Go Forth

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and yet it did not fall..." (Matthew 7:24-25)

Those words of encouragement from Jesus were said because He knew what the outcome would be for anyone - including you, who acts upon them. That is why God has seen to it that many of the scriptures illustrate what our future will be if we just go forth.

We are not necessarily going to know what will happen tomorrow... only God does, but if we go forth in faith to His Word, we can know and be assured that the Lord is alert and active, watching over His Word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:12)

Think about how at your occupation your supervisor may direct you to do something. Now, at your level of knowledge you might not understand how that will work in the big picture, or even if you have the ability to accomplish what they've set out for you to do - but you go forth and take on the task.

Why? Because that supervisor is the one responsible for directing you to that effort. They have the knowledge of the higher mechanisms at work in the company, and how your assignment has its place in accomplishing the company's goals.

Translate that scenario to yourself and the Lord. You cannot always grasp why to be obedient or to step out in faith in an area, but God knows and He is the one responsible for rewarding you if that was promised, and for conforming you to the image of Christ. That is why our next step is to simply trust Him and go forth.

Over a year ago, I began employment with a new company, in a new occupation and a new industry. There was much assigned to me I did not understand, or if I could even handle it, but my supervisor was confident in my abilities to accomplish it. Now, I can see more of how my efforts fit into the overall objectives and by being successful I have greater trust in carrying out future plans.

God knows you... personally. He knows what you can do through Him. That is why His main command to us is to go forth and act upon His Word. So take Him at His Word, in the area of finances be obedient in tithing, by confining over spending in certain areas, in giving to a person or ministry in need - and see Him take care of performing His Word in your life.

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them (John 13:17)

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

2018 & Your Bible

"For whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4)

As we begin a new year, I want to challenge you try something different - to create Your Bible. Think about what many of the books of the scriptures are... they are accounts of people who learned of God's ways, accepted and applied them by faith, sought the Lord in prayer and then saw Him intervene to bless them and to fulfill the promises that had been declared or what God had spoken to their hearts.

I'm encouraging you to try this for all areas spiritually, but today let's zero in on what it would look like in relation to finances and debt. You can begin with either a notebook or to create an electronic document, start either by copying special verses that speak to you. They can be ones that challenge because you know it's a place you're not yet obedient, like "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in My house" (Malachi 3:10) or "Owe no man anything but to love one another" (Romans 13:8).

There will be scriptures of encouragement, such as "Be strong, vigorous and very courageous... for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9), and "Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). Refer back to these, especially when you're tempted to turn away from continuing on the right path. Continue to add to these scriptures.

Next, write down the tangible steps you are taking, such as bringing your lunch to work some days of the week, giving faithfully in tithes, using an app like GasBuddy before filling up, giving to a special need for some one or a ministry, recording and watching your credit card charges in real-time during the month, reducing some area of spending that you know trips up your higher goals.

An important and faith-building portion is to record your prayers to the Lord. Be as detailed as you are in speaking and petitioning with Him. They can be for strength in avoiding overspending, receiving a promotion and increase at work, forgiveness or reduction of a financial debt, wisdom in making a larger purchase decision.

As you see answers to your recorded prayers, write them down next to the prayers in Your Bible. This black-and-white evidence will inspire you to pray more, increasing your faith for even greater things and works from the Lord, be a testimony to share with others and will magnify your love for Him.

The results of your efforts and the Lord's blessing are worthy of writing down also, such as eliminating one of the credit cards, retiring a particular bill that has lingered for a long time, paying off the car, being able to have a down payment for the house you're looking for.

Looking back on this effort, you'll realize what you're recording is no different than what is in the scriptures from 2,000+ years ago - it is what's been spoken and promised by God, what prayers and steps you took by faith in response, and the results that appeared for you. That is why this will truly be Your Bible.

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

Let Blessings Flow

"He who did not withhold or spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all other things?" (Romans 8:32). It is the nature of our loving God to give. Consider some of what He has given to you as a believer in Christ - eternal life with Him, healing by the stripes of Jesus, The Holy Spirit, the power to get wealth.

God's desire is for us to send on those blessings that we've received, much like the river illustration above... as it will honor Him and also show the grace He has given to us. It is written that the kingdom of God is based on sowing and reaping, so that sowing -- planting, giving, casting is the first step.

It can be easy for us to be drawn in too far towards our own desires during this Christmas Season, so it is best to recall this scripture from Psalms 37:4 - "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart."

We can delight ourself in the Lord by giving. Ask God to speak to your heart about where you can be generous to others, and be ready to do so when He prompts you. It may be financial (there is a special need in our church now to assist our new Pastor because of expenses related to moving), it could be of some thing you own, or even giving of your time.

It may be that your giving could be out of your need, be assured that as you trust God and give, He will show Himself to be true to His Word and meet your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

Think about how much God has given freely to us, His creation. He first provided every tree (except one) and plant from the garden of Eden, His Word - which is priceless because it shares with us the mind of God, a kingdom that cannot be shaken, His only Son to show us how He lovingly relates to us before He died for our sins.

Even Jesus gave to us something so important He had to leave in order to send to us... His Holy Spirit, who is written as our Helper, Counselor, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby, and the Holy Spirit will help us to remember everything that Jesus taught (John 14:26).

Lastly, be encouraged in your giving with this final scripture, knowing that it has no end. (2 Corinthians 9:9) As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

Where He Sees Treasure

Many people would think of treasure like the image above, or perhaps a loved one referred to as "my precious treasure". Let's look at how God sees treasure, for we can receive enlightenment for many areas including finances.

Foremost, God sees His Word as treasure, in Matthew 13:52 Jesus spoke about how every teacher of the Sacred Writings is like a householder who brings forth treasure that is new and old.

Colossians 2:3 refers to Jesus in this way - "In Him all the treasures of divine wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and all the riches of spiritual knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and hidden."

Moses knew of this treasure, in Hebrews 11:26 it is written how he considered the abuse and shame borne for the Christ (who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward.

We should know learning of God's ways in His Word how He values what we cannot see - “Consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

That verse ties in well here... “But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal.” (Matthew 6:20). In this passage Jesus was describing to us what He had seen to be the truth of what occurs when we give of our finances… our treasures are transferred up to heaven.

He also was accurately illustrating of what happens in that everything--every "treasure" as we view it here gathered on earth is eventually destroyed… and conversely, everything that we gather (give) towards heaven will last eternally.

Towards managing our daily finances properly, God has provided this easy to understand solution in Proverbs 21:20, "There are precious treasures and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a self-confident and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it." God's Word is simply telling us to spend less than what we make. We frequently deceive ourselves that we can have many discretionary purchases now with no consequences ahead. That is a lie which becomes more visible when the bills arrive each month.

To spend less than we make, we need to choose contentment. In Philippians 4, Paul tells us "I have learned how to be content in whatever state I am. I know how to live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance." He received his contentment from Christ. It is in this reliance that will provide patience, enabling us to turn away from choice of spending money we do not have that plunge us into debts.

In examining our level of contentment there is this loving, but penetrating instruction that came from Jesus in Matthew 6:21 - “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The intent of Christ speaking this was not to condemn us, but to illuminate the difference between placing our affection on this world and with Him and His Kingdom.

The more that we regard His Word - the treasure that God sees it, in our finances, first from giving as we are instructed, then the more we will also be able to make wise choices in our spending. It may be by overcoming temptation to spend on something fruitless, or waiting for the timing to be right when you have enough to make a purchase without using credit or borrowing.

Most everyone, regardless of their level of wealth has to deal with or end up suffering from the consequences of overspending. I want to encourage you that as believers in Christ we have resources--treasures, that the rest of the world does not have to overcome.

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted] for I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

Your Tool Box

In Ephesians 6, we are given instruction through divine illustration how to successfully stand up against the devil. It describes putting on God's complete armor with the belt of truth, breastplate of integrity, shodding our feet with the Gospel of peace, lifting up the shield of faith, taking the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Word of God.

In that same mindset of preparation and application, I want to take you through some tools we've covered previously... tangible steps you have available in your "tool box" to help you save money, reduce unnecessary expenses and pay down your debts, which will assist you in becoming debt-free.

Bring coffee, lunch or drinks with you instead of purchasing from vending machines, convenience stores and restaurants

Groceries: read the sales ads and coupons, buy generic brands and in bulk, shop with a list and stick to it

Check out these shopping apps to save: Checkout 51, iBotta, Coupons.com, Walmart Savings Catcher

Use dining coupons, Groupons and Entertainment books along with signing up on restaurant websites and loyalty clubs

Use an app like GasBuddy to instantly show you the best gas prices nearby

Check out Craiglist and other sites for enormous savings on pre-owned items

Shop for used cars (research for reliable models) instead of buying new or leasing

Track credit card spending in real-time online, before your monthly bill arrives

Reduce premium TV, internet, phone plans

Use your library for entertainment options (movies, books, magazines, CD's)

Set reasonable limits for gifts

Research the savings of raising insurance deductibles for home, auto and medical

Buy end of season items, like Holiday cards & decor, outdoor & lawn items, winter/summer clothing and sports gear

And spiritually there are multitudes of "tools" we can employ to help us with our finances, here are the best ones I suggest for you:

Begin with faithfulness in giving tithes and offerings, including opportunities to bless others, as the Lord promises to meet the needs of those who do so

Stay close in reading and meditating on God's Word. This will help you in overcoming temptation to overspend, being patient and content, and by knowing His voice which will help lead us in making wise choices financially

Work as unto the Lord, it is glory unto Him to do so and it will make you a valuable employee, which in return will bless you

Talk to God in your time with Him about your finances, including any shortcomings with spending and ask Him to provide wisdom

Lean on the Holy Spirit when a sizable purchase decision is before you, He is available 24/7 wherever you are to lead you by His peace, to wait, and be confident in the decision made

There are many options to use the tangible tools first mentioned above, however there is no substitute for the spiritual tools mentioned afterward - especially staying close to reading and meditating on God's Word, because it is The Truth. If this area has been lacking, I encourage you to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34)

Lastly, be strengthened to know you are absolutely not alone in pursuing victory in your finances - "For the Lord your God is He Who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you" (Deuteronomy 20:4)

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

He Gives and Takes Away

There is a beautiful worship song titled “Blessed Be Your Name”, and part of it goes “You give and take away”. God has given us His greatest gift in His Son Christ Jesus. In addition, there are many scriptures and promises from God to us of how He will give and take away on our behalf for our finances if we trust and obey Him.

How He Gives

For it is He who gives you the ability to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18)

God will bless our efforts in our occupation or business, as we work unto him (Colossians 3) doing our best every day. The Lord blessed Isaac, Jacob and Hezekiah to great wealth by His hand.

And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you (Deuteronomy 28:2)

We can believe in the God who created Heaven and Earth to send blessings our way, and especially to acknowledge Him in praise and proclaiming to others when blessings overtake us.

The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22)

There are many rich individuals still unsatisfied inside – because Christ Jesus is not in their heart. The Lord blesses us with contentment in Him and to be generous, so there is no sorrow.

How He Takes Away

I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground (Malachi 3:11)

As we are faithful in giving tithes and offerings, we can trust in God’s promise to defend us. God kept the Israelites’ shoes and clothing from wearing out, we can also believe for longevity of our belongings.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)

As we do this, God will mold our desires to become more like His. From this we will seek less and less of fleshly things and purchase commitments that will harm our finances.

You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory (Psalm 73:24)

By seeking His will and being patient for sizable purchase decisions, God will lead us away from those that would prove to be unfruitful and towards those that are blessed.

God’s Word is full of examples of the Lord giving to us what is good, and taking away what is not good for us. As we yield to Him we will see that truth repeated and our faith will continue to grow. Lastly, remember from Psalms 23:2 of where the Lord is leading us:

He makes me lie down in fresh, tender green pastures; He leads me beside still and restful waters.

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

What You Don't See

"Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them" (Proverbs 24:1). "For everything that is in the world--the desire for fleshly gratification, the desire for possessions, and worldly arrogance--is not from the Father but is from the world" (1 John 2:16).

Many ideals communicated from television, movies and music these days promote a drive for the extravagant - in cars, homes, clothing and all the trimmings. Including even taking evil or unscrupulous methods to obtain them. This can leave the common person forming a greed for these things they simply cannot obtain.

But beyond the Hollywood portrayals, people also get roped into trying to keep up with or trying to impress those around them. What they don't see beneath the surface is all of the stress and hardship those others are having trying to pay their bills by keeping up with the people they are looking at. You may see the nice things another person has and think that it's good, but you may not want to trade places with them if you could see their monthly bills.

This hardship has brought down many who are the ones originally being glorified. The numbers of professional athletes, movie stars, musicians and the previously wealthy that have declared bankruptcy are amazing. It is because they never learned to manage what they had before and then became subject to their own greedy desire. Ecclesiastes 5 sums it up well - "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income."

It is written in Proverbs 29:25 "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." We may have grown up concerned we won't be accepted if our clothes didn't measure up, then we may carry that into adult life with all the other things that follow.

We have been a debt-free household for many years, but I will share with you that my wife and I bought used cars that are still in use and beyond 10 years old, we occasionally buy quality second-hand clothing, and we frequently use coupons when dining out. It can be the snare referred to in Proverbs 29 above, or our own pride that prevents us from making certain choices that can keep us from overspending.

Take with you these beautiful excerpts from Psalms 37 to be an encouragement in staying on the right path that God has for you:

-I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken

-Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him

-Hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land

May God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul