“Any fear of giving to God’s Kingdom is flawed. It would be like a farmer who feared losing his bucket of seeds so he failed to plant his own field and thus forfeited the joy of overflowing his barns with the harvest.” – Ann Voskamp
I so love this quote by my friend, Ann Voskamp. I was a hesitant giver for so long.
Maybe because I knew the sting of being poor. It carved a deep fear in my little girl heart.
Or maybe I was hesitant because I can be selfish and forgetful and wrapped up in my own little world.
But a couple of years ago, I really felt challenged to listen to God and deepen my faith in the area of giving.
I was good with the label, the lingo and the lifestyle of being a Christian.
But what if instead of just having faith, I dared to live a life that actually required faith? And what if instead of being paralyzed by all the massive needs in the world, I asked God to personally assign me a few?
Not everything. But some things.
And then what if I started to watch for whatever needs God put front and center in my life and said yes?
And what if a part of this yes journey is to have all my friends who want to read my next book, know that they could be a part just by simply buying the book?
Would it be, could it be possible to give every penny of The Best Yes to God’s work here and abroad?
This was a Best Yes. And I knew it.
If you bought a copy of my new book, The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands through (in)courage last week, every dime that would normally come to me as an author is being given to an amazing organization called 99 Balloons.
We are helping to fund an initiative that will train churches to better support families who have kiddos with special needs (like my friend, BJ – click here to read more about him.)
I’m so excited about what you and I are able to do together. Together our “best yes” looked a lot like a community of women coming together to purchase more than 300 copies of “The Best Yes“!
And just as importantly, the mission of 99 Balloons and the unique needs of kids with disabilities was shared through a community-wide story of social media posts.
What an absolute honor it was to join our voices together to lift up families who desperately need to know they aren’t alone.
Thank you for helping me help them.
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Even though this initiative has come to a close, you can still help 99 Balloons by going to their website here. And I’m happy to say that buying The Best Yes continues to be a Best Yes as my proceeds from all book sales will go to support many Christian projects around the world.
Cheryl Ricker says
Hi Lysa. Thanks for “giving” the good word. Appreciate your contagious heart. Continued blessings as you step out in love.
Kimi says
‘Maybe because I knew the sting of being poor. It carved a deep fear in my little girl heart.’
Oh Lysa, I relate to this so much! I’m praying that God will help me in this area, to become more of a cheerful giver and trust that He will meet the needs of my family. Thank you for this post.
Sue says
I love and want to give more but face a dilemma. My husband isn’t saved and doesn’t get it YET! I do work and do the best I can, but would love to give more freely WITH my husband
Michele says
What you are doing, your example of generous giving, inspires. My family had the blessing of a challenge yesterday, from pastor to congregation. He remarked that the homeless often need shoes, and not just our worn out cast offs. What if we would give them something we really like? Like the shoes we wore to church? And he proceeded to toss his new shoes in the tub. By the time we left, the tub was overflowing with a yes most of us hadn’t envisioned earlier that same morning. We can look for-and respond to– the opportunities all around us, daily, if we are willing. Thank you for demonstrating willingness.
Julie Wilson says
Both of these right here… “Maybe because I knew the sting of being poor. It carved a deep fear in my little girl heart. Or maybe I was hesitant because I can be selfish and forgetful and wrapped up in my own little world.”
Lysa, thank you for these words. We just recently added two ministries to our giving as a family even though most days I don’t think our budget can afford it. Hoping some day soon my budget will find room for your book… until then, it’s going on my Christmas list! 🙂