The Christian Broadcasting Network
The Law of Reciprocity

No More Bill Collectors and a Triple Digit Increase…

By Michelle Wilson
The 700 Club




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CBN.com - Like many couples, Shawn and Rachel Dawkins were just one paycheck away from financial disaster. Shawn hadn't seen a pay increase in four years due to a salary freeze at his job. Many times they simply didn't have enough to pay their bills.

Shawn recalls, "We didn't get to foreclosure but we did get those notices in the mail certified notices that you know we're behind on our mortgage."

Rachel recalls, "There we times when we were living paycheck to paycheck and we just didn't know how a certain bill was going to get paid. So it was very stressful for us."

Although Shawn and Rachel both worked corporate jobs, they knew they needed something to fall back on. So they started a catering concession business selling Shawn's jerk chicken at festivals and concerts on the weekends. But starting a business put them further behind on their bills.

Shawn remembers, "Bill collectors with threatening phone calls. Court notices where we had to go to court because of unpaid bills."

Shawn got a second job working the midnight shift as a meat packer. But it still wasn't enough.

Shawn says, "I was stressed out, over worked and it was a very humbling experience for me."

Shawn and Rachel were generous with their giving but they didn't always tithe. Then one day they heard a message on tithing that made them realize they needed to trust God. They put their last $80 into the offering basket that Sunday.

"I felt good. I felt like God was talking to us. I knew it was the right thing to do. And I knew he was going to provide," says Rachel.

Shawn sold a vehicle he owned to bring in extra money. A buyer offered him $8,000 well over what he thought it was worth!

Shawn recalls, "We were able to get current on all of our bills. We didn't feel like we were drowning in debt any more. "

Rachel says, "My brother in law actually when we were telling him what happened he said God gave it back to you 100 fold. He asked you to test him and you did and he gave it back to you."

In 2010, Shawn lost his corporate job. With his severance he decided to live his dream and open his own restaurant.

"I really didn't want to go back into the workforce. I really didn't want to start over with another company. And I really wanted to have a restaurant because I knew I had a really great product. And both of us came into agreement like lets try and do a restaurant," says Shawn.

They opened the Cutlass Grille in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Rachel says, "We knew that Shawn's hands were blessed. He cooks food amazingly well. And we knew we had a great product and we knew that as long as we glorified God that he was going to grow our business for us and he certainly has."

Shawn remembers, "Initially we saw a jump like 30% and year over year it jumped 115 percent. Looking from December of 2011 to 2010 it went up 198 percent. So business has been really really good."

Shawn and Rachel have seen God bless their obedience to tithe and encourage others to trust god and to be obedient too!

"I would encourage everyone to put their faith in God and test him with their tithes and offerings," says Shawn.

Rachel says, "He has a plan for you. It's a good plan. And when you are in trying times fall back on the Lord and his word and he will provide."

Being obedient to God's truth made an incredible difference for Shawn and Rachel. Join them in partnering with CBN. You will make a difference in lives around the world, through medical missions, food and clothing programs, humanitarian outreaches and so much—all in the name of Jesus. Please join today.



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