I gave $10.
It was all I had to spare. I looked at the request and wished desperately to be one of those independently wealthy individuals who could surprise a worthy organization with a check full of zeroes, filling their need in one fell swoop. I imagined what it would be like to live a life as a benefactress, giving generously without wondering if it would affect our grocery budget or mortgage payment. I wondered how that little bit of money I was able to donate would possibly make a difference.
As I looked at the amount on the screen, I felt God asking me to give what I could. So I did. And you did the same, and in minutes God showed me what it means to live and give as a community. Each of us giving what we can to help our sisters across computer screens, time zones, continents.
Our acts of obedience came together to do more than any of us could have imagined. We purchased generators, vans, laptops, and built classrooms.
This post? It was supposed to be about coming together to help fund Phase 4 of the (in)Mercy project. But you’ve already gone and done that.
Miracles happen when women choose community.
Hearts are healed. Stories are told. Hope is renewed and prayers are answered. When we choose to do the hard work of finding and staying in relationship with like-hearted sisters, we can change lives. It’s in making ourselves available to give what we have as a community – our time, our prayers, our encouragement – that God is able to multiply our offering in unimaginable ways.
Maybe you don’t feel like you have a lot to give right now. Can I encourage you that a little does, in fact, go a long way?
I have seen women join forces in prayer in Facebook groups to encourage a sister in less than two minutes. I have watched community leaders come together to help respond to comments on these pages when the overflow is too much for the author. I have watched women fund projects in less than 24 hours because their mama hearts feel the need and they choose to respond in the best way they can.
Over and over God shows me that we are not meant to do life alone. I would rather choose to come together with a community of women to change the world in small measures than to do it all by myself, because walking shoulder to shoulder with faithful women of God is more rewarding than any check full zeroes. When two or three are gathered? Girls, we can change the world with our spare change.
It’s not about giving all you have. It’s about giving what God is asking you to lay down and trusting Him with the results.
To learn more about how our community has joined forced to change the lives of sisters living in Kenya, visit our (in)Mercy project. To contribute today, click the widget below.
Leave a Comment
Crystal,
How appropriate that you, the champion of community, would be writing about Mercy House. I too, wish that I had millions to give away, but since I don’t I give what I have and I know that in God’s faithful hands it will be blessed. What a worthy cause…giving hope to our sisters in Christ in a place where hope is scarce. When we give, WE are truly the ones who are blessed. I will pray that others will prayerfully and cheerfully give to provide shelter for those who need to be sheltered in God’s love. We, together, can do this!!
Blessings,
Bev
Crystal,
How appropriate that you, the champion of community, would be writing about Mercy House. I too, wish that I had millions to give away, but since I don’t I give what I have and I know that in God’s faithful hands it will be blessed. What a worthy cause…giving hope to our sisters in Christ in a place where hope is scarce. When we give, WE are truly the ones who are blessed. I will pray that others will prayerfully and cheerfully give to provide shelter for those who need to be sheltered in God’s love. We, together, can do this!!
Blessings,
Bev
Crystal, you are speaking right to my heart! I have prayed, more times than I can count, for God to bless my family financially so that we may be a blessing to others. I long for the freedom to give abundantly without thinking, uh-oh, that was my gas money, or my day-care payment. However, the way you put it, the community of “walking shoulder to shoulder” with our sisters in Christ, instead of one person whipping out a check full of zeroes, is beautiful! Thank you for the reminder that we are not meant to do any of this alone!
I need encouragement today. My heart is hurting over some family issues. Thanks.
Father God, comfort Jana. Dealing with family can be so hard for us. Help us to understand how we can be bless, encourage and edify our family without fretting and worrying about the outcome. May Jana KNOW that You are in control and that while she may not be able to see You in this issue, You ARE there and it is not too big for You to handle. May she be obedient in what You would have her say or do. Then, give her a sense of Your timing and let her rest in You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Thank you Candy.
Loving Father,
Bless Jana with peace about her family issues! Shower her with grace and love that can only come from you. Help her and the family to lean on you for support and let her know that others are praying for her!
AMEN!
Loving Father,
Bless Jana with peace about her family issues! Shower her with grace and love that can only come from you. Help her and the family to lean on you for support and let her know that others are praying for her!
AMEN!
Sometimes all God is asking you to give a one small obedient dollar, and he will turn it into many dollars. It is a mystery, but it works.
“It’s about giving what God is asking you to lay down and trusting HIm with the results.” This sentence is so important to my life right now. I’m going to copy it and ‘stickie” it on my laptop! There are many things I have heard God asking me to ‘lay down’. For me, it’s not about the money–spare change or several zeros! He is asking me to give what I have–words, art, a smile, food, time, His love and plan of salvation. All of these things can be given online [of course, the food would have to be in the form of a gift card :)] Don’t waste the time you spend on the computer. Use it to bless someone else. And THEN get out and ‘walk shoulder to shoulder’ with other believers.
Everything is better and more effective when done in the companionship of your fellow sisters.
Fantastic! Thanks for the reminder. I too, always wish I were wealthy enough to just stroke a huge check to people in need. It’s nice to be reminded that the One who fed 5,000 with a few pieces of fish and loaves of bread, is certainly capable of building new buildings and changing lives with the little that we have to give. He doesn’t need big. He just needs willing, obedient souls. Mercy House is such a beautiful story of women and community. Thanks for sharing.
Wendy 🙂
Fantastic! Thanks for the reminder. I too, always wish I were wealthy enough to just stroke a huge check to people in need. It’s nice to be reminded that the One who fed 5,000 with a few pieces of fish and loaves of bread, is certainly capable of building new buildings and changing lives with the little that we have to give. He doesn’t need big. He just needs willing, obedient souls. Mercy House is such a beautiful story of women and community. Thanks for sharing.
Wendy 🙂
I love you and I love your heart for community. Pure inspiration to me. Hugs friend.
You truly are a champion for community. God says that where two or more are gathered, He’s in the midst of them, and this is a prime example. Hearts joined together for a common cause, and there He was. Beautiful post, friend!
Our pastor commonly says, “If God can give through you, He will give to you.” I too, wish I could write a check that covers the sum total of the need…but then, He likes to use us in community, giving others opportunity to give as well. It matters not if it’s $1, $10 or more. God always does more with the little we give than if we kept it ourselves, and He is pleased with our obedience. 🙂
Look at the widow who gave a small mite or the young lad who only had 3 loaves and 2 fishes. God miraculously turned them into something bigger. They just gave what they could.
I have always tried to do that. Give some money here, a smile there, my time to help others. God will always bless you more than you bless others. I truly get a blessing when I help others. It makes me feel good to know that people don’t feel forgotten or left out.
Thanks In (Courage) Women! You are the best! Congratulations on getting In Mercy house up, running and supplied!
Way to GO!@! 🙂 May God bless you all!
Look at the widow who gave a small mite or the young lad who only had 3 loaves and 2 fishes. God miraculously turned them into something bigger. They just gave what they could.
I have always tried to do that. Give some money here, a smile there, my time to help others. God will always bless you more than you bless others. I truly get a blessing when I help others. It makes me feel good to know that people don’t feel forgotten or left out.
Thanks In (Courage) Women! You are the best! Congratulations on getting In Mercy house up, running and supplied!
Way to GO!@! 🙂 May God bless you all!
Now, you know just how much I love this ~ just like all of your other uplifting words. You are meant to be here in this time, in this space. And I am so blessed that I’m called to walk in a circle that collides with yours. 🙂 xxoo
Amen and amen! It’s all about the body of Christ standing up and saying- “Look what our God can do!” NOT “Look at me!”, right? I get all excited when I read things like this. God is at work!