Helping others as your purpose for Lent

I was just reading a book called 'The Good Of Giving Up' by Aaron Damiani and he had some ideas for Lent that involved helping others.  He shared a story of a family who had an envelope labeled 'neighbor fund' that they put extra money in sacrificially through lent as they give up things.  Through Lent they look for opportunities to help someone out or 'make someone's day'.  They ask the Holy Spirit to guide them.

What a great example of another way we can bless others.  There is so much need out there we don't need to look very far.  And, it's giving what you can - even if it's not much. It still counts to make someone's day.

Ideas for your neighbors:

• Host them for dinner
• Give them a restaurant gift card
• Take a meal to a new mother
• Fund or contribute to a mission trip someone is going on
• Throw a party for someone who doesn't expect it
• Send flowers
• Sent a gift card for groceries anonymously
• Send someone a care package

Plus so many other things you could do.  I'd love to hear other ideas if you have them too - so please feel free to comment below.

Health insurance and help

In USA health insurance is costly and many families cannot afford it. So what often happens is if something happens to these families and they require emergency assistance - like a car accident or something - they are then all of a sudden hurled into a terrible situation of debt and debt collectors for money they have no chance in their lifetime of ever paying back.  Some people mortgage their homes or lose their homes and a whole lot of financial hardship follows.

I don't know if something is already set up but I know for a fact just looking on gofundme and sites like that - that there are families everywhere struggling with medical debt and ongoing expenses that they are unable to pay.  Often the survival of their loved one depends directly on finances.  

I don't know the solution for this but it breaks my heart that this is happening and that people get so stuck in situations they can't get out of.  It would be amazing if there was something set up to help people with medical and health costs.  Maybe this could be something set up in the community type setting of the church or similar.  

I know my nephew needs thousands a dollars a month to pay for his diabetes type 1 supplies, for example.  This is a huge struggle for his family and a massive burden.  How amazing it would be if someone in their community, who has more than enough, would offer to lift that burden from them and take care of that.  And in other communities where there are medical needs if others would step in to help.  It's overwhelming to think of but when it's broken down to communities, there are people in every community that are able to relive these burdens for these families.  

I guess it's not just about the ability to do something, its about the heart attitude in being WILLING to help others and step in when you are able.  A lot of time people dismiss it and keep to themselves, using the thought that it's none of my business even as an excuse.  Make it your business to help others and identify needs and you will be blessed beyond measure - the Bible promises it.

Supporting existing agencies that help

I'm not about reinventing the wheel here.  There are so many agencies that have been set up by people that are passionate about helping and serving.  Many times these places are just needing money to keep their vision alive.  In my mind these places are a great place to give, because you are empowering the vision of someone else to do what God has called them to do.  As I say this I think of people that work with rehabilitating homeless people and help them get on their feet. Oftentimes the people with the passion to help are people that were helped themselves in similar situations and really understand those people.  How great it would be to provide funding so more people can work there and help more people get back on their feet.

I think of the people that help prisoners released from prison who have fulfilled their terms of imprisonment and are let out with no where to go.  Oftentimes from what I've heard they are given a busy ticket and set of clothes and that's about it.  Where are they meant to go?  There are ministries set up to help these people and provide them with counseling and a place to live as they assimilate back into society and aim to live good lives.  I believe more of these ministries are needed.  But I would love to help fund more of these to be created.  These people coming out of prison are like blank canvasses given a fresh start - a clean slate and they often want to start afresh.  However if there is no where to go often they easily fall into living on the street and making money the only ways they know how from their previous life and before long they are back in the same place again.  How great it would be to have people who will fund these places. They need nice buildings to house these people and money to get them on their feet, money to pay the people who are giving themselves 24/7 to help these people too - as they need to live too.

There are the women's shelters that provide a place for women in violent situations to escape to.  They need buildings, beds, clothing, supplies for these type places.  Money to pay the staff so they can survive too.  Imagine if someone donated gift cards for these woman to have hair salon visits and spa days as treats,  if there was money to take them to buy some nice clothing and shoes that fit with advice from stylists.  This type of stuff works miracles for women self esteem. 

I feel so grateful for these people that set up things to help others.  It would be amazing if they could all be funded fully by people who want to invest in the lives of these people too.  

It's about imparting value.  Showing that someone cares and that their life matters to God and to others.  This all helps people's recovery and reintegration into society.  

I think of the agencies that deal with fostering children.  How amazing would it be to provide college funds for the foster children?  In their uncertain lives where sometimes they move around a lot they can have that surety of their future education.  I know that's just a tiny part of ways to help them but there is just so much need out there.  

What about couples that want to have children but haven't been able to, and yet they have no money to get fertility help as it's so expensive. Or the costs to adopt are so incredibly high they can't possibly reach them.   If there was a trust to help these people - how much blessing that would bring to their lives too.  I don't even know if there is an organization set up for this as yet...

Paying for education/ college funds

Another way I would love to bless people would be to pay off their student loans and set up a college fund for their children.  

I know that those two things weigh on many families these days. The parents are often overwhelmed with still paying off their own loans and then stressed out because they aren't able to put aside as much as they'd like, if anything, towards their children's college education.  This is important for American families in particular and rightly so.  An education guarantees you can have a good future.

How amazing would it be if, even in churches the wealthier members look out for the families with children and take care of the college funds and even relieve them of their debt.  Wow.  You know it's almost like unimaginable that people would do that.  How amazing though if things change and this actually starts to happen.  People start using their wealth to bless others and lift others up.  This is what God intended for that money that is being stored away by so many people who wrongly think their wealth is theirs and for them only.

Helping out in this area would be an amazing way to invest in future generations.  By taking care of the parents student loans, for example, frees up the parents from that stress of never ending debt and they can invest more into their children.  Giving for the children's education, brings peace of mind, again to the parents relieving stress and helping them be more present with their children now.  So much blessing from something so significant longterm.

Yes,  that is another thing I would love to do.  

A generous heart as a way of life

Being generous is something that should just flow from us. That we want to share the good things that God has given us. It's a form of stewardship that God desires from us, because everything we have is from Him anyway. 

I think the key to developing it in ourselves is to learn to be aware of those around us and constantly be on the look out for ways to bless others. Even if we don't have much.  For example:  If you go apple picking - give some of what you pick away to neighbors, to your pastor, to your friends.

If you go to visit someone or meet up with a friend always take something.  If you don't have much money, just offer some of something you have.  If you find a great deal on something when you are shopping - buy extra so  you have some to give.  If you bake a cake, make two and give one away.  If you make a batch of soap or can some fruit or vegetables - put aside some to give away. 

I really like what I've seen Pioneer Woman do at times.  If she buys herself a new handbag, she will host a giveaway for someone else to win the same bag too in whatever color they like.  If she gets more of her favorite cowboy boots, she will giveaway one or sometimes a few pairs to people who comment on her blog.  I really love this as it's recognising many others love what she loves but aren't in the same position as she is to buy it, so she is giving an opportunity to bless.  

Oh that we all had that mindset that we buy one for us and one for someone else to bless them.  When we have enough, that we share that enough with someone who doesn't have enough in this season.  We all go through seasons in life - some seasons are prosperous and some seasons are tough.  Understanding this and having an attitude of generosity and blessing others creates a flow in our lives, bringing more to us to give.  

Life is too short to hold onto things.  The blessing lies in giving.  So give freely and joyfully with no expectation from the receiver except that you want them to be happy and blessed.  This is what the Lord requires of us:  this is loving our neighbor as ourself.

Emergency Help for the congregation

At church this morning they announced they had set up a new ministry that is there to provide emergency help for members of the congregation.  The idea is that if something happens, they can provide interim relief until it can be sorted out property. The example given was if a tree falls on your house in the middle of the night, call them and they will come and help.  They won't remove the tree but will cover the roof and ensure you are safe. Or if your basement floods from a broken pipe they will help move your furniture while you call the plumber.  It's not necessarily to fix your problem as that is up to you, it is more to provide support during it and temporary assistance.

I was impressed.  As with this blog, that is something much on my mind.  The church is meant to be looking out for each other and helping each other out.  Yet so many churches, people walk by each other and have no idea if someone has enough food to feed their family or not.  And not even sure if they care.  I think there is to be a new awakening within the church, like the church of Acts, where believers gave generously to each other that everyone had enough.  Where we all look out for each other.  As the Bible says, it is more blessed to give than to receive.  For me, I LOVE to give!  It's fun to bless others.  

Emergency Cars for those in need

My husband and I were in a situation a couple of years ago where our car died.  It was winter and happened just before a huge dump of snow when we had no groceries in the house.  We tried to rent a car but they needed credit cards only to do it and our credit cards were full.  We were new to the area and didn't know anyone to help with no family nearby.  It was a horrible situation that somehow we made it through, thanks to a neighbors help.  We contacted churches at that time but nobody offered any help at all - even to get us to the rental car place to pick up a car.

Long story short, it got us thinking down the line of providing emergency cars for people in this kind of situation that the church's organize.  They can be older cars as long as they are functional and the idea is to help out people of the congregation (or community) if they get in a desperate situation and have no transport.  In our situation my husband just couldn't go to work till we sorted it all out. We had to try to find a car to buy using the rental car to get us around.  Fortunately it all timed when our tax refund came through so we had some money to buy another car.  

It's not a long term solution but it's something that can be worked with the people in need to make sure they can get groceries and get to work and MOST importantly get to where they need to go to get another vehicle.  We were in a catch 22 as you need a car to go buy a car even.  

I'm not sure exactly how it would work out but maybe it's just a matter of churches all having a car they are responsible for keeping as the emergency vehicle for their congregation.  Maybe in bigger congregations having two would be necessary.

I really hope that something like this can be set up.

Another thing regarding cars is when missionaries return, whether permanently or just back to do fund raising, it would be great to have a car that they can use while they are there or until they get set up.  Cars are expensive to buy initially and maintain and this type of thing can really help someone get established. I know, because someone did that for me once when I moved to a new place. I was able to borrow a car until I could get one of my own. It was the biggest blessing.