Archive for the ‘faith stimulus’ Category
Stimulus Provided School Supplies
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
Wanted to let you know that I held on to the Faith Stimulus money until just recently. I am a teacher, and each year I buy school supplies for needy kids in my school. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it this year — my charge card is now at its limit. I have two daughters in college and I am a single parent. I wasn’t going to be able to hep my students this year. The Faith Stimulus money was a “Godsend”! And I let every kid I helped know the money for the school supplies came from Northwoods Church.
– Kris M.
Helping us to help others
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
The Center for Prevention of Abuse just received its second Faith Stimulus envelope with a donation enclosed. Your donation makes a tremendous difference in another person’s life, giving them hope, which is the greatest gift of all. Thank you for your generosity. We appreciate your support very much.
– Carla P.
Just in time
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
Well, our family had been hanging on to our envelope for several weeks now. Kinda felt guilty that we hadn’t found a good “home” for the money yet. We just didn’t feel any particular leading. Today my college age son was going to meet with a young man who has been a good Christian mentor to him during his high school years and is still so now. This young man and his wife recently had their first child. As my son was eating lunch with him he shared how tight their budget was since he and his wife decided that, as a new mom, she was not going to return to work. My son was so glad that he could bless this young family today. He came home from his lunch knowing we gave it to the right family!
– Lauri H.
Exactly what was needed
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
Our envelope contained $20 and God led us to add $40 to make it $60. Obviously, He knew exactly what was needed and we are blessed to have been obedient. We received the comments below from the family we helped.
– Alan & Stefanie A.
Wow! We were so blessed that you chose us for the Faith Stimulus. We were stunned beyond belief! Don’t know why we are ever surprised at God’s awesome timing! Riley needed his band fees paid that week — exactly $60 — and thanks to your gift, it was paid! Band is everything to him and we just weren’t sure if we were going to be able to let him do it this year. God confirmed that our kids deserve to be blessed and have a life too. Thanks again. Be blessed!
– Chuck & Lin Marie C.
God hears every thought
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
I have struggled with God being a loving father all my life. My father tried but failed in the area of consistency. Sometimes there was not even the basic of food. When I thought of God as my father it was not a compliment. I couldn’t rely on him because of the memory of my earthly father who didn’t always come through. Two years ago I invited God to really become a father I could count on—one who would make sure I was cared for. Since then God has been faithful to care, to supernaturally provide for my needs. In my own mind I could understand my father caring for my needs—but my wants I never mentioned. One day the thought entered my mind that I wished for new clothes that were more professional to start my job. Since I was not working, I tucked the thought back into area where I keep my wishes. But God heard my thought and was delighted to give me not just my needs but my want. He listens to every thought and delights in doing wonderful things for his children. Isn’t that amazing? He cares about our wants, too. He is not stingy or hard-hearted, but is compassionate, enjoying his ability to pour blessings on his children. My view of God has changed. The faith stimulus I received bought $265.00 worth of clothes for $58.00. He told my friend and me where to shop and when. I really like being with him and serving him more and more.
– Elayne L.
Dance teacher
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
Upon receiving our envelope, my husband and I knew not to give it to who we “thought” it should go to. I ended up carrying it around for three weeks. One night we were praying and asking God “Who should this go to?” when our daughter’s dance teacher came into my mind. We finally felt we had been told who to give it to. Over the next two weeks we tried to get in touch with her without success. When we were ready to give up, thinking maybe we weren’t supposed to give it to her after all, she contacted us. God planned it so that we would be traveling through her town on our way to a family reunion. However, when we stopped she wasn’t home. We felt discouraged, for sure that we were missing the right “name.” After the reunion we traveled through her town once again, and I said,”Let’s try one more time.” I walked up her front porch and rang the door bell. She was shocked to see me. I told her that I was there because of God. She looked at me with tears in her eyes. I told her that God wanted her to know that he knew her name, and he sent me to tell her that. I gave her the envelope. It was $50, and God blessed us with the ability to add another $40. She stepped back and said, “No way. I can’t accept this.” I hugged her, we both cried, and I told her it wasn’t my money–it was God’s, and he loves you. She went on to tell me of her medical struggles this past year and of feeling alone. Praise God I was able to deliver the message to her that she will NEVER be alone!
– Heather F.
Helped a stranger through God
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
My husband and I prayed to ask God to show us who needed to get the envelope we received from the church. I kept the envelope in my purse waiting for God to tell me who to give this to. One day (three weeks later) I took my grandaughter to a park and started talking to a young woman and her two year old son. Shortly after we started talking she told me that her five year old son was tragically killed in an accident last October (I remember hearing about it on the news). She said that she was recently laid off from her job and that things were really hard on her financially and emotionally right now. Chills ran through my body as she talked about her sadness. I asked her if she had faith in God. She said she really hadn’t until this happened, but was still trying to understand everything. She was also mad at God. I told her that God loved her, and he was taking care of her son. I felt very strongly that she was the one God wanted me to give the envelope to. I gave her the envelope and told her that this was from God and he wanted me to give this to her. She hugged me, cried and thanked me. My husband would have liked to have been a part of this event, but I felt the Holy Spirit moving me to give this to her right then and there. I did not know the amount in the envelope and she did not open it in front of me. The kids continued to play for a while, and we talked a little more about God and life. I am hopeful that she felt God’s love and will turn to him to help her through her journey. She is in my thoughts and prayers daily.
– Glenda H.
Helping in Walmart
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
I had been carrying the envelope with me for a couple of weeks, praying and waiting for God to nudge me who do give it to. Do I give it to someone I know? Do I give it to my waitress at a restaurant? I knew God would let me know when and who. My daughter and I were at Walmart on University, somewhere we don’t usually find ourselves. This particular Walmart carries a product the other locations don’t. As we were standing in line to make our purchase we noticed a mother in front of us searching in her purse for more money to cover her total. As she searched she came up empty and asked the clerk to take some of the items off. I felt a small nudge but dismissed it. I didn’t want this to be from me I wanted it to be from God. I continued to look at the items around the register, all the while I am noticing more items being taken off. Just then I felt more of a jerk than a nudge, to GIVE THE ENVELOPE TO HER! So I swallowed and said “ok Lord!” I took the envelope out of my purse and explained to the young mother that I had been waiting for God to let me know when to use this and He is telling me this is the time. She opened it and gasped. I had chosen not to open the envelope and wasn’t sure how much was in it. She pulled out $50 and it covered her entire bill and she had some to spare. After she gathered herself from the shock of everything, she turned and introduced herself and shook my hand and gave a sincere thanks. I simply told her to not thank me thank God, He told me to give it to you! We then paid for our items and went on our way. GOD IS GOOD!
– Melissa F.
Sent to Michigan
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
When we first received the Faith Stimulus money, both my husband and I had different ideas of who should get the money. We needed to pray and ask for God to show us who He wanted the money to go to. Our grown daughter lives in Michigan and has a friend and co-worker who has been having health problems which resulted in her not being able to work on a regular basis. She and her husband lost their home and are having to move. Our daughter told me that Samantha and her husband needed money for the move, and I felt that this was who we should give the envelope to. I told my husband what I was thinking but asked him to pray about it as we wanted it to go to God’s choice, not ours. Ultimately, we came to the same decision and decided that we would match the amount and send the stimulus funds to Samantha. When I told my daughter (who was having her own health issues), she was so pleased that we were doing this for her friend. I have mailed the money to Michigan and am anxious to see how God uses this to make an impression on Samantha and her family and perhaps draw them to a relationship with Christ.– Brian and Kristy B.
Helped an unemployed father and his family
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
We were inspired to know that we at Northwoods were doing our own stimulus to benefit people in the area, allowing those who wanted to participate to share in the blessings. My wife picked up an envelope two weeks ago. On the way out of church and on our way to lunch we were both thinking of who we should share it with. We decided what ever was in the envelope we would match it. We opened it up to to find $50.00 so we added $50.00 more to total $100.00.
The family we were led to share it with had an unemployed husband. As we later talked to the husband, we asked what pressing need they had at that time. He said their lawn mower had broken down and they had four acres of grass to mow. We asked him if he knew how much it might cost, but he said he didn’t know. We then shared about what Northwoods was doing and what they wanted to share in the way of money to help in some way. As we talked more with him about the need we wondered if it might just cost $100 dollars to repair the mower, he still didn’t know.
We were out of town later the next week when we received a phone call from the father telling us that they got the mower fixed. I asked him how much was the bill, and he said $250. In a joking way, my response was we got the wrong envelope. That’s when he told me when the real cost was $100. Now that wasn’t a surprise to us!
Thank you, Northwoods, for putting feet and action to the Gospel, especially in these difficult times even for churches.
– Jerry & Marie H.
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