Crazy Grace

So I wrote this in December, then forgot about it.  But since I love this story of how God taught us that He is enough, I thought I'd share.


Like many churches, our church has a year-end giving campaign.  Our pastor encouraged everyone to really pray about what God could do through us for this next year.  (One thing I love about our church is that the money we raise this month is used for next year, and we won't be playing catch-up.)   Our pastor told a story about how he tried to bring this point home to his family.  He had asked his 4 sons to participate in the year-end campaign with him and his wife.  So each of them brought their money, and he added it to their family envelope.  He then read them 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

He then gave each of his boys back double what they had offered to the church.  Three of the boys did sow sparingly, and they were pretty mad.  :)  I thought this was a pretty awesome way to teach them about God's goodness, but honestly, I wasn't too sure that God would ever do anything like that.

 So my husband and I both prayed, and we actually came up with the exact same amount - totally cool.

But between Christmas, other bills and everything else, we had to forgo paying money on my school loans.  Then one day we get an envelope that was an early Christmas present...the amount was exactly equal to what we had decided to give to our church plus our normal monthly payment on my school loan.

Crazy huh?  But that's what God's grace is...crazy, beautiful and undeserved.