Category Archives: Giving

What are you “Serving-Up” Today?

30 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by in Daily Living, Giving, Gospel

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Sunday evening I was encouraged by a message to “Approve things that are excellent”. Often we approve things on the scale of good or bad; however, this passage encourages in us the idea of choosing the best over the good.

Have you ever hosted a meal for special guests? You probably make extra efforts to approve what is going to be served. You desire to please them with your hospitality and don’t want to send them away discontent. Their enjoyment of time is not based merely on your personality or presentation of the food and manners, but the quality of it all.

It’s like a kettle of soup….if not watched properly, stirred at intervals, it may scorch. The after fact affect of neglect: a “pot of soup” that is very  dis-tasteful. In our lives, we often scorch “batches of soup” by our good choices, and leave a bad taste in the mouths of the partakers, who are looking for the wholesome truth that will fill them up.

Our living affects lives!

Are we so sold out for the gospel of Jesus Christ that we are willing to disapprove the good for the sake of the best? What a shame to present anything that causes others to stumble….or gives distaste of what the gospel really is. Excellency considers the whole presentation of life.

Daily choices are felt by those around us probably more then by ourselves.

As heirs of the Kingdom and hospitable servants of the gospel, our goal should be: ”….that we might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD,…being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God….that He might be glorified” (Is. 61:3; Phil.1:11). And in Him being glorified, the love of Christ will go forth in strength -this is proclaiming the gospel through daily living!

~Tiffany Martens

Hannah and Prayer ~Day 21

11 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by in Faith, Giving, Prayer, Sacrifice, Surrender, Uncategorized, Yielded

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“For this child I prayed, and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him.” I Samuel 1:27

In the midst of pain for what she could not have on her own, Hannah found herself willing and ready to offer back to the Lord what was already His. Her heart and mind had been brought to the knowledge and awareness that it would take a miracle for her to conceive; in such a case, what only God could give to her, she vowed back to Him, realizing that this was not to be her son, but God’s.

We will find that what we desire or ask for [from God] is not ours at all (though we may have the pleasure of being stewards of His welcomed gifts). We will find in prayer, that we will better receive when we give back to God that which we cannot rightly keep anyways.

We are not to consume God’s gifts upon our own desires and lusts, but for His purposes and glory. James 4:3 says: “You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it upon your lusts.” Hannah asked with a heart already surrendered and an attitude resolved to give back what she desired so badly. When she died to her dream and found that God was the only one who could raise up this miracle in her womb, she received a heavenly blessing. She was given a son that was dedicated to God.

In prayer we must die to our own requests, our own desires and come to the point of full surrender to God’s will…we must pray His will – not ours – or we will become lost in the moment that ours is not answered. When we have been so molded and conformed to an understanding of what God desires of us, no sacrifice will be too great to give Him. What is mine must become His if I am to expect the blessings of abiding in prayer.

Tiffany

Give and it Shall be Given

18 Sunday Dec 2011

Posted by in Believe, Gifts, Give, Giving, Glory, Holy Spirit, Lords Prayer, Obedience, Patience, Power, Promptings, Receive, Sacrifice, Spiritual Growth, Trust, Wallking in the Spirit

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When the Lord prompts you to give: Give!

It is not only your faith that is being built, but the faith of the receiver –the one who is waiting, praying, patiently seeking the Lord for his daily bread –you are the answer to that one’s prayers. “Our Father who art in heaven……thy will be done….give me my daily bread…forgive me as I forgive…for Thine is the kingdom and the glory and the power…..”

There was one who gave once, with fear and trembling  –it was sacrificial. The yearly savings, which was set-aside for a good treasure, was now brought to their attention by the Spirit of God. He wanted its use for Kingdom purposes –and He said it was needful. With much struggling, it was given. It was done and it was an answer to prayer. The timing had to be perfect, for God never makes mistakes. It was found out later that God’s prompting was timely.

But what if that giver had not given? Would God have used someone else? Would that person waiting to receive, have suffered the disobedience of the giver? In reality, the “givers” obedience to the prompting of the Lord, is just as important as the “faith” of the receiver. These go hand in hand, and one cannot be without the other, the importance is the living of these traits in our lives. Live with the royalty you have been given as a believer –He owns the cattle on a thousand Hills!

Give and Receive!

~tiffany

Thou shalt surely give…

09 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in Blessed, Gifts, Giving, Gratitude

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“Thou shalt surely give…and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto Him: because that, for this thing, the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.” ~Deuteronomy 15:10

I was clutching the twenty-dollar bill in my fist. My parents had always encouraged us to tithe, give alms, and be a sower. I was ten years old, and I was determined that all twenty dollars would remain mine. This was a pattern in my life…the early beginnings of selfishness. Roots that would grow, and spread, until at the age of fourteen, my generous siblings would take up collections for needy relatives or friends, and I would have nothing to offer…not even a quarter. I stopped giving. I stopped tithing. When I spent money, it was on myself, but even then, I stuffed most of what I earned into my little lock-box bank, and threatened any potential thieves by telling them they’d have to pay me back seven times what they stole.

God turned my heart two years later, and I found a joy I had never experienced before: giving away everything and anything. I remember the first time I gave money to a couple to get marriage counseling. Their gratitude was more than I even wanted in return. The money didn’t matter anymore than the dirt under my feet.

Giving – such a joy to the heart that brings the blessing of the Lord. It is a contagious blessing to the soul that causes one gift to inspire another. As we enter what many Americans call “the season of giving” may the joy be all yours. In the Gospel of Luke, it is written: “Give, and it shall be given unto you good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

Albert Einstein said, “The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”In return, when you are the receiver, seize the valuable heart attitude of gratefulness. I am eternally grateful to many who have poured into my life. Many have invested so much in my life that I will never be able to repay them for their kindnesses. Yet there is even greater joy for the giver who has received so much, and knows the feeling of being indebted, but not held to the debt.

Be a Giver!

~Hannah

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