Tag Archive - giving

Valentine’s Day is now my favorite holiday!

February 18, 2012 in Across Our Street, Across Our World with 1 Comment

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in Love4Lunch in some fashion or another! As of right now, $12,415 has been given. I say ‘as of right now’ because just today another donation was made! People are still feelin’ the love!

Once all the funds are in from the local events, they will be wired to Swaziland and the Bheveni children will be told that they can return to school for the entire year, without worry of being turned away!

I know many of you, like me, wish that you could be there to see the looks on kids’ faces when they are given the great news! Remember the hysteria created a few years ago when Oprah surprised her entire studio audience with a new car? “You get a car! You get a car! You get a car!”

Yeah. It’ll be that, but x160!!

“YOU get an education! YOU get an education!

YOUUUUU get an education!”

The children will be shouting and spontaneous singing will break out! I can hear them singing now, “I just want to say, Niyabonga, Jesu” (Thank You, Jesus!) And of course, Make Maksohazane will immediately begin doing her African Praise Dance, with one hand in the hand and a war cry like you’ve never heard!

Let me remind you, Giver -

You did NOT go without lunch for nothing.

You did NOT plan a local Love4Lunch event in vain.

You did NOT just throw your money to the wind.

Your money is going to REAL kids in REAL need of a REAL opportunity!

Your prayers, your dollars, your efforts combined with the hard work of the natives & staff in Swaziland will bring change and opportunity the children wouldn’t have had otherwise.

I’m so proud of my Jesus & my community! You did not turn a blind eye or say, “Those kids half way around the world are NOT my problem!” You served them as Jesus in Disguise! I’m so humbled & grateful that you let His Love flow through you this Valentine’s Day! Guaranteed it was the best lunch money you’ve ever spent!

On behalf of the children, their caretakers, and Children’s HopeChest, I say a big fat thank you!!! Keep praying, keep giving, keep loving!

Shine On!

Danielle

 

 

 

 

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Love Day!

February 13, 2012 in Across My Heart, Across Our Table, Across Our World, Swaziland with 0 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

I pray today you are surprised by someone who goes out of their way to show their love for YOU! Of course, no amount of human love can compare with how captivated & adored you are by your Creator. What I find amazing about His love is that it can not be earned and it can not be stolen! His Love is perfectly eternal and ever-present.

Romans 8:37-39  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I want to remind you about Love4Lunch that is happening TODAY! What better day to spread the love of God all the way across the world!

Skip your lunch today and instead give those few bucks so that our Bheveni Carepoint children can return to school for the year. Children’s HopeChest has made online giving even easier than before. Just follow this link – NO CODE is needed at this link!

Love4Lunch QuickGive Page

(no code necessary here)

Thank you my lovely friends & readers!

Shine On!

Danielle

 

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Beanee Weenees and John the Baptist

December 13, 2011 in Across My Heart, Across Our World with 1 Comment

Nothing says Jesus Loves You like a can of beanee weenees!

After learning & reading more in depth about Mary, the mother of Jesus last week and getting so much encouragement from her joyful trust in God’s promises, I decided to keep reading further in the Book of Luke. As you would expect, there’s more great examples of how we are to live our lives for the Lord.

~~~~~
This week I find myself thinking a lot about John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin. Luke 3 gives the account of when John became ‘John the Baptist’.
“… the word of the Lord came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sin.”
There is so much we can learn from the life & message of John.
♥ All people need to hear the message of Christ – include those who think they know it all already
♥ At our very core we exist to worship & proclaim Christ; compared with Him nothing else really matters – not the clothes on our back, the comfort of a bed, or our next meal. Yet often that’s where spend our time and resources, am I right?
♥ When Christ is preached, it draws repentance and persecution that may cost us everything.
Like John the Baptist, Christians are called to prepare the way of the Lord. I don’t think it’s necessary that we eat locusts & honey or live in the desert, however his life exemplifies one that is sold out and dedicated to telling people about the Savior. Is yours?

John the Baptist gave up his comforts and called Jews and Gentiles to do the same. He said to those coming to be baptized “repent from your wicked ways… bear fruit that is worthy of repentance.”

They asked, “What shall we do then?”
~~~~~
Allow me to interrupt myself to say that John’s answer was an AHA moment for me, which of course stands for All Holy Answers!
♥ Did John tell this brood that in order to bear fruit they must put on their best fashions and get their butts to the pews on Sunday morning?
♥ Did he tell them to spend all their time indulging their children’s every whim?
♥ Did he say you are a child of the King of Kings, you are entitled to the best life has to offer!?
♥ Did he ask them to hoard their wealth, so that they could live comfortable lives while waiting for the Savior’s coming?
NO!!!!!
~~~~~
Get this – John the Baptist told them to GIVE. G.I.V.E. GIVE!

John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

John told them to give up (turn from their wicked ways) and give away (share to the point of sacrifice)
♥Can I say something without offending you?
No. I’m pretty sure this is going to offend you.♥
We American Christians seem to have this view that if we give a can of Beanee Weenees at the door of the Christian concert that costs $40 a ticket, that we’re dutiful Christians. For real?
Not that I think weenees are sinful (well, sometimes), but my point is it’s NOT enough! That can of beanee weenees did not set you back, now did it? Nope.

I think John’s message was give sacrificially, give til it actually costs you something, give til it hurts! Then, THEN you will have compassion, then you will bear fruit that is worth noticing and will bring others to repentance before Christ also ‘that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’

Perhaps I’m preaching to the choir – I realize that many of you do live in a way that bears fruit. I’m often humbled by how generous you are to the needs we present for the kids in Swaziland, Africa.

I also realize that nearly all of us live on tight budgets. A few years ago, hubby and I decided to live below our means. A long story that I’ll spare you all the details of. Basically it started with us selling our big, beautiful home and over a year later buying a small home that was less than half our previous mortgage costs. The process felt so liberating that not too long after we traded in two large vehicles for a sedan! In gasoline alone, we saved some serious money.

Looking back, I thank God – we really didn’t know what we were doing to be honest – but I’m thankful the Lord knew the ups & downs that were ahead of us. Had we continued to try to live the American Dream (that says bigger is better) we would’ve found ourselves high & dry. But even now with incomes that are significantly less, we are able to give a larger percentage of our time & resources to people & causes that we believe are close to the Father’s heart. Not that I would mind having more resources again, but I hope we would continue to increase sacrificial giving that furthers God’s kingdom instead of our own.

So my AHA moment was the fact that John’s central message of repentance revolved around giving things up and giving yourself away so that others may live & glorify God.

I can attest to the fact that sacrificial giving hasn’t been easy, but it has created in us a greater dependency on the Lord for our provision. We have been drawn closer to His people and to His heart. Even now, we are trusting God for specific needs for our family, that only God can fulfill. In reality, there’s no where else I’d rather be, even if it hurts in the moment.

Like John the Baptist, we the Church are called to prepare the way of the Lord, to be His Voice, His Heart, and His Hands! I ask that today you reflect on what that means in your own life.  Go ahead, give your Beanee Weenees at the door and feel good about it! But can you bear a greater reflection of your Savior by being more generous with the poor & needy locally and across the world? Are there comforts and indulgences you can give up in order that godly fruit may grow?

Shine On! 
This post is not meant to be a call for another fundraising project, but I can’t talk about giving without sharing an opportunity to do so. If you follow this link, you can hear about Change Their Story – a project through Children’s HopeChest that seeks to provide food, clean water, and education to orphans and at-risk children across the globe. Thank you!
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B-Team Prayer T-3 Days!!!

September 14, 2010 in Across Our World, Mission Trip 2010, Swaziland with 1 Comment

It’s crunch time, Y’all!

It's Crunch Time, Y'all!!!!

Our B-Team is busy, busy – finding, filling & crunching suitcases to make all the supplies fit! We have been so blessed by our generous family & friends that are sending provisions for the Beveni kids!

And not only are there provisions of clothing, toys, bandanas, candy, crafts, backpacks, and school supplies, and more, but we’ve had so many monetary donations as well!

Notice the Give-O-Meter ‘s total is OVER $5,000! In fact, I had to raise the goal to $7200, just so you could see how far over our goal of $5,000 we actually are. Extraordinary!

Please pray for the following:

  • Ask the Lord to help us finalize the details of the trip, as the B-Team are making final arrangements for departure.
  • Pray for continued health & healing for everyone on the B-Team. There are several of us who are fighting sickness.
  • Pray that God would continue to prepare the hearts of the 131 (and growing!) children who are cared for at the Beveni Carepoint, that He would keep them strong & healthy that they may participate in all the fun we have planned for them!
  • Pray that we spend the money wisely & put it towards what the kids & the Carepoint need the most to provide long term sustainment.

In His Service,

Danielle & The B-Team!

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Confessions of a Fundraiser

July 24, 2010 in Across My Heart, Across Our World, Swaziland with 2 Comments

I confess. Tonight I Googled, “How to get people to give to online charity”

I’m ashamed.  I really was trying to avoid resorting to guilt & pressure (as you’ll read below). And that’s why I did it.

Partly.

I genuinely DO want to see people open their hearts & pocket books –

Wait back this blog train up – did I just say pocket books? I must have suddenly warped to 1953 when women called purses pocket books. Let me start that thought again!

I genuinely DO want to see people open their hearts and purses so that our 132 Beveni kids in Swaziland can have basic medicines, first aid supplies, clothes & paper for school! In fact, it’s been nearly all I can think about since last Tuesday. How can we get the kids the items they have need of?

God opened the doors through connecting us with Kids Against Hunger who is sending a shipment of food to Swaziland very soon. One of our sponsors is working diligently on our behalf to also ship medicines & other supplies to our Beveni kids, on that same container. It should arrive just before we do, in mid-September.

Then God sparked the idea for Beveni Outpouring 72. $7200 in 72 hours for Beveni kids’ supplies. And the needs are being fulfilled! Our Beveni Team (you’re on the team, too) is raising the money to buy the supplies….

Just not as fast as I’d hoped.
At some point today I got worried… (just before I googled) What if we don’t get enough money to send the supplies? And I began to formulate all kinds of cockamamie ideas (can I say that on a Christian blog?) anyhow…


  • Maybe God said 1072 – $1072 in ONE THOUSAND  SEVENTY-TWO hours.
  • All my friends clicked “HIDE” when they saw I was doing an online fundraising campaign.
  • And the worst – It can’t be done. Who can raise $7200 online in 72 hours? I asked God, “What am I missing?”

    • God Googles, right?

    So what did Google say?

    I found out that people give for several reasons.

    • Guilt – not gonna go there.
    • Pressure – here either.
    • Happiness – happy people give more. It’s a fact. Trust me. I don’t know what site I read it on, but a study was conducted sighting that happy people are 40% more likely to give than those who aren’t happy. Duh.
    If you feel guilt-ed or pressured into giving to the Beveni Outpouring 72, don’t do it. Did you read that right? Yep. Don’t give if you feel a measure of guilt or pressure.

    I know, I can’t believe I said it either. I may regret it later.

    Give Because
    • It’s there is a need that you can fill – money goes FAR in Africa!
    • You have a happy heart!
    • You want to spread that joy to others!
    If you haven’t read the specifics of the Outpouring 72, please do so Beveni Outpouring 72 Announcement Post

    Otherwise, if you want to GIVE from your happy heart, GIVE HERE! THANK YOU! That’s the link to Children’s HopeChest Ministry’s online giving form.  In the notes section, be sure to write BEVENI SUPPLIES. Then drop me an email & tell me how much you gave, so I can add it to the grand total. danielle.moms4change@gmail.com

    The truth is I believe (now that I got through the worry) we will hit the mark of $7200 by 8a.m. Monday morning. But even if we don’t, God will use the money that has been given and multiply it in the lives of the givers & the Beveni kids. I know that for certain…

    …without Google’s help!

    Shine On Sisters!

    Danielle
    Ps. I hope this doesn’t take away from those who have given during our first 48 hours of the Beveni Outpouring 72. I’m so thankful that you stepped up to the plate! I just had a few discouraged hours and decided to blog about how God got me through it! :)
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    Beveni Outpouring 72

    July 22, 2010 in Across Our World, Swaziland, VIsion with 2 Comments


    $7200 in 72 hours for Beveni

    Finally! I can announce what I’ve been so excited about! I teased on a Facebook post two days ago that my excitement was almost palpable & I still have people waiting to hear!

    As of tomorrow morning we begin Beveni Outpouring 72.


    But first… I have to tell some quick background for those who aren’t yet familiar with Beveni.



    What’s a Beveni, you ask?

    I’m the sponsorship coordinator for the Beveni Carepoint in Swaziland, where we have sponsored a young lady for over a year now. In fact, at the Beveni Carepoint 132 children receive care including food, education, emotional support, and medical attention if necessary.

    There are over 20 carepoints like Beveni in Swaziland – all begun by Children’s HopeChest Ministry. The Carepoints are funded through churches & people desiring to see these kids find hope & safety & love where they live. Beveni is the only Carepoint that is not funded by a specific church, but simply through a group of online, like-minded individuals who have taken up the cause to help the kids find love & hope.

    Most of the 132 kids are orphaned due the AIDS pandemic, but all are vulnerable & deal with issues children should never have to deal with. In fact, the life expectancy in Swaziland is only 32 years old.


    A 15 year old is considered middle-aged.


    ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~


    Beveni Outpouring 72 is simple 72 hours set aside to raise $7200 for Beveni kids!

    We are part of a team who is going to serve at the Beveni Carepoint in Swaziland September 18th-29th. We have a huge opportunity to get the kid & the caregivers some much needed supplies – things you & I take for granted.

    ° Basic medical supplies – Tylenol, cold, allergy meds, first aid needs

    ° School supplies – pencils, crayons, paper, rulers, mathematical drawing sets, flashcards, music cd’s & a carepoint boom box, etc.

    ° Personal items – soaps, deodorants, toothbrushes/paste, shirts, socks, shoes

    ° Fun! – soccer balls, jump ropes, dolls, card games, candy

    There is a potential for us to ship the medicines & first aid supplies through a great humanitarian organization. The shipment leaves the US very soon. Thus the need for a 72-hour campaign. For the rest of the supplies, we will buy them in Swaziland and hand-deliver them to the kids & the Carepoint leaders! This will also help the local businesses & economy.

    So Friday morning (this morning!) the Beveni Outpouring 72 begins. And by Monday 8a.m. Monday morning, I expect that we will have EXCEEDED our goal!

    We WILL raise $7200 in 72 hours for the Beveni Carepoint. Do you want to help create hope? Of course you do! Give what you can, but give from your heart!

    It’s simple. Here’s how…

    READY… SET… CLICK! SHARE! PRAY!

    1. CLICK on this link to HopeChest.

    CLICK HERE TO GIVE TOWARDS BEVENI SUPPLIES

    2. Indicate the $$$ you wish to give  Your gift will be tax deductible.

    3. **VERY Important** in the NOTES section write: BEVENI SUPPLIES

    4. SHARE this information on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, with your church, your friends, and your kids…  ALL WEEKEND LONG!

    5. PRAY that God blesses this event of outpouring. Pray that He also provides an outpouring of hope to our kids at Beveni, their families & all those involved in serving the kids in Swaziland. And pray that He blesses those that give!

    HopeChest won’t have the totals processed until mid-next week. So do me solid & email me at danielle.moms4change@gmail.com to let me know how much you were able to give towards Beveni Outpouring 72. Names will not be shared, only dollar amounts.

    I will keep a running total on Moms4Change Facebook Page as well as my personal FB page. So stay tuned, cuz we’re about to be a part of something BIGGER THAN YOU & I!!!!


    Shine On Sisters!

    Danielle Brower

    ps. Shout out to ZekeDesigns for the graphics & logos! Holla! You can find them on facebook HERE!

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    5 Reasons You Need Your Local Food Shelf

    April 28, 2010 in Across Our Street, Across Our Table with 4 Comments

    and…

    5 Reasons Your Local Food Shelf Needs Your Time!

    1. Get OUT of your comfort zone – Some of us are extroverts (Holla!) and some aren’t. That being said, the food shelf is a place of service and anyone can serve, even if you are uncomfortable around strangers. They won’t be strangers for long if you get in there and give it your all. Plus, it’s good for ALL of us to be out of our comfort zones on a regular basis!

    Over 2800 items were donated by KIDS in ONE MONTH!

    2. Get an honest perspective on your local community’s needs – Your local food shelf is on the front line in fighting hunger & poverty in your community. It separates the gap between ‘us & them’. You realize there is no ‘us & them’ at all. Everyone’s been lying to you.

    Truth: there are literally people living in your community who are going hungry. People that need support at the Food Shelf are not free loaders. Oh sure you get the occasional guy sneaking three snacks instead of the standard two, but that is rare.

    They are genuine people who are down on their luck. Many are well-spoken & hard workers. And as you may have guessed in today’s economy there are many who are down on their luck that may have been living the American Dream just a few short years ago.

    Imagine yourself in that predicament.

    3. Giving your time can make a difference - Want to brighten someone’s day? You can. Some days when I go into the Food Shelf I can see the shame on people’s faces as they sit in the waiting area. I imagine what they are thinking, “This is so humiliating. I shouldn’t have come.”

    A volunteer can be the difference by simply smiling at them and genuinely honoring them by serving. I even try to throw in a few jokes every once in a while to tear down any barriers of shame. Most of the time it works, even if the jokes are lame. Yeah I may look a little foolish, but I don’t mind so much.

    4. You’ll be an example to your kids – Not all food shelves allow it, but on occasion I’ve had to bring my six-year-old in with me. Even his time has made a difference in the life of those needing food. He has helped bag the groceries & then replenish the shelves as well. When he comes, it’s been so fun to watch the joy on my little man’s face that he’s helping!

    Some of the hard working Student Govt. girls at the Food Shelf delivering what was collected!

    5. It’s not about YOU, and that’s why it’s so rewarding!!! - Volunteering is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. No, I don’t recommend volunteering at the food shelf just so you can feel good. But it does get you ‘outside’ yourself for a bit. Our world is so focused on our own entertainment.

    Volunteering is sacrificial & yet so rewarding. Yeah, there are days that I think, man I could/should really be doing my laundry (which is usually last on my list!) or studying how to have a kick-butt blog or sitting at B&N drinking a vanilla latte. But never once have I regretted sticking to my commitment of serving.

    It has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done.

    Don’t know where to begin? Here’s a few links that will help you find your local Food Shelf or Food Pantry.

    Hunger Solutions, MN

    Food Pantries Across America

    In my little town of 600 people our Food Shelf serves appx. 30-40 families monthly, but this also includes several other small towns around us. There is a need.

    I dare you to step up.

    I double dog dare you.

    (Now you just have to, right?)

    Keep Lovin’ Moms!

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