12 10 07 The Process of Giving

As we approach the CHRISTmas Season of 2007 (or as it is approaching us) I wanted to share this word from New Life Ministries devotional with you. I pray it resonates upon your heart as it did mine, concerning THE PROCESS OF GIVING. It all begins with God, but where does it go from there?

“… Christmas is not an event. Like so much in life, it’s a process. After all, what’s so special about Christmas if Jesus’ perfect life, his death and resurrection didn’t follow? Don’t think you’re going through things no one has ever faced before. You can believe that God will see you through anything if you persevere and stay connected to Him. You’ll go through fiery trials of your own, and as someone once said, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’!” God is faithful. He’ll have the last word, and it will be good!
Another process of life is that of growing in your faith to where you become a cheerful giver. It’s an obedient thing to give back to God. And God wants a cheerful spirit. Look at what the apostle, Paul, wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:7:

'Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.'

The real question is, are you grateful to God and are you giving back to Him?”1


When you give, you make possible the process of healing for someone else; like the woman who recently wrote to us concerning her son, who was the first child to receive help from TSN Ministries:

“From the first moment, he was with family. And that sense of family and that love never wavered. We consider ourselves blessed to be among and proud of our “redefined” family. I came home from prison and am now Executive Director of a statewide criminal justice advocacy organization and a national spokesperson on criminal justice issues. My son (name withheld) has recently turned 20 and he is a remarkable young man. He amazes me daily, challenges me often and I love him dearly. Without the love, support and sense of family that came into our lives through the Carroll’s (TSN Ministries), the road we have traveled on would be very different indeed. Family is not just the blood that runs through ones veins – it is of the heart. Where unconditional and unselfish love lives – it lives with the Carroll’s (TSN Ministries).”


As of December 2007, we have helped more than 1,788 individuals through the outreach ministries of The Sparrows’ Nest Ministries, Inc. Seventeen (17) children ages new-born to sixteen (16) have lived within our home over the past eight years. Please consider a year-end gift to TSN Ministries today, as we are preparing to assist at least 7-8 families (more than 20 children) with food, gifts, and clothing for the Christmas Holyday Season. Your cheerful gift is a way of giving back to the Lord, as we at TSN Ministries not only deliver the physical gifts, but also the message of the Savior to come as we share His love with the families.


1 Arterburn, Steve, The Process of Christmas, December 2007, Copyright 2007 New Life Ministries.