Give YOURSELVES to God first

Another good one from the daily devotional, Our Daily Bread:

The practice of tipping is commonly accepted in many countries. But I wonder: Has this courtesy influenced our attitude toward giving money to the church?

Many Christians regard their financial giving as little more than a goodwill gesture to God for the service He has rendered us. They think that as long as they have given their tithe to God, the rest is theirs to handle as they please. But the Christian life is about so much more than money!

The Bible tells us that our Creator owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” (Ps. 50:10). “The world is Mine,” God says, “and all its fullness” (v.12). Everything comes from Him, and everything we have belongs to Him. God has not only given us every material thing we have, He has also given us His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who provides our very salvation.

Paul used the Macedonian Christians as an illustration of what our giving should look like in the light of God’s incredible generosity toward us. The Macedonians, who were in “deep poverty,” gave with “liberality” (2 Cor. 8:2). But “they first gave themselves to the Lord” (v.5).

God the Creator of the universe does not need anything from us. He doesn’t want a tip. He wants us! — C. P. Hia

Always remember: "Though [Jesus Christ] was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor." —II Corinthians 8:9

When you give yourselves to God first, then the spirit of giving will naturally follow and outflow. Giving won't be a burden then - it will be a natural response to God's children in need. God gave His Son for our sake - we must give our all for our God.

"Come and Rest in Christ's Hands"

[Jesus said,] "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake." -Psalm 23:1-3

What comfort... What blessed assurance! Stop living in 4th gear all the time. Take rest in the arms of Jesus. God wants you to rest because He makes you lie down. Rest and abide in the presence of the Lord.

Urgent Message from David Wilkerson

The following is a message from Times Square Church's Reverend David Wilkerson. All I can say is ... well, there is nothing really to say. See for yourself.

An Urgent Message

An Earth-Shattering Calamity Is About To Happen

by David Wilkerson | March 7, 2009

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March 7, 2009

I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world.

AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE — EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.

For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires — such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.

There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting — including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written,

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (v. 3).

God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations.

The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, “God is fashioning a calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh, turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds. But they will say, It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart” (Jeremiah 18:11–12).

In Psalm 11:6, David warns, “Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of fire)…fire…burning wind…will be the portion of their cup.” Why? David answered, “Because the Lord is righteous” (v. 7). This is a righteous judgment — just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah’s generation.

WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO? WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PEOPLE?

First, I give you a practical word I received for my own direction. If possible lay in store a thirty-day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of an impending disaster.

As for our spiritual reaction, we have but two options. This is outlined in Psalm 11. We “flee like a bird to a mountain.” Or, as David says, “He fixed his eyes on the Lord on his throne in heaven — his eyes beholding, his eyelids testing the sons of men” (v. 4). “In the Lord I take refuge” (v. 1).

I will say to my soul: No need to run…no need to hide. This is God’s righteous work. I will behold our Lord on his throne, with his eye of tender, loving kindness watching over every step I take — trusting that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires, calamities, tests, trials of all kinds.

Note: I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose.

God bless and keep you.

In Christ,
DAVID WILKERSON

DW:bbm 3.7.09

"But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD;
in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death."
-Psalm 141:8

Whatever the future holds, keep yourself secure in the safe sanctuary of our God. Hold strong to your faith and do not fear, for your God will never leave you nor forsake you. Be a living sanctuary and stronghold anchored on the Rock of Ages.

Marriage: What God Knew All Along

I have seen this passage a few times, but upon reading it and thinking about it for a bit, I believe God showed some angles that I wasn't paying attention to, but are quite fascinating and comforting.

Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

-I Corinthians 7:1-9

Marriage takes on a greater meaning when we examine this carefully. Marriage is a sacrament ordained by God. Modern society has devalued marriage to the nature of a light switch - on again, off again at a whim. It is so much more. We think we orchestrate marriage - no, it is God who ordains it, makes it possible and arranges it to accommodate our needs. If we break what God has brought together, we put ourselves in a position greater than God - that is sacrilegious and unacceptable. I can't thank God enough for providing me with someone who, in the truest sense of the word, completes me.

But, delving further into marriage, examining the I Corinthians passage, we see how God really knew our needs and addressed them through marriage. Here's how I interpret it (correct me if I'm wrong):
In an ideal world (without sin), there would be no need for marriage, because man would have full reliance on God and would seek no other for satisfaction of needs. Yet, after the fall of man, man wanted to rely on himself and others to be fully satisfied. These urges are so strong and, if it were up to us, we would go to anyone and then someone else to find satisfaction. In light of this, God says, "Listen, I know what your urges and desires are (of the flesh). Here's what I'll do: I will provide you with someone who you can devote yourself to and this person will be yours forever. Two shall become one. I would rather you find satisfaction with this person alone whom I have provided than with multiple sources." Recall in the previous chapter that Paul says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (I Corinthians 6:19-20). God does not want you to use what is His for your own pleasures and pollution; find your satisfaction in someone who God knows is compatible with you, your body and your needs.

Because we lack self-control, God wants us to come together with our marital partner and not deprive ourselves of each other. The institution of marriage is our release; the love flowing between those married (a product of God's love for us) naturally accentuates the satisfaction of desires, keeping our God-given bodies pure. If we do not see married life in that light, then we yearn to satisfy our desires elsewhere outside of marriage and that's when Satan's power becomes greatest and most persuasive, corrupting what God has given to us as a gift. That's when the seductions of the world can bring our lives to ruin. If those types of passions burn within us, God wants us to marry so that we have an avenue to take care of those needs. With those needs addressed, our time communing with God in devotion and prayer becomes focused and unadulterated. Paul calls it a "concession," not a "command" - there are those who can control these desires, like Paul himself. But God says that it is okay if you cannot - God has provided you the avenue of marriage to express your love and passion for another.

Upon this reflection, I am just so amazed at God and His Word. When you meditate and dedicate time to Him, He reveals truths for an abundant life. Why do people look elsewhere? God is the Source of everything - He is your Everything. God says that whatever you need Me to be, come to Me, rely on Me and realize that, "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14)

Swept up by Twitter!

Facebook? Oh no... But Twitter...? Ever since I saw half of Congress "twittering" on their phones and Blackberries during President Obama's address, my attention was piqued. Then PTI started to Twitter it up. If you build it, they will come. It's been around since 2006, but now the Twitter wave is starting to roll. It's just status updates. Answering that eternal question: "Hey, what are you doing?" So, I got a Twitter feed on the bottom right of this blog. It could prove to be a time-suck, but on the other hand, it could be quite useful. It could just be another passing fad for me, or it could stick. Stay tuned...

Oh, by the way: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." -I Corinthians 6:19-20

"The Love of God"

What a beautiful, vivid hymn this is...

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies
of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry,
Nor could the scroll
contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky.

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." -Ephesians 3:17-19