What Did He Say About Money?

  

Many people believe in God, but have a problem with tithing. IIf you look around the church you will see some sitting in the pews pull out a $5 or a $10, some will pull out a $1 bill. 

I am very grateful for these people because that tells me they are willing to give an offering to God. They recognize His word which they were probably taught when they were little.

When my sister and I were little girls, every Sunday morning he would have us hold out our hands and he would say, "This dime is for you to tithe to the Lord. (That would go in our right hand.) In this hand, (meaning the left) he would put another dime. This is the dime you will pay yourself. And the eight dimes left you will use for things you want to do this week."

He explained periodically that if we obey God's word and tithe he would always provide our needs.

This was every Sunday. As we grew older the amounts became a little larger until one day we were grown. 

For a few years I forgot some of the things he said, and that was one of them. But one day, after I was reading my Bible, I read the verse in Malachi 3:10. This verse in the King James Version of the Bible says, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

The Hebrew word for tithe is ma'aser, which literally translates to "a tenth part" or "ten percent".

Deuteronomy 14:22: "Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year." 

By tithing, we do several things. One, we obey God. Two, we put our focus on God. Three, we trust God to do as His word says.

What did He say He would do if we tithe? He would open the windows of heaven for us, and pour out a blessing, that there would not be room enough to receive it.

This isn't just matieral gifts such as money, providing our needs, but it gives us inner peace and favor from God.

I have been doing this for years now. I can tell you my grandfather was right, so is God's word.

It wasn't easy at first. Most of my months I didn't have much left over. But I started giving as much as I could at first, gradually I was able to give more until eventually I was giving 10 % off the top, that means gross. Then I would give my self 10% and put it in savings, somehow God provided what I needed each month.

Bless be to the Glory of God!

Don't Give Up!

 Hang On To Hope

How many times in your life have you wanted to give up? You feel you have reached the end of your rope? You've tried all you know to do, and nothng has changed. Ever felt like that?

In Luke 18:1 it says "And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint..."

What Jesus is saying is always pray, don't give up, don't lose heart. By our praying we are depending on God. And that is important. Our focus is on Him as opposed to the situation. When we keep our focus on the situation we so easily can lose hope. But when you have your focus on God you don't lose hope, because you know in your heart, that God is bigger than any problem you are facing. And you know He loves you unconditionally. He will work things out for His glory and for your good. You can count on God, always.

Don't get tired of praying. Stand firm. What scriptures can you find in the Bible that speak about your situation? Write them down, repeat them. Bring them to God's attention. Stand firmly on what His word says, regardless on what is happening around you.

Many times in my life, I felt things were bad, and wasn't sure I could get through some of the situations. My hope was getting weak. Especially at night, somehow in the night things always seem worse. But in the morning they would look better, because I kept repeating His words concerning my situation, trust in Him.

I can remember plenty of times walking in my room, praying and lifting my hands to God and telling Him I believe in His words, regardless of what I see or hear or feel. Then I would thank Him for loving me and being with me. Then I would just start praising God and all His glory. Praising Him regardless of what is going on, always helps me because it feels as if the burden has lifted and clouds have parted and I see and feel His grace.

Remember, He ays for us to cast our cares over on Him because He cares for us. In His perfect time and in His perfect way He works things out that I have concern over. I trust Him with my all.

You can too!

To find more information concerning this you will find it in the following book:

How Do We Get Our Prayers Answered?

 How do we get our prayers answered?

Isn't that the question we ask ourselves? When we pray, we ask God for answers to what is going on in our lives and beg him to fix them. Guess what! That is the wrong way. I have found when using this method I might as well be blowing in the wind.

Would you go up to a stranger and beg them to fix your problem? Maybe, if it were a dire set of consequences. But I have something great to tell you.

God wants to answer your prayers. He loves you more than you can imagine. But as Jesus taught us when He was on earth, you must ask in line with God's will. Do you even know what God's will is?

Here is a secret for you! His will is in His book, The Bible. Regardless as to what your problem is, His book, The Bible, tells you what His will is in that situation. So, all you must do then is align your will with His.

For example: His will for your health? To be healthy, whole, and healed. That has always been His will. Think about when Jesus was on earth, anyone, and I mean any person, who ask Him to heal them He did. Why? Because that is God's will.

Matthew 8:16-17: He healed all who were sick, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases." 

Here is another scripture: Jeremiah 30:17: "For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord." 

You will find, throughout the Old and New Testament, God's will is for us to be healed.

Get rid of your doubt! Determine to believe His word, regardless of what you see, hear, or feel.

Take a hold of His word, put it down into your heart, and know that you know that you know His will is for you to be healed.

So, whatever your problem, search the scripture for one pertaining to the problem and see what His will says. Then pray, using His words, that it be done for you according to His word.

Amen