Fringe benefits of giving

As Christians we are called to give. To give freely...without expectations...as an act of worship.
This is why I give.
But, most of the time there are fringe benefits.
Sometimes its just a feel good feeling, the story of someone you helped, an unexpected blessing or just the thought of your blessing in heaven.

For me , it's the complete joy in being God's hands and feet. There is nothing I like more than the times I have something that someone else needs. My my neighbor needs one egg to finish her cake or a friend needs clothes for her child that mine just outgrew. Or I'm there to give a stranded person a jump, or have the ten dollars a friend needs to get by till payday. There are so many opportunities that God gives to be his hands and feet.....and I L O V E when I catch one.
Imagine the feeling when you find that perfect gift for a good friend, or the bday gift for your child that they have been dreaming about. The only pleasure and motivation for that gift is the how happy the reciever will be and how much love you have for them.

When I give, I feel like I'm giving a gift to God.

Isaiah 58 9:11
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday,
the LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strenghtn your frame.
you will be likea well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

*****Then your light will rise in the darkness*****

Sometimes I am so tired, just exhausted; feeling like I have nothing more to give.
Then I find refreshment in the thought of my light rising in the darkess.
I imagine God looking down and seeing my light shining bright.
And the ultimate fringe benefit I'm hoping for , is to walk through the gates of heaven and having God smile, give me a pat on the back, and say "good job little girl !"

What are your guidlines?

I woke up this morning, with having this on my mind all night.
We are doing a financial study at my church right now, and last night this question was asked...
What are your guidlines? I had a hard time finding the words at that moment to express what was on my mind.
See, we are talking about giving, which God always challenges me with.

I currently have this elaborate system that I've created where I give a set percentage of tythes, offerings, mission, benevolents, etc... it comes out first of all my monies, its routine and set. Anything I have after that is MINE and I realized that I am somewhat putting God in a box with the access to HIS money that I am managing for him.

I've heard stories of how some people flip this idea by choosing to live with a certain about of money and ALL the rest going to God. I love this idea. Some people are millionaires and choose to live on minimum wage, while some might choose to live on $50,000 a year and the rest to God. This amount would greatly vary from one person to the next.

How could you decide?

What would be your guidelines?

How big of a house would you have to maintain, how big of car, how many cars, how many vacations , etc...

Now, currently Im honestly living over my budget...but I hope to be able to change that soon. I am going to be praying about having a budget that i am easily capable of reaching. Also, setting guidlines and if God blesses me with more , it will be all his, really.

My guidlines will be something like this:
having a house in a decent school zone
having a newer car (mini van actually)
having a/c in home and car
dishwasher
interent
laptop
washer/dryer in home
have a reasonable amount in savings and retirement plan
health insurance
weekly supply of healthy food

Now, I find my guidlines quite simple......when I compare them to others. I dont need a $500 purse, $100 shoes, $300 sunglasses, expensive vacations, expenisive jewelry, pets treated better than humans , or many other pet peeves that I see in others. : ) ! Yeah, I'm pretty good at judging people.

I also find it simple to live with less when I dont have much. I dont have to make these choices of having a $500 purse or going on an expensive vacation.......... I wonder if I need have these choices if I would be the same way or would be guidlines have to change??

But.........I ask myself this......
Would my sisters in Africa like my guidlines. You know, the ones that dont eat every day. I would be really embarrassing if i had to say..."Sister, these are my guidelines of needs/wants that i have to meet , but everything I have in excess of that I will give you a small percentage so you can feed your children some rice this week"

Come on.....really?

I pray for God to search me, really search me, keep me with a clear head and with a focus on treasures in heaven. I dont want my rewards here on earth. I want to set my self apart fand be different. I want to in what will last. I dont want to be a slave to money. Please help me to not want earthly treasures and to desire my treasures in heaven

Zealous and Convicted about God!

One of my spiritual goals in honoring a Sabbath day. Its hard for my situation because my job requires that I work weekends and my budget requires that I work 7 days. One commitment I made to honor a Sabbath is to work extra hours in 6 days and take off work one day. Its a small step, but hardly a Sabbath. Especially the amount of stuff that I have to fit in that one day off.

I have another spiritual goal along this same line. My Pastor talks about the importance of spending time alone with God as well as one on one with individuals. I know I need this, but with four kids, by myself, 54 hour work weeks, volunteering at church, volunteering at schools.........where can I fit it in?

I started this week. I committed to spend a min of 2 hours alone with God or a friend every tuesday morning. Today was my first day.

I forced, I mean forced, myself to grab a book, notepad and my bible and sit at a Starbucks for 2 hours and just read, write and pray. It was awesome! .....and as you would guess, I still got the same amount of things done today as if I didnt spend this time with God.

God spoke to me a lot about service today. I have a new favorite word now....It's Zeal.

Zeal
Zeal is birthed from passion.
Servants must be Zealous!!!!
Servants must be Zealous!!!!

Serve with joy! Serve with pleasure! Serve with Dignity!

and another favorite word....Conviction.
Conviction convinces you to do something.
If a situation doesnt move you, then you cant move heaven.

.........and know who you are serving. You are always serving God! No matter how dirty of a job you are doing, you are ultimately truly serving God.

If Im zealous about my God, with a conviction to serve him....how can I not serve anyone without joy and pleasure.......and dignity in the fact that I am serving God?

Julia is a Senior!

My daughter just started her senoir year at highschool!

Do I feel old?...yeah!

Am I proud?...heck yeah!

Sometimes it feels like just yesterday when she was born...sometimes I cant even remember my life without her.

We've been through a lot together. Poor girl...I've drug her through my life...the good and the bad and the really bad. Yet, somehow she survived! (I know the somehow : ) ) (thank you jesus!)

She is beautiful, smart, has dreams and goals. I know she will succeed at anything she puts her mind to.

I love this girl!

Silver Pines VBS/Block Party 2009

Yeah..it was hot outside, there were no near by restrooms, plenty of ant piles and lots of dirt. But, it was soooooooo......... much fun!

My church did a two day Vbs at an underserved apartment complex that we "adopted". The kids made musical instruments (some were very creative). They were able to use thier instruments during the worship. We gave them a quick, fun message. They played games. And ended with a dance contest.

We followed the VBS with a Block Party. Complete with inflatable water slides and jump houses, hotdogs, chips, soda, cotton candy, face painting and snow cones.

I must admit that I was pretty tired at the end but it was so worth it.

These children had so much fun, the smiles on thier faces will stay with me for a long time.

Besides giving these children joy, love and fun.... I learned something else during this. I learned something about community.

As I looked around that day and saw my church family all serving together, away from church....everyone hot, uncomfortable and tired....yet working together doing thier part...I felt how important is community. This couldn't have happened without the whole team. For example, I could do the arts and crafts, but I dont have a clue about putting on a dance contest. The teenagers manned the cotton candy, but they couldnt grill 150 hot dogs. We really needed everyone, the ones who know the secret tricks to opening the van doors and the ones who know how to put up the tents. And, who but my pastor could drive around on a motor cycle anouncing whats happening or drive around picking up kids in his pick up truck?

I really believe that God designed us to live in community, each of us with our unique gifts to offer. It's a fairly new concept to me...and last week I got a real good feel of it...seeing it in action!

My Perfect Gift

Amy,
Let me start by saying I love you, thank you, and I'm sorry!!
Coming back to jail is the est thing that ever happened to me.
I don't want to try to explain too much. Dont trust me but trust when I tell you that God is answering all your prayers concerning me.
I thought you might enjoy this book! I did!
God bless you, your brother,
Brian
..............................................
This is the note I recieved Wednesday night at church, in a book, from a guy whom I never met before. This guy came looking for me at church, at the end of the evening. He told me he just got out of jail and that he was in a cell with my brother.
........for those who dont know, my brother is facing life in prison for multiple things related to his ongoing drug addiction..I actually had a big part in putting him back in jail as well..therefore up until wednesday I didnt even think he wanted to speak to me........
So, this guy told me that my brother introduced him to Christ in jail....My brother gave him a book with this note inside to give to me at church.
I cant explain how much joy this gave me. It was a complete surprise, totally unexpected, could never dream of it, awesome timing, just perfect.
Although, my brothers situation has not changed, he still is facing life in prison, I have peace knowing that God has his hand on this. And i have peace knowing that he has peace and hope in God. and Who knows, maybe all of this was just to save the one guy who brought me the book, or maybe there are greater things yet to come.
I'll be waiting "on the edge of my seat" : ) !

One of my favorite things....

...NAKED BROWN BABIES!