I Said Yes!

There are days when giving up even five minutes of our time seems impossible. In fact, some of us would rather give up five bucks rather than give up five minutes. Time is our most precious asset. That, I believe, is why God wants it.

"You shall have no other gods before me.
Deuteronomy 5:7

God will ask for that which is most dear to us. Just ask Abraham. He knew all too well the consequences of putting anything, or in his case, anyone (Isaac), before God. Thankfully, he chose to say yes to God and not to his flesh. I was asked to do the same thing.

There is one day every year that I deem "mine." I can choose what I want to do that day and I can choose what to purchase with the money that is given to me for this particular occasion. This year God wanted it.

"What?" is what I remember thinking when I heard Him speak to my heart, "Offer to care for her kids tonight so she can get some rest."

"But, God! It is my birthday tomorrow!" I argued.

"Would you want someone to do the same for you?" He asked.

*sigh*

So I offered to babysit for a friend... on my birthday. No, I am not saint and I don't want any accolades. I can think of many other things that I could have done on my birthday but watching my friend's four children was not one of them. But I'm glad that I did it. She deserved it. She needed it. I thank God for asking me. And it doesn't stop there.

A few days later I received a monetary gift to celebrate my birthday. My first thoughts were that God was blessing me for giving up the day and so now I was going to be able to buy the scrapbook supplies that I have been wanting. Then we got to church.

God told me to put the money in the offering basket as it came around. I dismissed the thoughts as not being God because I was certain that He had given me this money as a blessing. However, I wanted to be sure and so I said to God that if the offering basket were to come back around that I would put the money in. I was thrilled when I saw them take the baskets to the back. Okay relieved is more like it.

Next, they showed us some video clips of children in an orphanage in India that we had given nearly 85,000 dollars to. I looked at their little faces and saw the joy and the peace of God radiating in them. Then I heard them say, "I hope you love God the way we do."

Can you say conviction? I all but begged God to bring that offering back around. Guess what? He did. They announced a second offering would be taken and this time I didn't hesitate to put my birthday money in. I knew what God wanted at that point. He wanted me to sow this year of my life to Him. I wrote that down in my notebook as I pondered what He might ask of me this year. Then, as our pastor started to preach, I wrote down the title of his message: Extreme Generosity. Coincidence? I don't think so.

He wants me to generously give of my time this year to serve Him. I said yes!



I'd love for you to visit me at my personal blog: In Pursuit of Proverbs 31