Others
How is God working through you and your $5.00 Kingdom investment?
I combined my $5.00 with that of a friend and added several more dollars and we bought a money order and sent it to a person that my friend knew that is incarcerated and really has no money to buy items from the commissary at the prison. My friend later got a letter of thanks from him.
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My neighbor and I decided to pool our $5 to buy fresh flowers for some residents of St. Anthony's Healthcare. I called to see if the staff could suggest some residents who don't have families or others who visit them regularly. To my surprise she told me that almost all the residents have regular visitors, but she did have two that we could visit later that day. We set an appointed time, and my friend and I bought fresh flowers. We were blessed to meet one resident, who was 100 on her last birthday, and her roommate. Both had wide eyes when we handed them the flowers, and the 100-year-old smiled and thanked us several times. The roommate really wanted to nap, but we had a sweet conversation with the 100-year-old. At the end of our visit, I prayed for her, and my friend and I left with big smiles, giggling at the woman's quick sense of humor. We went, praying to be a blessing for someone else, and were certainly blessed in return. Now we have plans to go and visit our new-found friend again.
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One of my husband's colleagues was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer. His prognosis is not very good as it was not discovered until the late stages of cancer. He has so far undergone two chemo treatments to see if he will even respond. Bob and his family are not believers in God or Jesus Christ. They are active in the Unitarian Universalist "church". My $5 went to prepare a meal for the family (and more meals will be prepared). I included a note that said I was praying for him, the family and the doctors, and when I took the meal to their door, I again told him I was praying for him. He thanked me and gave me a big hug. It is my prayer that this is a "toe in the door" for more conversation about our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ.
By the way, my original $5 is still posted on my refrigerator door to constantly remind me...others first...to the glory of our wonderful God, who loves us, who cares for us, who showers us with grace and mercy, who gave us His Son. Such gifts bring me to my knees in gratitude.
Many thanks to the one who donated all the $5 bills to reach beyond ourselves to others.
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David asked that we share how we used the $5.00 we received at church last month. I work at Happy Hollow School as the school nurse. We have several students from single mom families that struggle financially. I used the money my husband and I received and bought 4 bouquets of flowers from Rubia Flower market and gave them to four young boys in 5th grade to give to their moms for mother's day.
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I didn't get my $5 with the others that Sunday. So I decided to use my own. I bought $5 in postage, wrote 12 notes of appreciation, and sent them to unsuspecting people I appreciated. (If you didn't recieve a note from me it does not mean that I don't appreciate you!) I sent them to people God placed on my heart.
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It took us some time to decide where we wanted to donate our $5 ($10 for both of us) that would help the life of an individual and/or organization, but then we heard and read about the story of Roberto, a child who has no feeling of pain, and his story immediately touched our hearts and knew that was where we wanted to donate the $10, in addition to matching that amount with our own money. It indeed makes a person realize how incredibly blessed we are to have all that we have and be thankful everyday of our lives and hope this little bit can help improve Roberto's life.
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I added to my $5 and sent a contribution to the Presbyterian Women of Wabash Valley for their Hunger Fund. For many years all of this fund has been used for well projects. The first was for a mission hospital in India where it also benefited the surrounding village. A safe water source is a wonderful gift.
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My wife and I talked and prayed about, how to share our ten ($5 x 2) dollars. She said Habitat for Humanity! A new home and family could enjoy flowers at their new home. We drove to the newest habitat home project and found the soon to be new owner at her new home doing her ‘work equity’. She said she really liked flowers. On the day her new home was dedicated, we delivered two large pots of flowers. We had a feeling that God blessed this new home for a single mother and daughter and He graced it with pots of flowers. To God be the glory!
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"One Wednesday evening I was making my routine visit to the jail to see my friend Brandon. Often the line is long to get signed in and be assigned a monitor to make the visit. As I was waiting in line, a middle age single mother was ahead of me and we struck up a conversation. After talking, I learned that her son had been in jail since February and she had been working 12-13 hour days to earn money to post bond. She was tired and weary in body and spirit. She said she had to go home and make her younger daughter a costume for school yet that night. She didn't know if she had the energy to finish the day. God spoke to my heart and said "This is the person to share the $5 with".
I shared with her that we were given $5 in our bulletin to use as God directed. I said, This seems like a small amount but God wants you to know He sees your need and He loves and care for you." She began to sob. She related that this was so helpful in two ways. The first was that she really did need the $5 to send to school with her daughter in the morning, and she didn't have $5. More importantly she said that earlier in the day, she was driving through town and pleading with God that if He was really there, would He please let her know He did hear her cries for help. The $5 was a sign to her that He knew her plight and was at work to help her family. We hugged and both of us went off to have our 15 minutes jail visit.
As we both finished at the same time, she came over to say that she shared her story with her son and that he too cried to know God had heard their prayers that He was at work and saw their need.
Praise be to God for His loving care to all of us!
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Both my husband and myself have taped our $5 to our computers so that we remember how it is to be used. When I have quiet time each day - it reminds me to pray for the one who will receive my gift which grows by $5 every time I remember to pray for the young man or woman (God knows ) who will receive it. I pray that they will receive the gift in the spirit in which it is given, that it will be seen as from Christ, and that it will meet a need that otherwise would have gone unmet. My plan is to contact the woman who spoke at church from the Community and Family Resource Center about who might have a need. When a person is identified, I hope to meet them, explain why I have given the gift, and share the gospel message. The pot is growing!
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A young lady was referred to me in my business. In the course of getting to know her, I found that she was a single mom at 23, living temporarily with friends and that she was supposed to be moving at their request by the end of the month - about two weeks away at the time. She had little resources and was working at a job paying $7/hr. On top of all that, her infant son had a medical problem that would sometimes cause him to quit breathing while sleeping and they were making trips to Riley to try to diagnose the problem. I was immediately drawn to her sweet spirit and her unwavering desire to take care of her young son at any cost. I followed-up with her over the next few weeks and gave her some names of people/places that might be helpful resources. Eventually she did find an apartment that she could afford and has moved in. Using some contacts here at Covenant, we were able to get her a bed for herself and a washer&dryer through the generosity of two Covenant families. We have stayed in touch and she has expressed interest in coming to church with us. My wife and I combined our $5 (and a little more) and recently purchased a housewarming gift for her - a "Willow Tree" figurine entitled "Mother and Son".
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I was traveling a few weeks ago, and was eating by myself in restaurant. I was the only customer there. I was nearly finished with my meal when a lady walked into the restaurant and sat down at my table! She talked in a loud voice (almost a yell) and asked if she could have some of my chips (it was a Mexican restaurant, and there were nacho chips on the table).
This lady was clearly in an altered state of mind, but I couldn't tell if it was from alcohol, drugs, or some mental incapacity. I looked over at the restaurant staff, and saw the concerned look on their faces. I gave them a hand signal letting them know it was alright.
My new guest then said she was hungry, and she asked if I would buy her dinner, to which I agreed. I let her order what she wanted off the menu. I tried to talk to her, but for my attempts I received short, vague loud answers, and was repeatedly asked for cash to buy beer, a bus ticket, etc (which I politely declined).
I am ashamed to admit that I felt repulsed by this person. Her loud manner, unwillingness to communicate, and aggressiveness in asking for money made me extremely uneasy. I was anxious to leave. I had finished my meal, and left to pay the bill. I paid mine on a corporate credit card, and hers in cash asking the waitress to be sure she got her meal, and leaving a generous tip. When I left, she had moved over to my set, and began eating what I had left on my plate.
Was this an investment in God's Kingdom? I don't know that I did all I could for this person, who repulsed me so much. I fed her, and showed kindness to her, but I don't think I made any lasting impression on her. And I left acutely aware of my own inadequacies, and the barriers in my own heart, and perhaps that is what I needed.
I would like to note that while we were the only patrons in the restaurant, there were three or four employees who were watching us intently. What affect this drama had on them, I cannot say.
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My husband and I were on vacation on April 24 and we were in Franklin, NC that day. We went to a gem mine to "gem" on our way home. We got to spend most of that morning with a nice man named Richard and found out his 5 year old grandson is in St. Jude in Memphis. He was leaving the next morning to go there for five days to visit his daughter and grandson. His son-in-law and granddaughter stay in Franklin to work and go to school while his daughter is in Memphis to help take care of Daniel. As we got ready to leave I told Richard we would pray for Daniel and he said I have a donation jar if you have any change you would like to give. I reached for change and then God helped me remember I have a $5 bill for just a moment like this!
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I mailed my five dollars to an employee where I work who has struggled with many personal, health, financial and spiritual issues. He was let go from his job last week. I sent anonymously with encouraging scripture in hopes he will feel encouraged and feel God's providence.
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For the $5. "project", I knew right away I wanted to communicate the needs of "my" 100+ orphans in Bungoma, Kenya, so I started a "$5. challenge" to match my $5. So far, I have $280 to send them. Seeds will be bought and planted for feeding them. It gives me various different opportunities to tell about them, give a very "do-able" opportunity to help, and stretch many past their own world. A friend of mine, challenged her co-workers to match hers as well (for the orphans).
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The mother of a graduate student came to visit from mainland China, and joined the Chinese Bible Study group to which I belong. I used the $5 to buy our study materials for her. She does her homework diligently, and wants to take the materials back to share with her friends at home in China.