Text Box: down and tell me what you have come to tell me?" "Just as you say, Pastor. You'll remember that I told you of that blessed nephew-by-marriage of mine in Connecticut? Well, this week he wrote me a letter. In it he said, 'I've felt for some time, Auntie, that you must have a hard time getting by on $6.00 a week, and I've wanted to send more. Now I can do it, for I've just had a raise in wages. You will find $10.00 in this letter, and there will be $10.00 every week from now on.' " "Dear Miss Clancy," I said, "this makes me happy. I'm very glad." "I knew you would be, Pastor. But do you realize what this means? Do you see what God has done?" "Tell me." "Why, now my tithe will be $1.00 a week, no less. My rent remains $4.50. Pastor, are you good at mathematics?" "Well, how much more is $4.50 than 90 cents? "Five times as much," I answered. "You see, there it is! Five times, mind you! Sure, and I don't know what to do with all my money. I've been thinking I can do more for missions than I've been able to do before. Oh, Pastor, the Book says the windows of heaven will open and a blessing will come that is too great to receive. That's what the good Lord has done for me. Sure, and the windows of heaven are open upon me. You told me He would never fail me. Nor has He. It's a happy woman I am this day." That's the story, and it happened just the way I've told it. I have added nothing to it nor taken anything away. Miss Clancy's glowing face will be in my mind whenever I think of God's tithing promise. . And you? Do you care to put God to the test? "Prove Me now," He invites. "See if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that you won't have room enough to receive." That blessing waits only for your obedience in this matter of tithing. God was faithful to His promise with Miss Clancy. He'll be faithful with you as well. Carlyle B. Haynes was a prominent evangelist, author, and church administrator during the first half of the twentieth century. I’ve reproduced this story just as he wrote it--The editors. Text Box: would make an exception?" "Well, Pastor, don't you see what this would mean to me? If I start paying tithe, that takes 60 cents out of my $6.00 to begin with. My rent remains unchanged. That, with the tithe, comes to $5.10. And I have 90 cents to live on. And for a week, Pastor, for a week! Now that you know what this means to me, do you think the Lord wants me to pay tithe?" My first impulse was to say, "No, Miss Clancy, I don't think the Lord means this for you. I strongly believe that the Lord and His work will manage to get along somehow without your 60 cents a week. Just keep it, and I'll try to do something to make things a bit easier for you." But I didn't say that. An insistent thought prevented me: Who are you to set aside a command of God? So I said, "Miss Clancy, all I can do is to point you to God's Book and His wonderful promises, and then encourage you to do as He says and trust Him to make the impossible possible. My advice is for you to do what God tells you to do and begin paying tithe at once." For the first time since we had begun talking, Miss Clancy smiled. Cheerfully she said, "I'll do it. I'll take your advice, Pastor, for I think it's good counsel. It won't be the first time I've trusted God. If He fails me, well, it will be the first time He has." "He won't fail you, Miss Clancy," I assured her. "Sure, and well I know that. Goodbye for now, Pastor, and thank you." The following week Miss Clancy handed me 60 cents. No money I ever received was harder to take. But, I thought, I'll let the Lord manage this and not interfere. So, the 60 cents went to the church treasurer, and a receipt was given to Miss Clancy. Week after week, this determined lady brought her 60 cents tithe. Once or twice, I leaned over to whisper in her ear, "Are you getting along all right, Miss Clancy?" "Praise God, I am," she replied happily. The third time I asked her how she was getting along, she answered, "Pastor, something strange has taken place. The neighbors never before did the things they do now." "What things?" "Why, they bring me little presents-a loaf of bread, a pound of butter, some flour, some cereal, a quart of milk, fruit, and even cake. I really think I'm getting along better on my 90 cents a week than I ever did on that $1.50." "Do you think someone has put the neighbors up to this?" "Sure, and I do." "Who?" "Need you ask, Pastor? The good Lord hasn't forgotten me, and He hasn't forgotten His promise. If you hadn't advised me as you did, you would have robbed me of God's blessing." Three or four months later, Miss Clancy knocked on the door of my study. When I asked her in, she entered with a swagger and a playful smile on her face. She stood silently for a moment in front of my desk and then said, "Pastor, you're looking at a woman with means; a woman of wealth. Sure, and you must show me the proper respect.” Sit down, Miss Clancy, and tell me what has happened." "Sure, and it's as I say. I have more money than I know what to do with." All this time she was strutting around with a humorous gleam in her eye. "Miss Clancy," I said, "will you be good enough to sit