The following is something I shared with our church for an offerring message.
When we lived in Las Vegas, I had gotten a hammock as a gift. I didn't want an ugly hammock stand, so my husband agreed to build a permanent holder for it. We went to the store and bought all the supplies (concrete, metal poles, hooks, etc). He dug two holes, mixed the concrete and poured it into each hole. Then set a pole in each hole and let it dry. Then he attached the hammock to the poles with hooks. Ta-da! It was done!
I then proceeded to sit in it and ... KERPLUNK! I fell flat on my rear as it pulled the concrete foundation right out of the ground!
The foundation was faulty.
It was missing something (i.e. re-bar).
Without that key component (re-bar) it wasn't built to withstand the pressure (of my butt) ;0
Just like in the example of what happened with the hammock, the foundation we build upon with God needs to be strong, and solid, and Right!
How do we know if its right?
We go to the Word.
Where is the Word?
In the Bible.
The Word says we should tithe our first 10% (see Malachi 3:10 if you don't believe me).
So in order to be Right, we need to do that.
We need to tithe our first 10% before we do anything else. Put God and our obedience to Him above all else.
When I was assisting in Children's Church the kids were taught to keep God in front of earthly things like toys, cars, houses, friends, and money.
They even made a little craft that showed a cross positioned in front of the earth, to remind them that God should always be in front of anything on earth.
Well, we need to put God first too!
Our submission to Him is more important than earthly things.
So remember, if you want Joy in life, and all that God has in store for you, put Him first, obey His Word, and bring your tithes into His house as He instructs us to do (remember Malachi?)
Showing posts with label tithing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tithing. Show all posts
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
How to be strong against the floods
About once a month I have the opportunity to share the offerring message at our church. This is what I shared with our congregation today. I hope it is beneficial to you as well.
In Luke 6:46-49 in the NLT it says,
"So why do you call me, 'Lord', when you won't obey me?
I will show you what its like when someone comes to listen to me, listens to my teaching, and then obeys me. It is like a person who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built.
But anyone who listens and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floodwaters sweep down against that house, it will crumble into a heap of ruins."
The floodwaters refer to difficult times.
When we experience difficult times (sickness, heartbreak, arguing with our family or spouse, hard times at work, or a decreased income), do we want these floodwaters to destroy us or hurt us because we haven't obeyed God?
Or do we choose to not only listen to God, (read our Bible, go to church, pray), but also obey what His Word is telling us (to tithe), so that when these floods come we are able to stand strong because God is protecting ans supporting us (like a foundation).
Malachi 3:11 says, "your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease".
This tells me that He is protecting us from those floods.
Wouldn't you rather be protected because of your obedience and have abundant crops to share with others?
Instead of being torn apart by the floods and possibly losing your job, your house, your spouse, your credit, or your everlasting life?
I would.
I'd like you to think about that before you bring your next tithes and offerings to God. Remember it in the future as well, because as I've said before, tithing becomes easy with practice. You just do it over and over again and it becomes second nature.
In Luke 6:46-49 in the NLT it says,
"So why do you call me, 'Lord', when you won't obey me?
I will show you what its like when someone comes to listen to me, listens to my teaching, and then obeys me. It is like a person who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built.
But anyone who listens and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floodwaters sweep down against that house, it will crumble into a heap of ruins."
The floodwaters refer to difficult times.
When we experience difficult times (sickness, heartbreak, arguing with our family or spouse, hard times at work, or a decreased income), do we want these floodwaters to destroy us or hurt us because we haven't obeyed God?
Or do we choose to not only listen to God, (read our Bible, go to church, pray), but also obey what His Word is telling us (to tithe), so that when these floods come we are able to stand strong because God is protecting ans supporting us (like a foundation).
Malachi 3:11 says, "your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease".
This tells me that He is protecting us from those floods.
Wouldn't you rather be protected because of your obedience and have abundant crops to share with others?
Instead of being torn apart by the floods and possibly losing your job, your house, your spouse, your credit, or your everlasting life?
I would.
I'd like you to think about that before you bring your next tithes and offerings to God. Remember it in the future as well, because as I've said before, tithing becomes easy with practice. You just do it over and over again and it becomes second nature.
Friday, November 20, 2009
It takes practice
Proverbs 12:14 says, "People can get many good things by the words they say; the work of their hands also gives them many benefits."
We often work at something, such as knitting until we create something such as a blanket. The work of our hands produced a benefit. If we are cutting logs, we get the benefit of firewood. If we don't do either of these things well the first time, we practice until we get better at it, thus improving the resulting 'benefit' ie. the blanket or firewood. In the world today we have a very good understanding that in order to improve in an area we need to practice in that area. The music team at your church doesn't just jump up there every Sunday and perform great songs at the drop of a hat. They come in during the week and practice. If you lift weights or exercise, you will probably remember when you first started. You didn't do very well and you were really sore after the first day. But now after much 'practice' you are better at it and can lift heavier weights and go for extended periods of time while exercising. This happened to me with running. I began running with only 1 minute at a time. Then I increased it to 2 minutes, then 8 minutes, then 20. Eventually I practiced enough to be able to run a half marathon. A huge accomplishment for someone who grew up always believing that "I hate running". The benefits of practicing something are undisputable.
The funny thing is... tithing and giving offerrings can also be like this.
If you are not a consistent, regular tither [10% everytime, no questions asked] then this post can help you get to that point of becoming a consistent regular tither.
If you are a consistent, regular tither, I am glad you are obeying God's Word. But maybe your obedience stops at 10% and you need to get to that next level in you offerring, of freely giving all you can to help to spread the Word of God. Then this post can help to get you to that next level in your offerring.
This post is about practicing in order to make obeying God's Word easier.
Giving can be very easy, if you realize in your heart that you are simply obeying God. He loved us enough to give His Son to us, don't you think we could love Him enough to follow His Word?
By giving back to God (notice I say "giving back" this is because everything we have is provided to us by HIM. When we grasp hold of this, it is often easier to then release the hold we have on our pocketbook), by giving back to God we are giving into His Kingdom in order to help advance it.
So, whenever we start something new, we practice at it until it becomes "second nature" and we no longer have to think about it as we do it. If tithing, or giving offerrings, is new to you, then today is the day to start practicing. Each time you give, it will get easier and easier. Know that when we are obedient to God, we are pleasing Him. Also know that everything we have belongs to God already, so you are only returning to Him what is His anyway.
Don't worry if you stumble or fall at first. The first time Michael Jordan shot a freethrow he probably didn't sink it. However, he practiced and practiced and continued shooting them regardless. We have to do the same with our giving. If its not easy at first, don't give up. Simply keep trying. Keep practicing. It will get easier. Believe me, I know.
We often work at something, such as knitting until we create something such as a blanket. The work of our hands produced a benefit. If we are cutting logs, we get the benefit of firewood. If we don't do either of these things well the first time, we practice until we get better at it, thus improving the resulting 'benefit' ie. the blanket or firewood. In the world today we have a very good understanding that in order to improve in an area we need to practice in that area. The music team at your church doesn't just jump up there every Sunday and perform great songs at the drop of a hat. They come in during the week and practice. If you lift weights or exercise, you will probably remember when you first started. You didn't do very well and you were really sore after the first day. But now after much 'practice' you are better at it and can lift heavier weights and go for extended periods of time while exercising. This happened to me with running. I began running with only 1 minute at a time. Then I increased it to 2 minutes, then 8 minutes, then 20. Eventually I practiced enough to be able to run a half marathon. A huge accomplishment for someone who grew up always believing that "I hate running". The benefits of practicing something are undisputable.
The funny thing is... tithing and giving offerrings can also be like this.
If you are not a consistent, regular tither [10% everytime, no questions asked] then this post can help you get to that point of becoming a consistent regular tither.
If you are a consistent, regular tither, I am glad you are obeying God's Word. But maybe your obedience stops at 10% and you need to get to that next level in you offerring, of freely giving all you can to help to spread the Word of God. Then this post can help to get you to that next level in your offerring.
This post is about practicing in order to make obeying God's Word easier.
Giving can be very easy, if you realize in your heart that you are simply obeying God. He loved us enough to give His Son to us, don't you think we could love Him enough to follow His Word?
By giving back to God (notice I say "giving back" this is because everything we have is provided to us by HIM. When we grasp hold of this, it is often easier to then release the hold we have on our pocketbook), by giving back to God we are giving into His Kingdom in order to help advance it.
So, whenever we start something new, we practice at it until it becomes "second nature" and we no longer have to think about it as we do it. If tithing, or giving offerrings, is new to you, then today is the day to start practicing. Each time you give, it will get easier and easier. Know that when we are obedient to God, we are pleasing Him. Also know that everything we have belongs to God already, so you are only returning to Him what is His anyway.
Don't worry if you stumble or fall at first. The first time Michael Jordan shot a freethrow he probably didn't sink it. However, he practiced and practiced and continued shooting them regardless. We have to do the same with our giving. If its not easy at first, don't give up. Simply keep trying. Keep practicing. It will get easier. Believe me, I know.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Growing in hard times
James 1: 2-5 in the New Living Translation says, " Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom-if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking."
Did you notice James doesn't say IF its rough, he says WHEN its rough?
He assumes we will have trials, and it is possible to BENEFIT from them!
We need to make sure that we turn our hardships into times of learning and growth! Know that it is good for you and don't resent it, or resent God.
Endurance=Patience.
We can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure.
Its very easy to say we are a good parent, but do we act patience and loving even when times are stressful and the kids have pushed you to the brink? Or do we snap and yell? I know I personally have to consciously work on this area of my life ALL the time. I want to be the best mom possible. I want my kids to have positive wonderful memories of growing up. I don't want them (or their friends) to think of me and think of that non-happy, yelling lady. But, I have to make a huge effort to control my emotions and remain calm when their behavior and actions are not pleasing me. Its an everyday focus. Until we master something, it has to be our focus everyday. If you are struggling in an area, be sure to focus on overcoming it everyday, and when those situations arise that are going to test you, consciously make an effort to do the right thing. To react in such a way that would please God.
This character test can also be applied to tithing. Like I said earlier, we can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure.
Its easy to give when we have much. It takes more character and faith to freely give when we have not so much. (Remember the widow's mite? She gave a teeny, tiny bit, but it was SHE who gained Jesus' positive attention by her faithfulness and giving. Not the wealthy folks who had been giving out of their abundance. She was giving all she had, they were just giving their "extra". Her gift stretched her, and was therefore in faith. Their gifts were not stretching them at all, and therefore they were not exercising any sort of faith.
Charities are suffering everywhere in the U.S. right now because of the hardships people are experiencing in our society.
But growth will come to those who persevere and don't let the world's fears keep them from doing God's works and obeying His Word.
Instead of whining and complaining about our troubles we should see them as opportunities for growth. I always look back on hard times and realize how important that time/experience was to me in making me who I am today. During the hard time, I didn't always see the benefit of it, but looking back I don't wish it didn't happen, because it helped to mold and sculpt me into what I am now. It has helped me to grow. If we can look at a trying time WHILE we are in it and know it is helping us and molding us into more of God's image, I think it makes it easier to get through that trying time.
What I am saying is this, if you can know DURING the hardship that it will HELP YOU, it will be easier to walk through the hardship and easier to maintain your right-relationship with God through it too! It will always make you grow in your walk with God. You will learn and be better for it. God is always with you. Even in rough patches.
Don't be discouraged and give up.
Don't be discouraged and quit doing what is right in His sight.
During this economic downturn it is easy WITHOUT GOD to lose hope.
The difference is... WE HAVE GOD!
Therefore, we have hope!
Keep your faith strong.
Thank God for being with you even in hard times.
Just like James said in 1:5, Ask Him to help you solve your problems and give you the strength to endure them. And Make sure when you ask Him for direction and wisdom that you are ready to listen to HIM (James 1:6).
I pray that if you are going through a hardship, that is will pass quickly and that you will be stronger because of it. I also pray for God to use this season to help us to grow and to come to know Him more! And just as importantly, that we are a Godly example during our hardship, so that OTHERS will come to know Jesus, because of the light He has shown through us during difficult times!
Did you notice James doesn't say IF its rough, he says WHEN its rough?
He assumes we will have trials, and it is possible to BENEFIT from them!
We need to make sure that we turn our hardships into times of learning and growth! Know that it is good for you and don't resent it, or resent God.
Endurance=Patience.
We can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure.
Its very easy to say we are a good parent, but do we act patience and loving even when times are stressful and the kids have pushed you to the brink? Or do we snap and yell? I know I personally have to consciously work on this area of my life ALL the time. I want to be the best mom possible. I want my kids to have positive wonderful memories of growing up. I don't want them (or their friends) to think of me and think of that non-happy, yelling lady. But, I have to make a huge effort to control my emotions and remain calm when their behavior and actions are not pleasing me. Its an everyday focus. Until we master something, it has to be our focus everyday. If you are struggling in an area, be sure to focus on overcoming it everyday, and when those situations arise that are going to test you, consciously make an effort to do the right thing. To react in such a way that would please God.
This character test can also be applied to tithing. Like I said earlier, we can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure.
Its easy to give when we have much. It takes more character and faith to freely give when we have not so much. (Remember the widow's mite? She gave a teeny, tiny bit, but it was SHE who gained Jesus' positive attention by her faithfulness and giving. Not the wealthy folks who had been giving out of their abundance. She was giving all she had, they were just giving their "extra". Her gift stretched her, and was therefore in faith. Their gifts were not stretching them at all, and therefore they were not exercising any sort of faith.
Charities are suffering everywhere in the U.S. right now because of the hardships people are experiencing in our society.
But growth will come to those who persevere and don't let the world's fears keep them from doing God's works and obeying His Word.
Instead of whining and complaining about our troubles we should see them as opportunities for growth. I always look back on hard times and realize how important that time/experience was to me in making me who I am today. During the hard time, I didn't always see the benefit of it, but looking back I don't wish it didn't happen, because it helped to mold and sculpt me into what I am now. It has helped me to grow. If we can look at a trying time WHILE we are in it and know it is helping us and molding us into more of God's image, I think it makes it easier to get through that trying time.
What I am saying is this, if you can know DURING the hardship that it will HELP YOU, it will be easier to walk through the hardship and easier to maintain your right-relationship with God through it too! It will always make you grow in your walk with God. You will learn and be better for it. God is always with you. Even in rough patches.
Don't be discouraged and give up.
Don't be discouraged and quit doing what is right in His sight.
During this economic downturn it is easy WITHOUT GOD to lose hope.
The difference is... WE HAVE GOD!
Therefore, we have hope!
Keep your faith strong.
Thank God for being with you even in hard times.
Just like James said in 1:5, Ask Him to help you solve your problems and give you the strength to endure them. And Make sure when you ask Him for direction and wisdom that you are ready to listen to HIM (James 1:6).
I pray that if you are going through a hardship, that is will pass quickly and that you will be stronger because of it. I also pray for God to use this season to help us to grow and to come to know Him more! And just as importantly, that we are a Godly example during our hardship, so that OTHERS will come to know Jesus, because of the light He has shown through us during difficult times!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Riches
Wealthy people often give away what they have.
This is such a normal occurance with wealthy people, that Webster's has even created a name for it: philanthropist!
Well, you know what? God wants to give away His riches too!
He wants to give YOU good things. Matthew 7:11 says, "If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him."
Our God is rich.
When you think of rich PEOPLE you probably think of stuff they own that qualifies them as being rich. Well, guess what?! God owns ALOT of STUFF!
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalms 50:10).
He owns the whole Earth (Psalms 24:1).
He owns all the silver and gold (Haggai 2:8).
A good, rich father would not want his own children to be poor. Just as so, our Father in Heaven, who is rich in so many ways, does not want us (His children) to be poor either. Neither poor in health, poor in finances, nor poor in faith. So remember that God is your Father, and he wants to share his riches with you. You just have to love God with all your heart and have enough faith to ask.
This is such a normal occurance with wealthy people, that Webster's has even created a name for it: philanthropist!
Well, you know what? God wants to give away His riches too!
He wants to give YOU good things. Matthew 7:11 says, "If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him."
Our God is rich.
When you think of rich PEOPLE you probably think of stuff they own that qualifies them as being rich. Well, guess what?! God owns ALOT of STUFF!
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalms 50:10).
He owns the whole Earth (Psalms 24:1).
He owns all the silver and gold (Haggai 2:8).
A good, rich father would not want his own children to be poor. Just as so, our Father in Heaven, who is rich in so many ways, does not want us (His children) to be poor either. Neither poor in health, poor in finances, nor poor in faith. So remember that God is your Father, and he wants to share his riches with you. You just have to love God with all your heart and have enough faith to ask.
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