"With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." Mark 4:30-32
Please share the difference your "mustard seed" acts of giving have made a difference in your life!
9 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Twenty some odd years ago as newly graduated, newly married, newly employed wage earners, each making a little over $20K per year, our family’s giving was truly mustard seed quality. The mustard seed might have been a generous analogy. We hadn’t matured enough in faith or understanding to think that true tithing was, or ever would be, an option. We did, however give a small amount regularly and donated a good amount of time to church and youth leadership activities. We kept hearing about the importance and benefits of tithing and all of the good things that happen as a result. We made it a goal to tithe (albeit we were still skeptical about the benefits that are a result). I guess that amounts to our “mustard seed” because as we have grown in our faith and understanding of what it means to “give back to God what God has given to us,” we have been unbelievably blessed. Let me tell you - Logic does not apply here! We now look at our money in a completely different way, and some number of years ago the Church began receiving much more of our money than any place else (mortgage included!). We know that this is really not our money anyway – but instead, resources that God has entrusted to us, so He should receive the most! Don’t get me wrong – we still struggle with what the future will bring (college costs loom!) – but if I reflect on the past twenty plus years, I might be inclined to think that more mustard seeds have just been planted.
Yesterday following the service, I was asked to help one of our children with a PTA project. He was working on an art project that expressed a way that he could make a difference. He decided that the way he could make a difference was to give to the Church. And, no, this wasn't the result of a stewardship sermon. He had decided the theme of his project on his own and before he came to church on Sunday. It seems me that someone (or some persons) have been planting a few seeds in the heart of that young man!
A leader in our church talked over and over again about how tithing was important to him and about how he had really never missed the money once he decided to give it. He was happy in being able to give. I knew that he led a comfortable life and wasn't the type of man to brag, so I paid attention. That's the mustard seed that began my tithing journey.
About 7 years ago I started feeling like God was calling me to teach the children's choir.... and at that time, I had NO formal music training, NO teaching experience, and NO real interest (or so I thought) to be around children, except for my own. I could not figure out why I was being called to do something that was so very much not me. My husband thought I was crazy and so did I, but i literally could almost hear God telling me that this is how He wanted me to use my gifts.
Since that time, I have learned alot about what it means to give. It turns out that I didn't need formal music training (I did grow up in a very musically gifted family - and that turned out to be enough) and I had a passion for teaching and hanging around with children that I never knew I possessed. It was that passion for teaching, for children, for music and for responding to God's call that has brought me to where I am today.
Later, I quit my full time job to stay home for a while with my children, our finances went crazy. It was so stressful. I began to give more of my time in lieu of money since we didn't have the money to give. I was satisfied that this was enough.
I am starting to realize that giving means so much more. I could tell you about the blessings God has given me, but I would have to start my own blog! =-) The thing that I have come to realize is that God didnt have to give these blessings to me, and I most certainly do not deserve them.... but for some reason, He did bless me. I want to honor God by responding to these gifts, these blessings, in a way that gives Him the all the glory I can give.
After Pastor Sherill's sermon and the speaker the other night at the leadership summit, I can say that giving is not at all what I thought it was. I cannot say what the impact it has had on my life yet because this is an ongoing journey for me. However, I will say that I am excited about giving with my whole heart!
I just gave an unemployed girlfriend some money for bills. The tears of gratitude that filled her eyes just opened my heart to give more to others. Since then, I tip more, say thank you more, give small gifts more often. I receive so much more joy in my life when I give with a happy heart.
I was a volunteer for Hope Place for one year. I would help crisis callers find ways to free themselves from their abusers, with the help of the Huntsville Police department. It made me feel like their "angel on call" and I felt like I was in God's will every time, helping make a positive difference in lives of women and children.
I used to dread stewardship campaigns. They always made me feel guilty, and thus I got defensive. But, I also wanted to help give to God through the church. One year a capital campaign consultant visited us for a consultation on our potential gift to an upcoming campaign. After hearing the needs, spending time in thought and prayer, and taking a leap of faith, we ended up giving several times more than we initially thought we could. This helped us see that our vision for how much we could give was too small. I think that is why the biblical example of a ten percent gift is there. God knows that we need a starting point. I hope that our future gifts will continue to be "God's tithes and (plus) our offerings."
I found that the mustard seeds made me more aware that in giving even in very small ways we touch others lives. Everyone enjoys being noticed and cared for. A Hello and a smile are free and often they mean more that we know! I gave our lawn workers bottled water and praised their work. I divided my plants, monkey grass, with friends. I gave my baggier a few extra dollars for a great tip. I sent a thank you note to a volunteer that spent her time singing for the Alzheimer's Day Care Clients after several ladies and I helped the Day Care Clients with crafts. I phoned to just chat with an elderly friend that recently lost her sister. I sent two get well cards to friends in my Sunday School class. All very small things that I often do and yet; I was reminded that it was what Christ would have us do each and every day.
I received 2 black mustard seeds and then I took a yellow one. We are so much like these mustard seeds, we are not all the same color or size and even come from different parts of the world. Thank you for the reminder to be more mindful of others even in the little things of life.
When my five year old granddaughter said our blessing for dinner a few months ago, I was struck by this simple sentence. Lord, thank you for trees that give us shade!
Just a note--my husband pointed out that I accidently posted the last comment from an e-mail under my name. He was a bit worried that we had a granddaughter he didn't know about ;-D Sorry . . .
9 comments:
Twenty some odd years ago as newly graduated, newly married, newly employed wage earners, each making a little over $20K per year, our family’s giving was truly mustard seed quality. The mustard seed might have been a generous analogy. We hadn’t matured enough in faith or understanding to think that true tithing was, or ever would be, an option. We did, however give a small amount regularly and donated a good amount of time to church and youth leadership activities. We kept hearing about the importance and benefits of tithing and all of the good things that happen as a result. We made it a goal to tithe (albeit we were still skeptical about the benefits that are a result). I guess that amounts to our “mustard seed” because as we have grown in our faith and understanding of what it means to “give back to God what God has given to us,” we have been unbelievably blessed. Let me tell you - Logic does not apply here! We now look at our money in a completely different way, and some number of years ago the Church began receiving much more of our money than any place else (mortgage included!). We know that this is really not our money anyway – but instead, resources that God has entrusted to us, so He should receive the most! Don’t get me wrong – we still struggle with what the future will bring (college costs loom!) – but if I reflect on the past twenty plus years, I might be inclined to think that more mustard seeds have just been planted.
Yesterday following the service, I was asked to help one of our children with a PTA project. He was working on an art project that expressed a way that he could make a difference. He decided that the way he could make a difference was to give to the Church. And, no, this wasn't the result of a stewardship sermon. He had decided the theme of his project on his own and before he came to church on Sunday. It seems me that someone (or some persons) have been planting a few seeds in the heart of that young man!
A leader in our church talked over and over again about how tithing was important to him and about how he had really never missed the money once he decided to give it. He was happy in being able to give. I knew that he led a comfortable life and wasn't the type of man to brag, so I paid attention. That's the mustard seed that began my tithing journey.
About 7 years ago I started feeling like God was calling me to teach the children's choir.... and at that time, I had NO formal music training, NO teaching experience, and NO real interest (or so I thought) to be around children, except for my own. I could not figure out why I was being called to do something that was so very much not me. My husband thought I was crazy and so did I, but i literally could almost hear God telling me that this is how He wanted me to use my gifts.
Since that time, I have learned alot about what it means to give. It turns out that I didn't need formal music training (I did grow up in a very musically gifted family - and that turned out to be enough) and I had a passion for teaching and hanging around with children that I never knew I possessed. It was that passion for teaching, for children, for music and for responding to God's call that has brought me to where I am today.
Later, I quit my full time job to stay home for a while with my children, our finances went crazy. It was so stressful. I began to give more of my time in lieu of money since we didn't have the money to give. I was satisfied that this was enough.
I am starting to realize that giving means so much more. I could tell you about the blessings God has given me, but I would have to start my own blog! =-) The thing that I have come to realize is that God didnt have to give these blessings to me, and I most certainly do not deserve them.... but for some reason, He did bless me. I want to honor God by responding to these gifts, these blessings, in a way that gives Him the all the glory I can give.
After Pastor Sherill's sermon and the speaker the other night at the leadership summit, I can say that giving is not at all what I thought it was. I cannot say what the impact it has had on my life yet because this is an ongoing journey for me. However, I will say that I am excited about giving with my whole heart!
I just gave an unemployed girlfriend some money for bills. The tears of gratitude that filled her eyes just opened my heart to give more to others. Since then, I tip more, say thank you more, give small gifts more often. I receive so much more joy in my life when I give with a happy heart.
I was a volunteer for Hope Place for one year. I would help crisis callers find ways to free themselves from their abusers, with the help of the Huntsville Police department. It made me feel like their "angel on call" and I felt like I was in God's will every time, helping make a positive difference in lives of women and children.
Angie Elkins
I used to dread stewardship campaigns. They always made me feel guilty, and thus I got defensive. But, I also wanted to help give to God through the church. One year a capital campaign consultant visited us for a consultation on our potential gift to an upcoming campaign. After hearing the needs, spending time in thought and prayer, and taking a leap of faith, we ended up giving several times more than we initially thought we could. This helped us see that our vision for how much we could give was too small. I think that is why the biblical example of a ten percent gift is there. God knows that we need a starting point. I hope that our future gifts will continue to be "God's tithes and (plus) our offerings."
I found that the mustard seeds made me more aware that in giving even in very small ways we touch others lives. Everyone enjoys being noticed and cared for. A Hello and a smile are free and often they mean more that we know! I gave our lawn workers bottled water and praised their work. I divided my plants, monkey grass, with friends. I gave my baggier a few extra dollars for a great tip. I sent a thank you note to a volunteer that spent her time singing for the Alzheimer's Day Care Clients after several ladies and I helped the Day Care Clients with crafts. I phoned to just chat with an elderly friend that recently lost her sister. I sent two get well cards to friends in my Sunday School class. All very small things that I often do and yet; I was reminded that it was what Christ would have us do each and every day.
I received 2 black mustard seeds and then I took a yellow one. We are so much like these mustard seeds, we are not all the same color or size and even come from different parts of the world. Thank you for the reminder to be more mindful of others even in the little things of life.
When my five year old granddaughter said our blessing for dinner a few months ago, I was struck by this simple sentence. Lord, thank you for trees that give us shade!
Truly, out of the mouths of babes!
Just a note--my husband pointed out that I accidently posted the last comment from an e-mail under my name. He was a bit worried that we had a granddaughter he didn't know about ;-D Sorry . . .
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