I Love Online Giving, Steven Michael Steenbergen

Over the last several weeks the Lord has really been stirring in my heart to begin my own business providing people who might have tight schedules with my personal chef service. Not really knowing where to start or what to do I began to reason that it wasn’t a good idea with the economy the way it is. I began to make excuse after excuse. The main one being that I feel called to full time ministry so why bother starting a business. After discussing this with my wife and several close friends I decided to seek out what God was wanting me to do. Of course I already knew the answer because it was God who was stirring the idea in my heart to begin with. The truth is I was afraid… I’m still afraid, actually. I’ve never started a business and I have no clue how to build a client list or anything. The way I see it this is going to be Gods business, and I will simply be his Executive Chef. haha!
During services last week (6/5/2011) the Lord told me to make a huge leap of faith and sow two seeds above our normal giving. One seed for the ministry we are being called to and the other for the business we are about to begin. This couldn’t be right. There is no way I heard God correctly. My wife and I are already tight on funds and with the season coming to close we are both losing hours at work. Plus I’m about to start a business and that is going to have expenses too. I decided to write down what the Lord told me to give and where we were to sow it so that I could show Kimberly after services. When I brought it up to her on the way home she shot back words that I did not want to hear, but pretty much expected to hear. She told me that she felt the Lord speaking to her the exact same thing.
Needless to say we were obedient to what the Lord asked us to do. As soon as the funds hit our account we hopped onto Champion Life’s website and gave our faith seed offerings. I just have to say, I’m so thankful for online giving… not only is it convinient for our tithes, but it’s also there for you when the Lord lays it on your heart to sow offerings as well. Because, I have to be honest, If I would have had to wait for the next time I went church to sow my seeds I probably would’ve thought my way right out of a blessing.
 Even though things are tight for us right now it feels great to know that we are blessed to be a blessing to someone else. It also feels good to have the confidence that our seed is going into good fertile soil. When you begin to pour out what you have in your hand, it makes room for what God has in His hands. I know that God will give back everything we have sown and than some, but for me the most profound thing about this testimony isn’t that we will receive a blessing for our obedience or sacrifice. What excites me is that I am becoming sharper and more in tune to what the Holy Spirit is speaking to me, and my faith is growing with every act of simple obedience that I take. I am so thankful for this church, for the family that we have found here. I am so grateful that we have endless opportunities to serve and grow and learn more about our Father and how to truly impact this world for His Kingdom. Thank You Champion Life Church, from the bottom of my heart to the top of my voice!

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