Is It Enough?

I was driving home from work and noticed a homeless woman crossing the street. Our eyes met and I began to pray for her. It was unusual to see a homeless person in the affluent area of Fashion Island,  Newport Beach, CA. This homeless woman stood out, in her oversized tattered dress, and shopping cart full of all her belongings. She demanded my attention, standing against the lush green lawns and beautiful palm tree lined streets. As I drove further I felt the prompting to go back and give her all the money I had in my wallet, which wasn't much. I quickly turned around and pulled up beside her. As I rolled down my window, she grabbed a huge tattered Bible, holding it close to her chest and backed away from my rolled down passenger side window. I leaned over to tell her I wanted to help her, holding up the money in my hand. She said, "I don't approach cars." I said, "I can get out and give it to you." She quickly replied, "No, I can tell it's not the right amount. I pray each day and ask God to provide for my exact needs for the day. I know the amount, and I can tell that's not enough." I continued to try and persuade her to take it, telling her if it's not the right amount then she can use it to bless someone else. She refused telling me, "If I accept an amount less than I'm supposed to I am being unfaithful to God." With that I told her I would be praying for her and drove away feeling a little disheartened as to why the Lord would have me go offer everything I have in my purse, only to be rejected.

While driving I continued to pray and ask what lesson the Lord wanted to teach me. I had felt the prompting very strong to go back and give her all I had; even to the point that as I began to count the money, I stopped because I knew it didn't matter how much I was giving her, I was just supposed to offer it all to her.

When I got home...Tithing came to my mind. I remembered how I've been falling short in being faithful to give at least a 10th of my earnings. I give a little here and a little there. But God is asking me to give Him at least a 10th. He is asking me to give Him my best. What I've been offering "WASN"T THE RIGHT AMOUNT!" What I've been giving to the Lord wasn't enough? Everything I have is His..my family, my job, my car, my home, my food, my clothes and all the extra little "must have" things I store up. He has given me so much and in return asks me to give a 10th of my earnings to be used for His purpose. He's blessed me and only asks for a small portion to be given in faithfulness. I have fallen short. I have short changed the Lord who is ALWAYS there when I call. He is so faithful and yet I have not been. 

Today, ask yourself if you too have fallen short in this area? The Lord is faithful to provide ALL your needs. Are you as faithful in giving to the Lord?

 ^"A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord." Leviticus 27:30 

" Then say to the Lord your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them." Deuteronomy 26:13

"Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?  Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”  “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”  They answered, “Seven.”  He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” Mark 8:17-21

Give God your best and He'll supply the rest!!

What's More Important Than Money?

We just received a *FREE* brown leather sectional couch that has a sofa sleeper and recliner. It's been years since I've had a new couch and my old sectional was no longer in the best shape. As my hubby put the old couch out in the garage, my mind started spinning with wonderful ideas. I can list our old couch on Craigs List and we can make some money off of it (it's in better shape than a lot of couches I've seen listed.) Along with the couch I have my kids old bunk beds I can also sell. As I started counting the dollars in my mind, trying to figure out the most money I could get for it, my hubby decided to rain on my parade. "Why do you want to sell everything? I think we should just give it away. We were blessed with a free couch, now we can bless someone else."

Gulp...ahummmm, "Well we don't have a lot of extra money and I figured it would help us get caught up," I quickly replied in my defense. He didn't say much else, but it continued to churn in my mind. I knew that it was the right thing to do. I mean, we'd been totally blessed with this awesome new couch, I now had the means in turn to bless someone else and what was my first natural human thought? MONEY!

How often do we think about money? Is there anything more important than money? If you look at your everyday life, how often are you thinking about money? (I don't have enough, I need more, how can I make more? Why do they have more? They got this and I didn't, I need to win the Lotto, etc...you know, just everyday thoughts.) We all know money is important, but how much importance are you giving it in relationship to your happiness? Do you know that with more money, comes a whole set of new problems (How do I keep my money? Who's trying to take my money? I need to make more money. Where should I invest my money? Am I managing my money right? The stocks are crashing, I'm losing my money! etc.) Do you get the picture? Life becomes an endless battle, pursuit and non-stop focus on MONEY. If we trust in ourselves and our human nature, the most important thing in this world is MONEY. When we live by this rule, we are in a perpetual state of stress, worry and uncertainty. We all need money but when money becomes the most important thing in your life, you are headed down a long, dark road to misery.

JESUS showed us the most important thing we can do is trust in Him and reach out to people; helping, sharing, caring and loving PEOPLE. The Lord is more than capable of supplying all your needs. Your needs do not necessarily mean an over abundance. Sometimes the Lord gives you "just enough." Just enough to be comfortable and then He will highlight people He wants you to share your "just enough," with. Sometimes it may seem like you don't even have "just enough" and yet He still asks you to share and give not only to bless others, but also to bless yourself. This strengthens your trust and faith in Him. Remember...everything you have is from Him.

As I cast aside my original idea and start searching for somewhere to donate my items, I find something strange happening. My focus is no longer on money, but on who will be blessed by this?  A single mom? A woman trying to start over after fleeing an abusive relationship? A family who lost everything? Kids who have been sleeping on the floor? The list is endless. I start to get excited with the possibility of who I can help. I'm someone who has "just enough," and can be a blessing.

What's more important than money? JESUS CHRIST. LOVE. PEOPLE.

"Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless." Ecclesiastes 5:10

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

"The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep." John 21:17

 

 

The Cost of a Life

I recently heard a disturbing story while looking for a childhood friend/neighbor. I found out he'd done very well for himself. He owned his own company, obtained all the luxuries, status and financial stability that we all seek. He had a wonderful family, a wife, beautiful teenage triplet daughters, and two grown sons.

Suddenly, when the stock market crashed two years ago, his money and dreams fell with it. He lost it all. In his despair, he ended his life.

Another lost life over meaningless, worldly treasure. His possessions and status defined him.

How much is his life worth, hundreds and thousands of dollars...millions? Can any amount of money replace the loss of a husband, father, son or friend?

The Bible says, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21

What are you chasing after each day? What have you put in front of your relationship with the Lord?

My friend lost sight of who he was in Christ? He lost sight of his true worth and value. His priorities were taken over by the worlds definition of value; a shallow, lonely pit of lies and deceit. Yes, we all need to live and provide for our families, but when an abundance of money, or lack of it consumes your thoughts, it's time to re-assess your priorities.

I want to remind each one of you to spend the necessary time allowing the Lord to fill your emptiness through a relationship with Him. Put on the full armor of God each morning. Don't lose your way through worldly deception.

Seek, rely on, put your faith, hope, trust and dreams in the one who is able to supply ALL your needs no matter what the circumstances appear to be.

What is the true value of your life?

YOU ARE PRICELESS!

He says to you each day, "BE STILL and KNOW that I AM GOD."
Psalms 46:10

"BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!"

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:13-19