A list of all short codes to text to donate on your phone bill in the United States:

1. Text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross for Haiti efforts. This effort is run by Mobile Accord.

2. Text YELE to 501501 to donate $5 to the Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti Foundation. 501501 is run by Give On the Go.

3. Text HAITI to 25383 to donate $5 to International Rescue Committee.

4. Text RELIEF to 30644 to get automatically connected to Catholic Relief Services and donate money with your credit card.

5. Text HAITI to 85944 to donate $5 to the Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International.

Online Donations

A list of websites to submit you donations online securely.

6. Donate Via Google Checkout

7.Donate Via Causes of Facebook

8.The Salvation Army is sending 285,120 boxed meals of rice, soy, and vitamins to Haiti. Donate to the Salvation Army by clicking here.

9. Help Support the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. President Bush emphasizes the need of a long-term commitment to Haiti’s recovery.

10. Hope for Haiti has held the vision from the very beginning that the people of Haiti are the ones who take control of their future and we are here to lend a needed hand along the difficult path. Donate Here.

The bible says God is honored when we give to the poor for it is like we are lending to the Lord himself, Proverbs 19:17 & Proverbs 14:31.

Photo Credit by: American Red Cross

One of the many lessons that Jesus taught to the disciples was that of giving to others. He said in Matthew 5:42, “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away.” Some may find this difficult to do during the economic crisis, but God, “who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, ” (Ephesians 2:19 NIV) is faithful.

Make It a Habit to Give

Jesus’ attitude toward the poor widow in Mark 12:42-44 who gave her last farthing makes it clear that everyone is capable of giving. He emphasized that those who give out of their poverty give more than those who give out of their abundance. The lesson here is that even though people struggle with providing food for the family, they should make it a habit to give something to someone in need. God promises to bless us when we give.

The HIV/AIDS virus has dramatically affected Africa’s families, particularly the children under fifteen years of age. Eighty percent of the world’s children under fifteen years of age who are afflicted with AIDS live in Kenya. Many of the children have lost one or both parents to this disease and are living in orphanages.

The Lord Promises that we will never be Homeless

God has always called his people to provide for widows and orphans. He say in Jeremiah 7:6 (KJV) that “If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.” The Lord promises that we will never be homeless as long as we take care of the widows, orphans and foreigners and treat them with dignity. We will have a home to call our own. In addition, we must not cause the death of innocent victims nor worship any god other than God.

It is our reaction to situations such as the HIV/AIDS problem in Africa that determine whether we we are true disciples of Jesus. Jesus would not abandon these women and children. He would heal them, feed them, clothe them, and teach them. In doing so, he glorifies the Father.

Jesus says in John 15:8, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit: so shall ye be my disciples.” Therefore, by ministering to the the widows, orphans, and strangers, we will bear much fruit, showing ourselves to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

Suggested Reading:

Spiritual Discipleship

J.Oswald Sanders. Moody Publishers 2007, Paperback, 176 pages, $8.86

The Blue Sweater

Jacqueline Novogratz. Rodale Books 2009, Hardcover, 304 pages, $5.86

Are you robbing God?

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

You’ll hear those who claim that tithing is for the Old Testament era only and does not apply today. You’ll here those who say tithe off of your gross pay and others will say tithe off of your net pay. Then you’ll look in the New Testament and find nothing really about tithing. It is so confusing really. You are struggling as it is and now you are told by your pastor to give 10 percent? What are you to do? What you should do is give something—even if it is only 1 percent. Just get in the habit of giving a portion back to God what he has given you.

Give 1% in Tithes

Okay, some will probably like me for what I am saying (give 1 percent) and others won’t be too happy at the advice I am giving Christians because some of them could be their church members. Let me explain myself.

Some of us when we become Christians have some baggage we bring with us before becoming believers. By baggage I mean all the consequences of poor decisions. Oftentimes those consequences were the result of bad financial decisions. To put it bluntly, we ran up debt. We ran up debt so high that giving 10 percent of even our take home pay is impossible however giving 1 percent will at least get you in the habit of giving.

Think about the Pastor

Also consider this. For those Christians who are part of a church. Think about your pastor. This person has a family to take care of and a church to operate. The only way this happens is through regular donations from the membership. Your pastor does not have the time hold down a full-time secular career and why should he or she? Their career is being a pastor. When you give what you can give—even if only 1 percent—you make it easier for the financial people of your church to at least plan a budget. A budget is critical to the financial health of the church.

Consider this verse found in 2 Corinthians 8:12 (KJV):

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

I take that verse to mean that you give from according to what you have to give. And when you give, give with the right heart. God is pleased with all that you give with the right heart.