I was reading online today that the Postal Service is going to request that they go to a five-day delivery service instead of six days. I applaud this effort. In the article I read, the powers that be believe this will help reduce costs because in 2020 there will be less snail mail and more email. The Postmaster General stated that "we can't freeze wages. We can't freeze fuel costs." * Well, why not? Every other company I know has either froze wages or cut them. The government can't do that? No wonder there is debt everywhere? If our government can't follow suit like the businesses, then who can we look to to help us manage our assets?
A man at work asked me to make sure the bills he put in the outgoing mail gets mailed. "I hate bills," he stated.
"So do I," I said back. "How do you get out of them?"
Another person said, "Don't pay them."
"Yeah, but then you get all kinds of nasty mail and phone calls, " I replied.
Mike has always said that maybe we should start a group to learn how to manage our own finances. Our board tells us that we are a giving church, and we proved that in February. Our last treasurer, Robert Wright, Sr., was always astounded at how no matter what, there seemed to be enough money to pay the bills. God always has been there with us. God tells us to test him in this.
Malachi 3:10
10 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.
Bring the whole tithe in and I will pour out so much blessing, you will not have enough room for it. Test me. I want to see him do that for all of us. I feel like I don't have enough room as it is, but to have the Lord keep blessing and blessing...how amazing will that be?
I challenge you to test God in this way. Let me know what happens. In a few months, we will see what kind of blessings have come about.
*USAToday.com article dated 3/2/10
Showing posts with label blessings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blessings. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Friday, December 4, 2009
Blessings
Luke 1:31 - 38
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God."
And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Mary was told that she was going to be pregnant. It says that she will conceive. That means when Gabriel came to visit her, she was not pregnant yet. The Bible never mentions again when she actually has the Holy Spirit come upon her, but I can bet that it was very quickly after the visit.
For most women, this is exciting, wonderful news. I think Mary, being young and already spoken for was scared. But she also knew about the foretold Messiah and realized that she was going to be his mother. What a responsibility she was given! Each of us that take on the responsibility of parenting, in any capacity, know the overwhelming burden and care and love we have for children. But to take care of Jesus? How would we react to that responsibility? Could you forgive yourself when he fell down and scratched his knee? Do you think the normal everyday, growing up things hat a child goes through, he went through? I think so. I think he played and cried and hurt. He was human, after all. Mary must have been chosen because she must of had the patience and understanding of what God really wanted for her. She must have been caring and loving and helped him grown in to the 12 year-old that went into the temple and taught the leaders. Mary must have rubbed her stomach everyday, and wondered at what all the Lord had entrusted to her.
Can you be trusted with the little thing that God had given you? Do you look in wonder during this time of year at the blessings that he has given you and helped you with? I am thankful for another year with my parents, husband and kids. Challenges have come up this year that is unexpected, but sometimes it makes you appreciate more what you have. Think about your blessings and what God has entrusted you with this weekend.
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God."
And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Mary was told that she was going to be pregnant. It says that she will conceive. That means when Gabriel came to visit her, she was not pregnant yet. The Bible never mentions again when she actually has the Holy Spirit come upon her, but I can bet that it was very quickly after the visit.
For most women, this is exciting, wonderful news. I think Mary, being young and already spoken for was scared. But she also knew about the foretold Messiah and realized that she was going to be his mother. What a responsibility she was given! Each of us that take on the responsibility of parenting, in any capacity, know the overwhelming burden and care and love we have for children. But to take care of Jesus? How would we react to that responsibility? Could you forgive yourself when he fell down and scratched his knee? Do you think the normal everyday, growing up things hat a child goes through, he went through? I think so. I think he played and cried and hurt. He was human, after all. Mary must have been chosen because she must of had the patience and understanding of what God really wanted for her. She must have been caring and loving and helped him grown in to the 12 year-old that went into the temple and taught the leaders. Mary must have rubbed her stomach everyday, and wondered at what all the Lord had entrusted to her.
Can you be trusted with the little thing that God had given you? Do you look in wonder during this time of year at the blessings that he has given you and helped you with? I am thankful for another year with my parents, husband and kids. Challenges have come up this year that is unexpected, but sometimes it makes you appreciate more what you have. Think about your blessings and what God has entrusted you with this weekend.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Traditions are a part of our lives. A couple of days ago, I asked for your traditions. Here are the two responses I received.
From Tim Hill:
We don't really have anything we do any more. I remember when I was growing up going rabbit or quail hunting with my brother Dick a few times. I was usually the bird dog. I only actually carried a gun one time and missed the only rabbit I got a shot at. I still like watching the parade and the football games, if I can keep my eyes open after eating all that food.
From Lew Rainey:
when i was younger it was a tradition to go rabbit hunting on thanksgiving day as it was always the first day of hunting season.
Well, as I laugh at these, I realize that just as the first pilgrims that celebrated all they had by giving thanks, we still hunt and gather our food. Most of it is done for us and we just prepare it, but it is still the same concept.
As we prepare for the holiday of thanks, here is a reminder of what it is about:
Thanksgiving Day in the United States started as a way of giving thanks to food collected from a good harvest or problems that were fixed. It originated in 1621 and was a religious festival, but is now largely secular. It is now a holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.
So give thanks for everything this weekend. Family, friends, health, food, shelter, and all the blessing that God has bestowed upon you.
Psalms 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Doxology - Thomas Ken, 1674
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
From Tim Hill:
We don't really have anything we do any more. I remember when I was growing up going rabbit or quail hunting with my brother Dick a few times. I was usually the bird dog. I only actually carried a gun one time and missed the only rabbit I got a shot at. I still like watching the parade and the football games, if I can keep my eyes open after eating all that food.
From Lew Rainey:
when i was younger it was a tradition to go rabbit hunting on thanksgiving day as it was always the first day of hunting season.
Well, as I laugh at these, I realize that just as the first pilgrims that celebrated all they had by giving thanks, we still hunt and gather our food. Most of it is done for us and we just prepare it, but it is still the same concept.
As we prepare for the holiday of thanks, here is a reminder of what it is about:
Thanksgiving Day in the United States started as a way of giving thanks to food collected from a good harvest or problems that were fixed. It originated in 1621 and was a religious festival, but is now largely secular. It is now a holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.
So give thanks for everything this weekend. Family, friends, health, food, shelter, and all the blessing that God has bestowed upon you.
Psalms 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Doxology - Thomas Ken, 1674
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
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