This past Friday in our DTS (Discipleship Training School) our students had a time of giving. Giving in YWAM is always a special experience because often times it is such the Lord's provision since none of us get paid. I recall one time that a room full of missionaries (maybe 150 of us) raised $14,000 in about 30 mins pledging money they didn't have but knew God was leading them to give and knowing He was going to provide it. It sounds crazy but it happens all the time in YWAM. Sean, the YWAM San Diego/Baja base founder and director, always says, "Don't ask your wallet how much you should give because it will always tell you NO. Instead, ask God because it's His money anyways."
So back to the students giving time. As you know I am helping to staff this school and each week I have one-on-one times with a few girls. (If you missed this or have no idea what I'm talking about, check out this past blog.) I have been talking to one of the girls (Maria) about being romanced by God and learning what true intimacy looks like by allowing God to show her through their intimate relationship. As I was praying for her one day I felt like the Lord wanted to show her in very real, tangible ways how much He loved her. I explained a few instances when friends had experienced something similar like God showing them a field of flowers in the middle of the desert or an ocean full of dolphins because they were her favorites. I told Maria that I felt like God was going to romance her and to be ready.
As the days and weeks went by God showed His love for her in some very real ways but it was always something little. He arranged for her favorite breakfast (granola) to be served 3 days in a row (not normal for our campus) and other simple things like that but nothing BIG like what I had described. She became a bit discouraged but I reminded her that when we are romanced by people, they start slow & small and then move on to the big stuff. That conversation happened last Tuesday.
On Friday, the students came to class not really knowing what to expect other than they were instructed to pray about a person's name and then once they had a name, pray about what they should give them (money or objects). Many still didn't have either when they came to class. As they started, the students and staff one by one came up front and shared what God had told them to give. Some gave shoes, some gave money, some even gave their most prized possessions like their iPad or guitar.
One of the students, Katie, came up front and said that she wanted to give her sterling silver, diamond-studded heart necklace to Maria. Mind you, this necklace was something that Katie's boyfriend had given her and this was definitely her most prized & most valuable possession. As soon as Maria heard this, reminders flooded her mind of how every time she has ever seen a heart-shaped necklace she always knows they are in a relationship and it was a gift from their boyfriend. She then recalled that she has ALWAYS wanted her boyfriend to give her a heart necklace. This was the BIG thing that she had been waiting for. God, aka her boyfriend, gave her a heart-necklace signifying that she is in a relationship. So very precious.
As the days and weeks went by God showed His love for her in some very real ways but it was always something little. He arranged for her favorite breakfast (granola) to be served 3 days in a row (not normal for our campus) and other simple things like that but nothing BIG like what I had described. She became a bit discouraged but I reminded her that when we are romanced by people, they start slow & small and then move on to the big stuff. That conversation happened last Tuesday.
On Friday, the students came to class not really knowing what to expect other than they were instructed to pray about a person's name and then once they had a name, pray about what they should give them (money or objects). Many still didn't have either when they came to class. As they started, the students and staff one by one came up front and shared what God had told them to give. Some gave shoes, some gave money, some even gave their most prized possessions like their iPad or guitar.
One of the students, Katie, came up front and said that she wanted to give her sterling silver, diamond-studded heart necklace to Maria. Mind you, this necklace was something that Katie's boyfriend had given her and this was definitely her most prized & most valuable possession. As soon as Maria heard this, reminders flooded her mind of how every time she has ever seen a heart-shaped necklace she always knows they are in a relationship and it was a gift from their boyfriend. She then recalled that she has ALWAYS wanted her boyfriend to give her a heart necklace. This was the BIG thing that she had been waiting for. God, aka her boyfriend, gave her a heart-necklace signifying that she is in a relationship. So very precious.
Care package from Katie's boyfriend including a brand new heart-shaped locket. But wait, that's not the end of the story.
I know!
It gets even BETTER!!!
That afternoon, several hours after all of the gifts had been given & received, Katie came into our main meeting hall with a box. She was ecstatic. She said she had been waiting on a package from her boyfriend since she arrived nearly 2 months ago and it finally came. As I watched her open it from across the room I could see that she was so happy. She pulled various things from the box like candy, notes, sweatshirts, etc, all things that reminded her of him. I looked away as I knew this was all very personal and allowed her to enjoy her box of goodies from someone who loved her.
Several minutes passed and I glanced over and noticed that she was crying and was taking a picture holding a box with (yep, you guessed it) a heart-shaped locket necklace. Coincidence? I know NOT!
God knew before He even asked her to give up her most prized & valuable possession that He was going to replace it.
Imagine, Katie's boyfriend had to pick out the new necklace, get it engraved (see image above for the close-up shot), pack the box, mail it across the country (Katie is from the East Coast). The box took several days just to make to our offices in San Diego and could have sat in the office waiting to be transported down for a few more days. We are talking AT THE VERY LEAST a week before Katie obeyed the Lord and gave her necklace to Maria, God had ALREADY replaced it!! HOW COOL IS THAT?????
I know!
It gets even BETTER!!!
That afternoon, several hours after all of the gifts had been given & received, Katie came into our main meeting hall with a box. She was ecstatic. She said she had been waiting on a package from her boyfriend since she arrived nearly 2 months ago and it finally came. As I watched her open it from across the room I could see that she was so happy. She pulled various things from the box like candy, notes, sweatshirts, etc, all things that reminded her of him. I looked away as I knew this was all very personal and allowed her to enjoy her box of goodies from someone who loved her.
Several minutes passed and I glanced over and noticed that she was crying and was taking a picture holding a box with (yep, you guessed it) a heart-shaped locket necklace. Coincidence? I know NOT!
God knew before He even asked her to give up her most prized & valuable possession that He was going to replace it.
Imagine, Katie's boyfriend had to pick out the new necklace, get it engraved (see image above for the close-up shot), pack the box, mail it across the country (Katie is from the East Coast). The box took several days just to make to our offices in San Diego and could have sat in the office waiting to be transported down for a few more days. We are talking AT THE VERY LEAST a week before Katie obeyed the Lord and gave her necklace to Maria, God had ALREADY replaced it!! HOW COOL IS THAT?????
It was such an amazing time of giving and walking out in obedience even when it is sometimes painful. Our giving should never be about what we are going to get out of it but should always be out of obedience to His leading. I do know, however, that every time I have given out of obedience (and it has been tough & painful at times) the Lord has ALWAYS blessed me. It may not always look like Maria and Katie's story but it is always His provision in His time.
Can you think of a time that you gave all that you had and He blessed you? What has the Lord challenged you to give lately? I'd love to hear about it. Leave me a comment below.
For those who are visiting our site, I am a full-time missionary and rely on donations for my full-time support. If you are interested in giving towards our ministry here in Mexico, you can give a tax-deductible donation (US Residents ONLY) through YWAM (Youth With A Mission) at bit.ly/supportywam. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or leave a comment below.
Can you think of a time that you gave all that you had and He blessed you? What has the Lord challenged you to give lately? I'd love to hear about it. Leave me a comment below.
For those who are visiting our site, I am a full-time missionary and rely on donations for my full-time support. If you are interested in giving towards our ministry here in Mexico, you can give a tax-deductible donation (US Residents ONLY) through YWAM (Youth With A Mission) at bit.ly/supportywam. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or leave a comment below.
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