THE OFFERING

Here is a true story about a nine year old boy who lived in a rural town
in Tennessee. His house was in a poor area of the community.

A church had a bus ministry that came knocking on his door one Saturday
afternoon. The kid came to answer the door and greeted the bus pastor.

The bus pastor asked if his parents were home and the small boy told him
that his parents take off every weekend and leave him at home to take care
of his little brother. The bus pastor couldn't believe what the kid said
and asked him to repeat it. The youngster gave the same answer and the
bus pastor asked to come in and talk with him.

They went into the living room and sat down on an old couch with the foam
and springs exposed. The bus pastor asked the kid, "Where do you go to
church?" The young boy surprised the visitor by replying, "I've never been
to church in my whole life."

The bus pastor thought to himself about the fact that his church was less
than three miles from the child's house. "Are you sure you have never
been to church?" he asked again.

"I sure haven't", came his answer. Then the bus pastor said, "Well, son,
more important than going to church, have you ever heard the greatest love
story ever told?" and then he proceeded to share the Gospel with this
little nine year old boy.

The young lad's heart began to be tenderised and at the end of the bus
pastor's story the bus pastor asked if the boy wanted to receive this free
gift from God.

The youngster exclaimed, "You Bet"!

The kid and the bus pastor got on their knees and the lad invited Jesus
into his little heart and received the free gift of salvation.

They both stood up and the bus pastor asked if he could pick the kid up
for church the next morning. "Sure", the nine-year-old replied.

The bus pastor got to the house early the next morning and found the lights
off. He let himself in and snaked his way through the house and found the
little boy asleep in his bed. He woke up the little boy and his brother
and helped get them dressed. They got on the bus and ate a donut for
breakfast on their way to church.

Keep in mind that this boy had never been to church before.

The church was a real big one. The little kid just sat there, clueless of
what was going on. A few minutes into the service these tall unhappy guys
walked down to the front and picked up some wooden plates. One of the men
prayed and the kid with utter fascination watched them walk up and down
the aisles.

He still didn't know what was going on.

All of a sudden, it was like a bolt of lightning hit the kid to what was
taking place. �These people must be giving money to Jesus.� He then
reflected on the free gift of life he had received just twenty-four hours
earlier. He immediately searched his pockets, front and back, and couldn't
find a thing to give Jesus. By this time the offering plate was being
passed down his aisle and with a broken heart he just grabbed the plate
and held on to it. He finally let go and watched it pass on down the
aisle.

He turned around to see it passed down the aisle behind him. And then his
eyes remained glued on the plate as it was passed back and forth, back and
forth all the way to the rear of the sanctuary.

Then he had an idea. This little nine year old boy, in front of God and
everybody, got up out of his seat. He walked about eight rows back,
grabbed the usher by the coat and asked to hold the plate one more time.

Then he did the most astounding thing I have ever heard of. He took the
plate, sat it on the carpeted church floor and stepped into the centre of
it.

As he stood there, he lifted his little head up and said, "Jesus, I don't
have anything to give you today, but just me. I Give You Me!"

Let us all have this child like faith and give God what we do have. Only
by surrendering to Him can we see God take what seems to be ordinary and do
extraordinary things through. I have made the commitment and said, "Here
am I God, send me." I encourage you to make the same decision and see the
amazing things God will do through your life. (Isaiah 6:8)

Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Galatians 2:20 �I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.�

Matthew 18:1-4 �At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, �Who
then
is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?� Then Jesus called a little child
to
Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, �Assuredly, I say to you,
unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no
means enter the kingdom of heaven. �Therefore whoever humbles himself as
this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.�

Isaiah 6:8 �Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I
send,
and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.�

Mark 16:15-18 �And Jesus said to them, �Go into all the world and
preach
the gospel to every creature. �He who believes and is baptised will be
saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. �And these signs
will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they
will speak with new tongues; �they will take up serpents; and if they
drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands
on the sick, and they will recover.�

Romans 10:14-15 �How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not
believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach
unless they are sent? As it is written: �How beautiful are the feet of
those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good

Here is a true story about a nine year old boy who lived in a rural townin Tennessee. His house was in a poor area of the community.

A church had a bus ministry that came knocking on his door one Saturdayafternoon. The kid came to answer the door and greeted the bus pastor.

They went into the living room and sat down on an old couch with the foamand springs exposed. The bus pastor asked the kid, "Where do you go tochurch?" The young boy surprised the visitor by replying, "I've never beento church in my whole life."

The bus pastor thought to himself about the fact that his church was lessthan three miles from the child's house. "Are you sure you have neverbeen to church?" he asked again.

"I sure haven't", came his answer. Then the bus pastor said, "Well, son,more important than going to church, have you ever heard the greatest lovestory ever told?" and then he proceeded to share the Gospel with thislittle nine year old boy.

The young lad's heart began to be tenderised and at the end of the buspastor's story the bus pastor asked if the boy wanted to receive this freegift from God.

The youngster exclaimed, "You Bet"!

The kid and the bus pastor got on their knees and the lad invited Jesusinto his little heart and received the free gift of salvation.

They both stood up and the bus pastor asked if he could pick the kid upfor church the next morning. "Sure", the nine-year-old replied.