IN FOCUS: Words from a Sponsor
Posted by Cristy Ocampo on Tuesday, July 27, 2010
I remember the excitement that I felt when Hope Manila was launched by Agape. For me, this was the best project Agape has ever undertaken. This project gave opportunity to a lot of us to share the blessings that the Lord bestow upon us. Along with my children, Ronjie, Rj and Elisha, we took part in the project and sponsored some kids.
We had the wonderful opportunity to visit and meet the children and their parents at FTCC last October during our holidays in the Philippines. It was raining heavily, but all of us enjoyed the children’s service they had prepared.
I am very happy to know that Princess, one of our sponsored children is now graduating from the 2- year vocational course she took. I can’t explain how much joy it gives knowing that at the end of the day, someone or somebody has fulfilled their dreams because you decided to share a portion of what you have. I believe that the best part of this undertaking is a heart that gives without expecting anything in return being reminded that when we give, we give to the Lord. Our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
It does not matter how big or little we give. What matters is the little unknown acts of kindness and love that one shows to all who cross his way. Joy is obtained not because we do great things but because we do small things with great love.
I believe in the Lord’s promise - a hundredfold return, pressed down shaken together and running over when you give because He said so but this should not be our utmost motivation for our giving. In Galatians 6:9-10, it says, ‘Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people especially to those who belong to the family of believers.’
Let us also remember that the pure and faultless religion that God accepts is to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world – James 1:27. Let us encourage one another to redeem our time, using it wisely and grabbing every God blessed opportunity to give to those who are in need, sing our song to cheer the weary and share our faith to every troubled heart for now is the time to fulfill the call and the purpose that God have for us for we many never pass that way again.
We had the wonderful opportunity to visit and meet the children and their parents at FTCC last October during our holidays in the Philippines. It was raining heavily, but all of us enjoyed the children’s service they had prepared.
I am very happy to know that Princess, one of our sponsored children is now graduating from the 2- year vocational course she took. I can’t explain how much joy it gives knowing that at the end of the day, someone or somebody has fulfilled their dreams because you decided to share a portion of what you have. I believe that the best part of this undertaking is a heart that gives without expecting anything in return being reminded that when we give, we give to the Lord. Our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
It does not matter how big or little we give. What matters is the little unknown acts of kindness and love that one shows to all who cross his way. Joy is obtained not because we do great things but because we do small things with great love.
I believe in the Lord’s promise - a hundredfold return, pressed down shaken together and running over when you give because He said so but this should not be our utmost motivation for our giving. In Galatians 6:9-10, it says, ‘Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people especially to those who belong to the family of believers.’
Let us also remember that the pure and faultless religion that God accepts is to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world – James 1:27. Let us encourage one another to redeem our time, using it wisely and grabbing every God blessed opportunity to give to those who are in need, sing our song to cheer the weary and share our faith to every troubled heart for now is the time to fulfill the call and the purpose that God have for us for we many never pass that way again.
