It’s been a wild year financially for many of you. Some of you have taken huge losses in the market or in your real estate holdings. As we approach 2009, it’s time for many of us to sort out our finances. And I always say, “why not invest it in the kingdom before you lose more?”
As Karen and I close out our 2008 books, we’ve got a few opportunities that we still want to give money to. We know a young lady who is going to the middle east as a missionary. We believe in her heart and have asked her to keep us informed. She still needs additional support.
We also want to invest more in the orphans of Nsoko (Swaziland). It costs just 8 cents a day to feed an orphan and we keep our overhead very low. The needs are so great there.
Or, perhaps you are aware of the needs of individual orphans like Allen, whose situation I described in three recent blogs. Giving to a need like that is part of our vocation as followers of Jesus and is part of what ties us to the poor in spirit. Giving is one of the things that makes us more human.
Every day we have the opportunity to give ourselves away. Yesterday was a day of rest for me, but I had these chances to give:
- A friend asked me to help him develop a film about his life. We sat for a couple of hours in a coffee shop brainstorming what that might look like.
- A couple of blog readers wrote and asked for help in realizing their dreams.
- One of my kids called up frustrated and needing prayer.
- I had a conversation with a wealthy friend about giving vs. investing.
- A deaf Indian man wrote and asked me to help him find a bride.
- Karen needed me to do a little chore.
If we make ourselves available, giving becomes a habit. Even now as I type, this message from another blog reader in India flashes on my screen, “
My heart really cries when i see small kids
obviously younger to me roaming on road begging and crying for food, some bare
foot and some even without clothes that too in such a chilling weather. I know
i can not change this crude reality but still i ll more than happy if i could
make a difference to their living.”
My prayer is that your heart cries out for those who are hurting as this person’s heart does and that you respond with the gesture of giving. If you’re interested in making a year-end donation to
Adventures In Missions, you can find out more about the worthy causes
that need your help by clicking the following link: http://adventures.org/give
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Dear brother,
Accept greetings from my church.I am a pastor in a church of name Nazarath gathering 250 members.I have started preaching the word of GOD from last two years.I am thankful to my LORD JESUS CHRIST who choose me for HIS service.I will remeber you and your ministries my prayers and I wish that you could remeber me in your special personal prayers.May this new year bring abundant blessing in your church and in your ministries and as wel as in your personal life. I f you have any planes or burden to work for Pakistani nation please do remember me for any sort of help in any field. God bless you.Thanks
In Christ
Pastor Almas Richard
Thank you, Pastor Richard. I pray the Lord gives you a great year. I do think of God’s work in Pakistan often and pray that God will show himself to the Pakistani people.