May Events Roundup

The month of May was swamped with an array of activities from two jigger clinics to back to school items distribution for our sponsored children, and most importantly two graduations of students in our free adult skills training programs, that is, tailoring and computer training programs respectively. 

First off, the Give Amoreteam alongside volunteer nurses and community health workers held two jigger clinics in four different stations in the community and successfully disinfected a multitude of residents from this malicious agonizing parasite. The principally affected were school going children, women and men in that order.

On the other hand, the Made with Amoretailoring training together with its computer training counterpart held graduations of students who had successfully completed the required course necessities to mark a new start in their lives. As tradition Give Amoreequipped, prayed for them and set them off to “fish” better than they came in.

And finally, it was back to school for our sponsored children after a three month end of semester break. Our super excited children each received text books specific to their school’s demands and stationery to last them for the rest of the current semester. Also all of their paramount school expenses were settled thus, they will stay in school without any inconveniences. 

Before and After

Let her collected, silent demeanor not fool you, Gladys is such a beautiful brilliant blooming young lady you’ll be thankful to have met and spent time with. 

Emanating from a deprived background, this 11 year old girl has seen it all from going to bed hungry , sleeping on bare floors, having no access to ‘girl stuff’ and toiletries, sent off from school repeatedly and so much more hardships, but none of these setbacks ever stalled her thirst to learn. 

We met her about a year ago during one of our home visits and the cloud of sadness on her face hang so low to go unnoticed. Further, she seemed very deep in thought and pessimistic, most evidently from what she was going through at the time. It was such a sad encounter.

 However, our drained emotional state was revamped when we spoke to her. We couldn’t believe the change of perspective when she responded! Well, out of her mouth came the most eloquent utterances we hadn’t heard in a long time least to expect from a girl her age, in her setting. From every word, it was easy to tell all she ever wanted was none other than to go back to school and get the education she desperately needed and thankfully Give amore did her justice.

Currently, Gladys is undoubtedly soaring higher in her studies and dreams to become a medical doctor so as to one day save her family fromthe dreadful fangs of poverty.

Please Dream With Us...

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. -Galatians 6:9

Dearest Donors and Partners for the Kingdom,

Yesterday, I had the privilege of receiving pictures of so many blessings Give Amore has been a part of in Kenya recently! Our team is doing so much over there and I never want to take for granted all that’s been made possible. Well #18 is finished (it’s actually a Spring, read on for more info!). Made with Amore just graduated 5 more students! Another jigger clinic is happening this month! 5 children have recently been added to our program and So. Much. More!

It's easy to be content with what we’ve accomplished so far. We are forever grateful. But the vision God has given us is much bigger than this so we keep on pressing forward in trust, in faith, in confidence that the vision will be fulfilled. 

In many leadership and goal setting books I’ve read, they’ve all stated that we should write down our goals as if they’ve already happened, from the future, looking back on what’s been accomplished. So here I go…Please dream with me….

We thank you God for making a way for our Give Amore building to be a beacon of hope for communities in Kenya! We love watching our medical clinic provide much needed medical care and hope for these rural communities! Our food pantry is providing nutritious meals for hundreds of families while our skills training classes (sewing school, agriculture program, computer training, jewelry making), our library, and tutoring classes set individuals up to be able to provide for their families. Our building stands as a beacon of hope for the community and is a light for the kingdom that points everyone to You. We thank you for making this possible. We thank you for stirring in the hearts of others to use their gifts and talents to support this beautiful mission of Love. We are forever grateful we stepped out in faith and took each step toward this vision that you gave us.  

Please pray over this goal with us daily. This is what we wait with expectancy for. We are on track. The path is set and He will make a way. 

Thank you to you all for joining us on this incredible journey! 

Christa

An Ever Growing Family of Love

Our newest additions!

After the addition of Ignatius into the Give AmoreSponsorship program, Brian, Agneta, Cynthia and Franklin were shortly afterwards officially confirmed too as part of the ever growing family of Give Amore. 

Having been out of school for a while due to lack of school fees, the five  were all smiles when they learnt they will walk through the gates of a school once more with their tuition and other expenses all taken care of.

In their very first general items distribution, the five children received a welcoming package of food, bedding and clothing. They also got the chance to mingle with the rest of their peers and surprisingly, quickly enough, made new friends.

Emanating from humble backgrounds, this sponsorship is a step up to helping them achieve their once a blurred dreams, and drawing from their joy and strong will to learn, it is no doubt that these amazing little souls will grow up to become just he persons they so dream to be.

For more information on how to sponsor a child visit the give amore website for guidelines.

Spring of Life

Our first Spring!

Construction and purification of Give Amore’s first ever water spring is currently underway in the remote Matunguvillage. This comes after a survey revealed that the area has a higher water table which could not allow for sinking of a well hence the spring development.

In a village where locals trek for miles in search of water, uncertain hazardous rain water has been their bail from the water search hardship. Therefore, this centrally placed underground water source will come in handy in ensuring perennial flow of clean water and time to time purification will sure save time, effort and lives in the long-run .  

A spring’s building process doesn’t differ much from a normal well building only that it is sophisticated given the type of materials and expertise used to ensure the main source is tapped correctly and precautions taken to avert any avoidable pollution. 

The entire project should be completed and commissioned soon.

Leaving Better than They Came In

From left to right: Sylvia, Hariet, Melody, Maureen Akinyi and Maureen Angolo stand in front of their hard-earned sewing machines and tables wearing the dresses they designed and created for themselves. These women now have skills and tools to end the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families. We applaud them!

Selvy, Harity, Melody, Maureen Angolo and Maureen Akinyi leaped into another phase of their lives after successfully completing a six months tailoring course in everything embroidery. The five each received a sewing machine as a graduation gift from Give Amore.

In rural Kenya, tailoring offers a great chance at self-employment therefore, these beautiful ladies are well placed to become great entrepreneurs and mentors in their respective villages nay communities through every ounce of achievements they realize from their earned skills and tools.

If the dresses they made are anything to go by, great creativity is oozing right from the choice of fabric, style, uniqueness and so much more that goes into dress making. To us this symbolizes the value addition in their lives given that they are leaving much better than they came to us.

Made with Amoreis a free sewing training program seeking to equip the community with skills that sets them on the path of self-actualization and financial freedom. It draws its motivation from the adage give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime. 

We wish them all the best in their endeavors.  

Selvy, Harity, Melody, Maureen Angolo and Maureen Akinyi leaped into another phase of their lives after successfully completing a six months tailoring course in everything embroidery. The five each received a sewing machine as a graduation gift from Give Amore.

In rural Kenya, tailoring offers a great chance at self-employment therefore, these beautiful ladies are well placed to become great entrepreneurs and mentors in their respective villages nay communities through every ounce of achievements they realize from their earned skills and tools.

If the dresses they made are anything to go by, great creativity is oozing right from the choice of fabric, style, uniqueness and so much more that goes into dress making. To us this symbolizes the value addition in their lives given that they are leaving much better than they came to us.

Made with Amoreis a free sewing training program seeking to equip the community with skills that sets them on the path of self-actualization and financial freedom. It draws its motivation from the adage give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime. 

We wish them all the best in their endeavors.  

Growth in the Waiting

A touching moment at the Women Like Us Conference where a Kenyan woman was in the audience and was moved to tears after hearing what we are doing for her Kenyan brothers and sisters. She was an orphan, infected with jiggers and God made a way for her. Her testimony was incredible and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. God is on the move!!!

Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action Is dead. -James 2:17

The past few weeks, I’ve had the honor and privilege of speaking to large groups of women about Give Amore and the vision God has given me for our brothers and sisters across the globe. They were awe-inspired times and I trust that, though there’s not been much physical fruit from these opportunities yet, God has planted seeds in the hearts of many and fruit is coming!!! We wait with bold expectancy to see what is in store and how God will move through the hearts of those that He’s crossed my paths with.

However, I’m not going to lie. It is hard. It is hard to see rooms of people brought to tears over the stories I share. It is hard to hear so many people thank me for what we’re doing for our brothers and sisters across the globe, but yet they are still not moved into action YET. I have to remind myself of all that God has done so far through Give Amore and that in the waiting is when my roots go deeper and my faith is stronger because when it seems impossible, God makes it possible. 

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40 

I humbly ask you to consider what YOU can do to make a difference in the lives of someone who can never repay you this side of heaven? We all can do something!!!

I want to give a HUGE SHOUT OUT to all our donors and sponsors who are sacrificing a little each month (though I’m sure they would agree that they don’t even miss the money and that it’s the best $25, $50, $100+ they spend each month) to help our brothers and sisters across the globe. Your reward will be in heaven when you come face to face with Jesus and see the impact you’ve made for the Kingdom through your generous giving. 

May God bless you and multiply your harvests.

Christa 

Welcoming Ignatius into the Family of Love

Clothes, shoes, education and HOPE for a brighter future are in store for Ignatius thanks to a sponsor.

Somewhere in Shibuli location resides a handsome little man called Ignatius who was recently considered for a place in our sponsorship program.

Born out of wedlock and to an unknown father and a runaway mother, Ignatius, 8, and his only sibling Junior are stuck with their widowed deaf grandmother alongside four other grandchildren. 

With the claws of poverty closing in on her, old Selina is forced to take up menial jobs in people’s farms for LESS THAN A DOLLAR A DAY in order to feed her six grandchildren and this only means, no school for her little ones.

For little Ignatius however, a new dawn is on the horizon after landing a God-given sponsorship from Give Amore. This support means that this fine-looking rafiki (friend) will go through the gates of a school, receive school supplies, monthly food provisions for him and his family, toiletries, make new friends and get mentorship from the Give Amore fraternity. 

We pray this blessing brings lasting change to this beautiful family beyond the joy they currently hold.

Sponsorship for elementary aged children is $50 per month. We currently have a waiting list of dozens of children. Please go to www.giveamore.orgto sponsor a child and give hope, give joy and give amore. 

Anti-Jigger Soldiers Marching On

The fight against jiggers intensified in the last month as the anti-jigger team stationed camp in Ebwambwa primary school, a school in one of the most infested villages in the county.

Among the most affected were children and as expected, the elderly also showed up for this anointed disinfection exercise.

The camp that endured for the rest of the day included both painful and painless methods of disinfection and as reflected in our follow-up stories, the results of both methods are equally phenomenal for either dire or beginning cases.  

Also, the team sterilized the classrooms’ floors to rid of any fleas and further supplied the victims with shoes to protect them from re-infestation by these vicious parasites.

Shoes are the best fight against the contraction and spread of these unwelcome pests.

Our jigger clinics cost $1500 and treat hundreds, fumigate homes/classrooms and provide shoes for all. Please join us in this battle to save feet and souls.

The Hands of All Give Amore Wells

Our brave and strong well worker, Jacob, and his family.

Since its inception five years ago, we have seen the well digging project transform lives on a larger scale than we ever imagined, including our diggers. Jacob has been with us from the beginning.

Jacob Nangabo is an experienced well digger, a husband, and a father to four amazing children. Further, due to his clean slate of job well done in well digging, he is and has been the hands of all Give Amore’s clean water wells across rural western Kenya.

Speaking to him, he describes working with Give Amore as the best thing that happened to him in a very long time and a great contributor in not only keeping his family safe, but also in keeping his medically dependent child alive.

In addition to that, courtesy of his well sinking talent, his children are in school, he has a roof over his head and thus stands out among his equals.

“Life has been on the improvement lane in the past five years and I have God and you all to be thankful for.” he concludes inSwahili.

We are thankful to him, his bravery, his hard work and his dedication to a quality job and we pray that God will continue to expand our territory, so we can help expand his.

Abundance Mindset

“You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. ”

— Matthew 25:21b

Dearest Partners,

We thank you for your support of Give Amore and are excited for you to read just a few of the highlights from the past month. It’s crazy to think that these life changing transformations happening across the globe are because of what we are doing over here. The generosity of hundreds of people each month make what we do possible and we are grateful to be the vessel being used to transport these blessings! 

It has become increasingly aware that sometimes our mindset can be so focused on the little we need that we hold back on praying for the big things that God is more than capable of making possible. We often sell Him short. I’m guilty of this with Give Amore. Is it a trust issue? I’m not sure. But now that I’ve seen God provide above and beyond what my little vision was for Give Amore, I realize that I’ve been selling Him short of what He wants to do and is capable of doing with Give Amore.

 When we were in Kenya last year, Heather and I both had a vision for our Give Amore campus. God gave it to me so clearly, out of the blue, down to the tile on the floors and the paint on the walls. I see our campus as a beacon of hope for the community! It will be filled with students learning and growing. We will have a full floor just for our sewing program. We will have a medical clinic, a food pantry, a community library, tutoring, and Bible Studies. Our computer program will expand and we will be a resource for the entire community to learn, to grow, to connect and most importantly to know about Jesus. Oh, and an American style restroom (thank you Jesus!).

Please pray shamelessly and without ceasing that we will make great strides toward this vision God gave me. I know it is from Him because I wouldn't dare take on something like this in my own strength. But I know what He’s capable of doing so I believe He will make a way by opening up hearts and wallets to support this and make it a reality. 

Please join us in making this vision a reality by donating at www.giveamore.org. I can’t wait to see it unfold. 

Blessings, 

Christa Horst

Overflow of Blessings

When Give Amore learned of a problem at our 2nd well (from 2014), we came back and fixed it so water is flowing freely fo this community again!

Water is flowing again at our well number two which experienced an underground clog a few weeks ago. The well is located at Derrick’s home, the family of Jayden, Michele, Michael, Gladys, Jimmy and Thomas all in our sponsorship program.

Apart from the caretaker family, the well serves an array of families both distant and from close by therefore, its restoration means business as usual to many women who had embarked on long distance treks in search of water, an indulgence they forgot when this well was sunk for them four years ago.

In another update, work on well number 18 is scheduled to begin soon and this time its location will be at sherlyn’s home in Ebulechia village. 

According to our dedicated well digging team, work will commence in the coming week and, without any difficulties, end 2-3 weeks later. Pray with us as we undertake this tasking yet fulfilling project in the days to come.  

Well Equipped! Now Lays the Chance

Blessing and Irene, Made with Amore’s newest graduates, proudly display their well-earned sewing machines.

Tens of students, largely women, have been channeled through our sewing program and today is Irene and Blessings’ turn. They proudly graduated in the joyful embrace of their peers and Give Amore staff.

These two beautiful women joined our sewing program at a time that their odds of making a breakthrough were meager to any possibilities. As mothers, wives, friends and steel-willed women in a harsh male society, they took a leap of determination into the sewing class, and contrary to their expectations, emerged well equipped with embroidery skills, a sewing machine each, sewing kits and new friends. 

Speaking to them at the display of their new gifts, they each in their capacities reckoned all the hard work, determination, sacrifices, support and love they received from their families and spouses alike as they took to a challenge they thought was impossible at the time. 

Blessings already has a laid out vision of a tailoring shop, whose pillars are supporting her family, making a living, learning and giving back to her community. “It is not easy, but I’ll give it a go!” she reiterated in her native Luhya language. Irene on the other hand hopes to spark something out of her new found path with the help of her family. 

We wish the duo all the best as they take on new challenges that will result into bigger newer possibilities. Congratulations!

Meet this Perfect Mother

Gladys and Volenshel, her daughter, take advantage of our free computer training classes at the Give Amore campus. Trainees are getting younger and younger.

Little baby Volenshel plays in her mother’s lap least aware of her setting yet exuding greater joy and pride of being in the loving arms of her mother Gladys Ambetsa. Miss Ambetsa is a high school graduate, a student at our free adult computer training program and much more sponsored by Give Amore. 

Unlike her classmates, she brings her baby along to class when she has to, defying the challenge of staying at home to look after her while missing her lessons, whenever Volenshele’s dedicated grandmother and nanny has to run daylong errands. 

This beautiful young woman never gave up her daughter, despite being raped and left helplessly pregnant when she was only 16. And even now, she miraculously finds a way to juggle taking care of her sweet daughter simultaneously to honing her computer skills. 

She hopes to become a nurse and the greatest role model to her daughter knowing that she is the happiest thing that ever happened to her. “She is the reason am here!” she chuckles away.

We wish this young mama all the best in her endeavors to come.

Off to a Great Start!

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech
but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18

 ”

Dear Partners,

First off, thank you for your support. I say it over and over, but we could not do what we do without your support. Thank you!!!

Our year is off to a great start! Here’s just a glimpse at what’s happened so far:

• Our newest well is complete! 

• We held our first jigger clinic of 2019!

• We graduated 3 more students from our Made with Amore sewing school

• A batch of tote bags that has been lost at sea for over a year arrived (minus 96 tote bags that must’ve been a hit with someone along the way as they carefully took what they wanted and repackaged 53 of our 149 bags and sent them on to me. How nice of them!) ☹

• We have another batch of tote bags arriving the end of this month via Sheila’s luggage so we are hopeful we will receive these in-tact! 

• All of our children are in school (52 children)!

• We have plans for a great year ahead with God on our side!

I’m excited to see the visions that God has given me, and then confirmed with Heather, coming to fruition in the following ways:

Give Amore has our first fundraising event happening by someone other than Heather and myself this Saturday! If you are in the Austin area, please come by! There’s a silent auction, a donation based yoga class, private donations and I’ll be speaking and selling our tote bags. I can’t tell you how happy this has made me to see other people pour their gifts and talents into supporting Give Amore. WOW! I’m beyond blessed and in awe! 

I’ve also been asked to speak to women at my church and at another church in the coming months! These opportunities are an answer to prayer and I believe are affirmation of God’s promise to me that, after the rotten jigger experience, He would expand my territory for His kingdom. 

Please read on for a little more about some of the highlights of the month and stand with us in prayer for others to join us as love in ACTION!  

May God bless you and keep you. May he make his face to shine upon you and give you peace.

Christa Horst

How much do you like clean, beautiful fingers and toes?

A non-graphic image of the children being treated for jiggers. Trust us when we say the photos that accurately display the trauma that jiggers cause are too graphic to share in our newsletter. Please message us if you’d like to see them.

Another jigger clinic went down last weekend and multitudes of individuals had their feet and hands disinfected from the vicious parasite, this time using two removal methods concurrently thanks to a new trial technique advised by the ministry of health.

Unlike the previous clinics, this one was widely painless as the method focuses to suffocate the profound parasites to death on less critical victims. On the other hand, manual removal methods were employed on dire cases whose parasites were intensely superficial. The former method is however still on trial and if proves effective, will widely save the victims much pain during the removal exercise.

Our team this time targeted local pre-schools whose main population learns in dirt floor classrooms with neither desks nor shoes on. It is worth noting that dust provides a breeding haven for jiggers and thus the more dirt floor classrooms there are, the higher the chances of children in them to get infected by these malicious parasites.

With hundreds of beneficiaries to the project, there are still more victims to reach out to still in dire plight  and through your prayers, support and our dedicated team of volunteers, together are will save many lives.

17th Well is Complete!

Mildred and Petronilah proudly show their community’s clean water well!

After weeks of wait, our 17th well of wellness is complete and from its location in Petronila and Mildred’s home, the village nay community it was commissioned to serve is joyfully drawing from it.

From muddy pond water to safe clean water well, this is a huge upgrade for this village, given that they couldn’t even afford spring water before. 

The community as a whole is bound to reap good health, reduced tiresome treks in search of clean water over long distances, enhanced productivity, a sense of responsibility and benefits of sharing in the love of Christ extended to them.

The village has tens of families and through the well’s strategic location, access to it from the various thirsty dwellers is guaranteed.

So far Give Amore has 17 wells to its name and is focused to keep sinking more water wells since the water problem is far from over in the rural western Kenya. Thank you for supporting us through this journey!  

Graduating More Tailors of Love

Our 3 newest graduates from the Made with Amore sewing program proudly displaying their new sewing machine and table-tools to start their own businesses and provide for themselves and their families!

Made with Amore brand of Give Amoregraduated three more students this month after successfully completing a six months course in everything embroidery. The three women’s hard work, dedication and enthusiasm to learn earned them tailoring skills, sewing kits and most importantly a sewing machine each. 

Emanating from deprived backgrounds with meager to go home to, this empowerment is handy in ensuring that not only are these wonderful souls  equipped to fend for themselves and their families but also give back to the society in the many ways they’ve learned to.

The six months’ course is cost free and a Give Amore’s venture to empower men and women with skills and knowledge that is essential in enterprise development  and much more enhance a ripple effect of ‘learning to fish’ in the entire community for the long term to come.

On the other hand Made with Amoretote bags are ready and will be shipped soon. The bags are handmade with love from the finest of African fabric carefully selected to suit your multipurpose needs. For more details on how to get your favorite pattern, contact us on Facebook, Instagramor via our website www.giveamore.org.

2018 Recap/Highlights

The Give Amore Team in Kenya, June 2018

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. ”

— Ephesians 3:20

2018 was AMAZING! I can’t believe that as we embark wrap up our 4th year with Give Amore all that God has done in this short time. And as I’ve said before and will continue to say-I AM BLESSED TO HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO IT ALL! If you are reading this, you are very likely a supporter of our missions and we absolutely could not do what we do without the generous giving from others. I’ve been blown away to watch this little vision God gave me years ago grow into what it is and He’s only just getting started! Read on for a glimpse into SOME of the highlights of the year that were made possible because you listened to the tug on your heart to join us…

• 6 Clean Water Wells

• 13 children added to our sponsorship program

• 9 Made with Amore Sewing School Graduates

• 3 Jigger Treatment and Prevention Clinics each helping 200 people

• Added 2 more full-time staff in Kenya

• 5 of us went to Kenya in June

• Over 300 Made with Amore tote bags sold 

• 15 computer school graduates

• Over 150 Donors supporting Give Amore

• So many various ways we’ve helped in Kenya, I’ll mention a few:

  • Paid for a few students who had extreme circumstances and were no longer in school so we caught up their school fees

  • Opportunity for Brian who has 5th grade education and is 18. We are teaching him to read and he’s in our sewing program

  • Maurice, a man who was beyond debilitated by jiggers was treated, his home fumigated, he received food, blankets, clothing and a bible

  • Mama Ruth’s surgery was paid for. She also had a new roof put on her home, her grandchildren received clothing, food, mattresses, blankets and more

  • Jennifer, mother to Fednand, Joseph and Brian, received an addition to her home and all the home makeover goodies to go inside! 

  • Cows, chickens, goats and more given to various families

  • Dozens upon dozens of scalps were treated for fungal infections

  • Painted classroom chalkboards 

  • Supplies for midwives

  • Dozens of children were de-wormed

  • Children treated for malaria

  • AND SO MUCH MORE! 

Thank you again for all you’ve done and all those you’ve blessed through your giving, your sharing, your Made with Amore purchases and, most importantly, your prayers! 

I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2019! God is in the business of miracles!

Christa Horst and The Give Amore Team

God's Overflowing Grace

“You will be made rich in every way so that you may be generous in every way, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. ”

— 2 Corinthians 9:11

2 Corinthians 9:8–11  

“God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will overflow in every good work. As it is written: He scattered; he gave to the poor.His righteousness remains forever.

And he who provides seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed for sowing, and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you may be generous in every way, which produces thanksgiving to God through us”

In this chapter Paul is writing to the Christian living in the Greek city of Corinth. In the verses just before this verses, he had just encouraged the Corinthians to be generous in their giving, supporting the work of the church and their fellow Christians. But where would they get the resources to do that kind of giving? Why would they want to do it?

Paul says, “God is able to make all grace overflow to you.  “In all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will overflow in every good work.” All, all, all, every. Paul is very all inclusive here. When God is involved, there is nothing lacking. Everything we need is here and provided.

Consider this past week or month or year. How many times were you hungry? Not the kind of hungry that says it’s almost time to eat, but the hungry that says, “I wish I had food but there is none. I’ll just go to sleep and hope for the best in the morning.” How many of us found ourselves with nothing to wear—not because we hadn’t done laundry but because our last pieces of clothing were ruined and unwearable? How many of us slept under the stars, not because we chose to go camping or rough it for a few days, but because we had no access to a roof to put over our head? All things, all times, having all that you need…

God provides. He provides through our families. He provides through people who care about us.  He provides through our hard work and skills. He ensures that we have what we need, even if it means working a miracle to feed a crowd of thousands with a small lunch. God has the power, the will, and the follow-through to make sure we are well taken care of, having everything that we need for our bodies and life.

But that doesn’t even touch the real overflow of God’s undeserved love for us, does it? Why do we call God’s love undeserved in the first place? What makes it that God technically shouldn’tlove us? It’s that we have sinned against him. God demands perfection from us and we have been far from perfect. Even one sin means that God should turn his back on us, and yet we sin a countless ways each and every day. We are unkind to the people in our lives. We leave good things that we should do undone. We think horrid thoughts against other people. We prioritize other things in our lives over God and his Word. On our own, we could not be more the opposite of what God expects that we are.

God is able to make all grace overflow to you.

God opened the floodgates of his grace when he sent his Son, Jesus. Jesus was the fulfillment of every saving promise that God had made to his people throughout history. Jesus, being both God and man, was able to take the full debt and weight of our sins on his shoulders and take it all away.

How do you respond to something like that?How do you show your thanks to God? By being generous with what he has given you. Do you have food to spare in your home? Share it with those who have less! Do you have financial resources beyond what you need? Share them with those who have less!

Maybe today is a good time to take stock of your generosity. How overflowing is your thankful generosity to others?

You can find ways and organizations that will do well with your resources, who will get them to people who are truly in need. Help your family and your friends, your coworkers and your fellow Christians at church. In doing so, you also become the way that God provides daily bread for others.

But you have a treasure worth far more than any amount of food or clothing or even piles of money. You have the gospel. You have the assurance of God’s overflowing grace. You have all that you need for eternity. And that, too, is something you can share. You can invite someone to church. You can give them a basic summary about Jesus. You can share this overflowing grace with others.

There are a myriad of ways that you can help support the work that we do together as the body of Christ, not to build ourselves up but to share this overflowing love of God with a world that desperately needs to hear it. We have a God who has provided for us everything that we could possibly need, both in our physical lives and in our eternal lives. May God bless your overflowing thanksgiving, your generosity to all, as you seek to thank your Savior who has given himself for you! AMEN!

-by Jack Nerrickson, Give Amore Staffer (who wants to be a Pastor!)