Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The Blessed Life

Our pastor at Gateway, Robert Morris, has been doing a series based on his book, The Blessed Life, and it's all about financial stewardship and giving as God designed. For many of us, it's a refresher course (Rob and I read the book while we were dating and it transformed our thinking and attitude towards giving), but refresher courses are often a very GOOD thing.

We've felt recently that we have little to give because we ourselves have been so in need, but we're being shown through these messages that it's not just about money, it's about time, it's about attitude, it's about love. It's not about giving out of abundance (think about the widow in the new testament who gave her only two mites). But God says in Malachi chapter 3 that when we give in our tithes and offerings, that He will open for us the windows of heaven and pour out such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it all.

That said, I say the following not to brag on myself by any means, but to show that God's word is true! On Monday it was on our hearts to put together a gift bag for someone who is having a baby. We knew it wouldn't be much, but we just wanted to bless this person in some small way. Then last night after our church small group, we found out that all the couple from our group had gotten together to bless us! They had put together a large gift basket full of items, all of which were things we had gotten this other person on Monday. It was as if God did exactly what He said in Malachi and poured out such abundant blessing back to us. And not only that, they all pitched in and got us a rocker/glider for the baby's room! I feel so overwhelmed with blessing and God's goodness!

Friends, I know many of you are like us right now, and times are hard financially, even spiritually. But I encourage you to get this book, or listen to the sermons from it online (go to www.gatewaypeople.com and it's on the homepage). There is blessing promised in God's word when we tithe, and there is also a curse when we don't. Don't let fear or insecurity stop you from giving. I promise, God will bless you and provide your every need!

1 comment:

Lindsay Rondo said...

that is so sweet! what goes around comes around... right? :)

your baby bump looks very cute.

Lindsay