the love offering...Oh boy! This is one chapter I know none of the 3 of us will forget...
When dad preached in little churches during our summer travels, often the church didn't really have enough extra money in the budget to pay the evangelist they had invited to preach... my dad.
Dad never worried about that. He knew if he had been called to go and preach, that God would provide.
I remember many services when we, the preachers family, would be seated in the front, and the church pastor would announce the 'love offering'. He often went on at length, about this 'dear family' who had traveled so far, and needed the offering to provide their needs... so the people were told to be sure to DIG DEEP for this family... us!...
Knowing my dad, he was probably bowing his head and praying during those times, and my mother was no doubt feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable, while the 3 of us just squirmed!
Nickels, dimes and quarters went into that plate, and the end result was always the same... God provided our needs! ( I would have chosen a different method, I'm sure...)
But I've also never forgotten... the love and kindness of those church people, the faithfulness of my mom and dad, or the sometimes unusual but humorous variety of ways that God always provided for us!
"And my God will liberally supply ([fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Phil.4:19 Amplified)
26 comments:
I am loving all your wonderful stories,
Sonja. So sweet. Isn't it amazing all
the ways He provides for all of our
needs? I love the Lord!
Sweet blessings for your day!
Sandy
So true Sonja. Sometimes he doesn't provide the way that WE would like but it is always the PERFECT way. You must have had a glorious childhood.
Andie
i am always on the other end of this, which you are now
too, but it is humbling to see things from the eyes of a
child. you were just plain hungry. i know you always
saw the Lord provide, but there must have been a few
lean days.
these stories are teaching me a great deal about giving.
i'm looking forward to your 'pastry' post but think it
would have been fun to post the same thing on the
same day!
love,
lea
so thankful that we serve a God who is in control of ALL things.
i love to read your stories Sonja. you need to put them in a book!
Oh I love this dear friend! I could just envision your Dad's head bowed in prayer and your Mom a bit uncomfortable :) but it is so true that GOD provides and He does it in the way that He think is best.
In all the years I've publicly ministered I've never 'charged a fee'. I'm not against it for others but it's never the way GOD has led and even though I don't receive an income or travel expenses for anything or anywhere I do/go in ministry, GOD provides through my hubby's income and often GOD sends gifts through others of "love offerings" wherever I minister His Word and I appreciate that so much BUT the bottom line is GOD provides for ALL of our needs no doubt about that! He's a faithful Father. I am thankful.
I love you dear friend and sister. You know I love reading stories of your family.
Can't tell you how much I have enjoyed these stories of your childhood. What memories you must have. And how wonderful that you can look back and see and remember soo clearly how the Lord met your families needs. My childhood was sooo different, How blessed you really were...Have a wonderful day...
Your Dad knew that his preaching was never about money - it was about being faithful to what God had called him to do. God cared for your family as He promised because your Dad was faithful to God.
Oh - may we be found faithful in all God calls us to do and to be!
Great post!
Choosing JOY, Stephanie
you're on page 17 of the 'belle inspiration' e=magazine!
i loved your sweet, sweet norwegian Christmas story!
how exciting is this!!!!!
Amen. What an inspiring post. In today's time where the secular world hardly trust "churches" with their proper handling of money, it is refreshing to read how your dad honored God first and was blessed in return. Thank you for sharing Sonja. Blessings.
I love this story. You always inspire me. The just shall live by faith, is what this reminds me of today.
I just love it when we take up a love offering because I enjoy being able to give myself rather than to have the church write a check on my behalf. I can imagine, though, how it would feel to be on the receiving end of the "dig deep" comment, especially as kids.
God generally tells me to dig deep without the pastor having to say a word. Once, I wrote a check and then had to chase the offering plate down at the end of the service because He distinctly told me to give more and would not let me walk out the door until I did.
Years later, that particular speaker (home missionary) was instrumental in bringing my brother-in-law to Christ.
I love your stories of the road.
Just the picture of the offering plate brought back so many memories. I remember being in the audience...my Dad the chairman of the deacons and so many times he would put tires on the preachers car before the man left.
What sweet stories you have and yet so much meaning in each one....love offering...yes it was always called that...and I always remember wanting to give more!
And He always provides for our needs one way or another. We don't always know where it's going to come from, but He is faithful. Giving makes you feel better than the person receiving it, doesn't it? I love your "travels" as a young girl! Thanks for sharing them with us.
Praise GOD HE always meets us where we are at and meets all our needs!
Blessings,
andrea
Thanking God for taking care of EVERY need in our lives!
Beautiful post, Sonja!
If we would all take the time to dig a little deeper there would be less need in the world. God was certainly faithful to your family. He is faithful always. Awesome God. May He bless you continually, Dr. Bobbi
As your dad was obedient in serving the Lord, He walked by faith. That is a lesson I am learning right now in this challenging time. God will provide for our needs. Our wants are another story but our needs. I love these wonderful lessons that you learned along the way. And I thank you for not keeping them to yourself but instead sharing them with your eager blog readers like me.
Love you sis,
Debbie
Have you read Ten P's in a Pod...Arnold Pent Family? Your post sounds like that book...less kids, but the same thing!
I've enjoyed these stories from your childhood and seeing how God provided along the way.
do you feel like i'm stalking you? hee hee (creepy laugh)
i linked to your bumper sticker post today which means
some of your comments will probably be deleted. :)
Where do you suppose that term, "Love Offering" came from? It speaks volumes, but I'm wondering how it came to be coined.
Thank God God's people come through when a need is presented. As difficult & humbling as it probably was, I'm sure it bolstered everyone's faith in ways many of us can only imagine.
Blessings,
Kathleen
Thanks for sharing and reminding me to always tithe and do what I know is in God's will.
Sonja, you have been bless with some special memories that most of us never experienced. Thanks for sharing them with the blogging community.
~Ron
I love reading stories about our Lord's provision and faithfulness and yours is extraordinary.
This is another heartwarming story from your childhood days, Sonja.
Your dad was truly a man of great faith...and you have received such a legacy from him...including humility, being willing to receive provision the way you described it in this post.
Praise God for the lessons you have learned as a child. They will never be forgotten.
Thank you too for praying for my grandson. I will be writing a follow up post in a day or two.
Love
Lidj
Thanks for this memory...ah yes...the love offerings.
I've heard "dig down deep" many times, too, in services for the evangelist or a special offering for my parents.
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