Today is Monday, March 23rd, 2009; Karen's Korner #1531
This short article is taken from the "Stories of Hope" - March/April 2009 newsletter, published by Hope Ministries in Des Moines. Hope takes care of lots needs and needy in the Des Moines area. The article is titled: "A Sacrifice for the Children":
"The homeless men in our Bethel Mission men's emergency shelter often come to us with literally nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Yet at our nightly chapel services, they make a point of contributing whatever they can when the plate is passed. Proceeds from the offerings help send children from Hope Family Center to camp each summer. The men tell us it's their way of givng back for the safety, shelter, nourishment, and compassion they've found at Hope Ministries. We are blessed by their sacrifice."
The photo accompanying the story shows hands handing a plate with a couple of dollar bills and some lose change. Not necessarily a lot, but passing the plate lots of days can add up to many dollars.
Some of us are having a harder time in this economy; all of us have probably lost something or lots of somethings. If we were used to giving hundreds, maybe now we are limited to dollars. If we were used to giving dollars, we might be limited to loose change.
No matter; God knows He understands. But the law of giving remains. We need to give something to maintain the purpose for our lives.
When we have more, we give more. When we have less, we give less. But our caring remains!
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"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." ~~ II Corinthians 9:7
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