I am a person who loves God and desires to give as it has been given to me.
When I initially set up my websites it was not my intention to use them as a means of making money. I started my blog as a way of sharing what was on my heart. I expanded to share prophetic insights and the teachings I have shared with my home group. I am not an owner, corporation, LLC or not for profit organization.
If in some way you have been ministered to through this blog I rejoice with you and am thrilled that the Lord has touched you.
Beyond the Dalet, Thru the Dalet and Living Thru and Beyond are not 501(c)3 ministries. Neither am I am affiliated with any particular organization or denomination. I do not accept sponsorships in exchange for endorsements. Since it is not my intention at this time to either incorporate or become a 501(c)3 it is not possible for me to accept donations on behalf of the websites.
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
2 Cor. 1:4 TLT
If you were encouraged, find someone to whom you can speak a word of encouragement. Whatever you received turn and do likewise. It doesn’t have to be a gift of money. Churches need money to keep the building operational. Ministries have staff they need to pay. I am retired and work out of my home in my spare time. Give what you have received, maybe a smile, a kind word, a shoulder to cry on or an empathic response to someone.
If you still want to give a financial gift I’d like to make a suggestion. I love random acts of kindness. It thrills my heart to read an account of someone who was touched by the kindness of some random individual whose heart was moved. My favorites are those such as, the waitress who was blessed with an extraordinary tip, or the single mom standing in line at the grocery store who is short a few bucks and has to put some things back until a gentle hearted soul steps up, swipes his card and pays for her order. I guarantee that those moments are never forgotten by the recipient. That one gift made all the difference in the life of the one who received it. I know. I was one of those people.
I remember times when I was raising my four sons alone and a loving saint of God privately took me aside and placed some cash in my hand with the kind words, “The Lord told me to give you this.” Sometimes that monetary gift meant I was able to feed my family that day, buy my kid shoes, keep my electricity turned on, or pay some school fee I couldn’t afford. I have been the grateful and humbled recipient of the Lord’s abundant generosity through a random gifts from others.
Receiving gifts when you are in desperate circumstances isn’t always easy. I wasn’t looking for a handout. I was doing everything I could to keep my head above water and support my family. My dependency was never on gifts, but rather on the Lord, the one who cannot be out-given. I gave my widows mite in church offerings, ministry fund raisers and conference collections. But none of those offerings were as much a joy as when I did for someone else what had been done for me.
I desired to give as it had been given to me. I inquired of the Lord asking for Him to show me people to whom I could bestow a blessing. Sometimes the Lord put some particular person on my heart. Other times I would be in the grocery store or a parking lot and the Holy Spirit would say, “Go give that young man some money.” I was nervous in the beginning and sometimes still am. I try to keep my words simple and not get preachy. With a smile and an outstretched hand I say what was said to me, “The Lord put it on my heart to give this to you. Be Blessed.” I don’t linger. I don’t ask if they are saved. I don’t get the lowdown on their circumstances. Unless they feel the need, and most people don’t. Receiving can be quite humbling. These day when there are so many who have been financially impacted by the pandemic there are many in need. Opportunities to give are all around us, every day.
We never know what is going on in someone else’s life. I like to take my tithe and offerings and purchase gift cards. Handing someone a gift card is far less embarrassing or humiliating for receive. I not only want to give, I want to do it in a way that is honoring and allows the recipient to maintain their dignity and self respect. God doesn’t do things to degrade us. He doesn’t give with one hand and criticize with the other. He doesn’t look down His nose on those in need. Having been on the receiving end of the generosity of the saints I can say that it has the power to relay a powerful testimony of God’s love and sovereign care.
A $5 McDonald’s card, a $20 Visa Gift Card or even a $50 grocery store card is easy to put in someone’s hand. Sometimes I’ll get blank greeting cards from the dollar store and write a word of encouragement and tuck the gift card inside. Then when Holy Spirit says, “See that woman, give her the green envelope,” I may not even remember what I wrote or how much is on the gift card inside. My left hand almost literally doesn’t know what my right hand is doing.
This not only helped me to be sensitive to Holy Spirit leading it fuels my desire to touch lives in a very real and practical way. Often someone just needs a cup of cold water, so to speak. People need practical assistance and pragmatic aid without religious strings attached.
I remember one time several years ago, I was at a prayer gathering. It was not my home church or local gathering. I was visiting a ministry in another state. I was seated near the back of the rented auditorium and a certain gentleman happened to take the seat two rows directly in front of me. There weren’t very many people near by and the lights were dim as most people were in prayer. The Lord interrupted my praying with a particular scripture verse. I was impressed to write it on a scrap of paper. It didn’t necessary mean anything to me at the time. I went back to prayer. After some time I lifted my head and noticed the gentleman in front of me step away from his chair. The Lord told me to get up and place the paper on his chair. I did. I don’t remember the verse just that it was something encouraging. When the man returned a short while later he found the paper and read it. A few minutes later another gentleman joined him and he showed him the paper. The second man put his arm around his shoulder and smiled. I have no idea what the story was. It isn’t my business. It was, however, God’s business. And He knew what that man needed, a cup of cold water. He knew just what that man needed to hear.
Whether they are monetary or not, our gifts have the power to impact and lives with God’s amazing love and generous heart. I love building up people. If you looking for somewhere to give, find a person, a random individual, or family. Give your gift and watch it lift up and encourage someone, reminding them that God is mindful of their life. And remember to give as if you were giving unto the Lord Himself.
Blessings,
Betty
Matthew 25:34-40 MSG
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
Luke 6:38 TPT
“Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top! The measurement of your generosity becomes the measurement of your return.”
Matthew 6:1-4 MSG
“Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.”
Hi, I’m Betty Hall, prophetic teacher and contributor for Beyond the Dalet, Thru the Dalet and Living Thru and Beyond. I am in love with Jesus. As a pastoral teacher, small group leader, and blogger with a focus on living beyond the confines of this earthly experience. My passion is to pursue intimate relationship with the Son of God, Jesus Christ with a focus on being a living dwelling place for God. View all posts by Betty Hall – Living Thru and Beyond
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