Category Archives: Unexpected Generosity

How to Not Be Afraid

Ever wanted to jump out of an airplane, give a major speech to a sold-out crowd, pet an anaconda, or fight back the zombie apocalypse…or at least, not be afraid to do any of the following?

One of the biggest ways to conquer fear is to be generous. Okay…maybe generosity won’t conquer your fear of snakes or heights, but it does have an amazing propensity to fight fears of inadequacy, not having enough, not keeping up, and so much more.

In The Generosity Bet (and its predecessor, Stories of the Generous Life), we interviewed 42 people about their life stories and what they have learned about giving along the way. These people ranged from janitors to billionaires, college students to retirees, farmers to Wall Street traders. But one theme common to all of them? They are some of the most fearless people you’ll ever meet.

Generosity does that to you. It weasels out all the little things you hold onto, the things you’re afraid to let go, the fears and little pleasures you’ve nestled away in quiet dark places where you think no one else will find them, so no one else can want them or take them. It makes you confront your heart and realize how often you’ve doubted that God is good and that God will provide when He’s asked you to give.

Generosity pulls your heart into the light. Wide-eyed and blinking and maybe stumbling a little, you begin to uncurl your fingers around the things that once seemed so important—that time, those resources, that influence, that security in your stuff, that appearance of being better than the Joneses, that control.

And as you begin to give away, you begin to discover something else. You begin to see, to truly see people and needs and what it means to be alive and human. And you begin to see God, to see that He’s still vibrantly alive and working and light is spreading and the darkness is fading away.

You find that the more you give away, the more your hands come back full—come back full of joy. And the more you soak your heart in joy, the more your hands can give away, because you don’t need stuff to make you feel good or look okay. Most of all, the more you give away, the less you fear because you don’t have the need to hold on so tight anymore.

So take a step toward fearlessness and toward joy. Be generous.

For more ideas on how to start your generosity journey, pick up a copy of The Generosity Bet today!

3 Reasons We’re Afraid of Generosity

Generosity can be one of those touchy subjects. Aside from the fact that many pastors are reluctant to preach on it, and those who are givers are often hesitant to discuss it for fear of seeming boastful, the subject of generosity has a way of striking at sensitive core issues like none other.

There are three main reasons that generosity exposes so many raw nerves.

  • Fear. Many times we are afraid of generosity because we fear what we might be asked to give up or give away. And there are so many forms that fear can take—fear of not having enough, fear of loss of security, fear of loss of standard of living, fear of loss of financial freedom, fear of giving up something we desire, etc.
  • Guilt. Some of it has to do with our own consciences. We’re secretly afraid that we should be doing more or that God won’t be pleased with us until we reach a certain place of generosity.
  • Control. Sometimes we don’t like being told what to do. We don’t want to be told what we can do with our resources. Or, we want to ensure that our money is only spent in ways that we know are worthwhile.

Some of these objections to generosity have roots in good desires. For example, if we fear generosity means we won’t have enough on a rainy day, that fear ultimately comes from the good desire to provide for our families. However, the issue is our fallen nature has twisted those good desires into bonds that control us and tempt us to take matters into our own hands.

When God asks us to be generous, it’s not because He needs our money or resources. He already owns them all. It’s not because if we don’t give, then a ministry won’t be supported. God asks us to give because He loves us and He wants our hearts. Generosity is one of the tools God uses to help our hearts let go. It frees us to love God with a whole and unafraid heart.

In the new The Generosity Bet book, Henry Kaestner shared about how he and his wife felt like they were being generous. At the time, they were “double-tithing,” or giving about 20 percent. However, when a friend challenged him about why he gave, Henry realized how his giving stemmed from thinking that now God must be pleased with him.

Or, in the case of Anne Irwin, a mother and a business owner, when God asked her to start a giving circle to bring other women into generosity, she kept using the excuse that she was just too busy.

However, as both Anne and Henry looked at their motivations and just chose to take the next step into generosity, they began understanding the joy of giving. And through giving their time, resources, and passions, God began freeing their hearts to love Him more.

So, what is your heart holding onto? What next step of generosity might God be calling you to take so you can live free and live without fear?

For more stories like these, and for practical ideas for taking the next step in your generosity journey, order your copy of The Generosity Bet today.

What Is This Gift?

by William F. High

What is one of the most underappreciated jobs? I travel enough, and the big thing these days is for hotels to offer you a “free” breakfast. Well, that free breakfast means that someone has to get up by 4:30 a.m., arrive at the hotel and begin setting up—mainly a lot of pre-made stuff to which no pride of chefdom is accompanied. There’s a lot of cleaning up of dishes, picking up oatmeal goo still left in bowls, surrounded by still sleepy guests too busy to notice.

But magic happened to me recently. In one of the hotels I stay, I came across Diana, the breakfast hostess. She’s short, with raven hair, flashing eyes, and a strong accent. She hustles around the little breakfast area and in her broken English busts in on conversations of business-focused guests. Somehow, she makes them smile and she laughs—heartily.

I noticed, and I asked Diana: “What makes you so happy?” She told me, “I just happy.” And I asked what brought her to this country, and at that her eyes darkened, “My sister…she is sick.” A debilitating disease. So Diana picked up, left her homeland to serve her sister and her family.

I had to leave, and Diana was off to another customer anyhow. But on my next visit in town, I needed breakfast and there was Diana again. Still moving fast, still smiling, still laughing—so I caught up to her and asked her, “How is your sister?” It had been a couple of months since I’d seen her and she didn’t remember that I knew her secret. “How do you know about my sister?”

And then she remembered, “Ah yes, you asked the last time.” She brightened again and told me she was doing well, and skipped off. As I gulped down my breakfast, I couldn’t help sense the nudge, and I pulled out a bigger bill for a tip—bigger than the pre-made buffet breakfast meal deserved. I called Diana out of the kitchen and pressed the bill in her hand. “God bless you for taking care of your sister. Thank you for giving,” I said.

Her breath shortened, and her eyes moistened as she fanned her face and choked, “I’m going to cry.”

As I left there, I couldn’t help but think the gift deserves the gift. Diana’s sacrifice, her energy in serving, the smile, the laughter deserved a response.

And as I write now, here at Christmas, I cannot help but think of Jesus. He left a home, left his Father, left what was comfortable to serve in a place among bleary-eyed, inattentive travelers. But even still, He served, He touched, He healed and He brought joy to a darkened world. Oh today, even today, the gift, His gift, deserves our devotion, our attention, our gift. Christmas.

Risk, Reward, and Real Joy discovered through The Generosity Bet

Destiny Image Publishers announces the release of William F. High’s new book, “The Generosity Bet,” featuring the stories of twenty-one entrepreneurs, risk-takers, and everyday dreamers who have taken the risks, realized the rewards and received the real joy that comes from living a generous life.

Ever considered the cost of generosity? It seems risky. It doesn’t always make sense. It’s like making a bet with God, and many people wonder if it is worth it.

Author William F. High and co-author Ashley B. McCauley have compiled the stories of the twenty-one entrepreneurs, risk-takers, and everyday dreamers featured in this book—and hope for readers to discover that these stories can easily become their own.

Within the pages of “The Generosity Bet,” readers will find the stories of:

  • A man who started giving even though his company was on the verge of bankruptcy
  • A professional baseball player who lived a generous life even when he was ready to quit the game
  • A software developer who quit his job at the peak of his career to go into ministry,
  • A homemaker whose husband died in a plane crash and learned to trust again through giving.

Contributors include Rich Warren, Saddleback Church; Craig Groeschel, LifeChurch; David Green, Hobby Lobby; Jeremy Affeldt, San Francisco Giants; and more.

Discover the rewards and joy that come through the journey of a generous life. The risk is high, but the payoff is extraordinary. These stories will not only entice, but also prepare, those who are ready and willing to take “The Generosity Bet.”

“Bill High’s recent book leads to discovering the true power of generosity.”— Governor Mike Huckabee, Host – “Huckabee”

 “This book shows you the way to a joy-filled life as you give your heart and life to the Giver of all givers.” — Mike Sweeney, Kansas City Royals

“Bill High’s message isn’t just about being generous; it’s about the very real process of becoming generous.” — Robert Morris, Founding Senior Pastor – Gateway Church

“…a collection of fascinating accounts from people who have wrestled with the “whys and hows,” and discovered God’s blessings in the process of living generously.” — Jim Daly, President – Focus on the Family

Interviews, review copies and giveaway copies are available upon request.

To download a press kit, click here.

FOR PRESS INQUIRIES, INTERVIEWS AND REVIEW COPIES:

Brad Herman

(719) 439-4960

bherman@norimediagroup.com

To join our media contacts list, click here.