Day 1 - Week 49 - Right on the cusp of halfway!

Here we are on the edge of halfway!  Trekking along the Appalachian Trail we would be just a little bit southwest of Gettysburg National Monument.  In the morning, you might wake to look to the east to view the scene pictured.

Gettysburg - a sight of such sorry and yet where President Lincoln issued such great words to a broken country.  "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."  Most of us know the opening sentence, don't we? 

But I love the closing even more..."It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." 

I love the spirit of patriotism that this evokes in me...I hope it does in you as well.  We hear so many negative things about our country, but this country has and continues to serve a great purpose.  It is a land of liberty and one that many, many people would love to be able to call their home.  As we continue through this turbulent election year, I hope we can all remember that America has been a blessed nation; I pray that God continues to bless us, but I also am fearful that as we change the course of our country from one that was born out of the desire to enable people to draw closer to God, to one that distances itself from God and His teachings, that His hand of blessing may not be so often felt.  And while I am deeply patriotic, I also view myself first and foremost as a child of God, joining with Christian brothers and sisters worldwide in a fellowship even sweeter than that of patriotism.  I love the words in Revelation that remind me that in the great forever there will be representatives from every nation, tribe, people and language!!  What a glorious scene that will be!

So...where were we?  Oh yes, we are trekking along and looking back...here is our current review list:

Praise and Thanksgiving (4)

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.

Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

Promises of God (10)

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.

Obedience (10)
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.



Now this week's additional verse of obedience....

Hebrews 10:25  "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)

This will be an interesting verse this week because I know of so many Christians right now that are struggling with finding a church home.  More so than ever before, it seems.  Well, we must!  We need to be in Christian assembly on a regular basis.  Here's a challenge...if you are not currently in regular worship in a congregation of believers, join me in praying over this verse this week and opening our hearts to where God is leading us. 

Day 7 - Week 48 - 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

One last night on giving..so let's focus on the cheerful part!

You know what is a very good indicator of where your heart is in giving?  If you have a smile on your face as you give.  If as you are writing out a check, you are already thinking of how soon you can write another one and wishing it could be sooner, and wishing it could be bigger.

See, we should find real joy in giving to God's kingdom. Knowing that our gifts may be just what is needed to bring the Word of God to someone who has not yet heard and bringing them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  We never know how our gifts may add to the number of saved souls that we will meet on heaven's streets in our eternal lives.  When you think about that, how can you not smile?

We should find real joy in helping others as they need help and doing so in Jesus' name.  Letting them know that we are helping them because of the love that is in our hearts that has been put there by the Spirit of Almighty God.  A love like no other.  A love that expects nothing in return.

When you find yourself wanting to give, and then wanting to give even more, you know you have become a truly cheerful giver...and we know that...

Day 6 - Week 48 - 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. "

Giving - why is it such a hard area of obedience?  Why are we so enamored by what we think we possess?  (For in all actuality we possess nothing  - everything we think we have, everything we touch, everything we try to hold on to so tightly - it all belongs to God.  He can take it away in the blink of an eye.)  I cannot help but think of Corrie Ten Boom's words regarding possessions, “Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.”   

When we finally get it through our heads that nothing is ours, that all is God's, then it becomes much easier to release material goods for God's use.  Whatever we have, He has given us for a moment.  And He asks us to use everything for His glory...what we give away AND what we keep.  For whatever we use for Him has eternal value, everything else will fade away into nothingness. 

This is what Jesus was talking about when He said to lay up treasures in heaven.  When we turn our focus to eternity rather than this temporary world, then we will start moving more of our money into areas that will make a difference for eternity, rather than our momentary earthly pleasures and comforts.

I wrestle with this...does this mean that I never spend money on my home, or on a wonderful trip with my husband?    It's one of those areas that we cannot answer for others, only for ourselves.  And I think it's one of those areas where God really wants us to bring things to Him and ask for His guidance.  He will lead our hearts where He needs them.  Sometimes, He may know that I am wanting to do something in my home that will enhance our family time, or just to make my home more inviting to others, possibly to be used for relationship building.  If those are truly my motives, He may give me a big nudge of approval; but if He sees in my heart that I'm simply trying to keep up with others, or trying to impress...huh uh...He's not going to confirm that direction.

If He sees my heart desiring time with my husband to deepen our relationship, if we've been tired and busy and our marriage just needs some special time together, then I may very well feel confirmed in spending the money necessary to do just that.

I guess what I'm trying to say is we can never look from the outside in and determine that someone else is not spending their money in a godly manner....all we can do, and all we are called to do, is to surrender our financial decisions to God's direction, to bring our spending choices before Him in prayer, and to constantly seek to deposit our treasures in the eternal bank of our heavenly home where we will enjoy the dividends forever! 

Give as you decide in your heart...but make sure that heart is surrendered to the direction of the Holy Spirit.   When that's the case, you will always be a cheerful giver. 

Day 4 - Week 48 - 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. "

"Decided in his own heart...." almost makes it sound like we totally get to make our own decision on this one, doesn't it.  Soooo...I decide "in my own heart" that this year I am cheerfully going to give 1% of my income, and I'm going to feel good about it.  I'm not going to be reluctant about that giving at all.  Is that an OK decision on my part?  Is God good with my decision?

That's where the law comes into play.  As with everything, the law gives us our standard to compare our decisions against.  The law says, "Do not murder."  So we know we are not to kill anyone else, that's the standard.  But the decision made in our heart, under the Spirit's guidance, tells us to think of others as better than ourselves, to love our enemies, to do everything within our reach of possibility to bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The law says, "Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse."  But the decision made in our heart, under the Spirit's guidance, tells us to give not only out of our abundance, but to give whenever we see a need, giving to our churches, to our neighbors, to our community.  Our hearts should break when we see others in need and our love for others should overrule any "logical" decision of our heart as far as the amount of our gifts.  Logic may say, "I can only afford to give $______," but our broken heart says, "Take not only my shirt, but take my coat as well."

So are we, as Christians living in the 21st century, obliged to tithe?  My answer is....that shouldn't even be the question in our heart...we are obliged to give whatever is needed, whenever it is needed.  We are obliged to support our church so that it can continue to share the message of the Gospel.  We are obliged to love our neighbors not only in emotion, but in action, in tangible ways to help them in their time of need. 
I think the danger of tithing is when we calculate to the cent our giving to meet the 10% that the tithe calls for and then feeling very satisfied in our giving.  That is not the heart of the Gospel...that is not the heart that Jesus saw in the widow who gave her last penny.