Some time ago, over twenty years now, we were camping in an old Ford pickup.  It was a basic two-wheel drive truck; way before crew cabs became popular.  It had crank windows, an engine that burned oil, no air conditioning, but it offered what we needed.   I found a topper for $10.00 that was no taller than the cab, and it extended the eight-foot bed. With some of my fathers type ingenuity, I fashioned a storage space for an air mattress with two lengths of twine tied to its ceiling.  The camping gear stowed in cardboard boxes below the air mattress.

A major financial security disturbance had occurred, and recovery was underway.  Our 401(k’s), IRA’s, mutual fund investments, and even the cash value of a life insurance policy had been depleted. For two years we did not dine at restaurants, or go to movies.  Basically there was no unnecessary spending, but we did meet our essential expenditures.   I remember my first discretionary cash purchase. It was an Olympus 35 millimeter camera, and I could afford to have a roll of film to be developed.   “Whoa baby, let the good times roll.”  See what I did there,,,,,, word play with the word “Roll” ha ha.

Yesterday I took the photo posted above.  I woke this morning and the parable of giving with a proper spirit was on my heart.  Luke 21:1-2 sums it up.  Jesus preparing to speak – And then He turned His attention from the religious scholars to some wealthy people who were depositing their donations in the offering boxes.  A widow, obviously poor, came up and dropped two copper coins in one of the boxes.

During our chapter of financial recovery we made a commitment to tithe.  Only our tax lady knows for sure.   Let me stand next to the wealthy people in Jesus’ parable.  Myself having a job that was strictly commission based, made it a little difficult to calculate a year-end amount.  Should a person calculate off of net, or gross income?  We chose the later.

Over the years I can remember two distinct internal arguments with myself about driving a new vehicle verses tithing.  After all, everyone else on the freeway had a new car.

I’m going to move over a little closer to the widow, and her two copper coins.  The point being, I’m positive our giving has done far more, for more people, than what our personal efforts could have come close too accomplishing.

It’s hard to believe our blessings.  We have two hundred and thirty eight square feet of space for ourselves, and square miles of space for a back yard.  It’s like being a teenager again before mortgages, and lawn mowers came into our lives.

The evening I captured this photo of Clearwater Lake I stood and realized it as a mere reflection of the abundance of life we are now experiencing, and what the Lord intended for us.  Praise God.

With Love and Joy,

Dan