an unexpected discovery.

Want to know something great?  People are generous. 

Last week I went to a conference for non-profits, and one of the main messages of the conference was just that: people are generous.  It’s almost a modern phenomenon.  No one quite knows why.  For as selfish as we all tend to be, (or am I alone on that?) people want to help. 

Even if it’s helping an illness they’ve never heard of.  I met a woman from a medical research company who has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to find a cure for an illness most of us have never even heard of.  That’s crazy!

The most successful non-profits have a lot of advocates who are willing to speak up for their cause.  They don’t have just one big donor.  These are advocates with limited resources, willing to ask their network of friends to help.  This concept even has a name: grassroots fundraising.  Most of the conference was revolved around developing this type of relational advocacy. 

The number one reason people don’t give?  They weren’t asked.  Even those of us who have “little” by this society’s standards, usually have enough to give something.    

I encourage you—if you see an organization doing good things, get involved!  Obviously, I would love if that organization were Back2Back, but honestly, I just love seeing people be generous.  Helping people feels good.  This world is full of brokenness.  We need an "all hands on deck" approach to heal it.  Your voice matters, and I promise you won’t regret getting involved.

"What should we do then?" the crowd asked him.  He answered, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same."  Luke 3:10-11

sometimes God wants straight teeth.

Do you know what [one of] my most annoying quality is?  I’m a worrier.  I worry about whether what I do is good enough, if things will work out, if there will be enough.  The worst part about my most annoying quality is that it points to a much more serious spiritual problem: I don’t trust God. 

This annoying quality reared it’s ugly head recently when Beth, a woman who had just returned from a trip with Back2Back, sent in a check for $800 and asked that the money go towards Maria, a girl she had met at one of the orphanages we serve at.  After checking with staff in Monterrey, we discovered Maria had a birthday coming up and that she also was in need of some dental work.  With Beth’s money in hand, we took Maria to the dentist for a check-up.  We were shocked to find out she had 13 cavities and needed braces.  All in all, not a great appointment.

I began to worry. 

We don’t have enough money to fill all the cavities, and pay for braces.  Braces not only cost money to put on, but they require dentist visits every month and fees add up.  How can I move forward with saying “Yes, put the braces on” if I have no idea whether or not the rest of the money we need will be available to finish the job? 

And thus began my removing of God on the throne, and my ascent.  Clearly, God was unaware of this problem, and I needed to solve it.  It barely crossed my mind to pray for His provision and guidance.  I went into “worry mode” where I began simply gathering my own resources, hoping they would be enough.

I contacted Beth and gave her the update on the situation.  She agreed to send in money as the Lord blessed her, to help with additional costs.  I knew she felt the pressure to follow through, and maybe even felt a burden as a result of her generosity.  I didn’t know any other solution.  All I could do was pray she was able to donate the rest of the money Maria would need.

Thankfully, as often as I take Him off in my heart, God still IS on the throne.   A couple of days ago another person called who, wouldn’t you know it, wanted to pay for Maria to get braces.  It just so happened we knew exactly how much more we would need to complete the job.

I can’t explain this any other way than God’s providence.   We serve hundreds of children, many of whom could probably use braces.  In the home Maria lives in alone, she is one of thirty children.  Maybe God has a special plan for those pearly whites, or maybe He wants to tell Maria that He knows her, or maybe He just wanted to remind me that He is the one in control.

I can’t say it often enough and I can’t say it loud enough: GOD IS FAITHFUL!  And that happens to be the one quality He is looking for from us.  Over and over in scripture we see people that God deems worthy as those who are faithful.  He's been faithful to you.  Will you be faithful to Him?