Welcome to December’s series on 31 Days of Giving on a Budget. In this series, I’ll be sharing inspiring stories from my readers and posts with practical ways to give — even on a limited income.
If you have a Giving on a Budget story to share of a way you or your family has given to others this year or this holiday season, please email me your story (or a link to your post on your blog) and a picture to go along with it, if possible. I’d love to hear it and possibly share it during this series!
We had the incredible opportunity of getting to have Chris Seay and his cameraman come to our home for a short visit earlier this year. Chris is a pastor, author, and a man with an amazing heart for the poor. I was so blessed and inspired to meet him and get to hear a little of his heart.
Chris has traveled all over the world to visit those living in poverty. He’s seen suffering beyond what most of us could even begin to fathom (some of the stories he shared just blew my mind!). But he’s not just witnessed the poverty, he is actively seeking to live a life of walking with the poor–sacrificing his own comforts and wants in order to reach out to those in desperate need.
In his book, A Place At the Table, Chris issues a challenge for us to not just talk about the dire needs and poverty around the globe, but for us to actually walk with the poor. His book challenges readers to consider a 40-day fast from excess.
In the short video below, I share about two books that have impacted me recently when it comes to giving and living a simple life and Chris shares more about his heart for the poor:
For more video clips from my interviews with Chris, be sure to check out the following links:
What a 40-Day Fast From Excess Might Look Like For Your Family
This was a fabulous book!!! I loved reading it during lent this year.
Seven is an AMAZING book! Completely challenges you in so many ways. I love the way Jen Hatmaker writes, too. A definite read! Going to have to check out A Place at the Table.
This is awesome, thanks so much for sharing. I and many other members of my faith (Mormon) participate in a monthly fast on the first Sunday of each month where we skip two meals and donate at least the value of those meals to a fund that serves the poor in our own communities and all around the world. It is consistently one of the most spiritual things I do all month, and as a result I am always overwhelmed with gratitude for what I have (though some would consider me poor!) and inspired to rededicate myself to the service of the “least of these”.
I will definitely be reading Chris Seay’s book and I’m excited to see how I could possibly extend this practice/concept to other facets of my life besides food. Thank you again for sharing!
What a neat practice Anna!
What a wonderful interview. I love to see God working in individual lives to care for His children! There is often so much white noise in our lives that we can miss His soft voice calling us to be His hands & feet. God bless you and your effort to bring the least of these to the forefront of our minds.
Looking forward to watching these videos once my children are asleep! I’m going to see if our library has that book tomorrow too! We are already very frugal but there are so many ways we could probably cut out excess!
Fasting (from anything, be it food or “luxuries”) seems like such a powerful way to examine your current life and habits with an editor’s eye. I’m planning to do a fast from excess in the month of March (since I’m paid bi-weekly and there happens to be three paychecks coming in March). With the extra income, I’m focusing on concentrating my efforts to help local food banks in the area. At least in my area, there’s such an abundance of giving around the holidays (which is a great thing) but many local food pantries here see gifts decline as people settle into the routine of the new year and the media attention around donations decreases as compared to the holidays.
Can’t wait to read!