It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar "How Would You Help Someone?" Challenge!

[seoulsearch]

It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar "How Would You Help Someone?" Challenge!

Hey Everyone,

I don't know about anyone else, but with so many needs and tragedies out there today, I find it overwhelming to try to figure out who I should be helping first.

How do you decide? For instance:

1. If you have 20 minutes a day to pray, how do you decide who to pray for with that time? Family? Friends? People in the church bulletin? (Just this last Sunday alone, my church had 52 names on our Prayer List.) People you don't know but have Prayer Requests here on CC? People that you see in the news who have just lost their homes and loved ones?

2. And, if you have $20 that you would like to give to someone else, who do you decide to give it to? Again... family? Friends? A favorite charity? Victims of floods and shootings?

I know some will quote Matthew 6:3 and say that we are never to talk about what we do for others, because it is supposed to be kept between us and the Lord, so for anyone who doesn't feel comfortable sharing, please don't.

However, I personally like hearing about what others would like to do or are doing because I find that it motivates me to manage the resources God has given me a little better. For instance, I'll see read something about a 20-year-old kid doing all these great things to help other people, and it's like, "Man, why am I sitting here watching YouTube videos? Why aren't I out trying to make a difference like this kid???" I also receive newsletters regularly from several missionaries regarding all the work they are doing, so I honestly don't see something like this as being any different.

But again, if you don't feel comfortable doing so, by all means, feel free to just read along and say a prayer for the rest of us.

Please feel free to share any thoughts you may have in your post, but I am also going to take a few minutes to write a poll. The poll won't be perfect--I really appreciate that we are able to write polls here but because of the format, I am going to have to use some "options" as topic headers and not actual choices--but I think we'll all get the general idea of what people are trying to say.

The poll will be both anonymous (no one can see your answers) and multiple choice, so go ahead and pick any and all answers that apply to you.

I'm also hoping that with the poll being anonymous, it might also encourage some of our "silent participants" voice their opinions. However, as I always say, I'm hoping that the poll will just be a tool to aid our discussion, and not a substitute for an actual discussion itself.

I am especially interested in hearing from people who feel they are called to help everyone--how do you know where to start, and how do you budget your time and resources?

I hope everyone will feel led to share. I'm looking forward to learning how to manage my own time a little better with the help of your answers.

 

[toinena]

Re: It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar "How Would You Help Someone?" Challen

20 minutes prayer: Whoever God places on my heart to pray for.
20 dollars: what ever cause or person God puts on my heart to help.

It is as simple as that, really.

 

[seoulsearch]

Re: It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar "How Would You Help Someone?" Challen

20 minutes prayer: Whoever God places on my heart to pray for.
20 dollars: what ever cause or person God puts on my heart to help.

It is as simple as that, really.

Awesome answer, Toi.

I guess with me it's a bit different. It's actually kind of rare for me to feel led to someone or something specific--it does happen, yes, but more often than not, I find myself making a list I try to rotate through.

For instance, last week it was people in my church bulletin, this week it's going to be family and friends.

As far as monetary contributions go right now... I've had several instances in my life where the doctors tested me for this-or-that... but I didn't have that particular ailment. However, I know that several people DO have those challenges, and so I try to seek out Christian organizations to support that aid those causes.

But you are most definitely correct. I will try to follow wherever God leads, and to whomever He leads me to.

 

[seoulsearch]

Re: It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar "How Would You Help Someone?" Challen

Well Rat's Butt (sorry Lynx, but I trademarked that phrase LLLLOOONNNGGG before you were even born!)

I forgot to mention that the inspiration for this post was a scene in the movie "Wonder Woman" in which Diana runs into a multitude of people, and she wants to help them all.

* She wants to help the men who are whipping their horses to get them to move, because she knows a better way.

* She wants to help the woman with a child who tells her that they have lost everything, and everyone else they know have been carried off as slaves.

* She wants to help a soldier who, it seems, is breathing his last.

But in the end, she doesn't help each of them individually--she goes off to fight a collective battle, and, to her hope, is investing in a greater mission that will hopefully be for the good of much larger number of people.

Watching that scene, I couldn't help but think of my own Christian life.

So many people, so many needs, so many collective battles.

God gives us the power to change, to help, to make a difference.

But, where does one know where to start (especially if they don't feel God is giving a specific answer?)

 

[Lighthearted]

Re: It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar "How Would You Help Someone?" Challen

Whomever I see that's in need of prayer or help or as God leads.

 

[WineRose]

Re: It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar "How Would You Help Someone?" Challen

1. 20 minutes?! That sounds like plenty of time Normally, I spend about five minutes praying before I sleep. I pray for safety and general health for me and my family, so I think I'll just do that.

2. I don't have Paypal yet, so maybe I'll just give the money to some homeless person on the streets or something, idk. :/

 

[AbigailZeke]

Re: It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar "How Would You Help Someone?" Challen

I like this topic. Sucks I’m in the bus rifht now and hetting off soon. Will ne back with more to share

 

[zeroturbulence]

Re: It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar "How Would You Help Someone?" Challen

I like this topic. Sucks I’m in the bus rifht now and hetting off soon. Will ne back with more to share

Nee you latef then.

 

[AbigailZeke]

Re: It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar "How Would You Help Someone?" Challen

Nee you latef then.

>.< meanie. I ended up typing this in the bus again but this time, I got a seat.

20 minutes of prayer - I tend to start from the closest people to me, myself xD, my family, my friends, churchmates whose names I can remember. Sometimes, when I remember someone, I pray for that someone whenever thought not for 20 minutes.

$20 - I would give it to the local church, unless I find other ways to use it (buy a life changing book for someone, etc.)

 

[maxwel]

Re: It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar &quot;How Would You Help Someone?&quot; Challen

Hmmm... how to help another person.

This feels like a lot of presure.

Ok, well first of all... I'd try not to open my mouth.
: )

 

[phil36]

Re: It's the Singles Forum 20 Minute, 20 Dollar &quot;How Would You Help Someone?&quot; Challen

Thinking of having only twenty minutes or prayer because we have a busy day ahead reminds me of what Martin Luther said ' I have a busy day ahead, I had better spend the first 3 hours of it in prayer' (something like that). Its a wise statement.

Its very unusual for myself to have 20 mins or less for prayer, when I don't or don't seem to have the time, is the time I put God second in my daily pursuits (talking about myself here). I have a list that I use when praying, I have one main list, prayer for family, friends and thankfulness for my daily bread. I have another list that changes from week to week or day to day. If I am pushed for time I dont go through everything, I have all day to talk to God. It can be done while at work, during a break or even when your shopping.. So my own opinion is that we all have plenty of time to pray to God. It may mean having to skip our favourite TV program or just getting up 5 to 10 minutes earlier.

Regarding money well, Mmm that isn't quite as cut and dry. We need to be always wanting to help our fellow brother/sister in their times of need, we also need to be faithful stewards with what God has blessed us with. So if I had only £20 left and i mt someone in real need, ie they had no food.. would I give them the cash? it would depend on the circumstances I might go and buy them shopping instead of giving them the cash// circumstances dictate. I'm single so easier probably to do than a someone who has kids of their own to feed. I think we need to be generous and charitable, but also wise stewards with what we have been given. Giving your last 20 away when you have no food to eat yourself may well not be wise! the other solution would be to buy food and offer to share a meal. Just some thoughts.

Plus your bound to know us Scots are tight with our money ha ha!