A Lesson on Tithing

As you know, I've been desperately trying to find a way to earn money for a trip to Bulgaria, to help my friend Shelley bring her kids home. (her husband is staying home with their other kids, so I'll be going along as an extra set of hands for 2 little boys! I'm beside myself with excitement, and gratitude for getting the honor of making this trip!)

Anyway, a couple weeks ago I stumbled upon a way to make some cash, and within a few days brought in several hundred dollars. And I know, with God's grace, it will continue until I have my goal met. If not with this, then with something else.

Yesterday I was driving to the local UPS store to ship off some of the items I'd sold, when God said to me, "I gave you this money, now it's up to you to tithe like you're supposed to be."

Do you ever have one of those discussions with God, where you understand what he's saying, but you're not sure how you're going to follow through with his direction?

"Ok God. That's all great, I'd love to tithe it, but as you well know, I'm not currently CONNECTED with a church, so where am I supposed to tithe it? And no, I'm not even going to GO THERE about the whole church thing right now, cuz I KNOW already!"

And he said to me, "You tithe it to someone who needs it NOW. They need it TODAY."

I sat quietly for a minute, and thought about that.

"Yeah, well I don't KNOW anyone who needs it NOW!" So as I continued to drive, I figured someone would pop into my head, only my head that is usually full of all kinds of nonsense was suddenly empty. Great.

"Ok God. When I get home, I'll go online and I bet you'll point out someone to me."

That's when something I'd read the night before came FLYING into my thoughts! I have a good friend who's in the process of an international adoption of a little girl with DS, and on her blog the day before she'd posted that their Dossier was sent in the mail and they should have a travel date very soon! One of the commenters asked a good question, something to the effect of "I see you still have $11,000 to raise. How will you travel if you don't get that money?"

Then God said to me, "That is who needs it TODAY. It may not seem like they need it NOW, but there are some parts of the story YOU don't know, but I know they need it TODAY!"

So, being the ever obedient person I am (no laughing Mom!) as soon as I got home I went onto her blog page, to find they're running a drawing for an item, with a goal of $3,000. I only have $60 to tithe, but it's $60 they didn't have. I sent my money off, and emailed my friend and told her do NOT put my name in for the drawing. Just add the funds to their adoption money.

No sooner had I clicked "submit" on the money, when an email came in from Paypal saying I had another order. And there was God's voice, "Don't forget to tithe!"

Well now what? UGH! I have to find ANOTHER person? I went surfing around online doing my usual online nonsense, when another good friend of mine posted something to her blog. I know this friend, like a lot of people, has been going through some pretty tough times financially. She mentioned they were trying to come up with the money for something. She wasn't asking for money, just making a general statement. She is a good friend, and I'd be thrilled to be able to help her out, even if it's only a few dollars. I called my friend going through the adoption...who is also a friend of this person's....and asked her if she thought this friend would accept the money. She thought she would. Then I told her my story. As soon as I told her why I was doing this, my email box announced to me that I had two more orders come in via Paypal!

Now I'm NOT doing this because I'm an exceptionally good person. And generally, if I'm going to do something like tithing, I don't thing posting about it on a blog is appropriate. And I know that some of you are laughing about ME posting a lesson on tithing! But I feel the need to share THIS story, here on my blog, because for some reason I feel like I should. So I am.

Who would have thought that Tithing would get me to Bulgaria?