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Equipping people worldwide to learn, apply, and teach God's financial principles so they may know Christ more intimately, be free to serve Him, and help fund the Great Commission.
Today on MoneyLife
January 5, 2009
David Puckett: True Stewardship
Our guest today embodies all three of those elements, and when they converge, you are where God wants you to be. There will be energy and joy in God using you. When we hear David Puckett's story, it should motivate all of us to pursue those things this year, seeking first His kingdom. David is a person who has combined his vocation and his ministry. He has a passion for serving some of the neediest people on Earth. God called us to be priests right where we are and to represent him. When MoneyLife was being created, we knew we could do a program where we answered a lot of questions and taught God’s financial principles every day, but we wanted to introduce our listeners to people who are living the principles and experiencing the fruit of it. True stewardship is how you make a living, manage that income, and how you put it to work for God’s kingdom. Today you’re going to meet a great steward.
David said on CNN that people have forgotten the reason God put them on Earth. He was saved at age 19 after losing his father and, for a time, his purpose in life. David went on a weekend retreat with a church group and learned about God’s purposes for his life. He discovered we’re all created in God’s image and have worth. Our purpose is to glorify Him in all that we do and say, vocationally, personally, spiritually, and mentally David says he was honored to be considered for the CNN award. When he made to the final 30 of 3,700 people, he knew God was at work. When he made it into the final 10, he knew God wanted him to testify about Him to millions of people. David gave God the glory and praise for what He had done and what he was doing. He knows God worked in his life to bring him to where he is today. David is a steward of artificial limbs and braces. He shares how God moved him into that field of orthotics and prosthetics. It was a long, hard climb; God used everything from his background to knit together a ministry called PIPO Missions Inc and Limbs and Braces to Mexico. The ministry has helped over 500 people with limbs or braces. David's ministry focuses on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The populatin density there is about the same as in the U.S., but the care they need isn’t available to them. David says God has put the ministry there to help the poorest of the poor. David gets the components for the artificial limbs from people in the U.S, patients that are no longer using a limb, or their family members. The ministry also sponsors a race where participants are required to donate a limb; people across the country go to the Web site and donate. David has made over 40 mission trips to Mexico. He shares a story about a 23-year old man from Chiapas named Caesar who suffered from birth defects. He was missing both legs and one arm, which had kept him from ever walking. David thought he could help Caesar and made several more visits. A few months later, he fitted him two legs and an arm. The community celebrated it as a miracle like the paralytic man that was healed in Luke 5. Caesar knew God was in it, and David encouraged him to give thanks to God. As time went on, David learned that Caesar got a job, married, and had a child. God is now using Caesar to change his village. Caesar’s story will be highlighted in an upcoming program on Univision. David's story teaches us that we nNeed to be good stewards, but we also need to help the poor. David says if people want to participate in this ministry they can go to the Web site or by calling (912) 354-7500. David says it's an expensive ministry but the blessings far exceed the sacrifices. David is one of the Lord’s heroes because he is serving the least of these. Larry Burkett used to say he told the Lord that he would be obedient if God would clearly show him what to do. He knew he was ignorant of some things but he was committed to being obedient. To begin the process of leveraging your gifts or career for ministry:
He will be pleased to show you how He wants to use you! |
The Plans of TomorrowLife is fragile. Consider where you are investing your time and energies. |
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Finances and Your Relationship with GodThis generation’s greatest need is for God’s Word to be taught clearly and undiluted. The next greatest is for Christians to demonstrate that it works. |
God and MoneyOnce we understand how God uses money and why He chooses to use it in a particular way, we can better understand His directives regarding finances. |
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Other Resources: |
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I want to talk today on the themes of making money, managing it wisely, and using it to fulfill God’s purposes for your life.
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