Reflections

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Malachi 3:10-12

In the book of Genesis we are told about the story of Adam and Eve.  God gave Adam dominion over the earth and could eat of any tree in the Garden of Eden except for the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  God said they were not to eat from this tree or they would surely die.  They could eat from every other tree but not this one.

God tells us in Malachi to bring Him the whole tithe which is 10%, this belongs to God and the other 90% we can keep.  But just like Adam and Eve we want to take that which God said not to touch.  Adam and Eve believed the lie of the devil, instead of God’s truth, ate of the tree and lost their eternal life.  They chose to take from the one tree God said not to touch.  Many of us take from the tithe and keep it from ourselves and in verse 8 of Malachi we are told that we actually rob God when we do not bring Him the whole tithe.

It isn’t that God is trying to keep something from us but He is actually seeing where our heart is.  He could simply take 10% or could have just not put the tree in the middle of the Garden to prevent Adam and Eve from eating from it.  God wants to know that we will trust and believe Him and not the lies of the devil.  God even said that if we bring the whole tithe we will have more than enough.  The lie is that if we tithe then we will not have enough to take care of our bills.  Without faith it is impossible to please God and God wants us to trust and believe what He says.  By bringing God the tithe we are saying to Him that we trust that He will take care of us and supply all our needs.  Keeping the tithe tells God that we do not trust Him and we actually believe the lies of the devil.

God wants to bless us and for us to prosper, one of the keys to this is giving God what belongs to Him and in return He will give us more than we deserve and can even contain.  He is more than enough.

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“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 5:10

Usually the ones with the greatest debts are the ones who have the most money or make the largest incomes.  They never seem to be satisfied with the money they have and live outside of their means.  So the more they buy and want, they are never satisfied with their incomes. 

Money is simply a tool and never should be something we covet or love because we will never be satisfied.  When the focus of our love is money, it will never fulfill our deepest desires, neither will things.  I believe that is why givers are the happiest people.  Those who do have and give to others always have more than they need and want.  When you learn how to give away what God gives you, you open the door for God to give you more.

There are well known wealthy people who are great givers.  They seem to take such joy out of helping others and giving away the money they have.  But what is even more impressive is they always have abundance and never seem to lack for anything.  Money is simply a tool to allow them to do the things they love to do.  Our money should work for us we should never work for money.  Our love should be toward people and never money.

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“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” Proverbs 22:7

The holiday shopping season has officially started.  Many people are out shopping for Christmas and looking for the best deals of the year.  Some reports say that retailers do their most business for the whole year during the holiday season.  Since the recession people have cut back on their spending and not buying things like earlier in the decade when sales were high.

Unfortunately, most people back then spent money they did not have.  The credit squeeze has taken hold on many people and people are struggling to pay back debts they built up over the years.  Many people can’t even make basic household payments because of pasts debts.  They have become slaves to the lenders.  The lenders are cutting back and making it more difficult for people to borrow and raising their rates and fees which is in turn hurting even credit worthy individuals.

God never intended us to be in constant debt.  He knew that if we were we would be slaves to the lenders.  The lenders can take your house, your car, and your wages if you do not pay the money you owe.  There is nothing good that comes out of borrowing money we don’t have on things we really do not need.

Now is the time to take back our finances, give them over to God and trust that He will deliver us from our lenders.  Once He does then we must make every effort not to return to that slave mentality and handle our money with wisdom and the way God intended.

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“Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?” Proverbs 17:16 New International Version

Today is Black Friday and retailers are hoping that people will come out to their stores and buy items to get them back into profit mode.  Many stores opened at 4 am and 5 am some were even open on Thanksgiving.  The stores are claiming this is the time to buy and get the best deals.  Is it really the best deal?  Retailers are only interested in getting you in the store and buying.  They are not concerned about your money and whether or not you are getting the best deal.

They are using tricks to get you to buy something.  Some products may not be the best quality for the price.  Some stores are limiting items per store.  For example, a store that may service a town of thousands will only have three items that are advertise in their black Friday ads. 

So let us be wise with our money.  This is a good day to shop but don’t be afraid to ask God for wisdom.  There is nothing to small for God.  Make sure you get the best deal and bang for your buck.  Don’t let these retailers fleece you of your money.  Do you research and comparison shop, make the retailers work for you.  Enjoy your shopping.  Don’t spend money you do not have.

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“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.  The Lord is near.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.  The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4: 4-9

Today is Thanksgiving and it is a time to reflect on all that we are to be thankful about.  Paul admonishes us to rejoice in the Lord always, not to worry about anything, take everything to God in prayer and to think on positive things.  So as we reflect on this Thanksgiving let us do so with a grateful heart and thanksgiving in our heart.

This past year God has been so good to our family.  Even though we faced some trials God showed Himself faithful as always.  So we thank God for everything both small and great.  He is always with us and will never leave nor forsake us.  Enjoy this day and to God be the glory.

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“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”  Romans 8:15-17

Today is one of the busiest travel days of the season.  There are many who are going to see their families for the Thanksgiving holidays.  As families gather together they will be enjoying each other’s company and eating good food.  Some people will be getting together will family they have never met or have not seen for a long time.  It will be indeed a time of rejoicing and celebration.

As the body of Christ we are one family.  We are God’s children and we are also heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus.  We have the Spirit of sonship and have all the rights as children in God’s family.  So let us celebrate that our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.  We are God’s children and we have the example of our big brother Jesus.  Let us join together thanking God for all He has done, and helping usher our lost brothers and sisters into the Kingdom of God so that they too will experience the same joyous celebration and reunion.

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“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

Many years ago a co-worker of mine asked me why Christians value the cross so much.  She did not understand why we would celebrate an object of such scorn and death.  She even commented if a family member was killed by a gun would we all carry guns in remembrance?  I remember thinking how foolish was her statement.

Those who are perishing see the cross as foolishness.  They do not understand the significance of the cross in Jesus’ death and resurrection.  We who are saved understand all that happened on that cross and what Jesus accomplished.  So to us it is the power and wisdom of God, because on that cross sin was conquered.  That cross symbolizes Jesus’ victory over sin and death.  We are now able to experience eternal life through Jesus Christ.  How do you see the cross?

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“And in that day you will say, ‘give thanks to the LORD, call on His name make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted.’” Isaiah 12:4

It is so easy to complain about what we do not yet have.  Especially, in the economic situation we are in.  People are out of work, people are losing their homes, and the quality of life is not as it used to be.  Just watch the news and you will see all the trouble that people are in.

As God’s people we must go against the tide and despite the circumstances that we are facing we need to thank God.  We must let others know all the good that He has done for us so that His name will be exalted.  It is in difficult times that we should reflect on the goodness of God and remember all the things He has done for us.  There are those of you who did not get laid off.  You were able to buy a house, or a new car.  So make known to all the people what God has done for you.

When we thank God and remember all that He has done for us, the trials and tribulations that we may endure will not seem as difficult.  When we thank God for what we have, we open a door for God to give us more.  So let us not look at what we lack but be grateful for what we have.  We will find that we actually have abundance; at the very least we have God on our side – the giver of all good things. 

Thank you Lord for all you have done and thank you Lord for keeping us in difficult times.

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“The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

Each day is a new day.  Yesterday has past and tomorrow has yet to come.  Jesus tells us that we should not worry about tomorrow.  We also shouldn’t stay in the past.  God’s mercies are new each day.  He loves us and His compassions never fail.  With God we begin anew each day.  He does not hold our past against us, nor does He fret about our tomorrows.  God provides exactly what we need for today.  We don’t have to try and bank His love or be concerned that His grace and mercy will run out.  With God each new day begins with a clean slate.  So if we missed it yesterday we can try again today.

It is also important that we not worry about tomorrow.  Whatever is happening today God will provide for our tomorrows.  Just like time we begin each new day with a newness of God.  Each day is 24 hours we don’t have to save hours and minutes to carry over to tomorrow because we know that tomorrow holds the same amount of time.  God is faithful.  He is faithful today and will be faithful tomorrow.  So don’t worry about tomorrow.  Just hold onto to today and know that your Father knows exactly what you need.  He will show his loving kindness toward you and His compassions will not fail.

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 “The LORD your God is with you,
       he is mighty to save.
       He will take great delight in you,
       he will quiet you with his love,
       he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (New International Version)

What a beautiful scripture.  It is so wonderful to know that God takes such great delight in us.  Too often we see God as this judge who is ready to strike us at any moment.  We are so afraid that we are not meeting His expectations of us.  But in this scripture we are told that God loves us.  He rejoices over us with singing.  Can you picture that – God singing over you.

This scripture depicts God full of joy and love.  He is not angry or aloof from us.  He is with us wherever we go.  He is mighty to save.  Let us hold onto this verse whenever we think of God.  That He is actually smiling down on us, rejoicing over us and singing.  What a mighty God we serve.

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