainty and risk, amid things that can and do bring physical destruction, because I am running from things that can destroy my soul: complacency, comfort, and ignorance. I am much more terrified of living a comfortable life in a self-serving society and failing to follow Jesus than I am of any illness or tragedy. Jesus called His followers to be a lot of things, but I have yet to find where He warned us to be safe,"  (Katie Davis, founder of Amazima Ministries in Uganda)


"The single most important hindrance to world evangelization right now is the lack of total involvement by the Body of Christ."  (K.P Yohanna, Revolution in World Missions)


"The worst crime of the desert is knowing where the water is and not telling." (Anonymous)



"We do not adequately confess Christ as the God of all men if we seek to be his witnesses only among our neighbors.  We must seek at the same time to confess him to the ends of the earth."  (Leslie Newbigin)


"Jesus was moved with compassion concerning the miseries of men.  He saw them as lost, hungry, sick, and bewildered.  And just as His Father's heart had been moved in love to send Christ into the world to redeem them, so our Lord's own heart was moved in compassion toward them."  (G. Christian Weiss)



"It will not do to say that you have no special call to go.  With the command of Christ to go and preach the gospel, you need rather to ascertain if you have a special call to stay at home."  (Hudson Taylor)


"Today's generation of Western missionaries is too often like an army camped on the banks of a river.  Every day they talk about crossing to the other side.  Their commander has ordered them to cross.  They have many methods available--building a bridge, ferrying over or even swimming.  Now, suppose these soldiers put on river-crossing displays and conduct river-crossing conferences year after year-but never cross the river.  Wouldn't you have every right to think there was something seriously wrong?   Yet this is exactly the current status of much of Western missions."  (KP Yohannon, Come, Let's Reach the World)


"What are we here for, to have a good time with Christians or to save sinners? "  (Malla Moe)


"Today Christians spend more money on dog food then on missions."  (Leonard Ravenhill)


"People who do not believe in missions have not read the New Testament. Right from the beginning Jesus said the field is the world.  The early church took Him at His word and went East, West, North, and South."  (J. Howard Edington)


"Even on the low ground of common sense I seemed to be called to be a missionary.  Is the kingdom a harvest field? Then I thought it reasonable that I shoudl seek to work where the work was most abundant and the workers fewest."  (William Carey)


"Preach abroad.  It is the cooping yourselves up in rooms that has dampened the work of God, which never was and never will be carried out to any purpose without going into the highways and hedges and compelling men and women to come in." (Jonathan Edwards)


"The Gospel is only good news if it gets there in time."  (Carl F. H. Henry)


"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.  They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."  (Revelation 7:9-10)