Share Your Light

Too often we get caught up in the notion that giving only involves contributing a monetary amount, which is a part of giving, however, I want to discuss another side of giving, the giving of yourself. The giving of yourself first starts with submitting your entire being to Christ. When we do this, we surrender our will, motives, and desires to Christ. We no longer strive to create our own destinies, but we submit to the predestined calling on our lives which was created by God before we were conceived or even thought of. Once we align ourselves with our purpose in Christ we can then share our light with others.

We live in a hurting world; people need to know that there is a Savior that can set them free from the shackles and chains that keep them in bondage, the spiritually blind need vision, the sick need comfort and prayer, the rejected need to know they are accepted just the way they are, and the poor need not only food, but the “Bread of Life”! Within these instances and circumstances is where our lights need to be shined. When we share our testimonies and the unconditional love of Christ, we shed light into those dark places and expose the lies of the enemy. We must no longer let the counterfeit of the enemy steal the genuine love-nature of Christ.

How can we share our light? We can offer a smile and a word of encouragement when someone is discouraged, we can lift others up in prayer by being their intercessor, we can share our faith to those in despair, we can offer assistance to those who are less fortunate, and most importantly, we must LIVE a life that is an example of what we preach, teach, and share. Our High Priest will assist us every step of the way through the Holy Spirit. Let us share our lights now, and the victory of Christ will surely come.

Meditate on this scripture which encourages being a light unto the world:

“You are the light of the world………let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-15).

~Toni H.

The Heart of the Giver

They are in awe at the sacrifice of Christ. They are renewed by the shedding of His blood. They are moved into action by the forgiveness that is freely offered. They walk in obedience because of the love they have for Him. They aim to live their lives for the One who saved them. Who are they? They are the believers with a heart of worship!

Because so much was given, true worshipers are givers from the heart. They give not out of fear, obligation, or self-gratification, but from a willingness to please the One that saved them. So what do they, the true worshipers, give? They give everything!! They give their time to advance the kingdom of God, they use their hands to prepare meals for the hungry, they use their skills to help with church administration, they use their gifts to edify the body of Christ, they use their testimonies to win the hearts of unbelievers for Christ, and they use their finances to aid in mission trips and for the relief of the poor. They leave nothing off limits! They give themselves and their substance fully, without grudge, to the One who gave His very life out of pure love. They have true hearts of giving.  

Their giving hearts are not their own, but of one that has been renewed by the blood of Christ. Their hearts imitate the One who died for them. For Christ, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, came not to be served, but to serve.  We all should work toward having the true heart of a giver because it shows, through our actions, that we are cooperating with the Holy Spirit to become transformed into the image of Christ. So, do you have the heart of a giver?

Meditate on this scripture which encourages presenting and submitting ourselves to the service of Christ…

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. (Romans 12: 1-2)

~Toni H.

Increasing Your Ability To Give By Financial Planning

My fellow bloggers and I here at Second Calvary Baptist Church have been discussing the topics of tithing and offering and their biblical significance to our life as Christians. We all agree on the several ideals in regards to giving which include obedience, our willingness to aid our local communities, and contributing to the church’s ministries and missions. But let us explore another facet to the subject of giving, a more practical side. Sometimes we may find ourselves in situations where we want to give more to a scholarship fund or an upcoming mission trip after we have already given our tithes. A possible solution to opening up a bigger window to give for such things may be to establish a realistic financial plan.

Establishing such a plan can increase your ability to give. Let me explain, with an example, why this is a plausible solution. I find myself, very frequently, becoming a victim of the Wal-Mart trap. I go into Wal-Mart sometimes with only an idea of what I am purchasing and end up spending way more than I anticipated. However, when I go to Wal-Mart with not only a budgeted amount to spend, but also a list of items to purchase, I find myself sticking to the plan that was created. I give this example to say this: If we create a financial plan for ourselves this will enhance our standard of living and also increase our ability to give more. If we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, He will enable us to write a vision for our finances and make it clear and feasible.  If we map out our expenses on paper and maintain the discipline to stay committed to it, we maximize the usage of our income.

In essence, financial planning has great benefits. It’s the wisdom of God that enables us to plan with diligence which in turn, can create more opportunities for us to give to those charities, causes, scholarship funds, etc. that we hold so dear to our hearts.  

Meditate on these scriptures that encourage diligence in planning:

Who would build a tower without first sitting down and estimating the cost to be sure he has enough money to complete it?( Luke 14:28)

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage… (Proverbs 21:5a)

~Toni H.

Above and Beyond

Most of the things we enjoy come through the hard work of another person, many of which may not receive the pay equal to the quality of their work. For example, when you go to a restaurant you are required to pay the full bill for your service. Tips are highly recommended when servers, waitresses and waiters are involved Some people don't tip. Then there are those who tip generously. In either case, there's a need and a service that takes place that too often doesn't match the actual "price tag."

Needs and services exist in the church. The people who attend need and are seeking something they cannot get in the world. And the church provides services to those who attend. What we sometimes fail to realize is that the church has a need also. The leaders of a church spend a great deal of time and effort into making sure the church operates effectively to meet the needs of the people. This is a full time ministry for some of them. Our lives are being enriched and blessed as a result.

Numbers 18:21-24 exemplifies how it takes finances to do God's work. "I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites." (NIV)

Our tithes and offering directly support the work of the ministry. God commands us to tithe. It's a requirement not a suggestion. Once we respond in the area of tithing, we need to give generously in our offering. Luke 6:38 shows us that when we are obedient to the Word of God in our TITHES and OFFERINGS, then we should expect an abundance of blessings; "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”(NIV)

Please remember that both the TITHES and OFFERINGS need to be given in your church. Go above and beyond tithing and offer a blessing more than the one you received. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in the area of giving above the requirement. He will show you and you will be blessed.

~Lynn