Archive for August 20, 2011
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You are who you are for a reason.
You’re part of an intricate plan.
You’re a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God‘s special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You’re just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind,
And they bear the Master‘s seal.
No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you’d grow.
You are who you are for a reason.
You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!
~ Russell Kelfer
Show creators announce Bert and Ernie’s fate (OneNewsNow.com)
Posted: August 20, 2011 in OneNewsNow.com“Will
a man rob God?”
Good
Morning! Yesterday in Kidz Klub (children’s church) I preached about the “Most
Important Prayer of the Day.” I used Malachi 3:10 as my main text. I wasn’t
preaching about tithing our money as is usually the case when Malachi 3:10 is
used. No. I was preaching about our time. Every
morning that we wake up, God gives us 86,400 seconds in the next 24 hours. Once
those seconds tick by, we can never get them back. I told the kids that God
demands 10% of our increase (money). So, out of every $10 we earn or receive,
$1 belongs to God. If we do not pay to God that $1, then we are robbing God. I
don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to ever rob the One that
created me. My husband and I are very diligent about making certain that we
give our 10%. However, what about the rest of our ‘increases?’
Morning! Yesterday in Kidz Klub (children’s church) I preached about the “Most
Important Prayer of the Day.” I used Malachi 3:10 as my main text. I wasn’t
preaching about tithing our money as is usually the case when Malachi 3:10 is
used. No. I was preaching about our time. Every
morning that we wake up, God gives us 86,400 seconds in the next 24 hours. Once
those seconds tick by, we can never get them back. I told the kids that God
demands 10% of our increase (money). So, out of every $10 we earn or receive,
$1 belongs to God. If we do not pay to God that $1, then we are robbing God. I
don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to ever rob the One that
created me. My husband and I are very diligent about making certain that we
give our 10%. However, what about the rest of our ‘increases?’
Nehemiah 10:37 says,
“We will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the
Temple the first of our ground meal, our offerings, the fruit from all our trees, and our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tenth
of our crops to the Levites, who
will collect these things in all the towns where we work.”
Temple the first of our ground meal, our offerings, the fruit from all our trees, and our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tenth
of our crops to the Levites, who
will collect these things in all the towns where we work.”
God wants 10% of everything He blesses us with in our
life…and, not just 10%…He wants the FIRST of everything He blesses us with
to be returned to Him. So, if He blesses us with 86,400 seconds in each 24 hour
period…he expects us to return to Him or His work 9,600 seconds each day.
That’s a mere 2 hours and 40 minutes.
I do not believe God expects us to be on our knees for 2
hours and 40 minutes each day BUT I do believe that He expects us to do His work
each day. In addition to our normal time reading the Word, praying and spending
quality time with Him, I believe that in order to tithe our 2 hours and
40 minutes each day, we need to do things that will glorify God and bring honor
to His name. Make cookies for a neighbor that has been housebound…mow the
yard of the neighbor that has been out of town…take a meal to the family down
the street that just had a baby…offer to babysit someone’s children while
they go out for a nice evening with their spouse…there are a million different
things you can do to share the love of Christ with others. Once you get ‘used’
to tithing your 2 hours and 40 minutes of time to God and His work…I’ll bet
you find yourself spending much more time than that
giving!
We need to be good stewards of the things God has blessed
us with…our time, our money, our talents, our body,
our kids…just to name a few. What ever He give you…please be
sure to return it back to Him.
Walking the walk & Talking the talk,
Get
this monkey off my back!
Goodness, I didn’t realize it
had been so long since my last post. I apologize to anyone who has been waiting
patiently for a new post. I’ve been dealing with ‘issues’ and just haven’t been
up to writing. The issues are spiritual, not physical. Although, I think if they
were physical it would be easier for me to deal with.I have come to the realization
that I have been pulling back…pulling back from many thing but NOT pulling
away from God. In fact, I’ve been pulling closer to Him than I would expect of
myself given my ‘issues.’ For that, I am thankful. I never want to pull away
from my Lord! I want only to get closer to Him. Lisa, from A Moment With God, had
a post this morning that touched me in a way that I needed to be touched. Her
post today was “What If?“ As I read the post, I began to ask myself, “What if I
would just let go and let God?” I want to. I really do. However, the human
part of me is having a very hard time doing that. I’ve been hurt. I’ve been
humiliated…if only in my own eyes. I’ve been made to feel unwanted and
underappreciated. Why can’t I just let it go. God is in control. He knows
what is best for me and for everyone else. Why is it that I know this
but I don’t know this? Sometimes I find myself wondering if it will ever get
better when I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it will. Sometimes I want to
crawl in a hole and never come out yet I know that that would solve
nothing! I put on a ‘happy face’ and try to act as if I’m doing just
dandy…knowing all the while that those close to me know good and well that I’m
not!
had been so long since my last post. I apologize to anyone who has been waiting
patiently for a new post. I’ve been dealing with ‘issues’ and just haven’t been
up to writing. The issues are spiritual, not physical. Although, I think if they
were physical it would be easier for me to deal with.I have come to the realization
that I have been pulling back…pulling back from many thing but NOT pulling
away from God. In fact, I’ve been pulling closer to Him than I would expect of
myself given my ‘issues.’ For that, I am thankful. I never want to pull away
from my Lord! I want only to get closer to Him. Lisa, from A Moment With God, had
a post this morning that touched me in a way that I needed to be touched. Her
post today was “What If?“ As I read the post, I began to ask myself, “What if I
would just let go and let God?” I want to. I really do. However, the human
part of me is having a very hard time doing that. I’ve been hurt. I’ve been
humiliated…if only in my own eyes. I’ve been made to feel unwanted and
underappreciated. Why can’t I just let it go. God is in control. He knows
what is best for me and for everyone else. Why is it that I know this
but I don’t know this? Sometimes I find myself wondering if it will ever get
better when I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it will. Sometimes I want to
crawl in a hole and never come out yet I know that that would solve
nothing! I put on a ‘happy face’ and try to act as if I’m doing just
dandy…knowing all the while that those close to me know good and well that I’m
not!
And then p – r – i – d – e comes in and won’t let me
move on. Arrrggghhh!
Why can’t I get hold of this. Well, I’ll
tell you why…because I haven’t truly given it to God. I’m too busy having
this little Pity Party with me as the only guest! It’s this ‘woe is
me’ attitude that is hanging on for dear life. Well, let me tell you…I AM
SICK OF IT! I want, no, I need, to get this monkey off my
back. So, that all being said…me telling on myself…me exposing myself for
all the world to see…I am honestly going to TRY! For those of you that are a
part of all these ‘feelings’ of mine…you know who you are…please forgive
me. Please try to understand and be patient with me. God is doing a work and I
know it is going to be a dandy when He is done! I will try not to ‘act’ as if I
am ok…I will try to really ‘be ok.’ Trust me, I’m sure that I will…but I will get back up and keep trying!
move on. Arrrggghhh!
Why can’t I get hold of this. Well, I’lltell you why…because I haven’t truly given it to God. I’m too busy having
this little Pity Party with me as the only guest! It’s this ‘woe is
me’ attitude that is hanging on for dear life. Well, let me tell you…I AM
SICK OF IT! I want, no, I need, to get this monkey off my
back. So, that all being said…me telling on myself…me exposing myself for
all the world to see…I am honestly going to TRY! For those of you that are a
part of all these ‘feelings’ of mine…you know who you are…please forgive
me. Please try to understand and be patient with me. God is doing a work and I
know it is going to be a dandy when He is done! I will try not to ‘act’ as if I
am ok…I will try to really ‘be ok.’ Trust me, I’m sure that I will…but I will get back up and keep trying!
Walking the walk & talking the talk,
