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Giving and receiving.... Please share!

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Posted by: JeriRose12

Someone asked me how this money thing works: where we give and God returns it to us and makes sure our bills get covered. How DOES it work? That's the mysterious part. I have done the budget and the money wasn't there to cover everything.... yet, somehow it all got paid.

Now, to set this up, I have tithed the ten percent since my very first pay check, when I picked berries at age 12. When I got my first adult job, I tithed, and I gave offerings, too. I tithed on my tips, and ALL income of any type, plus gave to other ministries some substantial amounts for my income.

Now here are some of the miraclulous ways, above anything I could think to ask, that God supplied for me:

I remember one winter when I didn't have much money to buy food. I was working in a restaurant, and next door was a store run by the same company, where they could buy soup. In the late afternoon, the store would quit sellling soup, so they brought the left overs back to the restaurant. The kitchen manager told me I could take the soup home, because he didn't want to sell it with the restaurant soup. God supplied that winter for me to eat through all the soup I took home!

The time my boss left town for two (or was it three?) weeks, he managed to give me a Christmas bonus, even though he had very little income from the restaurant. That was the time I gave a good chunk of money that was supposed to go for my rent, and I thought I might have to borrow money from my Dad to pay the rent. I didn't borrow ONE DIME, whoohoo!!!

There were times when one of the customers would slip me a $10 bill or a $20 bill in that tough time when my boss could barely afford to pay me and often paid late. That didn't happen a lot, but it was definitely an answer to prayer when it did.

There were blessings like my parents had me to dinner every Sunday when I first moved out on my own, so that saved one meal a week (hey, it ALL helps).

Recently, there were just nice things I wanted, and I gave to God and asked Him if there was somehow I could get these pretty items.... and they were given to me as gifts by my loving family, becuase I have been such a help to them.

Having an old Bible turn up, when I can barely read my current one, because the print is so small, is a true blessing. It was down at the department of social and health services, of all places. And they called to say if no-one claimed it they were getting rid of it. Of course I claimed it. It was a gift from my sister one Christmas.

There are just so many ways God supplies, that we can't even think of!

Oh, I got free anti-virus protection, when my other virus protection ran out, just in November.

Let's see, I got that free sweat shirt for work, too, because I agreed to work for the boss, a shift he didn't want to, so he paid for it for me!

Don't forget the computer so many on here raised money for!!! Someone who couldn't figure out PayPal also sent me $100, and that went for the monitor that matches my computer, and has bigger print for my failing eyesight.... Altogether, with rebates, I paid about $429 for computer, monitor, speakers, AND the three in one printer/copier/scanner. How awesome is THAT???

Then, the time I had no glasses and my eyes were getting so bad, and I started praying with beech112 about my brother-in-law and his Dad, and he knew of an organization that worked through my local church and sent $400 to pay for my glasses.

Hmmm, I had my electric lowered to $14.07 the same month of the free sweatshirt and free anti-virus protection! This month, I paid the regular $47.

For Christmas, we spend $20 approximately per person (we each buy for only one person) and I ended up spending that on TWO gifts for my person and some cookies for the party. Awesome!

Man, it's just so many ways God finds of blessing us. Like specials at the store, sales.... How many times have I bought things half price of what they originally were, just by being patient and waiting?

Not to mention, I shop thrift stores! I buy the long coats, the wool ones that reach to the knees or below, because I walk so much. Brand new they go for about $100 or more. I have gotten three for $1, the rest for under $10, by shopping thrift stores. They only last about a year before I buy a new one, but WHAT A DEAL! I buy silk blouses for about $3.00 at thrift stores. Oh, and I got this gorgeous dress, that I priced similar ones brand new at $169 or so, and I only paid $25 at the thrift store -- more like $23.00, because I had a coupon for a percentage off. You have to know how much I love fancy dresses, but since they are frivilous, I feel guilty buying them. I have never paid over $40 (maybe a tad more with tax) for ANY of my fancy dresses, a couple all lace ones, a couple formal ones....


God is amazing and He just has ways of getting it TO US, if He can get it THROUGH US! I love sharing these testimonies, because they encourage me to keep trusting Him and to never quit giving.

Think of this: I wanted this beautiful robe, that was originally $75. It was going more and more on sale, but I wanted to give to some ministries, knew God was asking me to. So I did. I obeyed. I kept trying to find a way to buy the robe, but there were my bills, and I wanted to give to God. So I passed by the robe. Guess what? My family bought it for me for Christmas! I could have bought it myself, but instead they got the chance to bless me, I got the chance to give AND to get the robe! See how it works?

Now, I'm not saying it always works that way. Right now, the money (that God asked me to give) is in the mail, and I see no breakthrough in the natural. I'm living on faith. And there is more He wants me to give, and I MUST obey, against all logical reason. But these past testimonies are enough to give me faith. I KNOW that I KNOW the miracle is on it's way!!! Even if I have to live through lean times for a while, God WILL somehow, some way, IN HIS TIME, supply. He is not some kind of cosmic slot machine: I put money in the slot and more shoots out. If that were the case, where would be the faith? We would just put the moeny in, and we would know that money was shooting right back out, so no faith would be required in giving. That's why God answers in such stange and mysterious ways, beyond anything we would have dreamed up. I give saying, "Okay, Lord, I don't know HOW You're going to supply, but I will be obedient...." Then, I watch Him work in ways I never expected, because I couldn't have thought them up if I tried. We must not reason, when God tells us to give (I'm guilty!!! ), we must give as a reflex action(as Rod Parsley calls it) to the call of The Spirit. As soon as we start to reason we have moved out the realm of The Spirit and into the realm of the flesh. Also, if we don't give, we have moved out the realm of miracles. Truly, when I give (because I KNOW that He asked me to), with no idea how the needs will be met, I live in such expectancy of miracles coming my way!

The year I did Christmas at my first apartment, and had no money for food, my parents won a free turkey that they contributed, everyone else contributed dishes of food, and I only paid about $17 on food for the whole deal.

Sometimes, to realize that God really did bless, you just have to think. Just recall.

Wow!

Oh, I remeber the time potatoes cost about a dollar regularly in my town, so I prayed in a dollar. I said, "Lord, I need a dollar for potatoes." (I had little to eat in the house). And one of the waitresses tipped me a $1, becuase, even though I was the dishwahser, I was such a help to the waitresses. Right now I'd have to pray in $2.89 !!!

Wow, I just remembered.... someome gave me $100, just after I had given $100 to a ministry. Got it right back and spent it on what I had wanted to buy.

Thought of something else: all my TVs were given to me. My first two vacuums were given to me, too.

A while back was that whole $101 seat belt fine that was dismissed, when I had gone away to seek God, and I felt like I should cancel one day at the hotel, at least, to pay the fine.

I was trying to buy a vacuum for about $200 and God showed me that I could get one for $59.99 at the "Stupid Prices" store. It's a good vacuum, too, so everyone tells me.

My brand new fridge to replace the leaking one, is a miracle I can't say "Thank You!" to God enough for! Inspection was coming up, so I think that's why they replaced it. But also the frozen Sears account was UNfrozen, and I know Who made sure that happened.

Man, I just keep remembering and remembering. How about the ER bill that was origninally $794.75? My sister said to call the hospital and see if I could swing a deal for a lower rate. They lowered my bill to $198.69! Is God awesome or WHAT??? My payments were lowered from $80 to $25 a month (much more manangable).

I don't know why I have to go through the back trouble.... but I had borrowed money from my parents to help advertise a home business I was trying to start, and I was able to use that money to pay the chiropractor to get my back back "in," when it unexpectedly went "out." He gave me $10 lower rates because I had no insurance, and it would be less paper work. Next time, it happened on the job, so L & I covered it.

So many times, I was off work for various body problems (ever had tendonitus? ) or "frozen" shoulder? God, somehow, always made sure all the bills got covered when I had to take a week off work for these maladies. Yes, standing for my healing....

Even that time I bawled over money, because I thought my bank account was below double 00s and I owed money because my till was short that pay check, and guess what? There was money in my account after all, and my niece loned me money to cover my short just in case....

Here's my REAL praise!!! This is an awesome story!!! Speaking of double 00s!! R.W. Shambach was preaching to those who had "nothing" and God's telling you to give. Well, I had a phenomenal amount come into my spirit. And, there was no possible way I believed I could pay it. I was supposed to give it for something that I expected to happen in 90 days. I gave toward moving out into my own apartment, because I was living with my sister's family, then. I called and made the faith pledge. They always said if God never gave you that much you weren't obligated to give it. Well, guess what? I paid on it what I could. I think I only managed the tithe on the tithe, it was such a big amount. And then, I paid some more on it, as I could. Guess what? I have never finsihed paying it off, though I work on it from time to time. But I did move out on my own, into low income, which is affordable for me. Not in the 90 days, but within the year. God keeps reminding me of this: how He didn't even require the total amount of me, but He did get me out on my own. It was my trust and obedience that He honored.

I suppose I could go on all night....

Thanks for letting me share.

Your turn now. Please share some of your miracle supply stories for the encouragemennt of all. You see, when God asks us to give, He is not trying to take it from us, He is trying to bless us.

~JeriRose~
Finding HIM in 2005


Posted by: ninababy73

Reading through your testimonies have blessed me incrediably this morning! I woke up, listened to my bank balance and started to cry. As I cried, I heard God speak go and write out your check to Creflo Dollar ministries (it is one of 6 minsitries that I give to on a monthly basis, have given to anointed.net yesterday). Anyway, God said write the partnership gift. So, through my tears I wrote the check and just cried more because that will only leave $30.00 until next pay day. But I know the power of obedience, so when God says to do, I do. Reading your testimonies blessed me, because God always does move in unexpectedly wonderful ways. Thanks for reminding me...............and guess what, no tears, just a big smile knowing that my God is faithful and will provide a bountiful harvest for me and my family (selah)


Posted by: JeriRose12

Just got a fifty cent raise at work, whoohoo! Most just got a "cost of living" raise, called the minimum wage went up! I make fifty cents over minimum wage now!!! Wow, that will REALLY help with my giving goals, and rent is going up in February. God is amazing! I sure never expected that, as my other raises were never over 10 cents. Praise the Lord!!!

Okay, I know, I need to beleive for a job that pays more per hour. But all these things encourage my faith to believe for a better job. Or maybe I will get another raise, and this will become "a better job."

They closed the mall store, and some people lost jobs, but as I am considered the number three worker in the store (well, I was number three before some of the mall people came over), that wouldn't happen to me. I have favor for better hours and more pay, too, being one of the best workers.

Thank You, Jesus, for coming through YET AGAIN!!! How awesome are Your ways!!!

~JeriRose~
Finding HIM in 2005


Posted by: ninababy73

Praise the Lord!!! Thank You, Jesus for blessing my sister with this raise and for blessing her with better hours! Your truly are Jehovah Jireh and I praise and thank You so much for these blessings! Hallelujah


Posted by: MaryTemp

Jerirose,

Your testimony has blessed me beyond words! I know what your saying is so true as I have never been "left in the cold" anytime I have tithed. I have become extremely backslidden in this area, and need to start a more regular tithing schedule for everything I am blessed with. Thanks for the reminder about this, it is truly touching to hear everything God has done for you. God Bless you sis!!!

Love,
Mary


Posted by: JeriRose12

Thanks for the encouragment, Mary and Nina.

What I am talking about heres OBEDIENCE. I mean, being a giver, we would give it all away. I have even thought of moving to a poor country, just so I didn't try to live like the Joneses, this phony American dream. There were times I would cry because I couldn't give, for paying bills. But, finally, God had to ask me, "How do you know that money you just gave wasn't for the need you are crying to Me about? I didn't ask you to give that."

See, some think I am saying just give and give and give, in spite of the bills. My caution to all, is don't make money vows you can't keep. If God tells you to give a certain amount, GIVE IT! That's obedeince. If He is not asking you to give, and you have bills to pay, even if you WANT to give, PAY THE BILLS. We have to be responsible to pay our bills, as that, too, is a witness for Christ.

So, it's not so much about the giving as OBEDIENCE. To obey is better than sacrifice! I always give the 10%, simply because I feel that is obedience. Maybe God will tell YOU to give more, as that is the Old Testement principle and, in the New Testement, it indicates He might even ask us to give more. I just never go below the 10%. The 10% isn't even mine. That BELONGS to God. That is the one I always release, FIRST, right off the top. Then, I give offerings as God asks me to.

So, just a precautionary note and a little further that God has taught me through all this. Giving, when God is saying to pay bills, is bad stewardship. So the point is, You will be financially blessed when you give in OBEDEINCE to WHAT HE HAS ASKED YOU TO GIVE. If He hasn't asked You to give it, You are not under obligation to give it. He will bless you for giving when you have it to give and just want to, and he hasn't specifically asked. But the main and real blessing is in the OBEDIENCE.

Thanks for listening. Hope this helped someone. Got to leave for work.

God bless!
~JeriRose~