JOE: Welcome to FJM. I'm Joe Jordan here
with Cristy, Gina, it's good to see you guys today.
GINA: Good to be here.
JOE: Yeah. So today we get to talk about something that's, I
don't know, for me, just because it's the way God created me,
it's exciting and it's talking about living generously. You
know, and that can mean so much. And it's not always about
getting your wallet out or whatever. It's not always about
cash, but it's about everything in our life. How we can live
generously to bless others, but really to bless the Lord because
the Lord gives us so many gifts and talents and abilities to
use, and He gives them to us for a reason, for eternal reasons
and purposes so that we can use them to help others. But before
that, I mean, I don't know, maybe there's viewers today that
have never seen this program before, and I just want you to
know we are Fred Jordan Mission and we are in our 80th year of
full-time ministry. We minister the love of Jesus by declaring
and demonstrating his love on Skid Row in downtown Los
Angeles, the homeless capital of the world. Last year, I think I
was looking at the numbers, almost a half a million we
served. It was just an amazing amount of meals that we served
on Skid Row, sometimes up to a thousand a day because God has
called us there to care for the least of these. And we do it all
because of friends and partners like you, our viewers, the ones
who pray for us and financially support us because we don't take
money from the government. We don't take money from local and
city and state and federal funds.
GINA: Or we couldn't talk about Jesus.
JOE: No. And we're just not willing to do that. So FJM TV,
73 years of being on television and 80 years of being on Skid
Row is all because of friends like you. So we just wanted you
to know that because we're not willing to compromise even an
ounce. And I've been offered before, hey pastor here, here's
a million dollar grant. But you can't say, Jesus, thank you. God
bless you. Because ultimately, would it be nice to have money
and more money to help more people? Yes, but you know what?
God calls us. God supplies according to his riches and
glory. And you know what? If God wanted to have the extra million
dollars, He would give it to us, but He supplies our needs to
meet the needs of those He calls us to because He's faithful and
because you, our partners, are faithful. So thank you for all
that you do. And Cristy, there's times, and you were in the
office for so many years looking at donors and letters and stuff,
and people send in prayer requests and, you know, just
tell us real quick, if someone wanted to send in, whether it's
through FJM.org or write us or call us and they have a prayer
request, we would like to pray for 'em. How can they do that?
CRISTY: Yeah, yeah. We love praying for everyone. So alls
you need to do, you could literally write us, snail mail
we like to call it right, to PO Box 12345 Covina, California
91722. Or you could just go online and there's a tab that is
called prayer requests. You fill it out and we pray for you. And
it's just such a good way to just be able to connect with
every person watching every person involved, because, you
know, we don't just want your financial donations, we want, we
want your prayers. We can't do this without prayer.
JOE: And we want to pray for you and the situations you're in
because you don't have to live on Skid Row to have needs. We
know that. Everyone has needs. So if you have a need, write us
today, snail mail. Stick a stamp on it if you want or go on
social media or anywhere else. You can go on any of our posts,
my post, and you can just say, Hey Joe, will you pray for me? I
need prayers. And you don't even have to tell us what it's about
because Jesus knows what it's about. And we will take your
prayer request and we will go to God with them. But how can
people also volunteer and give financially
because that is so important to keep us going.
GINA: Yes, that is. And so you just go to FJM.org and see how
you can volunteer. We have events all year long where we
definitely need the volunteers. Also, the doors are open, like
you said every day on Skid Row. People are hungry and hurting,
and we're there to meet those needs, but we need your
financial support. So again, go to FJM.org and please give with
your finances. And no amount is too great or too small. It is
just appreciated and will go to good use. And Fred Jordan
Mission has been faithful for 80 years and we're still going
strong. And the need is greater than ever. And I love what your
mom always said, I always could hear her say what
we make happen for others, God makes happen
for us. So give and expect a blessing today.
JOE: Yeah, and you can never out give God. I learned that in my
own personal life and talking about living generously, We look
at 1 John 3:16 and not John 3:16, which is just like this
verse, but listen to this 1 John 3:16, It says this, it talks
about the generosity of God, and this is what it says. This is
how we know what love is. Jesus Christ laid down his life for us
and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and
sisters. Amazing. Jesus came from heaven. He died on the
cross. He laid down his life. He gave everything for us. And we
should lay down our lives for others. Now, we don't have to go
and we don't have to hang on a cross to do that, but we can go
and we can help those in need. It doesn't matter if it's our
neighbor, those who live on the streets of Skid Row. If it's a
homeless person living under a bridge, there's always somebody.
It could be our neighbor that just got a divorce or someone
lost their husband, and there's so many needs. And so let's live
with everything that God gave us generously and give back because
God can use all of our gifts and talents for His glory. God is so
radically and incredibly generous if you think about it,
the Father, God in heaven, He gave out of His heart and love
for us, His one and only son. And Jesus is incredibly generous
because he willingly stepped down from heaven, from the
throne of God and gave his life for us to die for our sins that
we wouldn't have to. And he willingly laid down his life.
And the Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit is so generous
in how he gives gifts to us. Speaking of that, spiritual
gifts 1 Corinthians 12:11 says this, and Paul is writing this
to us. It says this, all these are empowered by one in the same
spirit, the Holy Spirit who apportions to each individual as
he wills. So the Holy Spirit gives us gifts and abilities
that we can use for his glory. Our God is a generous God. Jesus
is generous, and we as his children should be generous
also. Our God has given us so many gifts, so many spiritual
gifts and other gifts that just as He has given us all of the
gifts and abilities and talents that we have, shouldn't we live
generously to give those back to others. And especially you guys
when you think about it, like, God gave everything. He gave
everything. His only son gave it all. And Jesus gave everything
his very life for us because he loved us. And so Cristy, how do
you use your spiritual gifts and your talents and your abilities
that God has blessed you with to bless others?
CRISTY: Yeah, you know, I think it could be as simple as just
giving of your time. I think when I used to think about
generosity and all that, obviously I think of like
monetary generosity, but simply, you know, being a good friend,
especially in the rush society that we live in, and it's like
no one slows down long enough to give you their time sometimes.
So just slowing down and giving someone your time to listen to
them could be a way that, you know, you're listening to them.
And then, yeah, then it can go a step further and there's talents
that God has given all of us and entrusted us with. And what are
we going to do with that? We're responsible to go extend God's
love to others and to go do something with the gifts and
resources He's given us. So, you know, that's played out
different ways in my life, but you know, I always
come back to the simplicity of first and foremost,
I'm called to be a good friend and give up my time.
GINA: And that you are.
JOE: She is incredible. And Gina, how have others used their
gifts at times that you needed 'em to bless you.
GINA: Hmm, that's good. You know just- I think I'm a big person
on words. Our words in the Bible says, bring life or death. And I
know there's been times where I've been hurting so bad or I've
been through a situation or just having a bad day, and someone
will come along with a kind word. And the Bible tells us a
kind word is soothing to the soul, you know. And also talking
about God's generosity. I mean, His love is- nothing can
separate us. It's so immense. But it's as if we were just the
only ones. And sometimes when we're looking to give generosity
to other people, it doesn't have to be a big thing, just one kind
word to someone can change their whole day, their whole outlook.
You know, so that's something really important to me and how
it's touched my life as someone to come along and have that
encouragement. I mean, it's just changed in, you know, my
situation, my outlook, my hurt in an instant. So I'm really big
on giving back and I like to hopefully have my words bring
life into a situation or to build someone up. You know, and
not false and it's not, you know, it's you know that when
you're speaking God's Word to someone that you're loved,
you're important, your value, it can just change someone's like
it is honey soothing to the soul. So that's important to me.
JOE: Absolutely. And you know, on Skid Row, when we have
special events and just different times, it might just
be the hug that I go and give to somebody. A mother with kids
that are on the streets and you just give 'em a hug and let 'em
know that they're loved, and that God loves them. And it
might be given a high five to a kid or a fist pump to a kid, or
you know, it might be just that homeless man that you walk up to
and hand him a blanket, a pair of socks and just letting him
know that he's seen and that he matters. You know, it doesn't
have to be always these big elaborate things. You know, just
giving of our time, and our ears, and our words to someone
else can be such a blessing. How can we live generously by
looking to God who gave the most? We'll be right back.
ANNOUNCER: Jesus once said, what you do for the least of these,
you do for me. With your generous support, Fred Jordan
Mission has been fulfilling this calling for over 80 years by
feeding hungry people here on Skid Row. Together we made a
difference. Together, we have given hope to those less
fortunate, and together we have demonstrated the love of Jesus
to those in need. We deeply appreciate your support and we
ask that you please continue to give to this life-changing
mission. Go online to give at FJM.org. Whatever the amount,
great or small, your donation is greatly appreciated.
Join the conversation by connecting with us on social
media. We are on Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, and more. Visit us Social.FJM.org.
JOE: Well welcome back. We're talking today about living
generously and, you know, that generosity, it takes a lot of
different forms and shapes, and there's a lot of different ways,
whether it's a handshake, a hug, could be giving a donation, it
could be blessing somebody that has a need, help pay their rent.
It could be so many things. It's endless, generosity and how far
you can go with somebody, but sometimes it's just saying, you
know what, I see you. You know what you're loved, and I care
about your situation. And we want you to know at Fred Jordan
Mission that we care about you, our viewers, our partners, those
who are watching that have never seen this program before. We
want you to know that there is a God in heaven that loves you so
much, and He gave everything. You can't get any more generous
than the Creator of the Universe giving to all of us broken
people who are sinful and wicked, really, that's what the
Bible says. And then to give your son Jesus Christ, to come
and suffer in our place so that we can have a relationship with
Him. That generosity is amazing that God gave. And so I don't
think we can ever outgive God at all.
GINA: And His generosity with forgiveness, and
His love, and His grace, and His mercy.
JOE: Yeah, it's everything.
GINA: Yeah.
JOE: Yeah. Because holding in things against people isn't
being generous at all. In fact, that's being selfish and sinful.
And you know, I'm not saying you're not either that we should
just, someone hurts us or betrays us or something, and
then we just close our eyes and just go, oh, it's fine.
Everything's fine. But you know, when someone hurts you and they
apologize, you know, we should be quick to say, okay, I'll work
through this with you. And there are people that hurt us in life
that never ask forgiveness, but the Bible also talks about we
should forgive as Christ forgave us. And so sometimes it doesn't
mean forgetting the hurt and the pain that that person caused us,
and especially if they're not repentant and they're not, you
know, sorry about it, but we still need to as Christians, to
forgive and give that grace and then just move on because Jesus
gave it all and we weren't sorry when he died on the cross, and
we weren't like, oh, yes, Jesus. You know, he died first that we
could have a relationship with him. Today as we're looking at 1
Peter, Peter wrote this book and it reminds us that this world is
not our home. We're passing through it. In chapter 4, it
begins to talk about the last days here on this earth. And I
don't know about you and last days end times, but I know this,
and it might sound corny, it might sound corny to you, our
viewers, but today we are closer to the end than we were
yesterday. And that's just a fact. But the Bible says that no
one knows when Jesus will come back. No one. And so if no one
knows, I'm not about to guess, but he could come back today, he
could come back tomorrow, he could come back in 10 years, 20
years, 50 years, I don't know. But it just talks about how we
should live our life in light of that so that we can give
everything that we have to love God, to love others, and be
generous. 1 Peter 4:10 and 11 says this, each one of you
should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as
faithful stewards of God's grace in all forms. If anyone speaks,
they should do so as if they were speaking the words of God.
And if anyone serves, they should serve with the strength
that God provides, so that in all things God may be praised
through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and power forever,
amen. And here, Peter, in light of the fact that we are all in
the last days, he's saying, use your gifts to serve one another.
Use your talents to bless others, but do it for the glory
of God. Peter would want to encourage us to serve God, focus
on God in these last times to bless others so that the kingdom
could grow. And that's our heart, is to see people come to
know Jesus and for the kingdom to grow. Gina, you know, there's
that old saying, and I used to not really understand it,
although I do now, but there's that old saying,
it's better to give than to receive. But have you
found that to be true in your life? And if so, how?
GINA: Oh, just absolutely better to give than receive. I mean, of
course as a child, you know, at Christmas and birthdays and all
of that, that's like a childish way to be, and it's very
selfish. It's unfulfilling. But to give, I mean it's just-
there's nothing like it. And I always go back to the people who
come down to volunteer at the Mission. They go because maybe
they're hurting. Maybe they've been through a situation they
didn't know where to turn during their pain, and they thought,
you know what? I'm going to go down and volunteer. I'm going to
give to these people here on Skid Row. And they always leave
every time saying they receive so much more back than they
actually were giving. And that's just kind of how the Lord works.
When we give, we do actually receive. You know, and again,
what your mom says, what we make happen for others, God makes
happen for us. And that's just kind of like
the way it works. And so that's just one
way that I've just seen that work in my life.
JOE: Yeah. How about you, Cristy?
CRISTY: Yeah, you know, I think a few years ago I had a
perspective change with it. Like I think a lot of my life,
because I grew up doing a lot of missionary work with my family
and everything, I was on the receiving end of giving a lot
you know. And so I think when I became an adult, I kind of had
to have a perspective shift to where I learned to give. Because
when I was so focused on all my needs, and my needs were great,
it was really hard. It was always focused on, oh, when is
this going to be fixed in my life? And this? And then I
really felt like God challenged me to kind of shift my
perspective. And even though I had nothing to focus on giving
instead of getting, and a lot of times it's not like I could
really give money. I had no money, but I could give him my
time and all that. And so I did. And what ended up happening is
God blessed me so much more. And you know, I would encourage
anyone listening today with that, that God always redeems,
he always restores. And like what you were talking about,
sometimes you get hurt by others. And I think that's a
fear when it comes to giving and living generously, is that you
might be taken advantage of or they might not actually receive
it the way you want it to. But we are called to give for God,
not for that person necessarily. Sure, it blesses the person, but
we do it for the Lord. So when we do that, God redeems and He
restores and he takes care of us. And you know, I experience
that firsthand is when I shift my perspective. And every time
in life, even now when I shift my perspective and I don't think
about what I'm getting and telling everything someone owes
me, and instead I think, how can I give an add to that person,
then God always takes care of me.
GINA: You know, there was something I learned as a young,
younger girl going through a Bible study, and one of the
studies was, when you're with people, do I leave Gina or do I
leave Jesus? And that really hit me so hard, and it always is in
the back of my mind. You know what I can give or what I am
trying to do really is not really anything, but when I
leave God's love, God's grace, God's forgiveness, then I'm
leaving Jesus. And that's something that can be held onto
and really make a difference in a change in someone's life.
JOE: Yeah, absolutely. And the Word of God tells us that we
should do everything as unto the Lord, not man. So don't think
about it of am I going to get taken advantage of who's going
to take advantage of me, be wise in what you do, ask God to give
you wisdom and how you give and what you're involved with, but
give with a generous heart as God generously gave to you and
to me. And just be a blessing, because again, you can't ever
out give God, and you can't ever do too much good for the
kingdom's sake. And the Bible also talks about storing up our
treasures in heaven where moths and rust and thieves can't
steal. So you know, the more God calls you to do for Him and His
glory, do it because the rewards are great. Ask God every day how
you can use your spiritual gifts, your time and your
talents for His glory, and He will lead you in
that, and it will leave you with a life
that's fulfilled and a generous life of giving.
Here at Fred Jordan Missions, every day we see all, all types
of people. I remember as a kid, my father Fred and my mom,
Willie, teaching me a song about Jesus loves the little children
of the world, red and yellow, black and white. We are all
precious in God's sight. I still know that song, I taught it to
my children. And that's exactly what we see here at Fred Jordan
Mission every day. Red and yellow, black and white, every
single person that you could think of from children all the
way to seniors are here on the streets living in LA, and they
come to our doors to be loved on, to be shared with that Jesus
loves you and Jesus saves. You know, we hand out, we hand out
drinks, we hand out snacks. We preach the gospel. We have hot
meals, we do special events. But if you want to know who comes
through our doors, it's all of us. There's no certain person,
there's no certain look. But like I said, in that song, red
and yellow, black and white, we're all precious in God's
sight. That's who we see here every day at Fred Jordan
Mission. People from all around this country that end up on
these streets can come through our door and
we will serve them as we declare and demonstrate
the love of Jesus to those in need.
Just want to encourage you as we close today, to live a life of
generosity. Generosity with your time, your talent, your gifts,
your love, your grace and mercy to others. There are so many who
are hungry and homeless, helpless and hopeless with
broken hearts and broken dreams that need you and need your
generosity. And at Fred Jordan Missions, that's what we do
every day. We partner with friends like you, partners like
you to give hope and love to those in need. So today, if you
are a part already, thank you so much for being a part of Fred
Jordan Missions, and if you're not pray about it, ask God how
you can be a part. Whether it's giving your time, your talents,
or your resources, we need you. Go to FJM.org. Get involved
because you can do a good thing, and you guys can do a good
thing, and I can do a good thing. But together
we can do extraordinary things as God uses us, as
His children, to bless others. God bless you.
FEMALE: (SINGING) When the night comes, and there's no one and
you feel hopeless and abandoned. Just take my hand and lift your
eyes. Change is coming, hope has arrived. We will overcome this
sorrow. We will see the dawn tomorrow. We will soldier on
down this road as we reach for hope, reach for hope.
ANNOUNCER: Please will you join us in feeding hungry children
and their families by phoning today, 844 FJM-FOOD or donating
online, FJM.org. That's FJM.org or mail your check
to Fred Jordan Mission PO Box 12345
Covina, California 91722. Please will you help?
ANNOUNCER: The preceding program was sponsored by generous
friends and partners of Fred Jordan Missions.