One of the highlights of over a decade and a half of ministry has been receiving emails just like this one over the past two weeks from people who stepped out in faith during Faith, Hope and Love.
I introduced you to Christina last week. Today, I want you to meet Josh. His faith and God’s faithfulness are intersecting in a new way!
Pete,
So I want to start off by saying thanks. Thank you for providing opportunities to trust, step out, and embrace faith. Although this isn’t the first time I’ve experienced God come through for me when I’ve stepped out, I just had to share this with you.
Throughout the whole series of Faith, Hope, and Love I was conflicted. I absolutely love Cross Point and it’s vision, and enjoy being part of a family that is relentlessly dedicated, but I was so unsure of how I could help. I’m not in the best of financial shape and have been working so hard this past year to get into better shape financially. I was going back and forth about how much I could commit to our cause and still be in shape to pay bills. After a lot of thought, I approached my commitment from a common sense and financial standpoint. Although I couldn’t really afford any pledge (budget wise) I had decided I would give $50 a month. I know it’s not alot, but I felt confident that I could cut out an extra dinner, or sacrifice a bit and still be able to budget the $50/mo. Sitting in the last week of the series, I felt compelled to trust and do more than I actually thought I could just afford.
Giving based on what I could reasonably afford really required no faith, just a bit of sacrifice. I decided to give $2000 through the course of the year. I had no idea how it would even be possible, I just knew that once I committed to it and made it a priority to trust, it would work out. Later that night and for the whole next 2 days I was completely stressed and worried that my heart had stepped a bit to far out on a limb and had no idea where I was going to pull $170 every month from.
3 days later, on Wednesday, I get pulled into my office at work and my boss let’s me know that although I’ve already received 3 raises this past year, he was excited about how well I was doing and said he was upping my pay another $1/hr. I was speechless. I certainly wasn’t expecting a pay increase for at least another year. $1/hr equals $2080 a year, just over my pledge. I left the office last Wed, high as a kite.
It’s so funny that every time in my life that I’ve stepped out on nothing more than hope and faith, God has ALWAYS come through. I shouldn’t be surprised, as it’s not the first time I have experienced it, but it never fails to amaze me. Now I know $2000 is still nothing extravagant, but to me, it was a pretty big deal. I’m so blessed to have a family at Crosspoint that pushes me to change my patterns, thinking habits, and really encourages you to step out on faith. I’m so excited that my initial pledge is now taken care of and I’m searching for ways that I can double my commitment. Thanks for sharing your vision and thanks for placing me in a spot where I truly reflect and search deeper in my faith than I ever have before.
I love this story. But probably not for the reason you think. Don’t miss the main point. The main point is not that he stepped out in faith and committed $2,000 and 3 days later got at $2,000 raise. In fact, I believe he may have received that raise even if he hadn’t made the financial commitment he made.
What I do know is this. If Josh hadn’t stepped out in faith and trusted God in the midst of his fear at best he would have received just another dollar an hour raise. Instead he just had an unforgettable encounter with the God of the universe. He went home that day with a new level of trust and intimacy with his Heavenly Father. He walked away knowing his story was taking place inside of a much larger story. One we all long to have a role in.
So, Pete, what you are telling me is that Josh’s raise wasn’t contingent on his faith or faithfulness.
But his blessing was.
Our faith opens our awareness to the providence of God that has always been at work but which is often taken for granted.
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Movie Scenes That Stick With You =-.
@Tony York, Why do you always take what I say and then turn around and say it better?
Actually I’m not sure. I always had trying to “explain” what God has done or not done.
I just want to make sure people don’t think I believe that every time you give $5 that God is going to give you back $5 or more.
God WILL be faithful but not always in the way we think or even hope.
Standing in awe of God in the many ways He meets and greets us. Whether through a raise to meet the leap or in expanding our eyes and hearts to what giving above and beyond looks like…without expecting anything in return.
He is a mighty God. A God of Hope. And He certainly LOVES to show off!
Thanks for sharing this Pete.
.-= jessica´s last blog ..The Signs =-.
@Pete,
That’s why I appreciate you. It would have been so easy for anyone in your position to use Josh’s example for evidence of God’s reacting to our seed faith.
Instead you gave us an easy to understand portrayal of this simple but often misunderstood truth:
God Acted. And we respond within our limited boundaries.
My opinion is that the tense on those two verbs are very important – as is the order of those two events.
When we confuse our actions causing God’s response, we are in danger of stealing what rightfully belongs to God – His sovereignty.
I am reminded of this truth when Moses stands before the burning bush ‘discussing’ with God how he must be the wrong person for the job because of his lack of skill in speaking. After God lets Moses go on for a bit about his issues… He tells him that his brother, Aaron, is already on his way to meet him.
God wasn’t surprised by Moses inadequacies or even his stubbornness to fulfill the role that was set before him. God had already spurred Aaron towards meeting that need.
You so perfectly illustrated that through Josh’s story. That is a blessing for both Josh and us.
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Movie Scenes That Stick With You =-.
BIG BIG GOD. Period.
.-= Aaron B. Reddin´s last blog ..What Kind of Trophies are You Chasing? =-.
As I read this @742am (PST), I am sitting in a anti-room adjacent to a boardroom at the corporation I work for, They are informing us of the cuts we are taking as of January 1, 2010… I was sweating and wringing my hands a little, until I read this. I need to remember always… Jehovah Jireh, Thank you Josh for the timely reminder. thank you Josh
.-= Heidi´s last blog ..Cupped Hands =-.
Absolutely amazing, i never get tired of hearing these stories.
I often wonder about this myself. How many times have I not taken that stop and in turn missed an opportunity to learn something from God?
This is tough for me, because I can turn it into a game with God. Trying to trick him into giving me things because I gave (i know pretty stupid).
I struggle with this daily.
Between Pete’s post and Tony’s replies, I’m just sitting here stunned. That’s too much meat for one sitting.
.-= Jason´s last blog ..Will you pray with me? =-.
That’s cool. It’s amazing how God works. Every time I’ve been blessed financially the spiritual blessings that follow far outweigh the monetary ones.
.-= John´s last blog ..The podcast wherein I give thanks =-.
Tears. Still hoping that my Faith, Hope, Love commitment “magically” appears. (You know what I mean, not magic really
Unfortunately for me, or not, I think my lesson is different – that I need to sacrifice, to be intentional about how I spend my money. Will see what God has in store for me yet!
.-= Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..On Grief =-.
Pete and Tony — thank you both. And Josh, as well. And God most of all. Beautiful.
.-= Joshua Skogerboe´s last blog ..popcorn leadership :: outreach orville redenbacher style =-.
Pete & Tony, loved the interchange..spot on!!
Thanks for the great example Pete. Our faithfulness always brings about redemption in our souls that can’t be explained.WOW! what a feeling! Congratulations Josh.
@Aaron, I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I had goosebumps as I read this and then you spin it completely around to open my eyes to a whole new light. “Instead he just had an unforgettable encounter with the God of the universe.” Love this! Far too often we fail to notice these unforgettable encounters with God. Thank you!
.-= Tatum´s last blog ..Thanksgiving 2009 =-.
P.S. As cool as the pink kaleidoscope looking thing is under my name, I was wondering how I change my profile to show my picture. Anyone?
Thanks!
.-= Tatum´s last blog ..Thanksgiving 2009 =-.
Just amazing Pete, AMAZING!!!!!!!
.-= Lauren Kelly´s last blog ..The Rockefeller Center Tree has nothing on mine! =-.
Great post pete! I love these stories and your connection to them (in the right way). I am so glad that, as Tony mentioned, you didn’t just jump off into the “health/wealth” garbage that is so prevalent. I look forward to reading more of people who were touched/challenged/moved my your F,H,L campaign.
Just as an aside (and at the risk of being misunderstood) I blogged about faith today at
http://billgrandi.ovcf.org/wordpress/?p=3200
.-= Bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..A Leap of Faith =-.
I think all I can say is, WOW!!! We do serve an awesome God!
.-= bluegoose´s last blog ..Take Your Best Shot – by Austin Gutwein =-.
@tatum, I don’t have a clue!
@Tatum
I believe you have to register your email to a Gravatar… do a search on google for gravatar setup
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Movie Scenes That Stick With You =-.
@Tatum
http://en.gravatar.com/
Just follow the directions
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Movie Scenes That Stick With You =-.
Oh I love this!!! I pray we can all be encouraged to take a leap of faith in some form or fashion bc of his story!
.-= Fran´s last blog ..Stress maybe? Denial? =-.
i need more faith
@Tony
Thanks!
.-= Tatum´s last blog ..Thanksgiving 2009 =-.
I was willing to stop at seeing this as God’s overwhelming response to the faith of a person who was willing to step out. He had three days to reneg and back out, but because he didn’t…his faith was rewarded with God’s faithfulness.
HOWEVER, your point is so important…to have an unforgettable experience with God, going home with a new level of trust and intimacy with Him. To “[walk] away knowing his story was taking place inside of a much larger story.”
Thanks for sharing.
.-= Randy Kinnick´s last blog ..You’re a Mean One… =-.