I’m in complete awe at how gracious God is being to me and how He is providing so immensely. Recently, God has really been convicting me about tithing. I’ve always tried to tithe, to put that 10% in the plate, and I’ll be honest, I’m not fully there yet. But God is working on my heart and my trust. I trust that God will leaving me lacking NOTHING, but that still makes it tough to take $50 out of a $500 paycheck…or $100 out of a $1,000 paycheck, or even $5 out of the $50 you made babysitting. But He is so good and He deserves all that we have…and all He asks for is 10%. How cool is that?! He’s trusting us with 90% of what He gives us and only asks for 10% back…talk about TRUST!
In the book of Mark, Jesus tells the story about the widow’s offering. All the rich people were giving large sums of money and flaunting their contribution to the church while a poor widow came and put 2 small coins into the offering-it was all she had. And Jesus was pleased. He knew her heart. God knows my heart and He knows your heart. He knows when we give out of spite or in fear or when we begrudgingly hold our offering for ourselves which I have done so many times. He also knows when we give in full trust in Him. I challenge you, if you’re not a tither, to start somewhere-to trust that God is going to provide your every need. Just remember, this world and it’s treasures will pass away, but the things of God are eternal. Let’s live for eternity!
On another note, giving to my mission trip is not tithing…but it is an act of worship (see last blog post) to God because you are supporting a mission for the Kingdom of the Most High God. I’m not telling you to support me, but I do want to share what has happened in the past 3 days. I have received 3 financial gifts apart from my ‘fundraising activities–t-shirts and coffee mugs’. One was a very large sum, another substantial and another, smaller. But each of these gifts was given from the heart. I believe that each individual who selflessly gave to support the mission God has called me on to further His Kingdom, has a completely Kingdom minded focus. Each gift made my heart skip a beat and my eyes start welling up with tears, because I know the sacrifice it takes to give of your own, hard-earned money. I am so grateful to those who have given in order to send me to the nations to do God’s work-to be His hands and feet. And I’m also so grateful for the gifts that will continue to come, because like I said, I know God will leave me lacking nothing because I trust in His eternal plan.
I stepped out of my comfort zone to do the World Race and to fundraise-definitely not easy! Will you step out of your comfort zone in something today? Whether it be tithing, giving to my mission or another mission, talking to someone who looks sad, sharing your lunch with a classmate who doesn’t have anything or just giving a smile to a stranger. Sometimes God uses those acts of trust to show us just how big of a God He is.
I can’t wait to hear how God blesses you when you step into faith! Please make sure you share your stories with me, I love hearing how heaven is crashing into earth in these acts of trust in the Lord.
