Labour Day Weekend and the cost of back to school

With labour day approaching here in Canada (and? in the States) it often is a time of preparation. The children are returning to school and all that goes with that. It often is a stressful time of expenses for those parents on low income. Even doing their clothing shopping at thrift stores and many being grateful to God for His provision, school supplies seem to be getting more costly each year. My challenge to you this labor day is if you know such a family to give them an anonymous gift. Either slip under their door or mail a grocery gift card or cash. Pick out a beautiful card (many of which you can get at the dollar stores) and write the word "Blessings" on it!! This will make their day or perhaps years as they remember what came in the mail when they needed it most. God in my past has given me similiar cards and being a single parent it made such a large impression. It also met some pressing needs. Someone was listening to the nudging of the Holy Spirit!!
God bless,
The gift giver

No expectations

I think when we give we need to examine our hearts and our motives. Do we think God is a bank account and He will return financially more than we have given. It is true that He will always provide. Also that we reap what we sow: "Do no be deceived. God can not be mocked . A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction. Whoever sows to please from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
To me (and I am not a bible scholar) I see many meanings from the scripture. If you do not sow anything into your garden you will not have produce or "fruit." God looks at your heart motive with your sowing (how man used to make money and eat). If it was for all the "flesh" ways of this world you will reap destruction. But if you are sowing to please God guided by His Spirit leading us to give, we will reap eternal rewards.
This specific scripture does not promise a reward on earth. I have heard this to be true with missionaries who give so much of their potential finances in life and always struggle financially. Yet God always provides for them and even at times blesses them unexpectedly.
My own experience has been that God has blessed me more than I have blessed and sometimes before or after a blessing. I admit I have struggled with an unpure heart motive but it only made me miserable. It was like trying to wrestle with God. Releasing things to God makes life so much easier!!
Blessings
The gift giver

The element of surprise

Being a gift giver, one of the things I love most is the element of surprise. If I give anonymously my secret "santas" often report the reaction of the recipients of my gifts. Most are completely shocked for this gift from the heavens. For those who are also struggling financially, it shows how God loves them and will meet their needs. I love to pamper those who financially struggling, as well as give practical gifts. I know this is something they rarely do for themselves. Try to think of the last time you blessed someone in this way. Did you not receive a blessing yourself!
Blessings
The gift giver

Tweeter account

Well today I took another step in modern technology. I am hoping to attract more readers to my site so I set up a tweeter account. My username is: giftgiversbox
If you are new to my site have a browse and see the purpose of it. But today for the writing of my book I am looking for your stories. You can answer this blog or email them privately @ giftgiversboxshowschristslove@gmail.com
Write about how a special gift has touched your heart and the circumstances behind it. Let the readers know if it was anonymously or what kind of a relationship you had with the giver. By writing your stories you are giving me permission to use them or fictionalize them. This book has a lot of potential to generate a "pay it forward" style of giving and really minister to people. It is in God's hands, all the details but I must use my hands to write and continue to give.
Blessings,
The gift giver

He will meet your needs as you show compassion to the lost

Today I am feeling incredibly blessed and at peace. I realize I have been hearing God correctly. I have a $100 gift card from price mart foods and a $40 gift card from starbucks. I realize I have a stock of food in my freezer and cupboards. What I do realize in this giving adventure is God is wanting me to reach the lost with my little "love" baskets I assemble.
Today on my heart is a teen girl whose father committed suicide a year ago. She sounds as if she is going through such inner turmoil by her postings on facebook. The music she is listening to is somewhat hopeless, though I am sure she is relating to the pain of the artist. The Lord has inspired me to give her a CD by a Christian artist "Lisa Adrianne" called "Carry On". Her music is geared to a younger audiance. She also lost her mother during her teens (I believe) to cancer. I can see how through the medium of music, this artist may build upon her hope in her soul and help sort through the confusion in her soul.
The second person I am going to make up a gift basket and a gift certificate to the "Treasure Box" thrift store is a prostitude. My friend the other night was coming to my house and had gospel tracks on her. She is a great evangelizer. The prostitude shared much of her story with her and her address. I am hoping my gifts will touch her soul.
I believe God is showing me that this ministry matters. He is showing me that my dream to write a book matters so others will also do the same also matters. A sort of "pay it forward". So many people in our culture need someone with love to come around them and show them their support. Many blessings! Happy giving if you are so inspired! Share with me your stories!
God bless!!

Heart motives

Today I am wrestling with myself and my true heart motives. I have visitors coming and I am deciding if the amount I spend on them should come out of my giving budget. I am wondering if I am trusting in the Lord's provision as I have not received gifts in a while from Him. But deep in my heart I know this can not be my motive to give. God is the giver of all perfect gifts and I need only trust in Him to meet my needs. He also does beyond that and meets my desires also. This is something I must pray over. It does fall under the gift of hospitality. Lord, show me the needs you have for me, the priorities. Let your Holy Spirit guide and I honor what all belongs to you anyways. Heal my heart of any greed motives. Let my security lie with you in this journey and love like you love.

Happy Canada Day and Fourth of July!!

Yesterday I was reminded the great privileges we share in this Canadian country of ourselves. The available health care is only to name one. Basic needs like clean water are another. So my challenge for all you Canadians an Us citizens (with upcoming forth of July celbrations) is to donate a minimum of $5 to a third world country. Let me know what you chose, and how you felt. Post your results in my comment section or email me @ giftgiversboxshowschristslove@gmail.com
Spread the world and make others aware of this blog. I am going to try to post 5 shorter entries a week, but need reader's encouragement. Let me know of your stories of giving, especially gifts of encouragement and mercy to those you meet in your pathway.
Many blessings,
The giftgiver!!!