One Gift. Anther a heist.

When I was a Jr. in high school, my parents were obedient to help plant a church in Elk Grove, California. This was really hard for me because I was serving the high school group in leading worship and I had a lot of fun with the friends I had made. I felt torn between being with my parents and all of the friendships I had made. My parents were gracious and allowed my sister and me to continue at our church while the rest of the family was at the new church. So, my parents made the 30 hour treck acrost town to serve in starting this church, Tree of Life Community Church (TLC for short). We would try to help out and be as supportive as possible but my parents are amazing at serving this new body. The people that went to the church were so wonderful and loving. Yes, there were those funny ones, but my parents have been a blessing and been blessed by this church. To the amazing part: They have been meeting in a school cafeteria since the begining and God brought about an amazing opportunity to start creating a place of their own. Land is highly expensive in Elk Grove and a landowner of 5 acres decided that he did not want to sell his land to coorperate vultures but to a church for 1/5 of the value. He is selling 5 acres of land for 500,000. The parent church committed to give TLC 200,000 and TLC had to raise 300,000. Believe it or not, 41 out of the 42 families that attend committed to give 339,000, beyong their tithing. This is so amazing and an obvious working of our God. The people of this church are in no way rich, but generous with what they have. Isn't it beautiful when the body provides sacrifices for the bride of Christ?
Ironically the church I attend in Riverside, Sandals, is doing a series on the heist (many so called Christians think they are getting away with stealing from God). Sadly this is true. However, I can only speak truth, seek truth and actively live it out in my communtiy. Wouldn't it be different to see the followers of Christ, or those that call themselves that, make His bride beautiful through sacraficial obedience all the time?