Fresh Bread # 120
DOES MONEY BURN A HOLE
IN YOUR POCKET?
I HOPE SO!
Once you learn how
to give unto the Lord what is due Him, plus something more, you begin to reap
the rewards of obedience. When you become consistent, the day comes when your
investment begins to bring dividends. Then, the JOY OF THE LORD takes over and
you can hardly wait to make another investment.
That’s what happened
to me.
UNEXPECTED SOURCE
 
Recently, from an
unexpected source, I received $420.00. My first thought was where should I
give my ten percent (or more) into our Lord’s Work of reaching others for Him.
I had at least $42.00 that I could immediately invest in someone else’s life.
It was BURNING A HOLE in MY POCKET.
WISE INVESTMENT
I had been praying
that God would lead me to Wise Investments for my senior years. At this time
in life, there is little temptation to invest in things that have only
temporary value. But I do get excited when I see the finances coming in. They
represent the profits from my “shares” in our Lord’s business. I love to see
His Business Grow and I love to see that I am a part of it…that I am a partner
in His Firm.
KNOW YOUR INVESTOR
I have learned not to trust many people; investors, promoters…even some who may appear to be
worthy causes. I do not desire to be foolish with the finances our Lord has
given me to invest towards increase.
There is only one
way I can be certain of the best place to invest this money that is burning a
hole in my pocket. I must speak to My Investor personally and hear what He has
to say.
I prayed for
several days, knowing God would show me and I would not only have PEACE that I
had invested in the place He recommended, but that I would have added JOY
because I knew I had received the highest form of wisdom. God’s! I knew that
this investment would bring high dividends.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW
WHERE MY FINANCIAL ADVISOR
SUGGESTED
I INVEST?
This was as
unexpected as the money that came in. But, I kept saying, “Lord, I know You
will show me where I can make the best investment with this money that is
burning a “hole in my pocket”. And when Anita Kay’s email arrived, I just knew
in my spirit that this was the answer I sought.
Please understand,
that I, like many of you, have a heart of compassion for many hurting and needy
saints of God, but since our Lord is the Initiator of All things in His
Kingdom, if we will listen with our hearts, He will direct us individually by
His Spirit to the place that fits into His plans. That is what we desire:
That His Will be done on earth.
We could easily
waste the money He gives us when we invest it according to our own whelms. Oh,
how blessed we are to have the greatest Financial Advisor…Who loves us so much
that He will direct us even in earthly finances. He doesn’t need our money.
But it’s one of His ways of blessing us.
Remember: “The
blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
(Proverbs 10:22). And, “For this God [is] our God for ever and ever:
he will be our guide [even] unto death.” (Psalms 48:14).
A STREET MINISTRY
A “HAND UP” MINISTRY
Well, it wasn’t to
just “any” street ministry, but to the one explained below. When my
sister-in-the-Lord, Anita Kay and I were young girls in high school, we had
dreams of buying an airplane and going to Africa as missionaries among many
other ways we planned to serve our Lord.
Well, that was a
long time ago, but now we are both seeing our sons fulfill many of the dreams
we had. God’s plans seldom seem to turn out exactly as we try to direct Him
(ha), but always Better and Multiplied more than we ever could have done on our
own.
Praise God…I’m
making my investment today before it:
BURNS A HOLE IN MY POCKET!
Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For
the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and
not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not
tarry.”
OH, IT THRILLS ME
TO SEE
GOD’S HANDS WORKING
THROUGH THOSE I KNOW AND LOVE
ANITA KAY’S GOOD NEWS MESSAGE
Dear Gwen,
You are such a blessing to me and countless others. Thank you for your daily
bread.
I did get to go to Africa on two mission trips, and they were wonderful! I
would still like to go on a
mission trip with you sometime, somewhere, wherever He leads.
Yes, you may share the praise report, but so many dozens help Cal that he
wouldn't ever want
credit. A great man, Rev. Jordan Burton works daily finding jobs for the
intercity, and Bevil Hart
(Nancy Jo's husband) is chairman of the board of the Hand Up portion. Al
Merriman prepares the
blessings bags each week with help from many and our wonderful women prepare a
great hot
meal for them each Wednesday. I'll try to send you a picture of the workers and
the intercity.
One more thing that you would love, our workers have volunteered to give their
testimonies,
and we have heard from so many that have never spoken out in church before
this, and now
they want to share often. One of our members sits at each table, so they can
take prayer
requests and praises, and our friends share their requests so openly. This has
helped
create a beautiful bond, and we miss each one when we can't attend or when they
are
absent.
I guess you see that I could go on and on.
When you come home again, I want you to visit the ministry on Wednesday night.
Lots of love,
Anita (BB)
EMAIL RESPONSE TO
FRESH BREAD NUMBER 118
“A Hand Extended – A Hand Up”
The song: Place Your Hand in The Nail Scarred Hand
[Black print is Anita Kay…Red is Gwen]
[This was the first email and if you don’t have time
to read it…the second, which is listed above…tells the Good News we need to
hear.]
Gwen,
My son, Cal, leads our Intercity Ministry and a portion of it is called Hand
Up Ministry. I often lead
the singing for the group on Wednesday nights, and I know which song I want us
to sing next time. This
is so totally awesome. How many times I desire to be a part of what Cal is doing and things like that. Remember
how you and I planned to buy a plane, fly to Africa, and be missionaries over
there? So many of our dreams have come true....some through us...but more
extended through our children. We are so blessed. It just goes to show what a
great job you have done with your family and children. God knew what He was
doing when He picked you. And I praise Him for His plan which always was for us
to be BBs. Praise God for your beautiful gift of music/voice as you sing to
our Lord.
Your thoughts are so timely for the group. This statement really blesses me,
too...because some days I get discouraged and really appreciate a little nudge
confirming that what I do makes a difference. "Fresh Bread Angel
Food" is suppose to be timely as it is what our Lord gives me daily.
Thanks faithful friend and co-servant in our Lord's fields
A word of praise about the ministry. We feed them physically and
especially spiritually every Wednesday, and we send them out with a blessings
bag that will feed them for a day or two. The fellowship with our Intercity is
beautiful. We also have twenty-five + workers who are so faithful each week.
(This is in your old church, First Baptist, Beaumont) I would really like to pass this Praise
Report on to my readers. I bet it will inspire some who may be sitting on the
fence...looking for something to do. :) But mainly, to give Glory to God. Do
you mind if I use it? Do you mind if I use your and Cal's names? I don't have
to...but it is certainly nothing to be ashamed of. What do you think? People
should know that God's Work is going forth in more ways than they can imagine.
In the past year, over 100 have found jobs, and dozens are in
houses. Many others are in the Castle Motel in Beaumont until they can find
permanent housing. About ten have been saved and joined our church, and many
others have prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Please
add these wonderful people to your prayer list. I will. And if you have any pictures you
could send of a meeting or something...I would love to have that.
Also, Gwen, I'm having a hip replacement May 16th at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, and I also want your prayers. Oh my, oh my, oh my. Thanks for telling me.
I wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to pray for my dear Anita Kay. I've
been getting behind on sending out prayer requests...but this one must surely
go forth.
God Answers our
Prayers and heals in so many ways. My prayers are definitely with you and I'm
writing that date on my calendar....
Love you always,
GG .... BB [Of course BB stands for Baylor Bears.]
Love you.
Anita
MANY UNTOLD STORIES
I know so many of
you have stories of success like this. I like to think this is what the
disciples did when they gathered together. They shared what God was doing in
their life in His Kingdom. These stories of compassion and love inspire us all
in a time where we need to be encouraged that the Body of Christ is at work
everywhere.
CHECK IT OUT WITH YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR
THEN
MAKE YOUR WISEST INVESTMENT
I JUST DID! |
