Cook

A Message from Pam Cook
Heart to Honduras Financial Director

About Giving

"…where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

This is a familiar passage - it's on all of HTH's stationary, envelopes, newsletters, brochures, and our web site. It's like a catchy slogan we
didn't have to pay for, appearing straightforward and simple. I can't read it without thinking of Heart to Honduras. I thought I understood it's
meaning until someone gave me the small but powerful book The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn. It's all about "discovering the secret of
joyful giving." I would equate it to Wilkinson's The Prayer of Jabez, in both size and influence.

When I first heard and grasped God's tithing principle (Malachi 3:6-12), my immediate response was to increase our giving to our church to
10%. By faith I took God up on His challenge to test Him in this. A short time later, with the birth of our first child, I committed to give up my
career to be a stay-at-home mom. God was faithful. Time and time again, unexpected expenses - car and home repairs, braces for the
children - were met with equally unexpected blessings that fell upon us to take care of the bills. I learned to trust God with our finances. I
believe in tithing. It gives me peace.

What I didn't realize I was missing is what The Treasure Principle and it's six keys so beautifully teaches: the joy of freewill gifts. Here is a
brief summary:

Treasure Principle:

You can't take it with you - but you can send it on ahead.

Treasure Principle Keys:

l God owns everything. I'm His money manager.

l My heart always goes where I put God's money.

l Heaven, not earth, is my home.

l I should live not for the dot (present life on earth) but for the line
(eternity in heaven).

l Giving is the only antidote to materialism.

l God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.

As Alcorn puts it, "I invite you to send your treasures on to heaven, where they will safely await you. When you do, you'll feel the freedom,
experience the joy, and sense the smile of God." I've experienced peace in giving God the tithe. Now I look forward to joy in giving beyond.

If you would like a copy of The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn, please write to me (Pam Cook) at PO Box 38, Xenia, OH 45385.