Tithing
It's that time of year when our church sends out "Stewardship" notes and asks for a financial pledge for the upcoming year...and I am now looking at it differently than I did in the past.
I always pledged the same amount and we usually made it over the year...if we did food pantry donations, helped with the Circle of Love program, put in money for things like alter flowers or school kits we always considered it part of the pledge. We knew it wasn't a huge amount but always figured out that by volunteering in the nursery or helping with different functions that we were more than doing our part.
Even though the "experts" say the recession was over last year...it's still hitting a lot of people hard. We are really entering the third year of this recession and church communities have been hit hard too.
If they had invested funds, they took a hit like our personal portfolios...
If they do a lot for the community (food pantry, support groups, etc) they need additional funds to help the overflowing lines of record people that need assistance...
The bible says :
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)
Everything we own, everything we have comes from God. So when we give, we simply offer him a very small portion of all the abundance he has already given to us. Giving is an expression of our thankfulness and praise to God! It comes from a heart of worship. For everything we give already belongs to him!
We are doubling our standard pledge for next year...despite the job uncertainty that our family faces and my personal saving mission. I consider it a fantastic organization to donate to as I know 90% of my donation doesn't go to some administrative expense, like a lot of the companies that give us a call...
I know, with God's help, everything will work out for the best...that if you help enough people get what they want, it all comes back to you.
If my pastor is reading this, I know he will smile - not for the fact that we are giving more money, but for the fact that we have thought so much about it.
Blessings to you all!
I always pledged the same amount and we usually made it over the year...if we did food pantry donations, helped with the Circle of Love program, put in money for things like alter flowers or school kits we always considered it part of the pledge. We knew it wasn't a huge amount but always figured out that by volunteering in the nursery or helping with different functions that we were more than doing our part.
Even though the "experts" say the recession was over last year...it's still hitting a lot of people hard. We are really entering the third year of this recession and church communities have been hit hard too.
If they had invested funds, they took a hit like our personal portfolios...
If they do a lot for the community (food pantry, support groups, etc) they need additional funds to help the overflowing lines of record people that need assistance...
The bible says :
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)
Everything we own, everything we have comes from God. So when we give, we simply offer him a very small portion of all the abundance he has already given to us. Giving is an expression of our thankfulness and praise to God! It comes from a heart of worship. For everything we give already belongs to him!
We are doubling our standard pledge for next year...despite the job uncertainty that our family faces and my personal saving mission. I consider it a fantastic organization to donate to as I know 90% of my donation doesn't go to some administrative expense, like a lot of the companies that give us a call...
I know, with God's help, everything will work out for the best...that if you help enough people get what they want, it all comes back to you.
If my pastor is reading this, I know he will smile - not for the fact that we are giving more money, but for the fact that we have thought so much about it.
Blessings to you all!
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