I Like Giving: The Transforming Power of a Generous Life Author: Visit Amazon's Brad Formsma Page | Language: English | ISBN:
1601425759 | Format: PDF
I Like Giving: The Transforming Power of a Generous Life Description
Review
Praise for I Like Giving
“Important and exciting!
I Like Giving could be the beginning of a movement of generosity.”
—MARK BATTERSON, author of The Circle Maker
“I Like Giving will light you up on the generosity dial.”
—DAVE RAMSEY, host of The Dave Ramsey Show and New York Times best-selling author
“I Like Giving inspires us to explore giving that is full of cheer and joy. These stories have opened up our eyes to
see our daily interactions with people in a whole new way.”
—DAVID and BARBARA GREEN, cofounders of Hobby Lobby
“I Like Giving is a beautifully written book with the right title, because people really do like giving. Brad Formsma
has an inspiring message, and his book should be on every kitchen table, like a daily vitamin for the soul.”
—STEPHEN POST, best-selling author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People
“Brad’s understanding of generosity is a wake-up call for the giver inside us all.”
—MICHAEL JR., award-winning comedian
About the Author
BRAD FORMSMA is the creator of Ilikegiving.com, a website viewed in more than 165 countries, which inspires people to live generously through its short films as well as a platform for all to share their experiences in giving. Brad and his wife, Laura, have three children and live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: WaterBrook Press (February 18, 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1601425759
- ISBN-13: 978-1601425751
- Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
- Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
The transforming power of a generous life, practical ideas, inspiring stories. With praise from both Dave Ramsey and Mark Batterson, as well as a totally cool cover (complete with multi-colored polka dots!), this book had my attention as soon as I pulled it out of the box it arrived in.
The author tells many stories, but one statement really stood out to me. His grandfather wrote him a note when he was fourteen and it said, "Brad, Winston Churchill said you make a living by what you earn and a life by what you give. I thought this would be well worth remembering. Love, Gramps." He goes on to talk about how "prophetic" that note actually was, and how his life changed over time to be less about having and more about giving. But what an incredible thing, to remember spending time with your grandpa (or with any family member!), who spent the time to make things (in the case of his grandpa, it was making loaves of bread together) intending to give them away to others who needed them, and who really taught you - in a practical way - about the power of a gift. That is an incredible legacy to leave behind, it really is!
Later in the book, he tells us that "Joy doesn't come from filling your life with stuff. Joy comes from giving your life away." There are many examples provided of ways to give more away, and to live a life of generosity instead of one that is ultimately about being selfish. Examples are given from the author's life, and from stories submitted by other people. They are some really amazing stories of generosity, and well worth reading! Each section is pretty short, making this an easy book to read in chunks, and it would be a wonderful book to use in a small group.
Brad Formsma has hit a home run with his delightful book “I Like Giving: the Transforming Power of a Generous Life. Practical Ideas, Inspiring Stories” (WaterBrook Press, 2014.) And by the way, you may want to have some tissues ready as you settle down with this book. Some of the ‘inspiring stories’ just may inspire you to cry.
If you've spent much time in church, you've probably heard that God loves a cheerful giver. Of course that was usually said right before the ushers passed through with the collection plate. And there’s no doubt that He does. Formsma takes that a bit further, and tells what cheerful giving might look like outside of the Sunday morning worship service.
The reader is reminded that Jesus once said that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and goes on to tell any number of ways that people demonstrate that principle of being blessed through their generosity. (Counter-intuitive, yes, but it works.) In this book are lessons on the joy of giving, the joy of generosity, and demonstration after demonstration of what happens when we turn “I have to give” into “I get to give.” It might be a big gift, but it doesn't have to be: simple gifts bring blessings too, to the giver and the person to whom it is given.
This is not another spin on prosperity gospel, there are no promises or implications that if you send a check today, that you’ll be rich by this time next week. Unless of course you count happiness and joy as riches and wealth.
The stories have funny titles like “I like Bike” or “I like “Pay Phones” and the title clues the reader in on what is involved in this giving experience. IT’s amazing how people from around the country have chimed in with their stories to make this book possible.
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