Two weeks ago, I was ready to throw in the towel. My vision for this challenge that began with a raging fire in my gut had faded to hardly a spark.
Months of planning. Hours of tweaking, chatting, reading and skyping with the team. Then one thing after another threatened to dissolve our efforts. Big things. Life-altering heartaches. Sickness. Moving. Finances. A diagnosis.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2
The sponsors I had hoped for hadn’t come. The interest on Facebook seemed lacking. I began to worry. Guilt began to creep in. I questioned my own motives for this challenge.
My soul is weary of my life; I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. Job 10:1
In my heart, I desired to see giving explode across the blogosphere like never before. But the business-minded blogger in me still scrutinized the numbers.
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Psalm 119:36
With a team of nine counting on me and the buzz we worked so hard to create still swirling, I reluctantly trudged on with my plans.
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9
Those plans were put on hold for a few days while I boarded a plane to Pennsylvania to attend The Relevant Conference. With my husband and son by my side, I put the Challenge in the back of my mind and set out on my first speaking engagement. I wondered how and why I had been asked to come speak at this blogging conference for Christian women, since my own walk with the Lord felt so feeble.
Within hours of my arrival, I was hugging two of those precious team members. Myra was practically bursting with excitement when she told me that she had been telling everyone she saw about the Challenge. I looked at her incredulously, and wondered how she could be thinking about such things while my stomach churned with butterflies. Jen was there too, with her entire family after beating all odds to attend. Their smiles warmed my heart and put my mind at ease.
After three days at Relevant, I left with my soul nourished, my heart refreshed and my faith renewed. I had been brought there, so I thought, to teach three sessions about the technical side of blogging, a topic which fuels my passion. But God poured into me so much more than what I poured out.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38
The inspiring words of Ann Voskamp, the final keynote, still ring through my mind…
Just be faithful to come to the keyboard
Tell me your stories, and not your sermons
Whoever wants to be great, must become a servant
You are a successful blogger from day one if you are doing it as service unto Jesus
Who is more relevant than HIM?
Ultimately my calling isn’t to be a blogger, to be a success, but to be a servant to God
The only platform in the upside-down kingdom is an altar (a place that requires sacrifice)
Passionately serving Christ alone, makes us the servant to all…
And so much more.
I returned home changed. I let go of the Challenge and laid it at his throne. If He wanted me to do this, I knew it was not about me, not about numbers, and not about sponsors. It was about serving HIM.
And that fire returned, only this time… it was a bonfire!
Today, this adventure begins. One that almost didn’t happen. But I am ready. My family is ready. My team is ready. And a whole host of fellow bloggers is now ready.
And those sponsors? They came. And God smiled. 🙂
Is it okay that I just cried reading this? What a journey it has been just GETTING to this point. God has shown us so much…taught us so much. I’ve LOVED watching Him work.
Today we are “smiling at the storm” together. Love you!
Myra @ My Blessed Life´s last blog post ..Sunday Meditations- Finding My Way Back To Square One
Thanks for posting–this is a great way to protect us from miserliness, which I feel the pull of. I put a list on my fridge numbered for each day of this month, ready to fill it with ways to give. We got an early start yesterday with Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes, and the local theater needs me tomorrow to greet home schoolers. I have a feeling, God is going to fill it up for me and I won’t have to work so hard to think of ideas! Thanks for not giving up.
Thank you so much for doing this again this year. I participated last year and LOVED it! I was amazed at how God provided a way to give EVERY DAY! There are so many ways to bless others if you will just look for them. I think this is such a great way to get our hearts in the right place for this Thanksgiving/Christmas season. I’m glad you didn’t give up!
Loved, loved your post! The verses- just perfect! We serve an awesome God! Thank you for being willing to be transparent. Proverbs 16:3 tells us to commit to the Lord whatever we do and He will make our plan succeed.
Oh Alyssa I’m so glad you were faithful! You have stretched me and I can’t wait to see how God works through this. I loved meeting you at Relevant. You have such a sweet spirit!!
Walking in His Grace,
Cyndi
Hi Alyssa and the team! Is there going to be a page of “helps” on how you want this to happen? I don’t see an introductory post as to how you want people to respond as to what they have given each day….or maybe I missed it. What a great thing you are doing here!
Patty Coleman´s last blog post ..Contest For A Cause-Win A Bracelet CLOSED-NO ENTRIES
Wow, I’am so thankful that you didn’t give up and walk away, like you could have. And that would have been easier then going the long haul. Well let me tell you that you have been an inspiration to me and I’am surely thankful for day 1 and cannot wait for day 2 through day 30. Thank you and God bless for all you do for us…
Shirley Smith
@Shirley, Your words mean more to me than you know, Shirley. Thank YOU for the encouragement!
Scratch that last comment. I found the website for the challenge!!
Patty Coleman´s last blog post ..Contest For A Cause-Win A Bracelet CLOSED-NO ENTRIES
Thanks SO much for sharing this story, Alyssa!! God is going to do great things this month!
I am so glad to hear that this was not canceled. I have been looking forward to it since it ended last year! I think it is one of my favorite things about the Holidays now. I’m sorry to hear that it caused you some worry and stress. It will do wonders for many, as you do yourself. Thanks for everything….let the challenge begin! (I’ve already started this morning 🙂 !!!)
Sweet Alyssa…
I want you to go back and read this post at the end of November.
“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Saw the facebook page has some 1200 people who like it, wow! Can’t believe I’ve been blogging one year now and only have around 230 facebook people, you’re doing something right! 🙂
It’ll be a great month! I gladly accept your challenge to give for a month! 🙂
A trip to Goodwill today and the church to donate items we no longer need that are taking up space in our home. I’m very excited about the Challenge! Thank you for doing this! God will bless it if it is for His Glory!
Alyssa, your words so speak to my heart! Thank you for your transparency and faithfulness. I am so excited about this challenge…how it will stretch me and how God is already moving. If JUST ONE soul is changed, God is glorified! God speed my friend!
Amanda Brackney´s last blog post ..Earn 25 Recycle Bank Points
Thank you so much for doing and not throwing in the towel. Just last night I felt like throwing in the towel because I didn’t think I could fill my first week of giving but it is amazing how God turns things around. This is my first year doing this and I am so excited!
I love your post and everything about this challenge ~ I would love to share it with our community at http://www.gomominc.com and participate myself. The space we work in has so many pitfalls that can confuse and distract us about why we are here, what our gifts are meant to do, and ultimately for WHOM the glory is deserved. Thank you for making it crystal clear ~ blessings for such WONDERFUL success!!!
Alyssa,
I just wanted to write to tell you how much this challenge meant to me and my 6 year old daughter last year. We did this together, each keeping our own journal. She was so excited to be just like mommy, and she’s grown so much in her giving in one year. I’m so glad I saw this post today and we will start this again. She’s talked about it several times over the last year, and I know she’s going to be thrilled to do it again. Thank you so much!
Thanks for reminding us about why we do this! I’m excited to participate again this year. Just got back to the store round up my day 1 giving (food for the food pantry at church)!
I find such joy in reading your blog. It is always inspirational.
Thanks for all you give to your readers.
I was especially glad to read your post today. Depression is one of the challenge-opportunities I have in my life and it has seemed to be particularly difficult to deal with the last week or so. Then God led me to an ad on the side of my Facebook page a couple of days ago and I found this challenge. I know I am blessed. I remember reading something in an inspirational book some time ago about how heaven rejoices when someone reaches out of their despair to serve others and praise God. Imagine, heaven rejoicing over you and me! I don;t know if it gets better than that! :O)
Wow! Isn’t it amazing how good God is…. I am crying too as I read this because I believe that He is orchestrating the entire thing! May you be blessed beyond measure as you guide the efforts.
I’m excited about the challenge!! Can’t wait…. 🙂
Be encouraged. The giving challenge was not forgotten. Thank you for your blog. We will work with you to show forth God’s love to others.
You’ve got me all teary-eyed too, Alyssa. What a privilege to call you friend and an honor to walk alongside you in this challenge. I know that MANY lives will be touched… both the givers and the receivers… and that God will be honored.
Jennifer @ Saving and Giving´s last blog post ..More New Printable Coupons
Well…I haven’t actually GIVEN anything today, but I know one thing that I can do. My husband and I are involved in a clothing giveaway ministry called “Christ’s Clothes Crew.” I realized this morning that I have half a closet of stuff that is nice and clean and ready to wear. A couple of things would be a real sacrifice for me because they’re my favorite outfits, but then they might turn out to be somebody else’s favorites too. Our next giveaway is Nov 13, so my plan is to take those things out of the closet TONIGHT so they will be ready and I won’t change my mind and be selfish. Lord willing, I will find some way every day this month to give creatively.
I’m so glad you didn’t give up. This challenged changed my November last year. Turned around a whole lot of stuff. I’m really excited to do it this year as well.
Erin´s last blog post ..Gratitude and Giving
Italy’s Anti-Aging Secret is Out and we would love to for you to try it first! http://bit.ly/bz4Ovl
So glad you didn’t give up!! God will do great things! I know it! 🙂
Mandy´s last blog post ..Veggie Tales 3-Day Sale!
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful testimony. God really uses you in ways you can’t imagine!
Blessings!!