More Blessed to Give Than to Receive

Calvary Houston Cares

I remember growing up giving to special offerings at our church around Christmas time for foreign missionaries. I remember seeing “angel trees” in the mall where you took home the name of a family in need and shared of your abundance. I remember donating toys through the Marine’s Toy for Tots or other charitable events ensuring that others less fortunate than me have a special blessing at Christmas time….I was always taught to follow the words of Acts 20:35b It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Calvary Houston Cares Never did I dream  I’d see my name on a “giving tree.”  It’s humbling. It’s a new lesson in the trials of this life, another endurance test. Proverbs 3:34b reminds me He gives grace to the humble.”

 

Calvary Cares

I attend a wonderful fellowship called Calvary Houston. Within our large family, there were 60 households affected by Hurricane Harvey – many who “lost it all” and many who were without insurance. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, we were among the 28% of households in the Houston/Galveston area with flood insurance.  Yet even with all the help and support there are still needs among the “victims” – I use that term loosely as Pastor Ron reminded us today that we know we are victorious if we have Jesus. Amen!

More blessed to give than to receive
Each family affected by Hurricane Harvey had their names on an ornament

This year our church reached inward in our giving, we gave to our own families in need with an offering simply called “Calvary Cares.”  Each family was called this week to be notified that Pastor Ron and his precious wife Yani would be giving out checks to each family still experiencing the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. As I stood in line awaiting our turn I chatted with several who are in various stages of recovery. Some have sheetrock in place and are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, some lost their jobs because their place of employment hasn’t recovered or closed down entirely, one family had to get a totally new house because the mold was making their children sick…

One thing that held true to each of us, we all have our hope and trust in Jesus. We know and take Jesus at His word “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

As each family was presented a check our pastor and his sweet wife prayed over us, as they have been praying since August 26. It is so wonderful to be a part of a church family that loves and cares not only for “their own” but the community at large.

Yes, this is humbling – this entire experience has been humbling as so many have blessed us in so many ways – humbled but not discouraged! This world is not my home, I’m just passing through. Indeed, victoriously!

This is Who I Am

I realize that this is a “quilt blog” on my “business website” but I don’t pretend to hide behind the curtain and project a perfect world without trials or just talk about quilts – that wouldn’t be reality. I want more. I want to share from my heart, be transparent, be real – and a lot of that truly revolves around my passion for quilting! But who I am is wrapped up in my passion for Jesus, that tiny baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger…

This is Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler, taking a detour from talking about quilts today to share from the heart.  This is who I am, humbled by His love poured out through the generosity of others! 

 Day 17 of #31dayblogchallenge #2017blogwritingchallenge

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2 thoughts on “More Blessed to Give Than to Receive

  1. Rhonda Dort says:

    Isn’t it a strange mixture of feelings to be a natural disaster victim! I have felt such “survivor guilt” as a flood victim because I know others lost so much more than we did. My heart is broken for each person touched by the flood waters. We were blessed to have flood insurance (there’s a total God story there) but I still cried daily for the first several months. You’re so correct when you tell of the humbling experience of being on the receiving end, so humbling! Blessings to you and yours as you take a new step in the recovery each and every day!

    • thequiltrambler says:

      Thank you Rhonda – the “survivor guilt” is real – we felt it big time during ‘08 with Hurricane Ike. This time it’s almost more of a “having insurance guilt”. I’ve always realized that “it rains on the just and unjust alike”, or the saying “bad things happen to good people.” We live in a crazy world and I just have to remind myself that “this too shall pass”. Regardless of what each day brings, good or bad, humbling or elating it’s all about focusing on the blessings. And I wish those same blessings to you and yours during your Harvey recovery- thanks so much for sharing this moment of reflection with me ????

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