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On giving to others

S

steve in so la

Well-known member
Doug & Joe's comments down below on giving/accepting money & such bring to mind what I did.
When people approach me asking for money I want to help if they seem to truly need it but I also want to say something about the Lord to them. So I asked the pastor at the Mission where I work and he said "just tell them this money is not mine - the Lord gave it to me and He's now passing it on to you through me". So that's what I say when the times come.

And it truly is hard to determine if one person could use it but not another. I try to remember to say a quick prayer for help in deciding. One guy said he looks at their shoes and if they are better than his he doesn't give anything :)

What do you all have to say about these things ? Lets have some kind of discussion here somewhere - the forum is slowwwww, Steve in so az
 
I think a prayer and what you say during those times is great! Thanks, Steve, and we must remember when we truly bless others out of the goodness of our hearts those blessings will return to us in some way or the other, for what goes around comes around is truth! We never know when any of us will be truly in need...by sickness, death, divorce, unemployment or accidents or whatever!

But first we must always trust in God and He will supply our every need in Jesus' name! Ask God first and He will through His Holy Spirit tell His own what they need to do to help the one who is truly in need! If we see our brother or sister in need, than let us bless them in whatever way we are able to! Also the stranger by being a witness for God through His love and forgiving grace...giving them what they need and then His Spiritual gift by telling them about Jesus!

That's my say or preaching? :D

God Bless & this forum is really lacking in posts! Slowwww for sure!

Betty
 
I served as the treasurer for a "help for transients in need" fund for 5 years in another place. We'd authorize and/or pay bills for them, hotel room and meals, gas and/or repairs, usually around $50-75 worth, 30 or so times a year. And our church phone # is listed several places and I field a couple of requests per week. I've dealt with professional panhandlers and con artists on the one hand and some really needful people on the other. In those situations using other people's money, I learned to ask questions and also to never just hand out money even if they answered correctly. Also, I always prefer to work through their church so their own pastor understands their needs.

Now, me personally? I've been known to give to people who haven't even asked for it. And if somebody is hard-up enough to ask me and doesn't look like a pro, I'll give 'em a dollar just for the effort. I've been almost hungry enough to beg before and it didn't feel good.

And pros? Usually nothing for a quickie request, but I'm willing to pay $2-3 for a good show and they really have to be entertaining for at least 10 minutes. That's minimum wage. I once gave a guy $5 because his act was really involved and took a lot of energy -- but he had to admit it was a con when I called him on it. After that, he was so good he drew a crowd and put on a real show. He was still collecting money when we left.

But when I find someone in real need, I'm willing to work a minor miracle. I'll dig deep and I can reach other folks I know and ask for help. It's a good feeling, keeping somebody under a roof and warm for the winter.

I sometimes pick up hitchhikers too, but only when alone ...and packing. I've met some really interesting people that way -- and also some really broke ones. Sometimes we have a prayer and praise!
 
God's Holy Spirit told me to and I knew without a doubt that He said so! But of course, being a woman and an older one...I'm more cautious! And yet, when I needed help..from a flat tire coming home from church one night...God sent me help by two women stopping and asking me. The first one was returning home from The Lady of the Snows and took me to get help and even paid for a phone call to my pastor who wasn't home yet from taking their riders home!

I was praying and did what the Lord told me to do by leaving the door open enough for the light to shine on me and I stood by the door...still praying for Him to send help and to keep me safe from anyone that might do me harm! It all worked out for my good and I'm sure the lady who gave me a ride and the guy who changed my tire were blessed for their good deeds, although it was the guys job! There's more to it but I won't go into all of it...just know God worked miracles in many ways that night!

When we know that the Spirit of God is moving within and telling us to do something, we had better listen and not ignore Him for meeting the needs of others and for blessings for us! I got spanked a whole week one time for not doing what I was supposed to do but then I obeyed the Lord and took what He told me to take to my sister, as we were going to a small country church and when I got there I gave it to her and she was so pleased and started asking how to know if God was speaking! I told her that you will know when it happens and that very night she got saved and is being used of the Lord! She and my brother are twins and they both serve the Lord and love Him the same as I! See how God worked that all out...even after spanking me and, yes, He reprimands His children, for if He didn't He wouldn't be a good and honorable Father Whose love for His own is everlasting! :angel:

Well, I'm long-winded as usual so forgive me for this long post!

God Bless!
Betty
 
Thanks for the input Joe. We have a similar place here called Traveler's Aide - dont know the particulars there. I don't pick up hitch hikers but good luck to you when you do, Steve in so az
 
This is one of my passions... Dealing with the hurting and homeless. Most homeless people have various issues the're dealing with. And a couple of the most common are drug abuse and mental illness. SO if you put those 2 together with a couple of bucks you're adding fuel to the fire. NOW here's what I do. I carry Mcdonalds gift certificates. If they are truly hungry they can pretty much find a mickey d's. I always hand them a gift certificate and a Bible. Since I have a Bible ministry my Bibles run me about .50 a piece. So I always have a couple extra in my truck.

Now if they will accept a ride from me I will carry them somewhere and buy them lunch, dinner, or whatever and try to find out what kind of predicament the're in.

On various occasions I do give them cash. But I take it on a case by case basis. If they are homeless I offer to take them to a local shelter. About 99% do not want to go to a shelter because of their drug abuse. They would rather stay homeless. You know the old saying "you can't help someone that doesn't want to help themselves".

SO if they refuse a shelter then I leave my card with them and tell them they can call me day or night if they need help. I've had people call me years after I have left my card with them. It's amazing they have'nt lost the thing.

But you can't force a person to change. Only the Grace of God can accomplish that. You can only do what Jesus said is the 2nd greatest commandment. Love each other. And most people tend to forget "LOVE" is a VERB!

Then I always end our time together with prayer.

God Bless....
Pappy
 
Actually, I'll rarely hand out money (so as not to fuel the fire of drink or drugs) but when I do, I say the same thing. "This money is from God and He's led me to pass it on to you. I won't know what you'll do with it, but He will..." I like to food route myself. If someone says they're hungry, I'll buy them something to eat.

I might have told this story before, but Vicky was going to work on the subway years ago. A homeless man asked her for money for food. She handed him the brown paper bag containing her breakfast: Coffee, bagel / cream cheese and some OJ. The guy took the bag and said, "What's this?". Vicky replied, "Breakfast". He looked in the bag and said, "You call this breakfast???" (true story) I guess some homeless people are pickier than others :lol:

There was one guy on a street corner near Times Square that had a big sign that asked people to support his "beer research" (looked like he was researching too much) Another asked people to, "Please support the United Negro Pastrami sandwich fund" :lol: (I laughed so hard, I gave the guy a couple of bucks)
 
These days when there are so many that want hand outs that don't even need them, and those that are not willing to even try to help themselves it can be very hard to give. However I also know that God wants us to give and let Him worry about who needs and who doesn't.
 
Very good thing you are doing . I deal with the exact same conditions at the Mission so know what you are saying.

Can you send me a source to get the bibles like you do ? I have been getting them at a much higher cost. Thanks, keep on showing the love, Steve in so az
 
use to hand out bibles years ago. Haven't done it for a while. I usually don't find it hard to find somebody I know or somebody a friend knows that is in need. Out side of that it has to be a God thing, lately God has been challenging me not to judge who needs it and who doesn't but just to be open to give if prompted.

Jamie
 
I know how God's Holy Spirit works and believe me, I know that I know when He truly is speaking to me, but sometimes I am not sure, so that's when I really seek Him in prayer to make it plain! And, yes, we can do it without His leading and hope for the person to use it for good! Better to let God guide us though than our conscience because when we get into the flesh we could be very wrong! :)

God Bless!
Betty
 
the Lord does tell us to judge things - to be discernable - in the Bible. I just go with what I think I'm being led to do. And that's probably what you are saying too :) Steve
 
I buy all of my Bibles in bulk from ibs.org and Bibles.com

I send out just the New Testament on my Bible site.

I think the cev (Bibles.com American Bible Society) sells them for around .75 apiece if you buy a case.

I think the niv (IBS.org International Bible society) sells them for .60 ? apiece if you buy a case.

NOW I buy in bulk so I get a little bigger discount. If you find some good deals on the New Testament give me a holler. Like you I'm always trying to stretch that dollar.

hope this helps.....
Pappy
 
What a blessing you all are! I am sure the Father is smiling right now!
 
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