Cheerful givers NEEDED!!!!

I am in the middle of previewing Kelly Minter's study on Ruth for the Bible study that starts on January 21st, (shameless plug, I know!). Anyway, something caught my eye this morning that goes hand in hand with the disaster that has just rocked (no pun intended here..) Haiti.

I have hit the part in Ruth's story where she is gathering grain from Boaz's field so that she and Naomi can have food to eat. This passage hit me in a "punch me in the stomach" kinda way on many levels. So here goes....
"Up to this point we've seen Ruth as committed, loyal, hardworking, and gutsy, but she was very much at the mercy of Boaz and Naomi." In other words, Ruth is poor and doing all that she can in addition to what Boaz has provided her so that she and Naomi can have food. In today's language: they didn't have two pennies to rub together! Go with me here it's kinda complicated but stay with me...

Kelly continues...
"We've focused on the generosity of Boaz who gave of his wealth, but now we see Ruth giving out of her poverty! ...this means we all have something to give even if we're broke or broken." Ruth had brought home the grain that she had gathered PLUS her leftover grain that she didn't eat from her afternoon meal. If that doesn't hit you where it hurts, there's more...

2 Corinthians 9:7-8
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Here's my tie do everyday life here....

So, I know that things are tight these days especially coming out of the holidays. I get that, I'm living that to be perfectly honest with you. But that being said, please pray about giving to the people in Haiti. That may not be what you want to hear from me right now because you've already heard it from countless sources already. But just hear me out for a second!!! It may be that you can only do a $1 and if that's your case then give it but don't give it out of compulsion or because it looks like the right thing to do. Do it because in your heart you know that "God loves a cheerful giver" and in the grand scheme of things we have been blessed with far more than what we need (we're all busting at the seems with all the things that we wanted or "needed").

One of my friends commented on his Facebook page that if "we donated $10 to the American Red Cross that is the cost of two Starbucks lattes" (thanks, Heath!). That puts it in perspective. Brew your coffee at home for a week instead of making your Starbucks run and donate that to Haiti. That's hard 'cause I LOVE me some Starbucks!!!! If you're one of my Sonic tea drinkin' friends...go without your happy hour tea for a week (I can feel the stares right now!!!) Every little bit helps!!! You don't have to donate wads of cash to make a difference.

So pray about it, decide your amount and then give it away!!! I've posted some links that are taking donations if you need somewhere to give. They're legit, we donate to these organizations as a family.

YOU CAN DO IT CHEERFULLY!!!!! I'll be praying for you!!!