Beloved

The leading of the Holy Spirit...

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Shalom

( SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. )

Beloved
1 Corinthians 14:1 Let Love be your highest goal.

JCepc

When donating money to panhandlers, every situation is unique, and needs to be evaluated regarding the circumstances. It is wise to never give money to anyone when there is a suspicion that the money may be used in a way that which would bring shame to our Lord. The reason we give to the needy is to make their lives better in one way or another. This way we are showing our love and the love of Jesus Christ to this individual/s. The single most important part of our giving is to let the recipient know that the gift is not from us but from the one who is our Lord and we are only one of His helper, al to the glory of God. The needy person may need food, shelter, have this/her rent paid or have his/her children fed; the one thing we must keep in mind is to somehow let this person know, most of all he/she needs Jesus Christ. For this we may have to give this person some personal attention.

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Sam Cincotta
http://exposing-pseudo-christianity.org

Dusty

Exactly, and that I think is the general concensis that I am hearing from everyone.

Each one of us may be lead in a different way than the other and to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as your guide is the best way and as WW says don't let the left hand know what the right is doing.

And we are not to go around boasting cause that is not the way the Lord wants us to behave either.

It boils down to the old addage .... It is more blessed to give than to receive. For me that says a lot as I get more pleasure from giving than receiving.

Just yesterday when I was in the States I bought a CD that I know my friend would really like and gave it to her. She kept saying ... no and I finally said ... please just say thanks and stop blocking my blessing.

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Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

Ausgirl

The sad part about giving money to people begging on the street is that you are enabling their situation - they are in a cycle of poverty, by relying on others to give money to them each day, they only remain in this cycle. Not to say that you shouldn't be doing it - just pointing that out. In my experience, I prefer to go to the store and by a supply of good food for them and give it to them rather than hand over cash - because at least that way, you know the money is not being spent on worthless things like alcohol.

Ausgirl

Quote:

Just yesterday when I was in the States I bought a CD that I know my friend would really like and gave it to her. She kept saying ... no and I finally said ... please just say thanks and stop blocking my blessing. __________________

I agree Dusty - AND, we have to learn how to accept a blessing too. Many of us are raised with the idea that we should be humble when someone wants to give us something and because we already have more than others, feel we should say no. But we need to accept that God is using that person to bless you and take it with praise and appreciation.
For example, I received as a Christmas bonus from my boss, a rather largish sum of money, my initial reaction was, I can't accept this - why? I work hard, I put in lots of extra time for free, I give 110% to my job, I am an honest and dedicated worker - so I certainly deserved it. So by accepting this, while my boss is not a christian that I know of, God used him to bless me and in return, I can use my blessing to bless others.

Dusty

Amen Ausigirl..... You have exactly the right attitude...... An attitude of gratitude. If someone blesses you pass the blessings on. and then you will be doubley blessed.

__________________

Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian