Four Dollars and Seventy-Nine Cents

Today, I have a very special guest, Jordan Whitley, Executive Director of Faith Alive Ministries, and a dear friend, joining me on my blog. Her recent story will inspire you. Faith Alive Ministries is a non-profit ministry that connects believers and enables them to put their faith into action. (James 2:17) They partner with believers to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of widows and orphans locally and abroad. If you would like to learn more or make a donation, click Here.

Meet Jordan and enjoy her post!

"Four dollars and seventy-nine cents. $4.79.

Sacred. Holy. His everything. All he had.

Last night, I had the honor of sharing with a local church in Stanly County about the work of Faith Alive Ministries. I shared about our history and how far God has brought us in the last four years. As always, I shared James 2:17 and James 1:27. I let this group of Jesus-followers know about some of the heartbreaking statistics that are the reality in our very own community. And I challenged the Body of Christ to take action - to search their own hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to them how they can put their own faith into action, what part they can play in making a difference in the world around them... to see HIS Kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven.

But then... as we closed the meeting, the night became more than that. It became a sacred moment. Holy.

A middle-aged man approached me with a ziplock bag full of change.

"I don't have much. I'm not sure where my next meal will come from or even where I'll sleep tonight... but the kids need this more than I do. It's all I have. But they need it more."

Jesus.

My eyes leaked (which is happening more often these days as I allow the Father to soften my heart with His compassion for the hurt and broken).

I asked for his name. I asked if I could pray for him.

"Father, would you honor this act of obedience? This radical generosity? Would you overwhelm ____ with your loving kindness, and supply his every need, as he's giving everything he has tonight?"

I immediately thought of the widow in the Gospels who gave her two tiny coins.

And this morning, as I counted out his offering - $4.79, my throat tightened and my eyes welled up again. It really is the most precious donation.

"For they all gave out of their surplus, but she (he) out of her (his) poverty has put in everything she (he) had —all she (he) had to live on.” (Mark 12:44).

Don't hear me wrong - I'm so incredibly grateful for generosity in all shapes and sizes... but this sacred moment inspired me AND brought conviction.

Father, forgive me for comfortably giving from our surplus. Teach us to give like my new friend.

Jesus gave His everything... and He deserves our everything in return.

He's worth it, friends."