BABY STEPS
Give a little at a time, but consistently – break down that gift into a weekly amount to make it more manageable. Little by little, it adds up. To see how those small weekly gifts can become significant, review this chart of typical commitments.

DIVERSIONARY TACTICS
Can you divert funds to reach your giving goal? This might mean a lifestyle adjustment, but consider what you currently spend on entertainment, dining out, subscriptions, gifts, etc. Choosing to bring your own coffee from home most of the time rather than swinging by your favorite coffee shop. (Make that stop an occasional treat, rather than a routine!) Brown bagging it a couple times a week. Agreeing with your grown siblings that from now on, you’ll all just give holiday and birthday gifts to each other’s kids – and no longer to each other. Any of these things could make a significant difference – and not just a monetary one. You may have fallen into a habit that you follow without thinking twice – it’s no longer something that truly fulfills you. Maybe now is the time to drop that routine and renew your commitment to making conscious decisions about how you spend your time and money.

MAYBE THAT CAR CAN LAST ANOTHER YEAR
We often confuse “wants” with “needs.” When your car is broken beyond all reasonable repair bills, and you have no other means of transportation, replacing that car becomes a necessity. But let’s be honest – we usually don’t wait until then. The same criteria apply to most other major expenditures: appliances, furniture, clothing, trips, etc. Perhaps God is calling you to forgo some of those “wants” for a year or two so that you can better respond to his call for Kingdom building. Who knows what surprises are in store for you if you take that leap of faith?

KA-CHING!
Taking a second or part-time job, coming out of retirement or working overtime can produce additional income that you can designate entirely toward your gift. Maybe it’s just something you do one day or evening a week, or it’s a seasonal thing, but it’s something you’re good at and you’ve always wanted to spend more time on it. Now’s your chance! Or, if you’re already putting in 50+ hours a week, working to your fullest potential (which is great stewardship of the talents God gave you) can bring you a well-deserved bonus. Dedicating forthcoming raises or bonuses are another way to fulfill your gift.

FREEDOM FROM DEBT
It’s good stewardship to reduce debt. As you continue down that path and eliminate debt obligations over the next three years, you might decide to continue making that “payment” once the debt is eliminated – but instead, earmark it for your gift.

YOU JUST CAN’T HELP YOURSELF
If you’re like most St. Luker’s, you have a generous spirit and your giving doesn’t just happen at St. Luke’s. We’re certainly not recommending that you stop helping other worthy organizations! However, reviewing your charitable donations in light of their impact on Kingdom building could identify another resource for giving. For example, you might give annually to a university. Diverting those funds to your BodyBuilding gift for one, two or three years (or reducing the university gift temporarily) can help you reach your goal.

As you’re looking at how you’re going to do what God has asked you to do, try using this checklist when you review how you currently spend your time and money:

__ Is this pleasing to God?

__ Is this a good way to use my spiritual gifts?

__ Is this a conscious decision? Or has this become a lazy habit?

__ Who am I saying “yes” to when I spend this time or money? Who am I saying “no” to?