cheerful givers

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.  As it is written:

"He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever."

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,  while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.  For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,  and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Meet the Walser's and feel invited to rejoice with them (thanks Erica for the pic...I kind of borrowed it from your post this morning which my readers can read HERE).  My heart is just simply giddy and overflowing with praise to God who arises on behalf of the fatherless.

Rachel tells the story so well herself that I'm simply going to send you to her blog for the bigger story, but here is the short of it.  They've been jumping through the many a hoop it takes to adopt and as of July 23rd, they finally made it to the waiting list.  Almost immediately they were matched up with a beautiful 4 year old girl and the race to come up with the referral fee of $8,300 was on.  They had a week to come up with it, and being His good pleasure to do so, God moved upon the hearts of cheerful givers to raise it up in 4 days.  Thank you Jesus...we have just witnessed the Spirit-empowered body of Christ working together to supply the needs of the saints in a way that has moved many to give thanks to God.

Recently I was asked "How much does it cost to adopt?"  My answer was (and is) "not nearly as much as it cost my Father to adopt me."  Yes there are a lot of fees associated with adoption, and everyone who plays a part in the process wants a paycheck so their family can eat too...yes it is expensive and you can sit around making judgments about which fees are reasonable and whine about it (which demotivates people really quickly) OR you can put it in perspective.  God the Father sent His Son to die in our place...He paid the ransom needed for our adoptions and it wasn't paid out in silver and gold, but His very blood.  All of a sudden, the fees don't look like as big of a deal...they're simply an opportunity for God to show Himself mighty over and over again in the here and now.

Matt 10:7-8 "And as you go, preach, saying,'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." 


Praising God today for the many cheerful givers who have tasted the goodness of the Lord and have given freely to help bring Abigail Lynne Walser home!