Absolutely amazing!!!! Are you ready to hear what happened with my $5.00? Well, I’ve got to tell you! I’m just in awe!

When I opened my envelope I had $5.00. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed! My mind was already going in a bunch of directions as to what I could do with 100 bucks! Then I had to alter my thinking, which I must say, left my mind completely blank.

Anyway, I left church right after 2nd service ended at about 12:15 or so. As I was leaving the parking lot, I was reminded of a garage sale that I passed on my way to church. Since I had a garage sale last weekend, my thoughts were, “Better them than me!” Well, it came to my mind that a guest at the Turlock Gospel Mission on Friday night told me that she was in need of a mini refrigerator. I thought, “Hmmm…maybe there’s one at that garage sale.” I had other errands to run after church, but was compelled to hit that garage sale.

So…I arrived, got out of my car, scanned everything that was on the driveway only to conclude that there was no mini-fridge. There was, however, a queen-size bed. I remembered that another 3 guests at the mission had shared how they had just gotten an apartment and were no longer on the streets. They were so thrilled! The problem was they had absolutely nothing! As of Friday night, they were in need of a bed, furniture, pots, pans…simply everything! So, I thought I’d ask how much the bed was. The lady of the house said it was $20.00. My mind was racing. “Lord, am I supposed to get this and use part of my own money?” No sooner had a thought that, when the man of the house came out of another entrance, saw me looking at the bed, and said, “5 dollars!” I just stared at him. I couldn’t even speak! He didn’t hear his wife just say, “$20.00.” After a long silence, I looked at him and asked if he was sure. He was! I could not believe it!

Well…anyone who knows me knows that I don’t do a very good job of keeping a good story to myself, so I proceeded to tell these strangers the scoop. As soon as I did, the lady said, “Well…if that’s the case, I’ll throw in the bedding too!” I couldn’t believe it! Oh, me of little faith!

I went home to get a vehicle that could transport a bed. I called the people who needed it. When I asked if they still needed one, “YES!” was the immediate response! So… I told them I had one and would be right over! I could hear the excitement in his voice!

It was 1:00 when I drove up. One of the recipients ran out to greet me with a huge smile on her face! The other two followed. I shared with them what had happened. We were in agreement that this was definitely a “God thing!” After carrying the bed into the apartment, I was informed that it was one of the guy’s birthday! I said, “Happy Birthday!” He simply said, “Thanks. Thanks a lot!” It’s amazing what God can do in 45 minutes! Now is that cool or what???!!!

I left church and went to Wal-Mart to get a few things. As I was putting them into my pickup, an older lady came by needing gas to get to Madera.  She had two little kids with her.  I met her at the gas station and put 25.00 worth of gas in her car.  I gave her 5.00 for the two kids. She was so grateful to get it.
I still have 20.00 to do something with.  Can't wait.

What a surprise that you'd give out money!  Yes, I got $5.00 in my envelope. Should I give it to the AIDS, or put it in the offering.  Yet, I could use it for some groceries that I needed to get today.  But then I thought of the lovely lady waiting on
us at Chili's for lunch, I asked her if she knew of NLCC she said she'd been there once.

After coming home from church I saw in the parking lot of another church a lady and a man asking for donations for a kidney transplant. I asked who needed the transplant. The lady said was Mr. Cortez, the man that was present. I gave them the money and matched it. I will be praying for them that the procedure will be a success.

I am new to your church, I have been there about 5 times now.   I came there buy invitation from a friend, and it was at a point and time in my life that I needed to get back with God. While each and every time I heard you speak, it seems like you are speaking directly to me as that was the point I was in my life.  

This Sunday was not different. You posed a real test to me and maybe to a few other in the church. When you present the envelope to everyone and said to go out and give it to someone to make a difference. Well my envelope contained $50.00. I am at a point in my life, for the first time that I will not even have enough money to pay
all my bills buy months end and nothing coming in next month. But I talked to some friends and I am going to give $30.00 to the children in Africa and $20.00 for the food pantry.

I want to thank you and the Church Family for making a big change in my life.  

I have to say when I heard Pastor Dave announce that we were going to be given money to go out into the community and use it to impact others, I was shocked that the church would just give away all that money.  But the longer I sat there in prayer and thought,

I became excited.  So much so that when the group of us went to lunch, I was looking for that "Perfect Moment".  Of course that's the exact thing I shouldn't have done! 

I never saw an opportunity, and then lunch was over.  I then proceeded with the rest of my afternoon in constant search of how to give.  I had to run an errand in Modesto, at McHenry Bowl.

While I was there I saw numerous people in pink shirts that said
"Everybody Loves Raymond" in the exact logo of the T.V. show.  I was curious and asked what was going on and who was Raymond.  I was told that he was a 20yr. old young man who had developed a tumor in his left arm and it had metastasized into his lungs within a matter of weeks, and they were having a fundraiser to help his family with the enormous medical bills.

I began to weep for this young man that I had never met.  I asked to meet him and his family and when I was introduced. I immediately knew that I wanted to donate the $5 that I had been given in church as well as an additional $35 out of my pocket.  I have to say, I don't think I have ever been so humbled and thankful for my health as I did in that moment.