The Christmas Letter

Just a couple of weeks ago Wednesday night a lady walked up to me at prayer meeting and said something like "My [husband] is going to KILL me. I need to go and get the letter that he wanted me to give to you!" and off she went in a hurry. I was talking to a friend when she came back and thrust an envelope into my hand. Examining the envelope and the writing on it I was a bit confused. It didn't look like the penmanship of an adult. As I looked at the lady I suddenly realized my error. I had confused names. I was thinking "husband" when I should have been thinking "son".

I opened the envelope and was shocked with it's contents. Inside was a neatly written note, on a Christmas card, which read as follows:

"Please use this money to help build your new church in Brazil.

From: I.C.B."

Inside the card was a $10 bill. As I stood there speechless a tear crept into my eye and a knot into my throat.

Here was ten hard earned dollars from an eleven-year-old boy to be used on our next church. In a way it reminded me of the incident that Jesus related in Luke 21.1-4 of the widow's two mites. Though many of the rich had given much more from their excess she had given all her living. And it was to her, not the rich, that Jesus' directed His disciple's attention.

Now, I know that my little friend probably hadn't given all that he had to live on (thought maybe his Christmas gift list had to be pared a bit as a result) but his gift had a tremendous impact on my outlook and future look.

How long does it take an eleven-year-old to save $10 bucks? In my day it took a LONG time (my allowance was .10 per week!). These days it probably doesn't take that long but to me the gift was more than just about an amount, it was a gigantic gesture of love for the Lord and a great demonstration faith in His plans for our future.

One of my goals for this home assignment was to "raise funds" for the next church. My plans burst into fruition when, in our first Missions Conference, we received a large love offering and a specific designation toward that land and physical plant. The amount total was $1033.33. We were ecstatic. From then until two Wednesdays ago we had gathered a grand total of $1033.33.

Until the letter. We now have $1043.33!

Sound discouraging? Maybe. Or maybe the amount is like, that unnamed widow's mites, or the stone in David's sling, or the staff in Moses' hand, or the pitchers and torches in Gideon's 300 men's hands, or the lad's five loaves and two small fish. What are these among SO many?

Most of us are beginning to realize the old saying we've heard over the years, and paid little attention to, "Little is much when God is in it!" We are in the biggest economic disaster in the history of our country. Many have lost and will lose their jobs. I have panicked when pondering the possibility that we might never be able to go back to Brazil because of support loss (None of which has happened to this writing praise to our Heavenly Father's holy name!). However, as we stop to think about it we understand that God doesn't need money to build His church. He needs more people with childlike faith in His provision.

What will $1043.33 buy? Not much. But, the funny thing is that I am not the least bit worried. God's church will be built. It may be with the finest materials that money can buy or it might be as the Brazilian saints realize the burden themselves and help with the task ahead. Or maybe God has something totally beyond our comprehension. I am excited about "little" gifts from God!