On Giving

On Giving

I used to be in the habit of writing a little devotional every day, for myself and others, based on the verse of the day on my phone Bible app. I'll try to pick up that habit again and hopefully my writing will bless and build up some of you. :) The verse for today is:
Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Ironically just about every sermon lately on TBN has been about giving. I have been watching a lot of TBN lately. Of course that could be because they need money and they are encouraging people to give to support their TV station, which is understandable given how expensive it is to run it, but the application for me is in the Jesus packets that I make.

I have recently decided to use our tithe money for my Jesus packets, to get fun and beneficial things to put them, like bookmarks with Bible verses on them. What better way for a tithe to be used than to help spread the gospel? No better way I think.

I have always been a bit anti tithing at church because I don't believe tithe money should go to buy bigger speakers etc. But to each his own on where they want to give money. Giving to TBN would probably be a worthy cause, but also making packets to share the gospel more effectively is too.

But it's funny that this is the verse for today. When I write about giving, all that is to say, I don't necessarily mean to your church. And you can give whatever you want; your time, talents, clothes or other things etc. It doesn't have to be money that you give, and it doesn't have to be pastors that you always give to.

Biblically we are supposed to be giving to the poor. There is a verse that says, "If you shut your ears to the poor, then you too will cry out and not be heard." There is a great ministry that I am now aware of in downtown Austin called "Street Youth." It is bascially just one guy that ministers to homeless teens downtown. I think my packets will mainly be going to that ministry now.

But there are other ministries that you can give to that minister to the poor. Any orphanage would be great to give to; food, clothes, money etc. Any ministry to homeless would be great or to single mothers etc.

Our number one calling as Christians is to care for the poor, not ourselves. When we give to our churches, we are actually caring for ourselves. Why? Because they use a lot of the money to make your church experience more comfortable and more entertaining for you. But why not give to the poor? Why not give to those who can't give anything back to us? Why don't we as Christians do that anymore?

It's no wonder the world doesn't believe us when we say we are Christians, because we aren't doing what Jesus told us to do, for the most part. We aren't caring for the poor very much at all. That is sad.

I used to have a strong desire to make PB and J sandwiches and drive around where homeless people hang out and give them away. But of course then I might worry about my safety, which is probably why most Christians don't do much things like that for the poor. We think if we give away anything they will ask us for everything. But you can always make things and have others give them away, or give to those who are giving to them etc.

But this principle is very interesting, that however much we give to others is how much we will get back. But of course his should not be our motive for giving. We do not give to get. That would be selfish, and that would defeat the whole purpose for WHY God tells us to give. God tells us to pick up our cross daily, lay down our lives, kill our flesh etc. Giving is one of the best ways that we can practically to that. As long as we cling tightly to our stuff, our money, our time, our talents, our resources, we will not reap anything. We will not be given back to because we not giving anything away. "Give and it will be given to you." We think in keeping things, we will have more, but the opposite is true. The more you give away, the more you have. Why? Because the more generous you are, the more God will bless you. Amen.

The way God works is always the complete opposite of the way the world works. Remember that. So give in order to have. Don't hoard things. Give anything you can, whenever you can, and God will bless you. Amen.

God bless!

Greetings!

May God bless you all! If you are new to my blog, welcome!  I have tons and tons that you can read on here. lol  I have been writing on this blog for the past 3 years on all kinds of topics. 

Feel free to add me or follow me on Facebook. Lisa Bedrick and I'm listed here in Austin, TX.

Also I have self published books on Amazon.com. You can just search "Lisa Bedrick books."

I like to make something I like to call "Jesus Packets" with most of my free time.  If you feel God is leading you to make some Jesus packets as well I hope you do! I put a Bible tract in each one. You can find a lot of different kinds on Amazon.com to choose from.

 I usually put some kind of candy in it. Scripture Candy is super cool because the wrapper of each piece has a Bible verse on it. I love that!

And I like putting in a pencil, bookmark with Bible verses on them, fish shaped erasers etc.

I might start making braclets again with the word Hope or Belive to put in them. But feel free to put in them whatever you want.


"People don't care what you know until they know that you care." Giving a Bible tract along with fresh baked cookies or other fun things shows people/kids that you care about them. Amen. Praise God.

Take the packets you make to nursing homes, orphanages, pass them out to kids after they get out of school etc. Care for orphans and widows as the Bible says in any way you can, that is religion that God our father loves and will bless. Amen.

May God bless you as you seek to follow Him!  Take care all!

To TBN

 "Dear TBN Team,

I saw David Jeremiah today asking people to give so TBN can stay in business.  I felt God speaking to me that I should give and I still might, but I just wanted to say, probably a lot more Christians would be willing to give if people like Kenneth Copeland were not aired anymore.  I love love Joyce Meyer, love Joel Osteen etc.  Most of your speakers are great, but the ones who tell crazy stories or focus on tongues too much etc. might limit how much most Christians will want to give. God bless!"

Life Online

It's funny how much of our lives can be online now.  We can shop online, for fun stuff and even groceries.  You can buy everything except milk, veggies and fruit on Amazon.com.  Church can be online.  People can date online now.  And our get together times and parties are essentially online parties now.  Back in the day you had to go to a party to find out what everyone has been up to; now you just look at your news feed on Facebook. lol So funny. :)  Such a great day that we live in I think.  Praise God for how easy life is now.  But then it's ironic that even though life is so much easier than it used to be, so many people are depressed.  I can't figure that out but oh well.

Steve Harvey and T.D. Jakes

I'm watching Steve Harvey and T.D. Jakes on the Praise the Lord show on TBN.  Yay for Steve Harvey hosting a TBN show! :) Harvey asked Jakes "Why don't men go to church more?  Why are most churches mostly women?" Jakes is saying one reason is that the men don't want to become more vulnerable in admitting that they need to grow. He says how Paul said he was not there yet, but that can be hard to say.  Amen.  Very true. 

Also Jakes said generally men don't like all the emotional times in church as much as women do.  They need something more tangible and challenging; something that's applicable to their lives.  Amen.  I can understand that.

 These are two very great men of God.  Harvey said Jakes is by far the best preacher he has ever heard. :) Most people don't know that Steve Harvey is Christian but he is.  His testimony is really amazing too.  So cool! :)

Orphanage Packets Note

What I will start putting in my packets as a note of encouragement to the children in the orphanages here in Austin yay! :)

"Hello and Greetings!  Happy belated Christmas to you!

I hope you had a great holiday time.  Hope you enjoy this packet.  It was made with love. :) God loves you and so do I!  I can understand what you might be going through.  I know what it's like to have a difficult parent.  I just want to encourage you that things will get better, and there is light at the end of the tunnel.  My grandma grew up in an orphanage actually, but she went on to go to a great Christian college, marry a wonderful man, and they have been married for 65 years now!  She was a teacher and did a lot for children, people and the community, and she was always an amazing witness for Jesus.  That could be you someday too!  Just stay in faith and always hope and believe that good things are in your future.  God said, "For I know the plans that I have for you; plans to prosper you, not to harm you.  Plans to give you a hope and a future."  Amen!  If you are on Facebook, feel free to friend me; Lisa Bedrick in Austin, TX.  May God bless you in school with your grades and your friends!  And always remember that you are loved.  God LOVES you more than you will ever know!  Take care and may God bless you!  :)"    

-Lisa Bedrick

TBN Letter

I felt led to give TBN some feedback.  Here's what I wrote to them....

To Matt and Laurie Crouch,

Hello Matt and Laurie and the TBN team! I am so glad you guys are having Beth Moore on TBN now! Praise God! But is there any way she can be on every day and someone like Kenneth Copeland can just be on one day a week? Matt Crouch, perhaps your dad had some loyalties to Kenneth Copeland but he is crazy. You can just see it in his eyes. He looks completely insane. And the things he talks about are nuts like people running like mad all over in his meetings. I just think he really gives us Christians a bad name.

Just wanted to give you some of my background. I went to Biola University. I lived in the OC for 19 years, went to Tustin High. Now I live in Texas. I currently write in a blog a lot about Christian things...http://www.orangecountyangel.blogspot.com I have self published books on Amazon. I would love to be on your show sometime but I don't know if that would be possible. I have a friend that works there in the tech dept.  May God bless you all!

Dear reader,

If you want to put in your two cents to TBN, especially about people like Kenneth Copeland, PLEASE email them via this website. :) If lots of people say something it will be harder to ignore I think.

http://www.tbn.org/contact/contact-form

I'm sure I'll have more emails for them in the future. :)  They might respond to letters in the mail more so you can try that.