True Blessing of Tithing

Allyson, 49, Burton, US

I am a member of New Testament Church in Burton and we have been part of the Gift Revolution for the first time this year. I didn't know what to think about it but thought if our Church was involved it must be a good thing, after all what can be wrong with giving. Anyway, I gave a small monetary gift to a friend I thought might be having a hard time this Christmas. I was not sure I should do it as I was having a bit of a hard time making Christmas happen at my house, but really felt that God wanted me to give and I gave it full of faith that God would take care of my own circumstances. I gave the gift anonymously, and that was a true blessing in itself. 2 days later God took that small offering and multiplied it 10 times and returned it to me. I was so touched and moved. The really neat thing was that the person I gave the gift to was the one who returned it to me. She wanted to do something special in the name of the Gift Revolution and she blessed me. I was able to take that money and provide a Christmas for my family. Isn't God awesome!!! Thanks to my Church for getting us into the Gift Revolution. This was such a neat way to make something even more special out of this Blessed time of year. Merry Christmas and May God bless you and yours, I know he did me.

2009-12-22 16:05:07

The Neighbors

Dave K, 49, Little River, US

We have some neighbors who don't seem to like us very much and aren't very friendly. I guess I had just been thinking about WJWD and I decided to put a small gift in a gift bag, put a couple of TGR cards in it and hang it on their door.....I hope they like it!!!!

2009-12-22 16:05:00

The store credit

PatiMac, 51, Morganton, US

I had bought a package of bulk steak awhile back at Foodlion - I didn't like the quality and they gave me a store credit for the purchase- 41.00. I've been carrying that card around for about 3 weeks now knowing that I wanted to use it for the gift revolution but knowing that I probably needed to us it for ourselves. Many times I had felt the urge to give it to someone and then again the urge that the time wasn't right. Friday morning -the big snow here... I was at Foodlion early in the am and it was jamm-packed. I stood in the checkout line for about 1/2 hour. When I was two people from being taken care of I noted an older lady was doing a subtotal check and the teller said... "you're at 60.oo you should be fine." then later I could tell she was short money. The Lady in front of me said "I've got it" at the same time as me but my hand was quicker and I waved the gift card. The elderly lady was very thankful and spoke of how she had the flu and was just getting over it and she wanted my name and how she wanted to pay me back. I had them relay to her "a child of God" in answer to my name. Now remember, this is with about 100 people trying to check out while it just started snowing heavy...So the words she and I said had to be repeated because it was so noisy. I passed on that she could pay it forward. The card wouldn't swipe at first and we all started laughing about how I said, "It better work" The checker had already pushed off the buggy with the extra groceries to be restocked. I told the teller bring them back as there was enough on the card to get all of her groceries and the customer looked at me like I was nuts. She tried to refuse and I told her that if she did that she would "steal me of the ability to bless her". Then the transaction went through. The cashier paid the original order, rang up the extra. That customer was flabbergasted as they rang up the extra groceries, said she "wanted to cry". I so wanted to run up and hug her but there wasn't room to move. The Lady had change coming and said that I needed to take that and again I told her "No" and gave her a look like, "don't steal my blessing". By this time I could feel the noise of those near in the grocery store had focused on our transaction and the 4 of us in this were aglow with the experience. (I hated that my cards for thegiftrevolution.com were in the car, not in my purse, but that was ok because most people here don't have home computers and she was in her 70s anyway. ) The Lady at the checkout said "I feel terrible I know someone needs it more than me...." then realized aloud "Well I guess that's not true is it." and a ton of people laughed with her. "I promise, I'll pay it forward." She thanked me for about the 6th time and turned to leave, turned back and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. The cashier and lady in front of me and I talked about how fun that was as she checked the lady in front of me out and about the gift revolution site. When it was my turn the cashier told me I had MADE her day! And continued to talk about how great that was. Afterwards, I thought about how God had decided when that store card needed to be "played" and that it was WHEN it had effected a GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE than just me the recipient. THAT WAS FUN!!

2009-12-22 03:57:47

Free Coffee

Jumpin Java Espresso Co, 5, Shallotte NC, US

Today at Jumpin' Java We have been giving out Free Coffee to our customers and handing out The Gift Revolution card...It's been well received!!! We here at Jumpin' Java have been blessed and are very happy to give back!!!

2009-12-21 11:46:15

BoJingles

Debby, 54, Jacksonville, US

I was at work and one of our staff came in and told me her story. She was so happy because that morning she stopped by Bojangles to pick up a gift card and food for someone other than herself and was surprised to find when she got to the window it had already been paid for. She couldn'g believe someone would do that. She said the person at the widow of the drive through had a funny look on their face when she pulled up and then they handed her the card and told her that her order was already paid for. I then told her that it was the I attened and invited her to come. It was very interesting how that came back for me to be apart of. A very happy day.

2009-12-21 01:32:12

Adopt a Family

Art Good, 18, Mooresville, US

Our youth group (RISEN YOUTH MINISTRY) at Springhill Christian Center in Mooresville, Indiana adopted a family in our church that wasn't going to have Christmas due to financial trouble. We received an offering on 12/16, and I had set a goal in my mind of maybe $80 - $100. We raised $200 that night to help this family have a Merry Christmas.

2009-12-20 23:06:33

neighbor

carol moll, 70, little river, US

I have a neighbor who did not talk to me for a couple of years, when she saw me she would give me a dirty look but never talked to me, well i bought her a small tin of cookies and wraped it up with candy canes on it with a card and wished her a merry christmas and gave her the gift revolution card and she started to talk and was very nice, i also told her about barefoot church,who knows she might even give the church a try, i hope so. i was very happy with the way things went.

2009-12-20 20:56:02

On the way home...

Jonathan and Lisa M., 36, West Plains, Mo., US

from Cape Girardeau from having Christmas with Jonathan's side of the family this weekend. We stopped in Dexter to fill the car up and have supper. We stopped at a place in Dexter called The Hickory Log for supper. Must have been the place to be in Dexter. The place was beautifully decorated for Christmas and packed, I didn't think Dexter had that many people! Our meal (BBQ) was very good and our waitress even though very busy with several large parties (table of 16 and a couple tables of 8) was very attentive and gracious. As an indepent Beauty Consultant I had a trial size bag of Satin Hands. Being in food service we knew that she could use something to pamper her hands a little. We left the tip, the Gift Revolution card, the product and a little note wishing her a Merry Christmas and to pay it forward. My husband and I were just talking this morning before church that we're not ready for the Christmas season to be over because we're having such an amazing time with this! Thank you Pastor Jeff for bringing this to our attention. We're planning on keeping this going all year long! God Bless!!!

2009-12-20 20:52:49

Gift

Kim, 38, Jacksonville, US

To begin, I had my Appendix removed on November 17th and was out of work almost two weeks which had put me behind on my bills. Now the story, I was shopping in Walmart today (the 20th of December)when a couple gave me a Christmas card. I said thank you and proceeded with my shopping and I opened the card and it had some money in it and the card for this website. The card and money was a wonderful and much needed gift and God lead this person right to me. I will be paying this gift forward and wanted to say thank you.

2009-12-20 17:12:26

dinner

diane , 55, milford, US

we have a family in our neighbor hood that just bought a foreclosed house and have been spending many nights and weekends working on the house to make it liveable. I made dinner for them today and took it over to them. The looks on their faces was priceless!!!! Then couldn't believe that anyone would do that for them. I told them it was all God. What a wonderful blessing it was for me to do that simple jesture and know I made a difference in their day.

2009-12-20 14:13:57

The Beautician

Anonymous, 37, Myrtle Beach, SC, US

The lady who cuts my hair has been struggling financially. Tipped her a $100 and a card. Too cool.

2009-12-20 11:45:31

Shopping

anon, 36, North Myrtle Beach S, US

Was in line at a store at Tanger Outlet stores. Gave the cashier a $5 bill wrapped around an invite card to give to the next shopper. So fun. More of a blessing to me than to her, I am sure.

2009-12-20 11:43:10

The Water Project

Phil Hartten, 100, North Myrtle Beach, US

HI. What if the gift you make today could actually make a lasting difference. What if you could do more than simply save lives...what if it could change them? Forever. This well was completed in August 2009, at the Butenje School in Western Kenya. Clean water changes lives. Girls return to school. Women begin small businesses. Men are no longer too sick to work. Fields are watered and food supply becomes more reliable. Health returns and children grow up to be productive members of their community. The cycle of poverty is broken. Lives change. I think a donation for more wells will make a difference in many peoples lives right away. 100% goes to dig wells for villages, schools and families in need. A small donation helps many people and it is needed today...Merry Christmas to you and your family and all our wonderful service people who are donating their lives for us here at home. Phil

2009-12-20 09:06:45

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjzUS6cbTbs

Laundromat

Anonymous, 25, Albany, US

A couple in the laundromat truly embraced the concept of the Gift Revolution, and it made me want to continue all night long! I had placed change in the change machine, along with a gift revolution card, so when they went to get change for their laundry, they picked up the card and some change. Later on, they brought up the card in conversation, took it out, read it, and discussed the meaning behind it, saying that it meant that they needed to continue the chain and do something nice for others. It was such a great moment, and I was so happy to be there, waiting on my laundry, because I got to hear that and it made my night!

2009-12-19 23:54:28

The Big Snow

Meagan B., 25, Teays Valley, WV, US

As some of you may have heard, or know, in WV today we got a good foot of snow to say the least. My dad and I were on my way to my house for me to get some clothes since my husband and I had to stay with them due to electrical outages and not being able to actually reach my house because a huge hill. On the way to my house, I told him about The Gift Revolution that I had learned about at Barefoot Church in North Myrtle last Sunday. My husband, a wrestling coach, had taken his team to a tournament and to church that Sunday. The wrestlers LOVED the church...but, back to point. I was telling my Dad all about this Gift Revolution and he said he'd really like to get involved with it. As we get to my house and I'm running to get clothes, he waits for me in the car. He sees a lady shoveling her driveway and without missing a beat, goes and finishes her driveway for her. He then tells her all about the Gift Revolution he had just learned about :)

2009-12-19 20:40:26

Got another one

kenny b, 44, west plains mo, US

Just got another one,this time it was a candle set left on a lady's car. This is fun. I am going to continue this on a regular basis. God bless

2009-12-19 15:47:09

god works

anonymus, 13, whiteville, US

just put two one doller bills on cokes at home depot with cards

2009-12-19 13:16:06

Christmas for kids

Mindy McCall, 28, Gallatin, US

My connection group and I helped with the Christmas for kids this morning and it was such a great time to see those kids get some of the things that are much needed and wanted!!!!

2009-12-19 12:46:57

An early Christmas

Lizzie Wilder, 6, Gallatin, US

This morning I got up at 5 am to go with my aunt Mindy to help out at the Christmas for kids at Walmart,we had an eleven year old girl named Daniela and it was so much fun!!!

2009-12-19 12:44:11

the drive through

kenny b, 44, WEST PLAINS, US

just paid for some guy's breakfast at hardees, he was in the drive through behind me told the cashier that i wanted to pay for his order, gave the cashier a card and told her to give it to him. would have liked to have seen his face, i hope he will pay it foward. god bless

2009-12-19 12:07:16