WebTV4Women.tv is going places, not only through the internet but also in person. While Shell was busy with computer design at home, Bobbye and I accompanied a woman to Edmonton, Canada to have a booth at the North American Mission Fest. Maralee Dawn (from Passionate Women Ministries) and WebTV4Women shared the booth. There were an estimated 20,000 attendees at this Mission Fest. I have to say that every woman who stopped by the booth caught the vision of passionate women for WebTV. Praise God!
However, there was an incident that has left a lasting impression on me. Maralee Dawn had just returned from a mission trip in Thailand. She had told a group of women from Thailand that she would take their handmade bookmarks, stationary cards, and gift bags to the Mission Fest to raise donations for them. These women are ex-prostitutes who are now trying to support their children through a different means since they have come to know Christ personally. Maralee asked for a minimum donation of $3.00 for the gift bags and $2.00 for the cards. This amount was very reasonable.
Well, a woman came up to the booth with two young girls. They all had heard of the story behind the cards and bags. I watched as this woman made no eye contact with me and hurriedly but carefully picked out 12 items, meeting the requests of each child. She then handed me $20. Maybe that was all she had, but as I looked at her I thought to myself, "Haven't these ex-prostitutes been treated unfairly enough? Do we, as Christians, have to use them and abuse them in this venue too?" As she walked away, I felt so badly as I so clearly understood that I have sinned in the same way. Sometimes you see sin better on others than yourself. How many times have we taken from others to benefit ourselves?
Next, an elderly man with a thick unkempt white beard and mustache walked up to me. I noticed that he was wearing a biking helmet and jeans. It was obvious that he biked in 2 degree weather to come to the Mission's Fest and had not thawed out yet. He said with an intense look on his face, "Do you help women on the streets? What do you do to help women?"
After attempting to answer his question, I found out that this man has been helping street women (the homeless woman to the prostitute) for years. He gives them rides, he feeds them, he brings them to his home if they are sick. He continually opens his hand to help as he shares the love of Christ with each one. His eyes filled up with tears as he told me how He has led many women to Christ by just being nice to them. He went on the say that never had anyone accused him of inappropriate behavior and the women have been surprised that he would freely give help to them without asking for anything in return. His sincerity and compassion were overwhelming as my heart embraced the outreach this one man had on numerous helpless and hopeless women.
The contrast between the two encounters was glaringly bright. What was the Lord trying to show me as these incidences happened simultaneously? A comment that Jesus made came right to mind, "It is better to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35) The first woman took a lot of items but was a taker as she did not do so to help the women in trouble. Spiritually her "purchase" did not impact her heart or do her any good personally. She will move on to the next best deal. The man, however, gave fully of himself to help others. He was full of joy and compassion as his face shone with a glow that reflected his heart. By freely giving, this gave him a freedom to express his heart which in turn changed many lives for the good (including his own). That is what Jesus has asked us to do. We are to be discerning and to be wise in the way that we give but it is far better to err on the side of giving, rather than by receiving. I had never looked at the receiving side as being close to "stealing." I guess it comes back to the thoughts and motives of your heart which only God can judge. But I can clearly tell you that there was a huge difference in the attitudes, actions and love of these two people. And those outward behaviors also stem from each of their hearts. God has given us a LOT. He wants us to be like Him. He is asking us to give. And after living through this incidence, I can personally testify that it is more blessed to give than receive as I witnessed the fruits of both on each face.
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