Conviction

The other day I was reading this book called Scared Echo and I was convicted on something that is really dear to my heart.

So I am really into Missions. Like I love mission based organizations. I love people do are in missions everything to do with the poor, abused,enslaved and on and on and on. I am all for it. People know it, its really all that I talk about.Love fighting for people, it's a great way to live!

Well I support a lot of organizations....in many different ways. I tell people about them, I hold events and I show up to events. usually however I do not buy the merchandise... Why do you ask? Because I can never afford to. But I told myself that when I got a job I would spend in a way that I would give to a non-profit every month. I believe that if i have money to go thrift-ing, I should have money to give to the needy.

That we my plan and here I am at a job in the second month and I haven't bought anything for the needy. I have not donated any money...NOTHING. I didn't forget just my budget became more important than taking care of people who do not even have the chance to have a budget!

Well honestly I did not think much about it. I have not idea what is coming next for me and I know I need to save for the unknown... that is what is smart and responsible and I am out of school at the moment and about to the step into the real...real world with no dorms and no food plan. (now i might be living with my parents..which is not the "real world", but that is not my hope or desire, but if God wills I will deal!!! lol). Then one day I was reading the book I mention earlier and this line really got my attention. "The poor were given the right to glean -to take produce from the unharvested edges of the fields, a portion of the tithes and daily wages." This was paraphrased in the book but I know that comes from scripture...
9(A) "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God." Lev 19:9-10

The money that we make is not our own! By giving to the poor you show who is really in control of your money... the "real world" (school, apartment, the food you want (not need but want) ect, ect) No I am not saying you cannot have what you want, when you depend on the Lord and really follow His commands He will give you the desires of your heart.

I WAS NOT DOING THIS. When I read this I simply wrote right next the words ,that I also underlined, and said..." I am not doing my job".. not just my job but my passion the one thing that God has put in my heart to take care of my people in need and the idea of having what I wanted was getting in the way of doing what I am called to do.

How often do we do that? How often do we hold on to something we think we need and want and miss what the Lord has for us? For me it was boyfriends, friends, habits, money and ideas even that I hold on to so long that I miss out on the bigger dream that God has for me.

So to break this very bad cycle I did something I have been saying I was going to do for years.....I bought a pair of TOMSshoes!!!! TOMS is an organization that when you buy a pair you give a pair to another person in the world that doesn't have a pair of shoes. They maybe have never had a pair of shoes in their life. I love TOMS and the starter..but all these years I have never owned a pair because of expense and I did it!

Yes.. a small step for mankind but a milestone in the surrender of my finances to the Lord!

Be blessed to be a blessing!!
In christ