Money Management

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil… 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV)

There is nothing wrong with money, in and of itself, or even having an abundance of it.  The issue comes with the love of it.  If we look closely at how we manage money, we would undoubtedly uncover the real value we place on it - and whether or not we have a love for it.  If we constantly make excuses or come up with “good” reasons as to why we should not allocate money in areas we know we should – this could be an indication of a love of money.  Proper money manage involves first and foremost rendering what is rightfully due.

Now the tithe belongs to God (Leviticus 27:30).  A tithe is ten percent of all incoming money.  So if we love God and not money – we would have no problem giving what is rightfully His.  Matthew 6:21 says, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  So if we love God, the proof is in our treasure, that is, our money.  It is only when we come to trust and give that we will experience God opening up the windows of heaven and pouring us out a blessing that we will not have room enough to receive (Malachi 3:10).  I believe part of the blessing is to provide us with wisdom and guidance to properly manage and multiply the money that remains in our care.

Today, love God - not money.  Start to tithe and give offerings.  It is truly the first step toward proper money management and financial stability.

We Salute Our Veterans This Memorial Day

A Poem by Jim Pemberton

We salute every soldier who’s

served this great nation.

And offer a heart of thanks

and appreciation!

We salute each member

of our armed forces.

And are thankful for their

efforts and resources!

We salute the many who

protect our borders too.

We’d be in trouble…

If not for people like YOU!

We salute every son and

daughter lost in a war.

YOU are what serving this

country is meant for!

We salute the officers who’ve

guided our women and men.

Our prayers are with you!

And our love from within!

We salute our veterans!

Wherever they may be!

Those who served on

land, air and sea!

Offering prayer to the

Lord is our belief…

That he will guide our

Commander-in-Chief!

As we observe Memorial Day this year…

Let’s offer our soldiers

love, hope and cheer!

May God bless them in

all they endeavor

And his peace be with them

today and forever!!

 

Humility

             As men and women, one of the most difficult behaviors we express is humility. Many of us wrestle with the idea of humbling ourselves.  Have you ever been in a disagreement with someone and beyond any doubt you knew you were right; did you confront the person on how wrong they were?  Have you ever had to do something you really didn't want to do, did you complain?  In this life, we will be faced with countless opportunities to express humility and how we conduct ourselves determines whether we ourselves will be humbled or exalted.  Matthew 23:12b declares “he who humbles himself will be exalted."

        For a long time I thought being humble was simply doing a good dead.  In many ways it is, but simply said humility is the act of exalting someone else above our self.  Although easily said, depending on the circumstance, it could be very difficult, there are times where I really don’t want to help, but to do something knowing I really don’t want to really exemplifies humility.  In many of us there is a natural desire to be right about something; there is a natural reaction to complain or defend false accusation; and some of us find it nearly impossible not to complain about something we do not want to do.  Today is a simply yet rewarding challenge, focus your attention on humility.  If we would only hold on to the promise of Christ, we would receive the reward of His word.  Humble yourself and watch God move.  

Reaping a Harvest

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

No one wants to work long and hard only to find at the end of all his or her efforts – nothing has been accomplished.  This would cause anyone to become dissatisfied, disappointed or discouraged.  However God promises that this will never happen if we continue to do what He has called us to do without giving up.

Some years ago, I use to minister to inpatients at a drug and alcohol abuses center.  It had been four long years of hard work when I started to question whether or not the work we were doing was even making a difference.  Then one day, while some friends and I were out and about, a woman came running after us and stopped us. She wanted to share her testimony.  She said she had been in and out of drug rehabilitation centers for years; then, one day, I walked in and preached the Word of God and it changed her life forever.  Since then – she has been cleaned for over a year and has been going to church every Sunday since.

Today be encouraged that whatever you do for God – it reaps a harvest.  You may not realize it – until over a year later, like I did – or it may not ever come to light.  Just know an abundant harvest is produced through your continued obedience to God.

Never Enough

Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then, face to face: now I know in part; but then I shall know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 12:12 KJV)

One of the most wonderful discoveries about the Christian life is that there is always more to discover.  You have the privlege of knowing God, but you also find that the more you learn, the more you realize there is yet to understand.  In all the joys and sorrows of life, God is with you.  Yet at the same time, this known and loved heavenly Friend is also a great mystery, beyond all human understanding.

Sometimes you may want to put God in a box.  Perhaps you like to have your answers pat, your explanations neat and tidy.  God wants you and I to trust Him.  God is infinite and almighty.  He will do what He pleases.  God has made Himself known.  You know Him through nature and see Him reflected in your own human nature.  We know Him because He has spoken to us in scriptures.  And as a Christian, you have come to know Him through Jesus Christ, who you believe is fully God and yet also fully human, in time and space.  Yet you only touch the hem of His garment, even in these wonderful ways of knowing Hime.  To try to comprehend the vastness of the mystery of God is like trying to contain the ocean in a teacup.

The greatest mystery is the love of God.  The scriptures proclaim it, but you also experience it in the unexpected mercies of life.  The accident you just missed by minutes.  The miracle of birth.  The wonder of one human being loving another.  Ponder the mysteries of life in your heart.  Make room for moments to worship God in the beauty of holiness and to honor the mysteries of the human heart.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

But God will give glory, honor, and peace to all who do what is good…  For God judges everyone by the same standard. Romans 2:10-11 (GNT)

I was taught never to give anything to someone I would not want for myself.  It was a good standard my elder was teaching me.  However, it was not the best one.  It taught me to give according to my standard – but the best standard to go by is God’s standard.  A standard is defined as something established by authority, custom or general consent as a model or example.

Imagine if the standard someone went by was a horrible example to follow?  What if someone gave you rotten or out-of-date food?  What if someone had gifted wrapped and given to you something that was used, dirty and stained?  Would you not be offended?  Unfortunately I have not made those examples up.  I know people in the church who have given such things or gifts repeatedly and find nothing wrong in doing so.  Why?  They see nothing wrong in given rotten food because they themselves eat rotten food.  They see nothing wrong in given used, dirty and stained things away because they accept and use such things themselves.

So it is not good to use what we accept as a standard of giving.  Our standard can be too low or, to the other extreme, too high and no one is worthy of our gifts.  A good example of that is forgiveness.  We may have a standard so high that the other person is not worthy of our forgiveness.

Today let us go beyond our own standards.  Let God’s standard be the only acceptable standard by which we live and give.  God gives glory, honor and peace based on the same standard for all.  Let us do the same.

Mistakes Happen

Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14 NKJV)

Mistakes happen.  What counts is what you do with them.  Instead of kicking yourself, learn from them.  Let them be your teachers.

You get frustrated, especially when you make the same mistakes time and time again but mistakes are part of the learning process.  When an artist makes a mistake, it often leads to an unexpected result, a more beautiful piece of art.  When God sees a "mistake."  He understands and forgives. Even more. He transforms the mistake and its consequences into a way to help you grow and develop.  A mistake is a lesson, an opportunity to learn.

Watch a child learn to walk.  The child doesn't fall and then decide they are never going to get up again.  No, something deep inside impels the child to keep trying.  Up again on unsteady legs, ready to try once more.  No matter how many times the child falls, they pick themselve up and goes at it again.  The child doesn't cripple him/herself with an inner dialogue that says they are a failure for falling.  They don't concentrate on the fall, but on the goal of setting up and walking.  Deep down inside, they know they can do it.  The child was born to walk and they know it.  And when they triumphantly takes their first steps, all the falls are forgotten in the glee of accomplishments.

So it is with you.  If you keep making the same mistakes over and over again, it is a signal that you have a lesson to learn.  Perhaps you need to try a different way of doing things.  Perhaps there is some skill that you need to develop or some confidence that you have to build.  Just as an artist doesn't immediately produce a polished masterpiece, so you may have some more things to work through.  Perhaps like the child learning to walk, the falls you take are just part of the natural process of reaching your goal.  We are all people in process.

What about the mistakes and failures that hurt others?  Trust God and His mercy.  Ask His forgiveness and, if appropriate, ask the forgiveness of those who have been hurt by your actions.  He forgives you and will help you deal with the consequences of your mistakes. Learn from your mistakes and move on.  Mistakes are your teachers, if you will allow them to teach you.