Tithing - An Act of Faith

If you're struggling with your finances, you probably find tithing a difficult concept to deal with. After all, how can you possibly consider giving God 10 percent of your increase (what we would call our income today) when you don't even know if you can pay the mortgage and feed your family this month? I know the feeling. I've been there. But, tithing is part of the Christian walk and is, in my opinion, the cornerstone of Christian finance.

More Than Enough

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
- Psalm 46:10

I don't know about you, but whenever I have read this verse, I have always interpreted it to mean "be quiet so that you can hear the still small voice of God".

I know that hearing the voice of God is important. The sheep should hear the voice of the shepherd and not recognize the voice of a stranger. We need to be able to hear God's voice so that we know what direction to take; what choices fit in with his will and his ultimate plan for our lives.

So, I was a little surprised, when I did a word study on this verse, to discover that there may be more to it than that.

For These Light Afflictions...

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
-- 2nd Corinthians 4:17 & 18

And we think we have problems...

Distraction -- Faith's Biggest Enemy

Wow, I can hardly believe it's been three months since I've blogged.  Time flies when you're... distracted. It's interesting. Distraction seems like such a small thing. But, it can destroy your faith without you even realizing it's happening.


Remember the parable of the sower? This was one of  the most powerful lessons Jesus taught. It is repeated in three of the four gospels, and Jesus told his disciples that if they didn't understand this parable, they wouldn't understand the others. 

More Than Words

"Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"
-- James 3:3-5

How many times do we say things we don't really mean and think nothing of it? If anyone comments, or if we have a little twinge of Spirit-conscience, we immediately follow up with "just kidding"!

As children we used to say "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me". Apparently, James disagrees.

Humbled and Amazed

It's been a while since I've written. I was going through a bit of a storm in my life. For me, that means its time to "hunker down" into the Word and make sure that everything that is going into my soul through the eyes, ears, and being spoken out of my mouth is aligned with the Word of God. 

In order for that to be the case, sometimes its easier to just remain silent. I've found that when I'm in the thick of things, it takes more effort to guard my words (James 3:8 "but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.") than it takes to just shut up.

Do Others See God's Light In You?

Some people are just so beautiful they take you breath away -- and I've never met anyone who can do that when there isn't an inner beauty to back it up.

Grandma was right when she said "Beauty is only skin deep" -- at least, what the world considers beautiful.