Monday, December 26, 2011

First Fruits (Tithes & Offerings)

We are to give God our first fruits.  Now what does that mean?  Does it just mean we are to give Him our money, or, does it mean more than that?  I believe that it means more than just giving of our income, that's only part of it.


In Genesis we are told to give the first fruit of our labor.  Some examples of that: if you grow food, fruit, vegetables (whether your a farmer or a home gardener take 10% of the best of what you've grown and give it to the poor.  Only the best will do, anything less and it will not be pleasing to God.  After all God gave his very best to us.


If you know how to fix things, say you're a handyman by trade, whatever it may be, carpenter, electrition, etc.  Find someone that needs your assistance that can't pay for it and do the work for them without charging them or expecting anything in return.


A teacher: find that special student that is struggling, find out why and help them.  There are hospitals with children that I'm sure would love to learn from you.  Crafters: make something for a lonely neighbor or someone in a home or hospital, doesn't matter if they are old, young or somewhere in between, there is a lonely soul out there waiting to be touched.


Cab, limousine drivers if you see someone who needs a ride and it seems obvious  that they can't afford to pay for a ride offer a free ride to their destination.  If you're a cook make a meal for the homeless or a shut in, or invite a struggling neighbor over for a nice hot meal.  Your neighbor could live right next store or a struggling co-worker, someone from your church.


Baker: make some cookies, take them to a nursing home or to a hospital, they don't necessarily need to go to the patients only, I'm sure the nurses, doctors and volunteers would like to know that they are appreciated, how about your local fire and police departments, how often do we thank them for being there for our protection?


We all have some type of gift to give.  What I've mentioned are just a very very few gifts that are given to us.  Some of us have many, some just a few.  Don't think for one moment that you do not have any type of gift.  We all do and if you are not sure of yours ask God what it is, he'll show you.  Find out what you have and start using it and giving it back to God by giving to others.


I could use a good organizer, however, I don't have the funds to hire one at this time.  I could list a lot of gifts here that people have and don't even realize it, find your gift and use it for good.


Most think that tithes and offerings are monetary, however, it is so much more than that.  Find out what your gifts are and start using them to assist others and give your very best as God will not accept anything less.   God will bless you for honoring him and please don't think it will be money for it may be something other than that and probably will be.


God Bless you.  Comments always welcomed.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Questions everyone Ask of God!

Oh God,

Are you listening, do you hear me?   Are you there??????

Sometimes God, Father, Redeemer  I really don't know if you are listening or not.  Sometimes I feel all alone and deserted.  I really wonder sometimes if you really will help or intervene. Or whatever.

As far as I know I'm trying, however I may not be doing enough of trying to get to know you.  I need help, assistance with this.

My prayer is this oh Lord, God Almighty help (assist) me in this area.  I need to get back to where I was when I first accepted you as my Lord and Savior.  I need that joy, happiness, knowing that you would take care of it all and protect and guide me.    Somehow Lord God I lost that and I want it back.

It has been of 35 yrs (give or take a yr. or so). since I've accepted you and I have a dull memory of it, but I do remember (even though it vague)  the peace, joy and comfort, boldness etc.  How do I get that youthful stuff back.  How do I get back to where I was so confident in your word and truly truly trusted you without a doubt?   I want that so Earnesty. How oh God do I get that back???????

I'm sure that there are many more questions out there, however these are some of the ones I have and if I think about it long enough I'm sure I have many more.

What about you?  What questions do you have for God?   Comments are always welcomed.

 

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Looking for Mom.


OK Mom,

 I'm waiting for you to come home, however I know you never will because you went to be with our Lord.   However I'm still waiting because it seems like you shouldn't be gone.   When are you going to come home?  That is my question!!!    When am I truly going to realize you are not coming back here.

I don't want you to be gone, I want you to be here.  I want to take care of you.  You left way, way too soon.
I wanted you to be cured and whole.   I was really, really hoping that you would be cured of your cancer and that  we would be roommates per say.  I would find a job (full time, part tune) and pay you rent.  I was so willing to do that and to take care of you.

However that wasn't to be!  I am so, so, so sad about that!

I wanted to get to know you better, I wanted to learn from you.  Even though I have told you several times that I love you, I wanted to show you that!  I really don't know if I've showed you that or not the short time we had together.      I'm still waiting for you to come home, I miss you so much and wish we had talked more.

Where are you Mom?  Why aren't you here?!  We had such a short, short time together;  I thought it would be longer than a couple of months.   I came here in the month of June and you departed this life in early September.  I was totally not expecting that.   I was really hoping that you would be here a lot longer.

I must say Mom I miss you tremendously and for right now I'm still looking for you to come home, because I'm here on vacation and you needed to go to work and do what you need to do.   So I'm here at your house waiting for you to come home and I'm making dinner for us.   Come home Mom so we can have dinner together.

I love and miss you Mom and I am so happy that you are no longer in pain and that you are with our Lord.
However I'm still waiting for you to come home.   I miss you so very very much.

Love,
Julia

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Man who changed the timeline.



Thinking about all the ancient religions and all the gods that have come and gone, I know of only one who actually had such an impact that He changed the calendar, which separated the ancient from the new.  There was only one who caused the timeline to be separated because of Him.  There is no other that has done this.  He had such a profound impact on the lives of people in His time and it continues on to this day.

Imagine: born in a stable raised a carpenter’s son, had chores he had to do and probably assisted with the family business as he grew up.  Participated in all the family gatherings, played with other children, just a regular kid.  He went to church on the Sabbath with his family, celebrated the holidays, just a regular person.

Then one day he gets baptized by his cousin and is called to go preach to the people, give them the good news and He goes and does what he is called to do.  And what he preaches and teaches has changed the world.  It has changed it so much, that time has been separated into BC and AC (before Christ and after Christ).   There is no other that has done this, none who has made such a change in history as Christ.

So I don’t know what all the fuss is about with unbelievers not wanting to celebrate this awesome persons birthday, who brought us such good news, that died for us and is able to give us such joy and peace if we only do what He ask.  Although we ourselves make it difficult, it really is not if we only allow Him to live his life through us and trust in Him.

Read the bible for yourself, especially the New Testament (gospel of John is a good place to start) and read about what the things he did and the things he taught, you just might be surprised.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Seeking God.

What does it mean to diligently seek God?

Diligent: constant in effort to accomplish something: attentive and persistent in doing anything. (industrious, untiring, tireless, unremitting, perseverance)  Now we know what diligent is.

What about seek?

Seek: to go in search or quest of, to try to find or discover by searching or questioning.
(quest: an adventurous expedition undertaken to secure or achieve something.)

I've always like to look at my seeking God as a quest an adventure, because in doing so you never know what treasures you will find.   It's always an adventure to learn something new and exciting that you didn't know before when studying the word of God.

You just never know what enlightenment you might get today from reading and meditating on His word, what new adventures may in store for you while you go about your daily routine.  Who you might meet today that may make a change in your life, or you make a change in theirs.


Life is an adventure to be explored everyday.  Just look around and you'll find something you haven't seen or noticed before.  There's always something new!  We need to get the wonder back we had as small children when everything was new and exciting, so it should be with our walk with God, for that way we honor Him by not taking for granted all we have.  I had a special blessing today (and though it may be small to you, it was awesome for me)  I saw a bluebird this morning, not to be confused with a blue jay.  It was the most lovely shade of blue.  I didn't have a camera on hand to take a picture of it so the picture here is one I got off the web.  It was just sitting out back on the top of the rake handle looking around and I watched it for a few minutes, then it took off.   I think that's the first time I have ever seen a bluebird.  It was beautiful!   

It's the little things in life that I enjoy.   

Well I wanted to share a few verses with you about seeking God.

Deut: 4:29  But if from there thou shall seek the Lord thy God, thou shall find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and all thy soul.  (I think it's wonderful that we can find God)

Jer. 29:13-14  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart, and I will be found by you, saith the Lord, and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations.... (isn't it nice to know that God will release us from our captivity, give us freedom.  God is so great)

Mt. 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. (read Lk. 12:31 also)  (knowing that He will meet all our needs is an awesome thing, but it's in His time not ours, we have to remember that)

Lk. 11:9-10  And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For everyone that asks receives and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened.  (isn't that just marvelous)

And I just love this:    John 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.  (not only should we seek God, but, God seeks us, now that is awesome)

Well there you have it folks my thoughts for right now.