A look into Giving: The 2009 Slate 60

I was reading The 2009 Slate 60: The Largest American Charitable Contributions of the year and I'm blessed, I mean totally blessed with these great philanthropist of our time! I'm blessed not because they've given so much (i mean literally) but blessed they've chosen to give. A lot of us who are far poorer than these guys can't even give at least a little to those who are in need. How much more when we become as rich as they are. Would it be easy to give by then million dollars?

I remember the passage in the Bible about the woman who gave two coins.

Mark 12:41-45 (New International Version)


The Widow's Offering


41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[a]worth only a fraction of a penny.[b]


43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

I'm not sure though if these philanthropist gave just because they have excess. I hope not. But looking at us, we had a bigger chance of giving more! We can be just like this woman who out of her poverty gave everything!

It's not the amount. It's the attitude of our hearts in giving. We may not be part of the Slate 60 or be famous but when we give everything, Jesus sees us and knows we have given more!

Just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

Bayanihan Fund Drive: Donate to Ondoy Flood Victims

This is in support for those who have been affected by the Typhoon Ondoy here in the Philippines.


To those who want to donate, please do so by visiting this link: BarrioSiete Official Forum



Quoting from their post:

My fellow bloggers, readers and lurkers; it breaks our heart seeing all these images and watching the videos coming from Manila – the wrath and devastation not only to properties but also to the lives of our fellow Filipinos. Tropical typhoon Ondoy is not only creating havoc but also bringing epic floods in the Metropolitan Manila area.

In the spirit of Barrio Siete, I invite you all to join our Bayanihan Fund Drive: Donate to Ondoy Flood Victims. Very simply:

1.) Make a donation to our Bayanihan Fund Drive: Donate to Ondoy Flood Victims. If you can’t, then help us by making this viral and create an entry entitled: “Bayanihan Fund Drive: Donate to Ondoy Flood Victims“. A link to this original entry will be appreciated where your readers can make a donation. Please leave us a note in the comment section if you are joining so we can list your entry, in case the pingback doesn’t work.

2.) Invite other bloggers to join our “Bayanihan Fund Drive: Donate to Ondoy Flood Victims”

3.) We will list the names of the donors in a worksheets, their organization and/or their websites, unless they prefer to be anonymous.

4.) The listing will be updated regularly and will be posted here in Barrio Siete Dot com.

5.) We are only accepting monetary donations in currencies accepted by Paypal.

6.) All donations will be remitted only to the Philippine National Red Cross in Manila. (We have not made any contact with them yet.)

Chocolateworld.net is gathering blogs and websites of those who will support and post about this. You can visit it and leave your link.

If you have a blog or a site, please don't hesitate to post about this.

God bless the Philippines!

God Gives the Increase

Wondering how to be rich and how to increase your fortune? Look no further, here's the answer:

1 Corinthians 3:6 (New King James Version)
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

You read it right, it's GOD who gives the increase! In fact the proceeding verse is as such:

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:7

Not you, not your company, not your investments, not your business, not your capabilities and "can do's", but it's all about God. Because at the end of the day, it's God who gives the increase.


But here's the catch, you need to plant and you need to water for God to do the "INCREASE". Don't take me wrong, your business or company or investments or anything can be used by God to perform the "INCREASE" in your life but what I'm saying our success and prosperity is not dependent on these but on GOD alone.

God said in His word,

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Gal. 6:7

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Mal. 3:10

You sow you offering to the Lord. You never miss giving your tithes even if it would mean, you'd be out of budget. Always remember tithes are holy before the Lord. When we fail to give it, we actually hinder God from blessing us with the blessing He had prepared.

At the end of the day, let's praise the Lord for the INCREASE but let's never forget we are to PLANT and WATER before that happens.

God Bless You!

To Give is Better than to Receive

"...remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Acts 20:35 (NIV)

I want to share to you two great examples of a Church and a Coffee shop who are strongly living according to this principle the Lord Jesus Christ himself had given.

First, a Texas Church (Cross Timber's Community Church) is giving money away instead of collecting money for the offering. yes. You read it right. They distribute the offering box not to collect but to give away. In fact, this church have given half a million dollars to all needy members who have been struggling financially for two months now. Now, that's amazing! Click Reverse Collection Plate for the video.

Source: My Christian Diary

The Storyville Coffee Company had given away all it's revenue for the month of May. No, they're not giving only their profits but they're giving theire ENTIRE Revenue to the International Justice Mission.

“International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to ensure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to promote functioning public justice systems.” From the IJM website. Meaning for every coffee, you're actually donating to IJM. Now, isn't that one more blessed story?

Source: Provocative Christian Living


These two examples are so great that my prayer is for them to spread as pandemic. How about you? What have you given? Have you just been receiving?

Let me also take this opportunity to thank my dear friend Valerie of Simply4God who had given me an award. Thanks Valerie. May God Bless you more!

And I'm giving this award to the following people:

LifeLots

Jesus Knows You Best

The Surrendered Scribe

Just Be Real

Just a Thought

From the Heart

Radio Jingles

God Nuggets Blog

God Bless you guys and thanks for the inspiration!