Giving - What do You Have to Give?

I really do love to save. I get a charge out of it (and not the kind that affects my credit score.) I enjoy a good deal. I love sharing the deals with you. But, what do I love most about this lifestyle? GIVING. Thats' right, not hoarding, but GIVING.

I love to give freebies or cheapies to our local food pantry. I love to bless my friends with small pampering gifts. I love to have excess for new moms, grieving families, or those affected by layoffs. It does my soul good to share a meal, a sack of food, a basket of toiletries...anything I have to give.

I love to teach my children the art of giving, the practice of sacrifice. They like to put our purchases in the food pantry collection basket at church. They have stocked the shelves there. They understand that we are blessed, that Daddy takes good care of us, and that God holds our world in His hands.

What do you have to give today? Can you clean out a cupboard for a food pantry? Can you pull clothes from your closet to donate to a rescue center? Can you take extra school supplies to a school in need? Can you give cookies to a lonely neighbor? Can you simply take your kids to a retirement home and give the gift of time?

I love this old Crystal Lewis song and I will close with these lyrics... What do you have to give?

In Return
By Crystal Lewis

All I had to give was a broken heart, torn apart
That's all I had to give
All I had to give was an empty hope and promises
That's all I had to give
But in return He gave me joy that could never be told
And in return he gave me love that was more precious than gold
So whatever you have to give, You don't have to be ashamed
Just come as you are and present it in Jesus name

For in return of a torn life, He'll give you life abundantly
And in return of a raging storm, the Lord will calm the sea
So whatever you have the Lord has so much more
So what do you have to give?

Oh if you were like me, you didn't have a lot of gold
Position or money, you didn't own wealth untold
But I'm glad He didn't look on the things that I had
But he looked and gave me all, all that I need!!!!!

Oh for in return He gave me joy that could never be told
And in return He gave me love that was more precious, more precious than gold
In return of a torn life He gave me life abundantly
And in return of a raging storm my Lord will calm the sea
So what do you have to give?