F.t.G. challenge and Cool Story #2

I heard the other day of someone that said they had experienced the blessing of God in such a way over the last several months that just last week they decided to try to double their commitment to "Free to Grow" - as soon as they did that they had an appliance failure!  Isn't that just like the evil one to foil a plan.  God will still triumph though - guess what happened - the very next day they received a call from a family member who had an extra appliance of the kind that failed! a few hours of work later and the installation was complete! God loves faithfulness and rewards it in His own time!

Psalms 27:13-14 (NIV)

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. {14} Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

When God's People Respond...

I love this story of the preparation to build the tabernacle for worship...

Exodus 35:4-9 (NIV)

Moses said to the whole Israelite community, "This is what the LORD has commanded: {5} From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze; {6} blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; {7} ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows ; acacia wood; {8} olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; {9} and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

So what happened?

Exodus 35:20-22 (NIV)

Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses' presence, {21} and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. {22} All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.

Did they reach their goal?

Exodus 36:3-7 (NIV)

They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. {4} So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work {5} and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done." {6} Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, {7} because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

What if we had to say "Stop giving so much?" Wouldn't that be a blast? What if the giving continues week after week – How will God bless that sort of commitment to His church on mission?