GIVING TO LIVE: 2014 Stewardship Devotion

Giving to Live

daily devotion He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

Generous and loving God, You call us to be disciples of Jesus and good stewards of all Your many gifts.

Open our minds and hearts to a greater awareness and appreciation of Your many blessings. Transform us through the power of Your Spirit to live a stewardship way of life marked by faith-filled prayer, service to our neighbor and church, and generous sharing. Teach us to be faithful servants of Your gifts.

With Your blessing may we return with great multiplication the gifts You have entrusted to us.

2014 Stewardship Committee Mark Baldwin Steve Hildebrand Rich Millet Cindy Carter Janet Krieger

Scripture from the New Living Translation and The Message.

Thank you to the Stewardship Committee for underwriting the cost of printing this devotional.

Managing the Life God Has Given You And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. Luke 12:42 You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Hebrews 3:13-14 The Greek word oikonomos is defined as steward and paraphrased in the Luke text as faithful sensible servant. Stewardship was the authority given to one trusted by the master to manage affairs, care for finances and provide for every servant and child. In this text Jesus is teaching that His disciples were to act, in His absence, as His stewards.

Jesus lived His life as a model of stewardship. He taught about the stewardship of time, talents and treasures. He served the poor, the sick, the outcast . . . caring for all of God’s children. Jesus used the power and authority of God to teach, preach, and heal. He shared the Kingdom of God. As present day disciples of Jesus, we have also been given the authority of stewardship to manage His affairs, care for His finances and provide for His children.

We are stewards of the life God has given us which includes our time, our talents and our treasures . . . all gifts from our Father God. God has created and gifted each of us with unique attributes, interests, life experiences, skills and dreams. As His one of a kind creation we each have unique contributions to make in this world, on behalf of the Kingdom. Wisely fulfilling the responsibility God has entrusted to us becomes our gift to Him.

But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to You? Everything we have has come from You, and we give You only what You first gave us! 1 Chronicles 29:14 Our lives take on the deepest meaning when we use our time, talents and treasures to serve our King. As we grow in our authority of stewardship we grow in our relationship with our God. We hear His call and are guided by His will rather than our own desires. We return to God a portion of that with which He has blessed us. Our stewardship becomes a lifestyle, lived not as a sense of duty, but rather as a generous response to the grace and love of our Father.

How will you manage the life God has given you?

Choose to walk in the authority of the stewardship to which Jesus has called His disciples. Put God at the center of your life.

Spend time praying and thinking about what stewardship means to you, how it can affect your life and what commitments you can make.

Discuss with your family how you can return to God the fruits of the time, talent and treasure He has gifted to you.

An Audience of ONE "Take care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to someone in need, don't shout about it as the hypocrites do -- blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone, don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing.

Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4 Jesus clearly tells us to live for an audience of One. All we do should be to please God and not the people around us. But there is a human tendency to do things to impress others. Making the focus of our lives pleasing other people usually doesn’t work however, it just sets us up for being unsatisfied and unhappy. Jesus wants us to be especially careful of living out our faith for other people. If we do everything for the sake of impressing others we ultimately will have no reward from our Father in heaven. Jesus simply says be careful not to spend your time trying to impress other people when it comes to your faith.

Jesus is telling us that on the final day whether we get a little or a lot of applause, or only a pat on the back the important thing will be whether or not we are certain of our standing in the Kingdom of heaven. In the end what’s really important in this life and for eternity is pleasing God. Our lives should be lived for His approval. When we work to get the approval of people, we will often get it but in the process we may miss the heavenly reward that lasts for eternity.

The verses in Matthew 6 raises a question. How much would you give to Kingdom causes if the only one who knew about it was God? If the offering plate were never passed, if a mission trip was never available, if no one ever saw you stand and sing a praise song . . . how much of your treasure, talents, and time would you spend serving and loving God? How would you answer?

If all your acts of faith were just between you and God would you still do them?

But many who seem to be important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then." Mark 10: 31 In the end it won’t really matter what other people think about how you’ve lived your life. What will matter is what God thinks. . . . God, the just judge of all the world, will judge all people according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. Romans 2: 6-7 God will give to each person as his deeds deserve. What do your deeds deserve? Do you do what you do for the approval of man? Or do you live your life for God, our audience of One?

Generosity Not long afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby cities and villages to announce the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God. He took His twelve disciples with Him, along with some women He had healed and from whom He had cast out evil spirits. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and His disciples. Luke 8:1-3 God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well.

If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:6-8 You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. 2 Corinthians 9:7 The Luke passage reminds us that although God created everything in the world, He relied on people to support Jesus’ ministry, and the reality is He continues to do so today. This partnership with His people is God’s way of allowing us the opportunity to participate with Him in ministry in a most tangible way.

We are a generous people. We give our money, resources and time to others. We give with the conviction that supporting the ministry of Jesus is the best investment of our treasures. We minister to our community whether it be at Madison House or in Cambodia. Our financial giving is also a demonstration of our commitment to His church, this Body of Christ. We appreciate the electric bill being paid with a well lit and warm Sanctuary, paper available to print the bulletins and hot coffee on Sunday mornings to enjoy in the Garden Room.

In 2nd Corinthians, Paul says we should not give because we feel pressure to do so, we should not give because we feel we have to, rather we should give with heartfelt gladness. We should give because that is the example Jesus gave us . . . Sacrificial giving at the cross. The Holy Spirit moves in our hearts and we give generously, supporting the work of God and ultimately learning to trust God with our own finances. Giving to God demonstrates our honor of Him. It is our privilege to join in what He is doing to establish His Kingdom on earth. May we experience the blessing of sacrifice so that results are realized for the Kingdom of God. Our giving is an act of our worship and service to God. Our giving brings glory to His Name. May we grow as generous givers who support this church in its ability to do the work of the Kingdom.

Meditate on the Scriptures. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight regarding how you can give generously to His Kingdom. Ask God to open your eyes to opportunities to give.

Investing the Minutes of Our Lives Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12 I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven. Luke 16:9 Our worldly resources won’t last eternally; our money and possessions have been given to us only for the brief time we are in this world. God’s Kingdom, His eternal plan, and His people will however; last forever. Jesus teaches that we can use our resources for the benefit of others, and in the process of generous giving, friendships will be created.

Consider investing your time and resources in someone. Perhaps you regularly share a meal, or spend time over a cup of coffee, with someone. As you invest minutes from your life and perhaps the cost of a dinner or latte, a genuine friendship is developed. Over time that friend sees the person of Jesus in your life. Your investment multiplies as that new friend begins to spend additional time with you. They are introduced to others who love Christ and perhaps begin to join you at church. Your investment may yield a life saved and lived in relationship with Jesus.

Similarly God invests in my life. Kairos . . . a moment when the Kingdom of God invades my daily existence. It is a moment of endless possibility, a time when God is trying to get my attention, when He is up to something. It is rarely logical, it is unpredictable and always full of opportunity. Kairos moments allow us to experience the Kingdom of God here and now. We see how God works. We respond to His call. It is an opportunity to invest our lives in the Kingdom.

Opportunities present themselves each time God provides a way for us to give back and to bless others. God strategically positions us for our benefit but also for the benefit of others – to build God’s Kingdom. We are positioned in the right place at the right time to give blessings and receive blessings.

What opportunities do you have to invest your time and resources? In what ways will you experience the Kingdom of God here and now?

Opportunity to believe: A time to stretch your faith and to believe. Allow God to have your full attention. Observe how God is working and respond to His call by investing your life in His Kingdom.

Opportunity to love: A time to demonstrate love for others by investing your life and resources in them.

Opportunity to serve: A time to serve your church, workplace, neighborhood, city and the world.

Opportunity to give: A time to give in an outrageous way, knowing God will do something special.

Nothing Held Back . . . Nothing halfhearted here; you must return to God, your God, totally, heart and soul, holding nothing back. This commandment that I'm commanding you today isn't too much for you, it's not out of your reach. It's not on a high mountain - you don't have to get mountaineers to climb the peak and bring it down to your level and explain it before you can live it. And it's not across the ocean - you don't have to send sailors out to get it, bring it back, and then explain it before you can live it. No. The Word is right here and now - as near as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest. Just do it! Deuteronomy 30:10-14 It is the indwelling life of God Himself, Christ living in us, our hope of glory, as Paul wrote in Colossians 1:27, that allows us to live full out, heart and soul, holding nothing back! And, the more we live embracing our Savior’s presence within, the more He takes over creating His likeness in us.

If we are going to live as Kingdom people we must know what real life is about, we must know the life God has chosen us to live. Time spent with the Word of God, here and now, is essential to our ability to spiritually grow and live a victorious life. As we discipline ourselves to turn to God we are moved by His love, and we become changed to His likeness. We desire to follow His Word and live according to His will; holding nothing back. We live to honor our LORD. And, with His Word right here and now missional living becomes our lifestyle. We help our neighbor, perform our work to the best of our ability, share a meal with someone hungry for a relationship, we give of all that we have with heartfelt thanksgiving . . . we live missionally every moment of our lives when God’s Word is forever on our minds and in our hearts.

Our responsibility is to focus our lives on Christ and allow Him to glorify His name in us and in all we do. In every circumstance of life, in every blessing we experience, it is Jesus who is our hope of glory. We are called to surrender all to Him, holding nothing back; this is to be our ongoing way of life. Surrendering to God isn’t one big decision we make once in our lives but rather it is a series of decisions as we allow God to give meaning and purpose to all we do. When we hold nothing back from God we are walking in faith to connect with others, serve and grow in Christ likeness. When we hold nothing back from God we give our time, energy and money to support His work here and in all the world. When we hold nothing back from God it means we are participating in His work in real ways.

When we hold nothing back from God we see and experience His transforming power to change hearts, grow the church and transform our world. We are then living the life He chose for us.

Have mercy on the one you have anointed. A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right. O LORD Almighty, happy are those who trust in you. Psalm 84:8-12 Meditate on how much God loves you; know that He will not withhold any good thing from you. You can give to God, holding nothing back, because He is your light and protector and has even greater treasure to share with you.

Putting Your Gifts and Talents to Work in the Family Of God We are all parts of His one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. Romans 12:5-6 Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another He gives the gift of special knowledge. The Spirit gives special faith to another, and to someone else He gives the power to heal the sick. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, and another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. t is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 As believers we are each given a spiritual gift that is unique to ourselves, that will serve the church, the body of Christ. This gift is given to us so that we can give away God’s presence and grace to those around us. These gifts are given to us by the Holy Spirit and are designed to bring blessing and benefit to others.

Spiritual gifts differ from natural skills and talents which tend to be genetic in nature, or present from birth. Believers and unbelievers alike have natural talents and abilities. When we believe in Christ our talents can be dedicated to God for His glory, but they are not spiritually generated. Spiritual gifts on the other hand are given at the time of our salvation and are given by the Holy Spirit. Only believers have these God given gifts and they are given solely to enable us to build up God’s Kingdom on this earth. God certainly uses our natural talents and abilities for His purposes but as believers we are not limited to them.

Most believers do not immediately recognize the spiritual gift God has given them and some may spend a lifetime not identifying or using their gifts. Don’t spend so much time wondering which gifts you have that you never get around to trying out the possibilities.

Set aside the “which gifts?” search and consider the bigger question of where and how God wants you to serve Him. What is your personality? Your personality might make you more comfortable with large gatherings or small groups, building relationships or accomplishing tasks, with well defined responsibilities or creating new ideas or with being in charge or supporting others who are in charge. What stirs your passion? There is an exact thing God has designed you to do. Ask yourself “If I could do anything for God, what would it be?” God created you to be exactly the person you are. He created you wonderfully and with a purpose. Spend your life discovering how His spiritual gift to you is essential to all believers.

Spend time considering your spiritual gifts and talents. Know you have the gifts and skills God wants you to have. Ask God to show you those places you can serve His body the Church. Trust you’ll grow as you go. Whatever your gift is, it is needed.

Sacrificial Giving Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." Mark 12: 41-44 There was Jesus, seated beside the offering plate, as many rich people contributed large amounts to the temple. The offerings were an act of devotion; people would give a portion of their money back to God as an act of obedience and as a way to express their dependence upon Him. The culture of the day was for the people to publicly offer their financial gifts to God. When large gifts were given there would be much applause. Jesus saw and valued the large amounts given by the rich people, but our Lord sat quietly until the poor widow dropped two coins, almost nothing, into the box. It was then, Jesus spoke to call His disciples to Himself and use the moment to teach about giving. The seemingly next to nothing offering given by the widow, was in reality everything. The offering of two coins was a sacrifice . . . and an expression of knowing that all she had was from God. The monetary value of the widow’s offering was so small it likely went unnoticed by those in attendance at the temple. Rather than applause however; what she received were words of praise from the King Himself. Jesus saw the widow’s offering as the greatest given that day.

Giving sacrificially to God the widow expressed her complete dependence on God to take care of her. Giving sacrificially the widow expressed her trust in God to provide what she would need. Giving sacrificially the widow offered what is most precious to God . . . herself. Faith was demonstrated as the widow entrusted her life and her destiny to God. Jesus continues to quietly watch how we give. He knows if we give casually, grudgingly or as a thanks offering to God. The widow’s offering teaches us there is simply no excuse for not giving. Christ’s mission in this world benefits greatly from those who give sacrificially, generously and thankfully. It is a blessing to the church, community and the Kingdom when we who are entrusted with managing our Master’s affairs and finances are good stewards.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13 Does it make a difference to your giving to stop and consider that our offering is seen by the One who still sits “opposite the place where the offerings were put”? Do you give from the overflow of abundance in your life or are you reaching down to that deep place of sacrifice to give back to God what is from Him? Are you entrusting your life, your comfort, your destiny to God? Have you ever given sacrificially like the widow? Is God calling you to give more than you have been giving in the past? If so, what’s holding you back?

Spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit in what manner He would have you give sacrificially to the work of the Kingdom.

God Gave His Best For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 We love each other as a result of His loving us first. 1 John 4:19 God so loved the world that He gave . . . and He gave His best. God gave His Son and Jesus gave His life. God gave as an expression of His absolute love for us. We love because God first loved us. We give because God first gave to us. God modeled generous giving to His children. God has given us abundant life on this earth and eternal life with Him. Father God has given us His best, and because we love Him, our response should be to give the very best of our time, talents, and treasures to Him in return. Our love of God is demonstrated in our actions when we express His love and generosity.

Giving is our opportunity to give honor and thanks to God, to trust Him and to participate in the most important work of the Kingdom, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

We cannot out give God; when we give He promises to give us back even more.

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces. Then He will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with the finest wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 Scripture teaches that if we honor God with our wealth, giving to Him the best part of what He makes available to us, His promise is to care for us. Financial giving is an act of faith, done in obedience, to His Word. We choose to either honor God or dishonor Him with our giving; there is no in between. If we withhold from God what is His, if we ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit to give we do not honor our King.

Giving our best is the responsibility of the believer whose life has been transformed by Jesus. If God has not entered into your life, if He has not done anything for you then you have no reason to give. But if you are pursuing Jesus, if God is present, entering into your daily existence, if He is up to something in your life . . . then you have every reason to give. . . you give because you have received.

The practice of stewardship becomes “God's way of raising disciples, not man's way of raising money." (Wesley K. Wilmer)

Enter into the discipline of stewardship. Offer your best gift to the One who gave His best gift to you. Promise yourself — heart, soul, mind, and strength — to God every day. Practice generous giving as a spiritual response to God’s goodness. Give because God gave to us. Give in thankfulness to the One who loves you.

Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within. Proverbs 20:5 Spend time as a family meditating on God’s generosity to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to a commitment of giving.

A Commitment to God’s House The people and the Levites must bring these offerings of grain, new wine, and olive oil to the Temple and place them in the sacred containers near the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers." "So we promise together not to neglect the Temple of our God." Nehemiah 10:39 Nehemiah tells the story of Israel’s return from Babylonian captivity and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. By the grace and authority of God His people had returned to Jerusalem. Nehemiah is about the physical and spiritual restoration of a nation. Nehemiah led the people in restoring the city of Jerusalem, rebuilding the Temple and repairing the walls surrounding the city. The call to care for the Temple came from a people freed from captivity and ready to make a new commitment to faithfulness to God’s house.

When Jesus died on the cross the curtain inside the Temple, that kept the presence of God separate from His people, was torn in half from top to bottom, by God, with the promise that He would now live in the hearts of all believers.

Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church -- about three thousand in all.

They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had.

They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity -- all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. Acts 2:41-47 We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we gather with other believers in the name of Jesus Christ we are the church. The commitment made by Nehemiah, to God’s house, remains relevant to us today. As the church we must not turn away from a commitment to fellowship with each other, financial support of His ministry, or carrying out the work of His Kingdom using the gifts and abilities God has given us. We must make our own commitment to His Body, the church: • • • • • • • •

Commit to obey Christ who is the head of the Church.

Commit to being a disciple of Jesus.

Commit to time spent with God in His Scriptures.

Commit to sharing our lives as the Gospel message and discipling others into a relationship with Jesus.

Commit to invite friends and grow God’s house.

Commit to prayer.

Commit to faithful attendance and worship.

Commit to regular financial support of the church.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to increase your commitment to the church. Pray for obedience which is centered in gratitude for all that God has done for you through Christ. Pray for a deep desire to serve, honor, worship, and follow God by loving His church.

Multiplication The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told Him all they had done and what they had taught.

Then Jesus said, "Let's get away from the crowds for a while and rest." There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn't even have time to eat. They left by boat for a quieter spot. But many people saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and met them as they landed. A vast crowd was there as He stepped from the boat, and He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He taught them many things.

Late in the afternoon His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a desolate place, and it is getting late.

Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy themselves some food."

But Jesus said, "You feed them." "With what?" they asked. "It would take a small fortune to buy food for all this crowd!" "How much food do you have?" He asked. "Go and find out."

They came back and reported, "We have five loaves of bread and two fish."

Then Jesus told the crowd to sit down in groups on the green grass.

So they sat in groups of fifty or a hundred. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God's blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, He kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. Five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves! Mark 6: 30-44 The disciples gave Jesus what they had . . . five loaves and two fish. Much less important than what was given, was what Jesus did with the offering. Jesus took, what was without question insufficient, blessed it and returned it to the disciples in abundance. The disciples were expected to give what they had to meet a need. Jesus performed the miracle.

Like the disciples our responsibility is to give what we have to Him. There is no expectation we give what we don’t have but, we are asked to give what we do have. Jesus did not express dismay when the disciples returned with only two fish and five loaves but rather He took upon Himself the responsibility of multiplying what was given. Jesus chose to use what the disciples had. God will always bless what is given so that it will be more than enough.

Our reality is that God has blessed and given each of us far more than “two fish and five loaves.” We have a wealth of resources including our time, talents and finances. Are we trusting God with those resources? He desires to take our offering and multiply it to further His Kingdom on this earth.

Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. Ephesians 3:20 Spend time considering what are the five loaves and two fishes that you need to give to God? Do you believe He can multiply what you have?

Are you prepared to give, allowing God to do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine?

Thanksliving As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, He reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As He entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, their leprosy disappeared. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God, I'm healed!" He fell face down on the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking Him for what He had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God?" And Jesus said to the man, "Stand up and go. Your faith has made you well." Luke 17:11-19 With the questions Jesus asks in this Scripture it is clear He expects us to show gratitude; our Lord is clearly disappointed and perhaps even angry at the unthankfulness of the nine lepers who did not return. What could they have been thinking? Why did the nine not return to give glory and honor to Jesus? Perhaps fear prevented them from believing the reality of their healing. Perhaps the enemy whispered in their ear “Caution! You can’t believe you are truly healed. You had better wait and see what tomorrow brings!”

Maybe the nine lepers thought their healing was coincidental; satan may have planted the idea of luck and fate in their minds. After all, Jesus did not even come near enough to touch them; they must have been getting better and it was simply coincidence that Jesus spoke to them. Or perhaps they were busy patting themselves on the back for deciding to call out to Jesus. Satan may have whispered in their ear how very wise they had been to give Jesus a chance. It was all about them; how thankful they may have been for their own insightfulness!

The question is, are we any different from those nine lepers?

How often do we fail to recognize and thank God for His blessings? How often do we receive and not believe it is from our King? How many times have we remarked on our own “good luck?” How many times have we congratulated ourselves or received congratulations for the position, money, or good things in our life that we have “earned?” How many times do we allow the enemy to distort our ability to live with thankfulness and anticipation of all God has intended for us?

We must discipline ourselves to live thankful lives, offering a continual praise of thanksgiving, to be filled and overflowing with thanksliving. Lifting glory and honor to God allows us to live confidently, recognizing that He has provided all we have and will continue to do so. We are to acknowledge the many gifts and blessings we have been given and regularly remember how faithful God has been throughout our lives. Our thanksliving becomes a life style of thankful giving.

All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the LORD your God." Deuteronomy 16:17 The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD, and King David was filled with joy. 1 Chronicles 29:9

How will you offer the blessings of your life back to God in an attitude of thanksliving?

Jesus’ Love For The Church When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some think He is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah!

You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God Himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are.

You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together My church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. "And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's Kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven.

A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven." He swore the disciples to secrecy.

He made them promise they would tell no one that He was the Messiah. Matthew 16:13-20 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church - a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything He does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. Ephesians 5:25-27 Ekklesia is the Greek word for church and the word Jesus would have used when speaking in the Matthew verses. Its definition is “a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting.” Ekklesia or church references both the people gathering and the place they gather. Jesus built the church; the church is the only thing Jesus ever said He would build. Jesus loves the church. If we are growing to become more like Jesus then we should also love the church. Spend time meditating and in prayer considering your relationship with the church: • What words do you speak about our church? Do you speak with a spirit of love or a critical spirit?

• What does your schedule say that you value? For many of us our schedules define us. Leadership at Grace of Christ regularly ponders how to reach a generation that is overcommitted to any number of activities. Families have less and less time for church. Does your life demonstrate to Christ that you love His church?

• Do you have the passion for the church that Jesus expressed when He described a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out? Our church is the body through which Jesus does His work in the world. Is your love of the church marked by giving, not getting? Are you growing in your financial giving to our church so that we can do more of what Jesus calls the church to do in Yakima and around the world?

• Jesus loves the church and is fully engaged in growing us to be more like Him. Are you present? Do you regularly attend church or do you live on the edge of our community? Are you present and engaged in the worship of God and in the process of discipleship?

Meditate on God's desire for you to sacrificially love His church.

Investing His Wealth He did it so you would never think that it was your own strength and energy that made you wealthy.

Always remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you power to become rich, and He does it to fulfill the covenant He made with your ancestors. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 David blessed God in full view of the entire congregation: Blessed are you, God of Israel, our Father from of old and forever. To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might, the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor; Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth; the kingdom all yours! You've raised Yourself high over all.

Riches and glory come from You, You're ruler over all; You hold strength and power in the palm of your hand to build up and strengthen all. And here we are, O God, our God, giving thanks to You, praising Your splendid Name. "But me - who am I, and who are these my people, that we should presume to be giving something to You? Everything comes from You; all we're doing is giving back what we've been given from Your generous hand. As far as you're concerned, we're homeless, shiftless wanderers like our ancestors, our lives mere shadows, hardly anything to us. God, our God, all these materials - these piles of stuff for building a house of worship for You, honoring Your Holy Name - it all came from You! It was all Yours in the first place! I know, dear God, that you care nothing for the surface - You want us, our true selves - and so I have given from the heart, honestly and happily. And now see all these people doing the same, giving freely, willingly - what a joy!

O God, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this generous spirit alive forever in these people always, keep their hearts set firmly in You. 1 Chronicles 29:10-18 Satan would have us believe that everything we have belongs ultimately to us. Our time, talents and treasures are however; gifts to us from God. This wealth belongs to God and He has blessed us with it, certainly to use what we need to live, but more importantly to invest so that His Kingdom receives a greater yield.

Giving to God becomes easier when we recognize that what we have, is to begin with, His. Someone has said that "As long as a man thinks that he owns what he has, then the church will always appear to him as a beggar appealing to him to part with what he has to meet her needs. But once a man realizes that he owns nothing, but owes everything, and even his life is given him in trust, then the proper portion of his blessings will be given back to God." Stewardship is our God given authority to manage all that has been given from His generous hand. Our giving to God is in reality giving back. When we give financial gifts to ministry we are giving back a portion of what God has given to us. When we serve in ministry we are giving back a portion of the new life He has given us. God first gave to us, freely, willingly and now our response can be to give with an unselfish and generous spirit.

God holds securely for us all that we have in this life . . . Our jobs, finances, families . . . Our response can be to live a grateful and generous life. Giving allows us to remember what God has done and is doing in our life. Giving is a statement of trust that He will continue to provide for us.

What has God given to you?

What do you give back to God? What more might you give to God in gratitude for all that He has given to you?

Kingdom Risk "It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's nvestment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money. "After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment.

His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.' "The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.' "The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.' "The master was furious.

'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. "'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb.

Throw him out into utter darkness.' Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus teaches in this parable about the wealth that God entrusts to us. He makes it clear that the possession of wealth involves a responsibility. It is a teaching regarding stewardship, or how we manage the resources we have received from our Father. Our money, our financial resources, are a gift from God. It is our Father who provides even our ability to earn money. Some of that money is needed and used to provide food, shelter, clothing and a manner of living for ourselves and our family. Beyond those things, God is calling us to step out in faith to invest our finances in the work of the Kingdom, accomplished through His church.

God desires that we view our wealth as blessings that can serve His purposes. We activate His Kingdom on earth when we care for the poor and needy, support the teaching of the Word in our congregation, and take the Gospel to our community and world via the mission and ministry efforts we support.

Regardless of our income, the reality is we are blessed with a wealth unknown to the majority of the world, and even to many families in our community. God has entrusted our financial resources to us for a particular reason and purpose . . . . we must guard against burying or hiding the very gift God has given to us. Like the servant we will be held accountable regarding how we managed our resources when our Master returns. We have clear knowledge of what God expects and it is that we serve not ourselves with our wealth but rather that we serve His Kingdom.

The “play-it-safe” servant gained nothing because he had risked nothing; if there is no investment there can be no increase. I really want to hear God’s voice say, “Good work. You did your job well.” I want to risk investing my life and my resources for the sake of Jesus. I want to live and love for the sake of the Kingdom.

Will you bury what God entrusted you with, or will you in faith invest His gift, and allow God to multiply for His glory that which He’s given you?

The Best Part Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best. Proverbs 3:9 If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving -- large or small -- it will be used to measure what is given back to you." Luke 6:38 And I have been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 In stewardship we recognize the blessing of God in our life, and with gratitude, desire to give back to Him the best part of our time, talent and treasure. In return God promises to bless us with an overflow of gifts. We practice giving our best because that is the model Jesus lived. Jesus gave the best of His time, talent and treasure, first to God, and then to those to whom He ministered.

How can we practice the stewardship of giving God our best?

Give God the best part of your day, not whatever time is left over. Don’t save Him for the last thing on your to do list. Set aside a specific time of day to simply be with God and don’t compromise. Know that there will be days you will have to make sacrifices to remain faithful to that time.

Give to God the best of your talents. What are the things you do well? Trust what those close to you identify as your gifts. Take time to write them down. Then be bold and courageous to share your talents in service to God and His creation. Give the first and best part of your treasure. Don’t let God be your afterthought. Give to God a portion off the very top, not whatever might be left over after everyone else is paid and you have purchased everything you want.

While the giving of our time, talents and treasure should be sacrificial resembling the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf, we are not called to deny our needs or the needs of our family. We are not called to give until there is nothing left to give. We cannot out give God. Rather, we give to reflect His love and generosity.

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:1-2 . . . take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give.

What Do I Have?

One day the widow of one of Elisha's fellow prophets came to Elisha and cried out to him, "My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the LORD. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves." "What can I do to help you?" Elisha asked. "Tell me, what do you have in the house?"

"Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil," she replied. And Elisha said, "Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting the jars aside as they are filled." So she did as she was told. Her sons brought many jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim!

"Bring me another jar," she said to one of her sons. "There aren't any more!" he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, "Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and there will be enough money left over to support you and your sons." 2 Kings 4:1-7 This scripture reminds us God knows the details of our lives, is present in every moment and meets our needs through His people.

God met the needs of the widow through Elisha. God took the single flask of olive oil, all the widow had, and multiplied it to meet her great needs. Initially the widow believed she had no resources to meet her need. Elisha’s word from God however; was that she possessed more than enough. The faith of the widow, mixed with her obedience and trust that God would bless and provide for her and her family, resulted in an abundance of income. God’s multiplication allowed her to not only pay her debt but provided more than enough financial support for her family.

The oil was a very valuable commodity and represents the resources of time, talents and treasure that God has given to each of us. Our lesson is to live with faith trusting Him to take what we have and multiply it. It is our responsibility, as His people, as His Church, to ask God to increase what we have for the purpose of greater giving.

We may have only a little for God to work with but He can do much with a little. If we are willing to exercise our faith by offering the little bit of time, talent and finances we possess He will supply our needs abundantly from the riches of His Kingdom.

What is the oil we have individually, and corporately, as the Body of Christ? Will we give of our time to serve God? Will we use our God given gifts and talents to disciple the Body of Christ? Will we give of our finances sharing, what we have through the church? As His Church we must take the time, talents and treasures we have, trust God to multiply them and as He provides respond to God, by investing the wealth in our lives, in His Kingdom.

"Tell me, what do you have in the house?"

Most of us have plenty. We need to consider the blessings we have in all areas of our life and then, acting as good stewards, surrender them to God, no matter how small or large, trusting He will continue to provide for us. Throughout history God has provided for His children in ways far beyond our imaginings. Believe God. Do not impose human limitation upon Him. Bring your resources to Him and expect God to answer in big ways.

Are you willing to grow your faith by putting what you have into the hands of our Father?

Journey Of Faith God told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your father's home for a land that I will show you. I'll make you a great nation and bless you. I'll make you famous; you'll be a blessing. I'll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I'll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you." So Abram left just as God said, and Lot left with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot with him, along with all the possessions and people they had gotten in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan and arrived safe and sound. Abram passed through the country as far as Shechem and the Oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites occupied the land. God appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your children."

Abram built an altar at the place God had appeared to him. He moved on from there to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent between Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. He built an altar there and prayed to God. Abram kept moving, steadily making his way south, to the Negev. Genesis 12:1-9 "Be strong and courageous, for you will lead my people to possess all the land I swore to give their ancestors.

Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you -- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:6-9

Leave your home, your family, all that is familiar for an unknown destination; could you . . . would you? Abram and Joshua trusted God's promises. They were obedient, kept moving and demonstrated their faith by trusting God daily to guide them. Had Abram not continued the journey he would never have fulfilled his destiny to become the father of many nations. If Joshua had not been confident in God and obedient to the Word he would never have entered the Promised Land. Abram and Joshua stepped out in faith and obedience to God despite not having a clear picture of the future, possessing unanswered questions, and experiencing fear and discouragement.

We typically think we must wait to do something until the time is right... our families are raised, we have all the answers, we have enough money, we have more time, we no longer have any worry or fear... But if we continually wait in the journey of our faith walk, the reality is we will likely accomplish very little for God, others or ourselves.

Stewardship is a journey of faith, following the example of Jesus, living a life honoring God in everything we do with all His gifts. On this journey we learn about God’s plans versus our own understanding of how things should be done. We learn about God’s timing and that it can be radically different from our own. We learn about trust and obedience. We become God centered rather than self centered. We are attentive to God’s best plan for our lives, choosing obedience and faith. We keep moving steadily with strength and courage, putting aside doubts and fears to realize the great rewards of His blessings.

Meditate on how you can be a faithful steward of the time, talents and treasures God has given you. Ask God how you can use those gifts to be a blessing. Listen to His voice. Seek Him in the Scriptures. Choose to do, in faith, what He tells you to do.

Father God, our prayer is that nothing will stand in the pathway of our personal journey of faithful stewardship that will prevent us from growing in ways that will bless our own lives and the lives of others.

What Cost?

Then the LORD said to Elijah, "Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. There is a widow there who will feed you. I have given her my instructions." So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, "Would you please bring me a cup of water?" As she was going to get it, he called to her, "Bring me a bite of bread, too." But she said, "I swear by the LORD your God that I don't have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die." But Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid! Go ahead and cook that 'last meal,' but bake me a little loaf of bread first.

Afterward there will still be enough food for you and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be plenty of flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!" So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat from her supply of flour and oil for many days. For no matter how much they used, there was always enough left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah. 1 Kings 17:8-16 So David went to do what the LORD had commanded him.

When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came forward and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. "Why have you come, my lord?" Araunah asked. And David replied, "I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the LORD there, so that the LORD will stop the plague." "Take it, my lord, and use it as you wish," Araunah said to David. "Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing tools and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. I will give it all to you, and may the LORD your God accept your sacrifice." But King David replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it, for I cannot present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing." So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. David built an altar there to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the LORD answered his prayer, and the plague was stopped. 2 Samuel 24:19-25 “. . . the latest science shows that, in fact, we are hard-wired to be generous.” With the benefit of high-tech tools, scientists “are identifying the precise circuits within the brain that control these nurturing social impulses.” As a society we recognize that “nothing worthwhile is ever easy,” that “nothing cheap is worth having.” As believers our model of sacrifice is God giving His only Son so that in believing we might be saved to live eternally in His presence. There is nothing we can do to equal that sacrifice, but we must be diligent to give back to Him in a manner that is worthwhile, that costs us something, and that is meaningful. We are encouraged in Scripture with the model of the widow who gave her last meal and the humility of King David who understood the significance of an offering presented to God. Donating gently used clothing to the Clothing Exchange, volunteering to be present in KidZone every now and then, or writing an offering check between shopping trips and dinner reservations may not be my truest example of giving. True giving occurs when I give something that I would really rather keep for myself.

Pray that you will choose to respond to God’s gift of life with overflowing gratitude. Ask God to give you the desire to give, without reservation, your valued time, talents and treasures. Ask Father God what He wants you to give that will bless someone else.

My Extravagant Gift It was now two days before the Passover celebration and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and put Him to death.

"But not during the Passover," they agreed, "or there will be a riot." Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had leprosy. During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume.

She broke the seal and poured the perfume over His head. Some of those at the table were indignant. "Why was this expensive perfume wasted?" they asked. "She could have sold it for a small fortune and given the money to the poor!" And they scolded her harshly. But Jesus replied, "Leave her alone.

Why berate her for doing such a good thing to Me? . . . She has done what she could . . .” Mark 14:1-8 What was done was an act of extravagant love offered with great sacrifice.

Without words this woman demonstrated her intense devotion to and love for Jesus. Commentaries on this passage remark that the expense of the perfume was worth one year’s wages; in today’s economy that would equate to thousands of dollars. Anointing Jesus was a sacrifice. The meaningfulness was that this action cost the woman something of great value. Wasted? No, the perfume poured out became an act of worship. Sell the perfume, give the money to the poor? Yes, that was the expected and ordinary thing to do, but this woman had her priorities in order. Before ministry she put Jesus first; serving Him became, in that moment, the purpose of her life. She chose to do something extravagant, which became a foretelling of the extravagant gift God would give to us in His Son Jesus Christ. And, as the perfume ran over His head Jesus said it was good.

Maybe that is what our gifts to God are to be . . . The very best of what we have at the moment.

Perhaps, like the woman with the jar of perfume, we are to break open our hearts and empty them, giving everything we have. Our gifts may seem insignificant but if they truly represent the giving of our very selves to God they are a most precious gift. When we offer our resources to God with extravagant love and intense devotion it becomes an act of honor and glorification of Him.

Spend time individually and as a family meditating upon the following questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you hearts and minds of discernment.

How have you given God the best of yourself in response to the life He gave for you?

How gladly and regularly do you spend time with God in worship, prayer and reading His word?

How frequently do you give of yourself in love to someone needing compassion?

How well do you use the gifts He has given you to accomplish your work?

How does your life demonstrate you are a child of the King?

In what ways has God gifted you for His Kingdom work?

In what ways is God calling you to repent and change your way of thinking and or living?

Commit to glorifying and honoring Him with the extravagance of your love.

The Celebration Of Giving Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. Some brought to the LORD their offerings of gold -- medallions, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind to the LORD. Exodus 35:22 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house where the Child and His mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before Him and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2: 10-11 Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem. Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them. 2 Corinthians 8:2-5 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. God accepted Abel's offering to show that he was a righteous man. And although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us because of his faith. Hebrews 11:4 Scripture has many examples of people worshipping God by offering their treasures to Him. This is a practice of stewardship and a discipline of faithfulness. Stewardship is a most fundamental aspect of worship that demonstrates our gratefulness and obedience to the love of our Father. Our giving becomes a celebration.

You may think the reason an offering is taken during worship is to pay the bills of the church and to provide missionally with the money collected.

Yes, we do have bills to pay and certainly we do good things with the offering that is taken but ultimately those are not the reasons we pledge to give to Grace of Christ. Our pledge, the offering we give, is a visible demonstration of worshipping our King. When we pledge to give we are offering something of value, our money, in sacrifice to God. Ultimately we are not giving to the church but, rather to our Lord. The church collects our offering and then uses our gift for the glory of God, to further His Kingdom here and now. When the Body of Christ joins together in a corporate time of giving it is our God Most High who is exalted and we are joined in a sacred and holy act of worship.

On that first Christmas the wise men’s worship was not complete until they had opened their treasure chests and presented their gifts to Jesus. They proclaimed Jesus was the King of Kings. Together they worshipped Him. To the LORD of all creation, who stepped down from His throne in Heaven and came to us, as one of us; came to triumph over all evil, what will you give?

Consider the pledge you will make not to the church . . . but to your King.

Listen For His Gentle Whisper Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak. I'm your servant, ready to listen." 1 Samuel 3:10 "Go out and stand before Me on the mountain," the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. I Kings 19:11-12 "Listen carefully to what I am saying - and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Mark 4:24 Samuel heard God and professed his readiness to listen. God did not speak to Elijah in the mighty wind, not in the earthquake, nor in the fire. God spoke to Elijah in a gentle whisper. God continues to speak to us today and asks us to listen carefully to what He is saying.

How do we listen to an all-powerful but invisible God? In our earthly relationships, we have a tendency to be so distracted and busy that it’s often the exception rather than the rule that people listen to one another, much less listen to God. We need to learn how to listen. Learning to hear the Lord’s voice isn’t complicated, but it does require practice, and discipline to be comfortable with quiet and allow ourselves time to just listen. Perhaps the hardest part is clearing our minds. With all the noise of life filling our minds, it can be hard to hear God’s voice.

Here are some suggestions to get started: • When you are ready, quiet yourself. If your mind wanders, write the stray thoughts down on a separate piece of paper. This helps to set them aside and empty yourself.

• Read Scripture. Ask the Lord to speak to you in a way you can understand. Ask God to protect you in Jesus’ name from deception.

• Write down your question for prayer. Be still. This is where you wait and listen. Have an expectancy He will respond. God may direct you to another passage of Scripture. He may share a word of knowledge.

• Whatever you feel He may be saying to you, write it down. Use a journal; it will help you focus and it’s a great way to look back and see the journey the Lord took you on.

• Ask Him to confirm anything He shared with you. Was it a clear word or just an impression? God may give us different degrees of confidence in what He has said. Does the thought stay and stay with you?

• Is it scriptural? Scripture is our authority. God does not contradict Himself.

• Does it stir you in the Spirit?

• Is peace produced? Look for the “nod of God.” This peace is a God-given deep sense of rightness about a decision. It is not rooted in emotion or personal desire. His peace is the confirmation that follows prayer, Bible study, spiritual wisdom, and insights from mature believers.

Are you ready to listen? Spend time alone with God asking Him how He is calling you to a life of giving, a heart posture of giving to live.

Stewardship Prayer “Dear Father, I pray with a grateful heart. You have blessed me in so many ways.

Thank you for the time I have right now to pray to you. Thank you for the gift of time that I can spend with family and friends, neighbor and stranger. Thank you for the gift to be alive in this world and for the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Help me, Father, to use wisely the time, talents and treasure you have given me.

May I not be a thief who steals time, talent and treasure from you, dear God, or from my family, friends or people in need for a selfish purpose.

Grant me a generous heart when I pray and ask for your will to be done in my life. Allow me to surrender to you as Jesus did. Grant me the courage to use the gifts and talents you have given me for the building up of the kingdom on earth. Help me to forget self and serve you with generosity.

May I not seek recognition or status in my community, but only to serve you well.

I open myself to your Holy Spirit. Breathe into me, O breath of God, the fire of generous love.

Free me from my attachments to the material things of the earth so that I may not be consumed by ambition, greed or selfishness. Help me to open my hands and heart and let loose the material resources you have blessed me with to support my church and the many works of charity that so need my help. May I not turn my back on the poor or those in need.

Help me, Jesus, to see you in the poor, and recognize that my material blessings have a Divine purpose.

May I praise you with my life. All that I have and am is a gift that I offer you today.

When I give you time, you give me eternity.

When I give you my gifts and talents, you pour spiritual treasures in my soul.

When I give my earthly treasure, an incorruptible treasure awaits me in your Kingdom.

What peace I have in you! In you is all my hope, and this hope will never be in vain.

All glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was, is now, and will be forever! Amen.�

Father Bill Asbaugh