All stories featured in our Stories of Generosity Series will also be posted in this page.

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Mechanics

1. Recall the times when the Lord has shown His generosity and providence in your life.

2. Write down your experience of God's generosity in 200-300 words.

3. Indicate the Bible verse which inspired you to write your own sharing.

4. Go to lingkod.to/StoriesOfGenerosity and submit your story through the form.

5. Our editors will choose stories to be featured in our Lingkod FB page. One person can submit only one story.

Overcoming Challenges

MYRA ALPUERTO

"While I was taking my Christian Life Series (CLS) last year, I faced so many challenges.

My father was admitted with stage 4 cancer and because of it, we encountered a financial crisis in the family. I then decided to go home to the province.

Left with just 30 pesos in my pocket after buying my father’s medicines, I went early to the barangay hall to process my travel pass requirements. Mayroong matandang lalaki na nanghingi sa akin ng face mask at pagkain; at inabutan ko naman s'ya. Sinabi niya, 'wag kang mag-alala, may tutulong sa 'yo mamaya.' Maya-maya ay kinumusta ako ng isa kong kaibigan at nag-offer na syang magbigay sa akin ng pera.

Naayos ko ang travel pass at nakauwi ako sa probinsya pero pagdating ko ay nag-positive naman ako sa rapid test ng COVID-19. Pero malaki na din ang pasasalamat ko dahil sa nurse sa quarantine facility na naibigay nya ang gamot ng tatay ko sa nanay ko at pagkatapos ng ilang araw ay gumaling na din ako.

Araw-araw kaming nagdasal na sana gumaling na ang Papa ko at bigyan pa sya ng mahabang buhay pero pagkalipas ng halos dalawang buwan, binawian na rin sya ng buhay.

Alam ko kung gaano kasakit mawalan ng minamahal but I was reminded everything has a purpose. God is good kasi andyan siya to help me to recover from all sadness and to move forward para maging masaya ang Papa ko. Proverbs 19:21 says 'Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.' I might have experienced many challenges but God will use all this for His bigger purpose."

Battle against Covid-19

KAI RAMIREZ

“I was tested positive for COVID-19 on August 25, 2021. I was shocked, but I accepted the situation and surrendered my life to God. I was isolated at home for 1.5 days, and then I was transferred to an isolation facility and stayed for 21 days.

During that time, I witnessed God’s hand at work through my brothers and sisters in Lingkod who interceded for my full recovery and through my family who took care of me, even at a distance.

As the findings showed that I had pneumonia in my left lung, the doctors concluded that I was a moderate COVID-19 case. I could have been hospitalized, but the Lord spared me from that through medications and unceasing prayers.

This personal battle against COVID-19 is a victorious one because of the Lord’s faithfulness and generosity. Indeed, I saw His face and felt His immense and unending love for me through my family, the community, and the people around me.

This is my third lease in life, and my only fitting response is ‘Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits.’”

In God's Perfect Timing

AYELLE GARCIA

I was left without work when the pandemic started. Despite the circumstances, I found other sources of income to provide for my family and continue my contributions in Lingkod and Christ’s Youth in Action.

A few months after, during my prayer time, the Lord told me to pursue my master’s degree in Creative Writing. At that time, the university I was eyeing for opened their admissions. Despite the hesitation because of financial constraints, the Lord affirmed to me that I will receive anything when I pray with much faith.

Spirit-led, I applied both for admissions and scholarship. While waiting, I continued to pray for favorable results. Before classes started, I received a letter from the university. I was accepted both in my chosen degree and in being a full university scholar. I also apply what I learn in Creative Writing to serve other people inside and outside community. To date, I am still able to maintain my scholarship.

When you offer the desires of your heart to the Lord, He will give it and provide for whatever you need in His perfect timing. This is one of those moments in my life where I witnessed God’s generosity amidst the pandemic.

God of Miracles

BENJIE GIRL MARTINEZ

“My youngest brother, Joshua, collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. The results showed that he had AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation). The arteries and veins ruptured and required an operation immediately. By God’s grace, the neurosurgeon was in Bacolod that day and was able to perform the operation.

The operation went well and my brother was transferred to the I.C.U. for recovery. He was in comatose for seven days and remained in the hospital for three months. With little source of income, we surrendered it all to God. Surprisingly, financial assistance came as God used people to provide for our needs.

When my brother woke up, he told us that he had encountered Jesus while in coma. He said Jesus brought him to heaven where there was a large golden gate, streets made of diamonds, and a huge mansion with many rooms. He was then brought back to the hospital by a very tall winged man. My brother’s encounter with Jesus while in coma not only changed us as a family, but it also changed him. Since then, my brother became active in serving God and evangelizing people in church.

Indeed, He is a God of miracles!”

Trusting God's provisions

POLET CARLOS

"Last May 2021, we received news from my sister’s doctor that she needs to undergo an immediate operation due to a cyst found in her left ovary.

We were devastated both mentally and financially, but still pushed through with the operation, trusting that God is always here to provide for us. After our leaders and the brothers and sisters from Lingkod heard about the situation, I received messages from them. They were reaching out to me to ask for my bank account details. Because of what they gave and the help that came from our family members across the globe, we were able to pay for my sister's medical expenses in full! Indeed, we can never outdo God in generosity.

My sister was able to return to work last August and both of us are happily serving in the activities of our respective branches every Friday, particularly, the Christian Life Series. God is good all the time!"

God's provision and generosity when we put Him first

ZIZETTE NUQUI

"I had a dilemma for almost two months. I had to either complete my payment to a friend or give my tithe in full. When I decided to pray about it, it became clear to me that I should give to God first. Giving to God should not be negotiable.

During my prayer time on December 27, I decided to give first to God and negotiate with my friend to complete my payment the following month. On that same day, while my family and I were having dinner, a Lingkod brother called and told me that I won a car in a raffle which I don’t remember joining. Indeed, God is so generous!

I discerned on what to do with the car. Shall I sell, keep, or donate it? It was hard to decide. But, bringing it to prayer made the decision-making easier. I decided to sell it. Some people questioned my decision. But, I believe I have a generous God, and He can give me another one if He is willing. When we put God first with all our might in any circumstance of our lives, it also implies that we trust all His ways.

Rescued by the Lord’s overflowing grace and generosity

DELZ BONTILAO

"For me, working in a bank is difficult. During my probationary period, I wanted to quit and resign due to stress. However, because of my obligations to my family, I persevered. Fast forward to 2020, it was my 10th year of working in a bank and I finally decided to resign to look for work opportunities abroad. Unexpectedly, COVID-19 came and all my plans didn't push through.

I then realized, it was actually God's way of rescuing me. He doesn’t want me to suffer the consequences as almost all industries went down except for some, including the banking industry. God was somehow smiling at me saying “Not yet Del, not now. I have a purpose why you needed to stay.”

I can’t contain how grateful I am to God for His constant provisions to me. I am not worthy of any of His blessings, yet His overflowing grace and generosity surpass all my shortcomings as His daughter. God did not and won't ever abandon me after all."

God’s generosity can never be outdone

PABLO REYES JR.

"I consider my nursing career abroad, which spanned for twenty years up until my retirement last March 2021, a success. With God’s sustaining grace, along with dedication and hard work, I was able to do and achieve what I hoped for myself and for my family. Despite the ups and downs of the journey, the Lord kept His promise to be faithful.

It was also during the worst of times that I experienced the best of times. The pandemic in 2020 made me a recipient of God’s healing through Pope Francis’ URBI et ORBI, a papal address and apostolic blessing given by the pope on certain solemn occasions.

God’s generosity has manifested in and through me yet again by fulfilling one of my greatest dreams and ambitions in life: to work as a missionary for God’s people. I was invited to become one of the staffers of Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon. Despite my inexperience, I must take my cue now from Him who equips and enables me to share in the fulfilment of His greatest mission in this world with humility and excitement. For this, I am forever grateful!"