Have you ever said to yourself, "I meant to pay my tithe this month or I wanted to give to help the youth ministry but, where did the money go?" As I briefly touched on in my last post, you should never have to give your last $20.00 to help with God's work! Now that does not mean that you should not give or that God looks the other way if you feel that you have a more pressing need in your life and therefore you don't give back to Him what is rightfully His in your tithe and offerings...What I am saying here is that God should be the first person that you pay when you get your check and therefore you should never have to give your last $20.00 to Him, because you gave your first $20.00 to Him!?!
It all goes back to faith. It takes a step of faith to say, "God, You know I don't have the money for this but it is Yours anyway." It takes trust to give of your need and not of your excess. For instance, consider this passage of scripture from Mark 12:41-44...
"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."
She needed the money to live on but she gave it to God! She didn't have ANY money left! Not a penny! Yet she still gave. A wise man said the following, "Where God guides, God provides." Do you believe that?...How you give back to Him will tell the truth...
19.2.09
11.2.09
Cheerful Giver?!?
Have you ever stopped to think about what it means when the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that God loves a cheerful giver? I mean really look at yourself and ask do I give cheerfully? It's easy to kinda shrug off the question and say immediately yeah, of course. But is that the truth?
First ask yourself, what does it mean to be cheerful! Notice it does not say happy, glad, or even content. Those are all emotional responses that constantly change due to the circumstances that we are going through. No it says cheer-ful!?! Maybe I'm picking this apart but are you completely overjoyed by the thought of giving of your time, talents, finances, and self? Are you "full of cheer" at the prospect of giving up your Saturday morning to help out at the church. What about giving your last $20 to help the youth go to camp (that's another problem that we'll be talking about shortly). Now you may be thinking, "No one feels that way all the time, so are we all bad?" No! It is when your mindset changes from seeing your giving as an obligation to seeing it as an opportunity that the transformation begins. I said BEGINS not is complete!
We all have to realize and understand that we are NEVER going to be perfect in any aspect of our lives, and while this is no excuse to stay in a dilapidated condition, it is a call to a deeper and more meaningful acknowledgement of our need to constantly strive for a better you. A more caring, loving, impacting, compelling, and CHEERFUL you...
First ask yourself, what does it mean to be cheerful! Notice it does not say happy, glad, or even content. Those are all emotional responses that constantly change due to the circumstances that we are going through. No it says cheer-ful!?! Maybe I'm picking this apart but are you completely overjoyed by the thought of giving of your time, talents, finances, and self? Are you "full of cheer" at the prospect of giving up your Saturday morning to help out at the church. What about giving your last $20 to help the youth go to camp (that's another problem that we'll be talking about shortly). Now you may be thinking, "No one feels that way all the time, so are we all bad?" No! It is when your mindset changes from seeing your giving as an obligation to seeing it as an opportunity that the transformation begins. I said BEGINS not is complete!
We all have to realize and understand that we are NEVER going to be perfect in any aspect of our lives, and while this is no excuse to stay in a dilapidated condition, it is a call to a deeper and more meaningful acknowledgement of our need to constantly strive for a better you. A more caring, loving, impacting, compelling, and CHEERFUL you...
4.2.09
Knowing Your Enemy...
Many of you are familiar with this expression. Maybe some of you have played sports where you would get a scouting report on the person that you were going to be going up against so that you could study up on that person. You could learn their favorite moves or tendencies so that you could be better equipped to slow them down or stop them entirely. Why don't we do that with the devil?
I have had many people say to me that "I must have done something wrong since my life is in shambles," or "They must not be living right" due to the circumstances that someone may be going through. But I look at those situations completely differently. Maybe you are going through what you are going through because you are doing everything right!?! Think about that for a second...Now realize that every time God opens the windows of heaven to pour out your blessing, Satan opens the gates of hell to try to take that blessing from you. Don't you understand, the devil will do ANYTHING to keep you out of heaven!
He will allow so-called miracles to occur in churches that pose no threat to him. He will allow physical prosperity to come to those whose souls are already his. He will raise up men who he can control to prominence and fame so that all the world will think that the lifestyle that they are living must be the way since they "appear" to be so blessed. WHATEVER IT TAKES! Much like Malcolm X's philosophy, "By any means necessary!"
We as the Church need to develop this same mentality! We need a few men and women who understand that this war that we are in, is not going to be won without sacrifice. That saying "Freedom isn't free!", couldn't be more true. We have go to be willing to give our time, our monetary blessing, and our talents (you wouldn't have it if God didn't want you to use it) to make a difference in the lives of the people around us. If we don't do it now, then when? Know this, hell doesn't give it's workers a day off, breaks, or even a lunch hour to relax. We have to be willing to do our part in this fight to confront this foe head on. Then and only then can we know our enemy...Then and only then can we win people to God!
I have had many people say to me that "I must have done something wrong since my life is in shambles," or "They must not be living right" due to the circumstances that someone may be going through. But I look at those situations completely differently. Maybe you are going through what you are going through because you are doing everything right!?! Think about that for a second...Now realize that every time God opens the windows of heaven to pour out your blessing, Satan opens the gates of hell to try to take that blessing from you. Don't you understand, the devil will do ANYTHING to keep you out of heaven!
He will allow so-called miracles to occur in churches that pose no threat to him. He will allow physical prosperity to come to those whose souls are already his. He will raise up men who he can control to prominence and fame so that all the world will think that the lifestyle that they are living must be the way since they "appear" to be so blessed. WHATEVER IT TAKES! Much like Malcolm X's philosophy, "By any means necessary!"
We as the Church need to develop this same mentality! We need a few men and women who understand that this war that we are in, is not going to be won without sacrifice. That saying "Freedom isn't free!", couldn't be more true. We have go to be willing to give our time, our monetary blessing, and our talents (you wouldn't have it if God didn't want you to use it) to make a difference in the lives of the people around us. If we don't do it now, then when? Know this, hell doesn't give it's workers a day off, breaks, or even a lunch hour to relax. We have to be willing to do our part in this fight to confront this foe head on. Then and only then can we know our enemy...Then and only then can we win people to God!
19.1.09
Yfactor Football Challenge...
Please come and be a part of our Yfactor 09 Football Challenge. For more information click here or visit our website at www.yfactoryouth.org. Thanks and God bless...
Karma...
I don't know if it's exactly appropirate on a Christian Youth Blog, but this topic seems to be on my mind lately and therefore you get to read about it.
People rarely ever really get to appreciate the saying what goes around comes around due to their perspective. I mean if you are on the losing or negative side of the equation then you often think what did I do to deserve this and if it is a positive outcome then we say to ourselves that we must have done something right, but is that really why we were either blessed or cursed? (I know cursed is a strong word but it got your attention!?!) I mean do you really think that God and/or the angels are sitting around in heaven keeping a running total of our victories and our shortcomings? Well I do! Maybe not literally but figuratively speaking...
We can find evidence of this fact in the Bible where it tells us in Hebrews 11:6 ...and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Therefore we can come to the conclusion that if we earnestly and fervently seek after God and His will for our lives that He will reward our efforts (Matthew 6:33). When we desire to do the things that God would have for us to do then we will have our desires met (Psalms 37:4). What goes around really does come around!?!
Today take the time to do something for the Kingdom and watch as your life becomes blessed...
People rarely ever really get to appreciate the saying what goes around comes around due to their perspective. I mean if you are on the losing or negative side of the equation then you often think what did I do to deserve this and if it is a positive outcome then we say to ourselves that we must have done something right, but is that really why we were either blessed or cursed? (I know cursed is a strong word but it got your attention!?!) I mean do you really think that God and/or the angels are sitting around in heaven keeping a running total of our victories and our shortcomings? Well I do! Maybe not literally but figuratively speaking...
We can find evidence of this fact in the Bible where it tells us in Hebrews 11:6 ...and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Therefore we can come to the conclusion that if we earnestly and fervently seek after God and His will for our lives that He will reward our efforts (Matthew 6:33). When we desire to do the things that God would have for us to do then we will have our desires met (Psalms 37:4). What goes around really does come around!?!
Today take the time to do something for the Kingdom and watch as your life becomes blessed...
12.1.09
Being Blessed...
A lot of people take for granted the small blessings that God graciously bestows on each and every one of us, regardless of how or what we are doing, or for that matter, not doing for Him. We all have to come to grips with the fact that there is nothing that you or I can do to be deserving of God's blessing.
PERIOD. BOTTOM LINE. END OF STORY.
We get so caught up in the "how can I be blessed?" that we loose sight of the fact that we have been brought to the place where we happen to find ourselves today purely and solely by the grace of God and that in and of itself is blessing enough. God has allowed you to make it to the place where you find yourself with the sole purpose for you to be reading this blog at this very moment and to where you will have the opportunity to make a choice upon completion of this reading to whether to embrace the fact that He wants to be and is an intricate part of your life or you can continue to live your life under the disillusion that you are a self made man or woman and that you have made it this far on your own.
Think of any number of situations from your past where, if things had been even slightly different, your life would now be drastically changed. Maybe you used to or currently do drink and drive. Maybe you find yourself in a constant battle to live another 24 hours due to the environment in which you find yourself and the people with which you have surrounded yourself. Maybe you are living life as if it were a ride at an amusement park, with a constant and persistent, never ending wave of extreme highs followed by tremendous lows.
Now most people want you to believe that life is simply a series of random events with no real structure or reason for their existence, however, this could not be further from the truth. Whatever your situation and wherever you are know this, there is a reason...you have a purpose!
So the next time you find yourself in a situation where you find yourself asking the question, "How did I get to this point?" or "What am I doing here?" or better yet, "Where do I fit in and belong?", know there is a place and a person who can and will answer all of life's questions. He is simply waiting on you to open the door...and realize, if you want God to bless you in your house, you first need to bless Him in His. Find a local church that preaches truth, get into the Bible and read His Word, pray, and acknowledge Him for all that He has done for you...
PERIOD. BOTTOM LINE. END OF STORY.
We get so caught up in the "how can I be blessed?" that we loose sight of the fact that we have been brought to the place where we happen to find ourselves today purely and solely by the grace of God and that in and of itself is blessing enough. God has allowed you to make it to the place where you find yourself with the sole purpose for you to be reading this blog at this very moment and to where you will have the opportunity to make a choice upon completion of this reading to whether to embrace the fact that He wants to be and is an intricate part of your life or you can continue to live your life under the disillusion that you are a self made man or woman and that you have made it this far on your own.
Think of any number of situations from your past where, if things had been even slightly different, your life would now be drastically changed. Maybe you used to or currently do drink and drive. Maybe you find yourself in a constant battle to live another 24 hours due to the environment in which you find yourself and the people with which you have surrounded yourself. Maybe you are living life as if it were a ride at an amusement park, with a constant and persistent, never ending wave of extreme highs followed by tremendous lows.
Now most people want you to believe that life is simply a series of random events with no real structure or reason for their existence, however, this could not be further from the truth. Whatever your situation and wherever you are know this, there is a reason...you have a purpose!
So the next time you find yourself in a situation where you find yourself asking the question, "How did I get to this point?" or "What am I doing here?" or better yet, "Where do I fit in and belong?", know there is a place and a person who can and will answer all of life's questions. He is simply waiting on you to open the door...and realize, if you want God to bless you in your house, you first need to bless Him in His. Find a local church that preaches truth, get into the Bible and read His Word, pray, and acknowledge Him for all that He has done for you...
2.1.09
Happy New Year!!!
Well let me start off by saying, welcome to 2009!
Now with the arrival of the new year everyone will undoubtedly be making those usual New Year's Resolutions. You know the personal improvements, that I'm talking about, "I'm going to exercise daily", "I'm going to eat better", "I'm going to spend more time with my family", the list goes on and on. We even have them for our church and church departments. Things like, "We're going to do more", "We're going to be more things for more people", or "We're going to add this or take away that to make this or that better". And while it is great to want to improve yourself and be a better person going forward, giving credit to and thanking those who have helped to shape that future is of vital importance.
Everyone has had someone who has been instrumental in developing their Christian walk or guiding them down the correct path. You know, that one person without whom your life would be sooo different. Everyone out there has had an experience where things could have, and probably should have, turned out much worse than they did. Everyone has been in situations or circumstances that they never intended to be in and don't know how they got there. Maybe you're there right now!?! What better way to honor those people who helped you get where you are or to pay tribute to the God who saw fit to help you through the rough times and who wants to be all that you can ever need wherever you find yourself, than to pass them along.
It has been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, and therefore to give to someone else what has been graciously given to you, would reason to be the most telling sign of the appreciation that you feel for what you have been blessed with. To know where you are going you must first know where you've been and acknowledging the people who helped us to get to this place is a great way to start...
Now with the arrival of the new year everyone will undoubtedly be making those usual New Year's Resolutions. You know the personal improvements, that I'm talking about, "I'm going to exercise daily", "I'm going to eat better", "I'm going to spend more time with my family", the list goes on and on. We even have them for our church and church departments. Things like, "We're going to do more", "We're going to be more things for more people", or "We're going to add this or take away that to make this or that better". And while it is great to want to improve yourself and be a better person going forward, giving credit to and thanking those who have helped to shape that future is of vital importance.
Everyone has had someone who has been instrumental in developing their Christian walk or guiding them down the correct path. You know, that one person without whom your life would be sooo different. Everyone out there has had an experience where things could have, and probably should have, turned out much worse than they did. Everyone has been in situations or circumstances that they never intended to be in and don't know how they got there. Maybe you're there right now!?! What better way to honor those people who helped you get where you are or to pay tribute to the God who saw fit to help you through the rough times and who wants to be all that you can ever need wherever you find yourself, than to pass them along.
It has been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, and therefore to give to someone else what has been graciously given to you, would reason to be the most telling sign of the appreciation that you feel for what you have been blessed with. To know where you are going you must first know where you've been and acknowledging the people who helped us to get to this place is a great way to start...
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