| Older Stories → |
This is it! This is the place for you to share YOUR GO BIG STORY and to read about how others are using the CBGLADES Generosity Stimulus Package to bless and impact people throughout the week. Don’t worry if your words aren’t perfect. Just tell us how God used you to help someone, to make a difference in someone’s life. It doesn’t have to be long, just share your actions and your heart as if you were talking to your best friend. Thanks for letting God use you this week.
Every Little Gift is Evidence of God's Love
I have started attending CBG in early 2008. Let me tell you that I felt the love in this community from the first day. From the friendly greeters and ushers, to the Krispy Kremes and Starbucks, to the very upbeat and uplifting Band, to the Real Life application sermons, THIS CHURCH ROCKS!!! Pastor Dave is truly gifted and Blessed! When I heard about the Reverse Offering I was shocked and surprised. What a novel idea...I opened my envelope to see a $5.00 bill that eventually went to the Ronald McDonald's charities. That $5.00 felt like $500.00, if only because it was that meaningful to me to be a part of this. More importantly, I decided to increase my weekly offering to make sure that I gave it back, though indirectly, many times over, although my income has gone way, way, down in 2008, due to the recession...I came back to Christ, back to God, because of CBG. I have been a resident of Broward for 21 years but I did not know that CBG existed, or else I would have been assisting here years ago.
A fellow follower of Christ
Decision to bless
After attending Church By The Glades for some time now, we were not surprised by the Go Big assignment! What did surprise us is the amount of Faith that Pastor Dave and the board of CBG has in Jesus to allow that much money be given away with complete trust that God would use it to bless and more importantly that people would be moved to continue blessing others. Our story isn't grand but it has had an impact for sure.
My husband graduated from a Christian Rehab center recently and wanted to donate extra racquetball raquets and balls. We combined our money (20.00) and added a little ourselves and made a lot of other people at The Recovery Center very happy. Our daughter had a tough school year and there was one very kind, compassionate teacher that went way out of her way to help her. She never made it seem like her investment was a big deal (but it was!!) Ms. Dowdy at Margate Middle must be a CHRISTIAN because she has the character of Christ! Our Daughter decided to give her a gift certificate with the $10.00 she received. I hope Ms. Dowdy enjoyed this gift as my daughter thought for a long time who she wanted to have it.
One last thing, We gave an extra 10.00 in addition to the original 30.00 back to the church several weeks later. We waited because we were instructed not to return it to the church. Since my husband is out of work, money is tight or it would have been more. It really does feel better to give than receive! We can't wait to see how God continues to use CBG in the future.
Sketch the Street Artist
I put the $5 I received in my purse, hoping I would have a St. Paul moment and get knocked off my horse, so to speak, with a great idea on how to use it. After several months, that $5 weighed about 50 lbs. and I felt guilty every time I saw the envelope in there. It was still in my purse when I went to Chicago to visit my grandchildren. Some of the homeless in downtown Chicago can be pretty aggressive and intimidating, and when I lived there, I never wanted to open my purse or take out my wallet around them. My daughter was treating me to a show downtown, and there we ran into a homeless guy sitting on the curb in the theater district, surrounded by amateurish cartoon drawings. He had a sign that said "My name is Sketch and I can draw anything you like." He was not a great artist, but he was quite good natured, unlike the insulting homeless man we had passed a half block back. In any case, I felt that maybe my $5 would make Sketch's day a little better, and that anybody who could try to be cheerful in his situation deserved a few extra dollars.
Gas Station
At the gas station this late evening a man sitting on the curb tells me "I like the front tag of ur truck!" the tag said, Praise the Lord! As i walk out he ask if i had spare change, and i tell you never have i done this before, i took the $4 in whatever change in my pocket and hand it all to him. He thanked me and then he told me he was going to church tomorrow he walks closer and closer, He said "what i need to do is stop drinking that's my problem." I'm pumping gas thinking i gotta get out here, but i knew suddenly that the $10 could feed this homeless man, i drove home rush upstairs blew the dust off the envelope (this money has been sitting there awhile now) took out the money drove back to the gas station, he was still there and he looks at me and goes "whats this?" I told how the church gave away money and all that info and the money and i quote "this is straight from god" and it was as though his heart stopped and his breath was taken away, he shook my hand twice and thanked me he said "i thought i would never see you again." I told him go get something to eat and pray about it and then he said "pray for me because drinking 8 beers a day just ain't rite" That money stopped someone from starving tonight. I felt unbelievable!!
Just Something to Eat
My job takes me all over Broward and Dade counties and come across a lot of people that ask for a few bucks. I prayed and asked God to show me what to do with the $10 I received. A few weeks went by when I pulled into a gas station in Miami Beach. A guy was sitting near the door when I went in to pay and asked if I had a couple of bucks to help him get something to eat. I thought to myself, "This guy is hanging out at the wrong place to ask people for a few bucks after they have just put gas in their cars." He was pretty humble and wouldn't even look up when he asked me. I told him to wait a minute, I went back to my truck, where I keep a bible and in it, still had the Go Big verses from the weekly hand outs. I tore them off and folded up the 10 and put the verses on top of the bill. I told him, "This is a gift from Jesus, and I think He wants you to know this." I went in and paid for my gas. When I came back out, I walked by him while he was sitting on the curb. I looked over his shoulder and he was reading 1 Corinthians 2:9, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." I have given money before, but have never thought to tell them how much God loves them.
help
Well my story goes like this, i held on to the money for a couple of days trying to decide who i should give it to until my friend didn't have any money to take the bus to work or to eat. so i gave him my $5 that i was blessed with and he was very greatful!!
Thanks Church by the Glades and Pastor David!
Prom Dress
My children and I received a total of forty dollars. We decided to give it to a woman I work with who is raising three teenage grandchildren. When I approached her after work to tell her that I have a gift for her she broke down in tears. She had told me her electricity was turned off and that her ex-husband paid to have it turned on, but she didn't know how she was going to pay for her granddaughters dress for her high school prom. It turned out that the money was enough for the dress and shoes her grand daughter chose.
Thanks Church by the Glades for helping me part of God's plan.
A Tragic Loss for a Fellow Agent
At Keller Williams Realty, we have a culture that we live by: God First! Family Second! Business Third! An agent in our office recently experienced one of life's most tragic losses, the loss of a child. Her 19 year old son was killed in an automobile accident. He and four friends were out for an evening and returning home when they were suddenly broadsided by another car. The agents of our office, as they have done so many times before, immediately assembled together to help; preparing meals, cleaning house, and collecting money for bills and expenses. The $5 I received from Church by the Glades was donated to help with the funeral arrangements. Thank you Church by the Glades.
Helping hand to someone in need!
I was searching for someone in need to share our combined $20 that we were entrusted with by CBG and Pastor Hughes while attending the 9:45 AM Mother's Day service. We knew that it had to be something special and for someone deserving and really in need, and we both prayed hard for direction.
I heard from a friend of mine, who was truly down on her luck; she left a job after 8 years for another opportunity in a start up company. She worked at the new opportunity for 6 weeks and was let go due to economic pressures. Her bills were mounting and she was down to $43 in her checking account after paying her rent and car expenses and was forced with a decision to either pay for gas or food while she was interviewing for another opportunity. She chose the gas and was not really eating to well.
I called my friend this past Friday and invited her to lunch. She was very grateful of this and we enjoyed a plentiful meal, I ordered a few extra appetizers to be sure that there would be a good doggy bag, which she was very happy to accept.
After lunch I surprised her with a trip to Publix and told her that we were there for her and that she could get anything that she was in need of and that this was a gift from God and not from us. When I saw her smile through her tears of happiness and joy, I knew that we had made the right choice. I too was overcome with emotion as we walked down each isle and was happy to say yes every time she asked, like a child "can I really get this?"
Lunch for two with a great doggy bag $50
Surprise trip to Publix $150
Inspiration to help someone truly in need ($20)
Seeing happiness through someone's tears and knowing that it was a gift from our Lord and Savior, PRICELESS
Thank you CBG and Pastor Hughes for entrusting us with this gift and allowing us to help someone in need!
Mothers in need!!!
One day 2 weeks ago my little sister and cousin came home from vbs and asked if anyone in our family would like to donate money, to the mothers who need money for their babies! i received $5 from the church and i donated it to the mothers in need of supplies!!! thank you church by the glades
| Older Stories → |