Make an Impact…
February 10, 2008Today we finished our DRIVE series. The purpose of this series was to teach all of us who call Lifesong church home the reason we exist is to make an IMPACT in the communities that God has put us in. We gave half of the total offering from last week back to you. This was done for the sole purpose of enabling you to be a blessing to someone this week. The rules are simple:
1. You can not give the money back to the church.
2. You must use it to directly impact someone’s life this week.
We want to hear what God allowed you to do with the money you were given. Click on the “comment” button and share your story of impact.
We were at a local resturant having lunch on Sunday afternoon when we noticed a couple sitting at a corner booth. This couple had visited Lifesong previously and had not been back due to various personal issues. When we saw the waiter walk by we asked for their bill and amazing enough it was (with tip) exactly what we had in our envelope. We paid for the bill which was a blessing to the couple and we blessed the waiter with the tip and him having to read the note that we give him to send to the couples table that simply said “Your lunch is on Lifesong Church. Have a wonderful day!”
I contacted the facilitator for a support group that meets in Griffin and told her Lifesong Church wanted to provide supper for the entire group. With the money I was able to get 4 pizzas, soft drinks, a cookie and craft supplies so the kids were able to make Valentines for their mothers. The support group had seven women and the babysitter has 6 children. The facilitator told me after the meeting that there had been some changes at work and she was worried about her job but after tonight she felt so good. Some of the girls said they had stopped coming because nobody was showing up but now there was a strong group going. There were even some inquiries about the church. Keep Praying!!! It works!!!
I was able to share Lifesong’s gift with a co-worker. She is struggling with financial hardships and family health issues. They are living on a single-income and have three kids. I shared with her that I know first-hand what she’s going through. Todd has been furloughed from Delta for four years. It has been the most humbling time of my life. God always provides for our needs and sometimes for our wants.
I added some dollars to the Lifesong gift because last week an angel at Chick fil-a gave me all his cash. I didn’t really need the money so I held on to it. I know that the amount given was exactly right for her need and it is awesome that I was able to be used.
At the daycare that our youngest attends one of the evening workers happened to mention that she and her husband had a busy weekend moving into a new home. When I inquired about the move, she stated that they were adopting 4 siblings and needed a place that would accomodate all of them. She also said that they were looking for a new church. I promptly told her about the website for Lifesong. After the sermon Sunday, Holly and I were discussing how to pass on the blessing and she immediately thought of this family. Monday afternoon she placed the blessing along with the postcard for the next series and a note telling them that this was from Lifesong Church in an envleope and personally deliverd it. Perhaps we’ll see them Sunday?
I work at an elementary school and there has been alot of tension lately. I decided after much thought and prayer to do something for all my co-workers. I went to Dunkin Donuts and bought 150 munkins. My Mom works the early morning shift so I gave her the $20 and I picked them up on my way to work. I had like $2 left and I bought a hot chocolate for the teacher that has car duty in the morning. I put the munchkins in the lounge with the letter that was in the envelope and a lettter from me. I knew that breakfast wouldn’t make a huge impact in their life but maybe in their day. By the end of the day I was overloaded with emails and people coming up to me with tears in their eyes! Thank you Lifesong for for such a wonderful message. This has truly made a HUGE impact on my life! God is good all the time!!!!
What a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community. Durell was responsible in our family and he was able to bless a gentleman that he works with that was having a really bad month. This was an opportunity that Durell was a little hesitate of since it was out of his comfort zone. He was able to share the Lord’s love with someone who needed to know that God was still in charge and cared for him. Thank you Lifesong for allowing us to be a part of this project.
I used my twenty sparingly. I bought the person behind me a meal at chic-fil-a . I payed for another’s gas at Hot Spot, and I bought my boss (whom I’m not very happy with) breakfast.
I would just like to say thank you to everyone at Lifesong, you will never know how much you have changed my life.
My neighbor is going through some very trying times. She has tried to keep faith in her fairly newly rededicated lifestyle. She was the first person I thought of when Lifesong generously shared, so I put some more with it as did another friend and gave the money to her. Please everyone pray for her to keep believing that God will provide in His way and in His time. Thank you, Lifesong, for having a giving heart.
- Debra
I was at Food Depot and noticed a lady and her young daughter adding up what they were buying. I was finished with my shopping when I went back and found the lady. I told here what the chuch was doing and gave here the money with a card from the church. She asked where we were located what time services started. She thanked me and I left before she opened the envolope to see what money was inside.
I gave my money to a lady who does sewing for me at times. She is going to have a operation so I felt she could use the money. She cried when I gave it to her and asked about our church. She promised she would use the money to pay on her bill.
We decided to give our money to Grace’s 4-H BB coach instructor. She volunteered to take Grace to Alabama last Sunday for a BB competition so we could stay at church and serve in our respective areas. I don’t know if she goes to church, but I really felt we could make an impact in her life that day. I gave her the money and explained where it came from and what we were supposed to do with it. She thought it was great, she had seen the postcard and said that Grace would have the drive over there and back to tell her all about the church. When Grace got home that night, she said that we might see her instructor on Sunday, How cool!!
Jonathan has a co-worker that is going through a very tough time. He is a young father, newly married and expecting another child soon. His wife and he have shared with Jonathan and I about many destructive choices they are making that are not best for themselves or their children. Very out of our comfort zone, we have done everything we can to help, support and pray for them. When we received the money that day, I knew it was meant for us to help make an impact in their lives. Jonathan and I both began sharing with them how much of a change we have seen in our marriage since we began going to Lifesong on a regular basis as a family, and most of all how much God loves them. Jonathan and I have offered several times to buy them lunch after church on Sunday if they come check it out. We prayed and decided to keep the money set aside until that time.
p.s. She called me this morning and said they would love to come this Sunday!
I gave away my impact money this week while I am on my winter break. I’ve been asking God every day to show me how to use the money. So, yesterday, in the cold, wet rain, I gave the money to a girl about my age who brought out my food at Sonic. Her face was priceless! Total shock is how I would describe it. I had already paid for my food and simply handed her the money and said I know it’s cold and wet and I would just like for you to have a blessed day. I told Jeremy later that we may never know how this money is being used, but even if it inspires one person to go and do the same thing for someone else it’s worth it. Jeremy and I are considering making Impact money a new category in our monthly budget this year.
When I got the impact money this week I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. It was something that God had been leading me to do for a while and this was a way to push me into the commitment. I sponsored a little girl from World Vision named Kalani in Sri Lanka. She is a few months younger than Raine and I think it will be a great experience for Raine to know there is another little girl out there her age that we can write to and get to know that we are helping. Although it was just a few dollars you gave me it will be a commitment from me until this little girl turns 18. Thanks for encouraging me to help someone else.
Our time finally came! I’ve been waiting for God to show us where we needed to put our Lifesong gift. I guess I’m a slow listener however it turned out to be a great opportunity when it happened. Our gift went to a young couple with 2 children that lives out of town away from family. The dad works two jobs to make ends meet and to allow his wife to be a stay at home mom. They cannot afford health insurance and have had a good bit of cost due to the new baby and other health issues. We were blessed to be able to add to the gift and help provide some relief.
Thanks Lifesong for a radical idea!