About Me

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Married to Don, a retired teacher and coach. We have 6 living kids and 6 beautiful grandkids who fill our lives with joy! A transplant from Sioux City Iowa to Southern California, my heart and my passion are centered on sharing the hope I have in Christ and intercessory prayer for families, for cities and for the nation. I believe that Jesus is about to return, and I want to share His desire that no man should perish. It is also my hope to be faithful to the Great Commission of Matthew 28:16-20. The legacy I pray for those I love is to love Christ and seek to serve Him.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Giving


To Give or Not to Give. . .

If we gaze at the affects on our economy today through the lens of the world we live in, times are uncertain at best. Most people are concerned about rising costs and lowered incomes. Many churches and missions are reporting decreased contributions, even as need increases. It is a time for good discernment and wise decision making for families . . . such times also give rise to wonderful opportunities to examine the Word of God in the context of our circumstances and take a fearless inventory of in whom and where our security resides. My marching orders are quite simple . . . They are . . . Back to the book!!

The Bible is filled with principals, perspectives and examples of giving. The truth is that we have nothing apart from God. He owns it all! Psalms 24:1 tells us that The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. By God’s design, we are His stewards and His managers. 1 Corinthians 4:2 cautions us, Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

By example, our God is a faithful, giving God who expects the same from His children. His ultimate gift came in the Son, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16. Yet, He also made ample provision for our practical needs. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19.

Riches, like life itself are fleeting. In the end, only those seeds that we have sown into the kingdom of God will accompany us as we stand face to face with our Lord. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:9-10. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1 Timothy 6:6-7. Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19. Even the poorest in the United States today are uncomprehensively rich by third world standards.

In every area of the word, we are called to trust God. It is only in the area of giving where God says, “Test Me”. Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:8-10. We cannot know on earth the number of tragedies diverted, or the fullness of the blessings imparted to us because of faithfulness.

On a side note: those tithes were “first fruits”. The Lord asks that we give our best in terms of time and talents, as well as a portion of earnings. It is not enough to give our money, God wants the best we have to offer in every area of our lives. Every gift you have has been given to you for one reason: that you might grow in righteousness and bless others. Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11. Those worthy of hire in paid service to the Lord and those who have been ordained to support the Church through outside vocations are called to go beyond “job descriptions” in giving to the Lord. Each of us will offer account of the way we have used the gifts the Lord has given. If money is a commodity you don’t have, what is the gift you do have to bring before the Lord? What can you do for Jesus?

Our giving is but one reflection of the content of our heart. Do we trust the Lord to meet our needs or do we depend on the dynamics of the world? But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work. As it is written: “ He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” The Bible says we cannot serve two masters. No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24

Finally, we give because we are obedient and desire to build and enhance the Kingdom of God. In our local church, to the missionaries on domestic and foreign fields, to the widow and the orphan, to the poor and those in need yes . . .but we give because . . . Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:34-40

Fear (lack of faith) is sin. To live the Christian life, we must determine (consciously choose to) believe by faith. Do we really believe what we say we believe? In what ways do we put wheels to our faith? What are the determinations we make that give revelation to the state of our hearts? Give!! Your time . . . Your talents . . . Your treasure!!!! Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38.

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