Today's Favorite Verse: Job 29:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 29:16
"I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out."

This reminded me of the principles of self-reliance and the humanitarian efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not enough to help the poor by feeding and clothing them. What is truly needed is a help up so they can provide for themselves, and in turn help others. I love how the "Light the World Giving Machines" have donations that do just that. Chickens are not for people eat. They are to raise and sell eggs, and continue to replenish their flocks. Goats are not to eat. They are to raise and start a business to sell milk and cheese. There are seeds to grow crops to feed themselves and begin a business. Helping people to sustain themselves and their families effects generations.

Find a location near you. 

Day 3898

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 8:2

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 8:2

"How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality."

Liberality = GR sincerity, purity of mind. TG Generosity.

This made me think of those little videos I see where a homeless person is avoided by many, and then someone finally stops and gives them food or money. Then that homeless person goes to the other homeless people around them and shares. It is in trials that we come to learn what true want is. A good person will share even what little they have. There is a feeling that comes to you when you share willingly with others in their need. It reminds me of the widows mite.

"And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had."

(Luke 21:1-4)

I truly believe that not only does God know the heart of the giver, the giver knows their own heart too. When giving is done in righteousness you feel a sweet joy in your soul. When you give to be seen of others, even if only by the receiver, you will justifying the offering, and why they did or did not deserve more. It is in those moments of justification you award is your own vanity and pride. There is no true joy in the offering.

Day 3245

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:7
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

This made me think of a scripture, but I can't find it because I'm sick with a bug. So I will try to describe what I am looking for. We've had discussion in our home about service and there is a scripture that says something along the lines that it profiteth them nothing if they serve unwillingly. I realized that it doesn't mean your service doesn't count. It just mean you didn't move in a forward motion. If all you can do is serve with the heart that you have then serve. For keeping at it long enough you will catch the spirit of it. So like this scripture if all you can do at first is give grudgingly it doesn't mean not to give. For if you seek to do it with a willing heart you will soon catch the spirit of it.

Day 1660

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 17:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 17:14-15
"And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto?
And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee."

This made me smile. I could not help but think of "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.."
(Luke 12:38 and Doctrine & Covenants 82:3)


Day 779

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 36:6-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 36:6-7

"And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.

For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much."

The men and women of Israel are busy gathering and preparing items for the tabernacle. They bring so much that it is more than is needed. To the point they are told to stop. I could just feel how brokenhearted they must have felt to be restrained from giving. What if you were making something and now it wasn't needed any more? I have leprosy bandages in my closet that I made for the Church's Humanitarian efforts when I was so sick. I made so many I don't even know how many. My husband dropped them off by the boxes. I was sick in bed and that was the only thing I could do for a long time. Then they no longer needed them so the last batch went undelivered. I was sad about it. But, by then my health had improved and I could work on other things. Every time I see those bandages I feel a little pain that they were not needed. I know the Lord knows my heart in the matter. He had to know Israel's heart too.

Day 661