One Thousand Gifts

For Christmas I received a book titled "One Thousand Gifts: Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" by Ann Voskamp. I thought this was particularly appropriate since the NewSpring Church preaching series for the month of December was titled "Fully Alive".

My intention is not to write a synopsis or a review of the book but to start my list of one thousand gifts. Ann had struggled with unresolved grief since her little sister was hit and killed by a truck when they young. As she studied scripture she saw how thankfulness was tied into salvation and blessings so she started a list - on a dare - to name 1000 gifts from God for which she was thankful.

These will not to be the ordinary family, friends, health, etc gifts but the unexpected or unnoticed gifts, the things we too often take for granted. So today I have started my list and have two items:

1. the honking of geese as they fly over my house on their way to the pond
2. bright sunshine after many days, and almost 6 inches, of rain  

Each day I want to be expectant of some precious gift from God that I might not ordinarily even recognize as a gift but God gives to me anyway. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17 ESV

Give a Tenth

It always amazes me that people want to argue over giving a tithe, or a tenth, to God from what He so generously supplies to us in income. I'm not legalistic about it but I really cannot understand how anyone who has been saved from the wrath of our awesome, holy God and is permitted to live one more day on earth does not want to give minimally a tenth to God's church to reach others with the saving grace of Jesus.

Abraham, when he met Melchizedek, gave "a tenth of everything" to this priest (Genesis 14:18-20) and Jacob, when he met God at Bethel, made a vow to " give a full tenth to you". (Genesis 28:20-22)  Both these men lived 500 - 700 years before Moses and the Law. They gave as an expression of their acknowledgement of the blessings of God.

Paul, when writing to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 8:1-8) tells how the Macedonias begged for the opportunity to give to help the poor even though they were poor themselves. He said giving generously is not a command but rather proof of our love for Jesus and for others. 

Jesus, when sitting near the temple collection box, praised the woman who gave a penny because she was so generous with what she had. (Mark 12:41-44) As always He was looking at the heart, her heart, that had faith to give everything she had to God. I saw this played out in real life in Kenya. The people lived in stick and mud huts, no running water, no electricity, no transportation, eating one small meal a day. Yet when they came to church they testified with their mouths to how blessed they were by God and testified with their money as they all managed to bring something to give, mostly small gold coins that weren't worth much to me but to them and to God it was a fortune. Their generosity put me to shame. 

I wonder what the churches could do to alleviate hunger in America if everyone begged to give generously to their local church like the Macedonians did. I wonder how single moms or orphans or drug addicts or out of work dads or the working poor could be helped by our churches AND hear about Jesus if Christians were not greedy but generous.

There are lots of organizations out there doing good things but what if the CHURCH took on the responsibility of caring for its own and for a lost and dying world because we stepped up to the plate and gave generously. What if we were willing to give up the latest iPhone or maybe our second car or eating out or the sports package on cable or maybe all cable. What if we got out of debt! What if we saw our money as a gift from God to be used for His purposes rather than our own. Then there would be no discussion about tithing because we would all be giving more than that!

Cleaning Up, Clearing Out

I just don't do it often enough...

I have a tendency to hold on to things that I know I no longer use or need. So I have decided to begin to get rid of stuff. I claim not to be attached to things so why do I hold on to them? I've decided it's because it's plain hard work to get rid of them!!

Two weekends ago I had a yard sale. After weeks of getting stuff together, pricing, boxing, etc I got up at 3:30 to begin moving stuff outside. The first people showed up before daylight and I stayed at it until noon. (I did make $150.) Then loaded up leftovers to take to the thrift shop with a vow never to have a yard sale again.

I have since made 2 more trips to the thrift shop with clothes and other odds and ends that I keep deciding are in the way. I had read if something hasn't been used in 6-12 months or worn during the last season for the clothes, get rid of it! My stuffed clothes closet is now only half full and everything in it is something I actually wear and my kitchen cabinets have empty spaces!!

In the midst of all of this I decided to clean the carpet and rearrange the furniture. Phew! Makes me tired just to repeat it. And I haven't even started on my "junk room". But there is such a feeling of accomplishment at getting started and getting so much done.

All this hard work at cleaning up my house makes me glad I don't have to work to clean up my life. Jesus did all that work for me. My life was a mess, full of guilt and shame and bad habits (sin) but when Jesus became my Savior HE cleaned it all up and cleared it all out so I didn't have to deal with it anymore. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me so much.

Sacrifice

My pastor, Perry Noble, has been having vision events around the state this week to tell us what God's plans are for the future of NewSpring Church in reaching the lost of SC with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have not actually heard this vision yet because he is coming to my location tonight. But I have heard through social media that two new campuses have been announced with one pastor already in place. These two, along with three new campuses this year including the Spartanburg Campus that I attend, will bring our total campuses to 10.

All of this costs money - a lot of money - so I have been thinking about how God would have me support this work and whether I am I willing to sacrifice something if necessary to give what God would have me give. One of the expressions Perry uses is "if it's God's will, then it's God's bill" meaning God will supply from His great riches all that is needed to support what He asks us to do. But He funnels those riches to people and then asks us to give.

Ah, but I'm not rich! Based on America, maybe not. Based on the rest of the world, I am infinitely rich. The problem is, I'm just not used to having to sacrifice anything. Tithing and giving are in my budget so it's no sacrifice; the money is allocated and I give it each month. But if God asks me to sacrifice something, would I be willing to do it?

I don't have a smart phone with a data plan. I don't have cable or satellite TV. I don't have magazine subscriptions I can cancel. So those kinds of sacrifices are not possible. I really do live a pretty simple life on a pretty small budget. But if I had them, and God asked me to, would I give them up to advance His kingdom?

As I have been seeking God on this, a budget item came to mind that I could reallocate to "Take the Land". I have already said OK to God about that. This reallocation would cause a small lifestyle change for me so maybe that is sacrifice on my part. It just seems so simple and I take such joy in giving the money that I don't see it as sacrifice. What a privilege to be part of what God is doing here!

Taste and See

"Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack! Psalm 34:8-9


I've just finished re-reading "The Blessed Life" by Robert Morris. This Pastor was at NewSpring on Sunday and books were given out to each family. I already had one but had just gotten it out and started reading it again on Friday - without knowing this would be the subject of Sunday's message.

As I read the verses above, I was struck by the "blessed life" message it contains. "Taste and see" is a lot like the admonition of God to "put Me to the test" in Malachi when He talks about the importance of tithing. And in both passages those who do things God's way will have no lack.

Sometimes I have been slow to trust God. But usually that is because I want things to turn out a certain way and that just may not be what God wants at all. I once owned a business that needed a miraculous touch of money to be able to continue well into the 21st century. God didn't "fix" my business so I closed the doors. That was the real turning point in my life of faith. When I had nothing, God came through for me in ways I could not even imagine. Money came in at just the right time - sometimes at the deadline - to meet my financial obligations, new jobs were provided, new friends were made, new skills were learned, and eventually I was led to NewSpring Church.

Sometimes I think getting me to NewSpring was the ultimate plan behind closing the business. I, of course, could not see that then. It was 4 years between these two events in my life but now I wouldn't go back for anything. Every ounce of fear, every minute of prayer, every word of the Bible I read during my struggle to "taste and see that the Lord is good" was worth it.

To finally get to the place of being able to say, God You're bigger, smarter, more able than me so let's do things Your way, was life changing. I now thank God for taking me through those tough times. Taste and see for the Lord is ALWAYS good!

Nate

I am so proud of my grandson, Nate. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that he should give a tithe from his allowance and money he earns before he ever spends it on all the stuff he wants. Last Wednesday when I took him home from Fuse he mentioned to his friend, Justin, that he had put aside $1.00 for his tithe. Today he put that money in the offering plate.

Friday I mentioned that it would be good for him to memorize the names (in order) of the books of the Bible so he can find references easier. By Saturday he had learned the Old Testament from Genesis through Lamentations. Today when Perry said he was reading from 1Samuel, Nate was able to find it easily as he was also able to find the verse in Job.

Then as we started home, he started memorizing Ephesians 3:20 that Perry said he wanted everyone to memorize this week. He got the first half of the verse down by the time we stopped for lunch. And I didn't even mention that to him!

I can't wait to see what God does in his life as he continues to go to Fuse and as he goes to the Gauntlet this summer.

Today Was a Good Day

Perry was pumped up today as he preached at NewSpring! He's really on fire to see people reach their potential in Christ and his excitement is contagious.

After church Holly said they need to attend a membership class. I reiterated the need to tithe and to volunteer and she said surely there is something they can volunteer for that will work into their schedule. (This being Jeremy going to school Mon - Thurs from 8-11 AM, plus 2 online classes, plus kids get home from school at 3 PM, plus he goes to work at 5 and works until midnight.) All this said as we were leaving the church and they were headed to the Fuse building to get the scoop on Fuse and to let Nate see and hear what will be going on.

Nate is excited about going to Fuse. I hope this will carry over so that he will study hard to get his homework done so he can go every week. Bella was very excited today as well about moving up to her K5 group. She learned about making friends and also got a sticker for being the first one to find all her items in a scavenger hunt.

I am so glad that NewSpring is a place they look forward to attending; that God is working in their lives; and that He is going to show himself faithful as they trust Him with everything.

Doorkeeper

I listened to and sang the song "Better is one day in Your courts, better is one day in Your house, better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere" until I thought if I hear that song again I'll scream. That used to be a huge youth group song.

So when I read it this morning in Psalm 84 it immediately brought that song to mind. I thought I know it's scripture but I really do hope I don't have to hear it ever again. I like the rest of verse 10 that says I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.

To me being a doorkeeper is a sign of servanthood, of surrender. The doorkeeper is not the big shot or the rich and famous or the CEO but rather one who is willing to just be there to open doors, to make entrance a little easier. Most times people don't even know or notice the doorkeeper - unless he is absent.

Dwelling in the tents of the wicked can certainly be fun and sometimes profitable, being a doorkeeper doesn't bring much excitement and not much reward in the eyes of the public. But serving people, especially in the house of God, has rewards that are so much greater than anything the world has to offer.

Can't Take It with You

I was looking at pictures of the children in the Segera mission area of Kenya. David Lazaro is the young man I have started to support each month. To think that $39 a month can help David realize his ambition to be a doctor is unbelievable to me.

When I see pictures of the stick and mud huts, the dirty, worn clothes, and the SMILES my heart breaks. Having been there and seen for myself and met the people, I am overwhelmed that God has put me in a position to help. I have sooo much! By American standards I'm on the lower end of the totem pole financially but by the world's standards I am RICH!

By God's standard, too, I am rich...and not just financially! But I am a daughter to THE King, the one who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who says, "the world is mine" so that makes me rich financially too.

Next week I'm sending my grandson to skateboard camp at a cost of $119. He's so excited and I'm glad to give him the opportunity to do something he loves and really wants to do. But that same money would support David, or someone like him, for 3 months with food and school supplies and teachers. I AM rich - to have money to spend on something like learning to ride a skateboard when most of the world would just like something to eat.

I want to make a difference in the lives of people, whether here or in Kenya. God has put me where I am for a reason. He has given me the resources He has for a reason. He has given me the desire "to do" for a reason. I don't want to disappoint Him or me by not being faithful to go where He leads and to spend my money as He directs. Psalm 49:16-17 is another "can't take it with you" message so I will look for opportunities to give as God directs. Nothing is mine anyway!!

Freedom

As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, I think of the lives that were given to fight all the wars way back when up to the present. Men and women over the years have given their lives willingly to sustain the freedom that Americans take so much for granted. I wonder how many of our children or grandchildren actually know what this day is all about.

As great as that sacrifice is, true freedom comes only from a life surrendered to Jesus Christ. He, too, gave His life so we could have freedom. But only His sacrifice has eternal repercussions. Even people living under great oppression, under government tyranny can have real freedom by submitting to the Lordship of Christ.

How often do I fail to live in the freedom granted to me by Jesus? Not freedom to sin but freedom from worry over the troubles of this life, freedom to give generously to the work of Christ, freedom to tell others of His love, freedom to worship without restraint.

Everything

Yesterday I finished reading 1 Chronicles. David spends a lot of time talking about the goodness and the provision of God. David has been accumulating gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, stone, marble and jewels to help his son Solomon build a house for God.

David has accumulated these things as king by taking tribute from other nations but he also gives a lot from his own personal wealth. He then challenges the leaders of the country to step up and give generously for the building of the temple and they give literally tons more. This prompts everyone to rejoice and David to pray.

Twice David says everything comes from God and they are only giving back what comes from His hand. That prompted me to think a lot about the "everything" in my life. I started off thinking about giving money (besides the money I give to NewSpring) to charities and people who have needs. Then I began to think about every breath I take and what a generous, precious gift that is...and my home, my family, my car, my job, my friends. EVERYTHING is from God.

Then today the devotion from NewSpring was titled Everything and here we are again. I am so glad God does that to me; showing me over and over His truth and the things that are important to Him. The hard part is keeping them important to me.

What Disturbs Me?

As I was reading the NewSpring devotion this morning in Acts, verse 16 of chapter 17 reminded me of something Perry said recently. He was telling how he was disturbed about the state of the church so God led him to start NewSpring. Christine Caine was disturbed by the pictures of missing women who might be in the sex slave trade so God led her to start the A21 campaign. In this verse in Acts, Paul is disturbed by all the idols he sees so God led him into the synagogue, the market place and finally the Areopagus to tell everyone about Jesus.


I think of Matt Beasley, a college student, who started a bus ministry for disadvantage kids to get to Fuse to hear the gospel. He was disturbed that they didn't know Jesus. Now this has grown into The LOT Project helping the homeless and disadvantaged in Anderson.


My friend Donald's son Nathaniel is raising money through the Boy Scouts for mosquito nets for Africa because he is disturbed by those who suffer needlessly.


So the question for me is what disturbs ME? I don't know that anything disturbs me enough to START something that has not been done. So what disturbs me enough to join something that is already in progress? To give of my time and my resources?

God Keeps His Word

The people of Israel came out of Egypt just as God had said they would around 1300 BC after 400 years as slaves just as God had had told Abraham around 2100 BC. When God finally brought them to the land He had promised to Abraham, they found it to be a land "flowing with milk and honey" just as God said.

But the people were so used to complaining and being contrary by this time that they refused to believe God and refused to go up to possess the land. Only Caleb and Joshua were champions for God in this endeavor. So God sent the people back into the wilderness to let that generation die out. He had Moses take a census before all this happened and again after 40 years in the wilderness. No one was left of the first census except Caleb and Joshua.

Because Moses was angry with the people and struck a rock to bring out water when God had told him to speak to the rock, Moses and Aaron were denied entrance into the promised land, just as God said. 

From the very beginning of history, God has been proven to be One who keeps His word. That should be a clarion call for me to speak Jesus into the lives of people around me. Why? Because God has promised a day of judgement when He will separate the nations as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats and when He will declare, "Depart from Me I never knew you." But this is also tied into the sheep caring for the poor and the hungry - feeding and clothing them in Jesus name.

It is both comforting and somewhat fear inducing at the same time that God ALWAYS does what He says He will do. 

Acts 4

Our NewSpring daily devotion today included Acts 4. This chapter of the Bible always amazes me...the religious elite are more concerned with their position than the acts of God. They recognize the healing the disciples performed can not be denied so what to do!? People might believe what the disciples say!

Has this happened in modern history? Has a move of God been denied or questioned because it wasn't through the correct denomination or didn't follow the correct protocol? Could it be denied because it makes the religious elite, the religious conformists uncomfortable?

The disciples are recognized as unschooled men yet they speak boldly what they know to be true. When commanded not to speak anymore by the ruling religious, they say they must obey God. When praying later, they do not ask for protection but for boldness to keep speaking in the face of danger and threats.

Am I willing to speak boldly or have I ever used the excuse that I don't know enough or don't have the proper training. If opposition comes do I quit and slink away or do I ask God to continue to give me opportunities to speak about Jesus?

And the believers live in unity of spirit and purpose...no one is in need because all their possessions are to aid those who need it. No hoarding or selfishness here.

Do I give generously to help those who need help?

I thank God that His word is ever fresh, ever new and that it causes me to ask questions. But my greatest prayer is that it will lead to action. This Sunday Christine Caine said real compassion causes us to cross the road and actually do something. Help me, Lord, to know what You would have me DO!

The Poor Among You

Before the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, God talked to them about the land. Every seven years was to be a year of Sabbath rest for the land...no sowing or reaping of harvests. If anything grew on its own it could be eaten but God promised to send such a boat load of crops in the 6th year that they would have enough to last until they could harvest in the 9th year. 

Farm management in this country didn't catch on to the rest cycle for a long time. God knew that the land would become depleted if it was over planted. The Sabbath rest was also a time to refocus on God and His provision.

The Year of Jubilee for the Israelites was instituted by God as a time every 50 years to set free those who had become poor and sold themselves as hired hands or if they sold land, for the land to be returned. And why was the land to be returned? Because it belongs to God.

How easy it is for me to forget that everything I have belongs to God. How selfish I get sometimes in wanting to keep stuff for myself rather than sharing what God has so abundantly given me. I live in one of the richest countries in the world and never want for anything. Food, clothes and shelter are givens for me and most people in America. But what about the poor, the homeless, the disadvantaged? Does God give me stuff just for me and my family, or does God give me stuff to be able to share with those who are really in need? And if not my stuff or my money, what about my time? How am I serving those who really can not help themselves?

Equal Sacrifice Update

Seems my initial amount was an error and should have been $60k. The final total collected was over $73,000. The Greenville campus gave over $15,000. What generosity!!

The question still remains, though, do we - no, do I - give out of my wealth or out of my poverty?

Equal Sacrifice

I've been thinking about the $16k NewSpring raised on Sunday for Samaritan's Purse to use to help Haiti and thought about Perry's message on giving. That is a huge amount for a one day offering on a holiday weekend. But when I think about the 11,000 in attendance it really isn't much...especially since Perry told us only 10% of the MEMBERSHIP (not attenders) tithe.

I do understand that we just took a Christmas offering of $600,000 a few weeks ago. For many to give anything may be tough in this economy. Many are without jobs or are stretched to the breaking point. It's time to pay property taxes and Christmas bills are coming in. And I do think that $16,000 is a great offering!

But I have a friend who pastors a small church in White Castle, LA (pop about 1900), He had 30 people at church on Sunday and their offering for Haiti was $1300. I don't really know anything about the congregation. They may all be millionaires living in the "suburbs" of Baton Rouge. And my intention is not to play a comparison game.

It just made me think about giving God's way. Sometimes that is until it hurts. It made me reflect on my own giving. What do I spend unnecessary money on that could be given to God's work? And then I read Pete Wilson's blog for today. God speaks and I really want to listen

Merry Christmas

We took a special Christmas offering this year at NewSpring Church. When Perry first announced it an amount of money came into my head. That amount was more than I would have thought of on my own but I said OK, Lord, I will give that.

THEN, my washing machine broke and had to have a new computer board put it - not cheap! (Coulda bought a new cheap washer for the price of the board and installation.) THEN, I developed a leak in my roof. The roofer says my 20-25 year old shingles need to be replaced. THEN, I thought about the money I'd agreed with God to give to NewSpring. I told God none of this would deter me. I would not lessen the amount I would give. So I wrote my check and mailed it in about 2 weeks ago.

On Wednesday, my boss handed out pay checks because we were closed Thursday and Friday. When I opened the envelope I had a NICE Christmas bonus. I had absolutely NO expectation of receiving a bonus and would never have imagined getting one of this amount.

On Wednesday I thought, wow, how generous of my employer. On Thursday night as I drove home from our Christmas Eve services it clicked in my brain that this was the same amount I had given to the Christmas offering. I thought, how great is our God that He would replace the money I gave to Him. My heart was so full of His love and care for me that I wept as I drove toward home. God continues to amaze me!!

Persecution

I was reading a story posted today on Fox News http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579979,00.html about the government going into the compound of a mega church in China, arresting the pastors, damaging the church and trying to scatter the believers. It amazes me, though, that as persecution comes, the church grows. The people may be in hiding but they still spread the gospel.

In America my faith costs me so little yet I have been given so much. I don't have to worry about the police storming the doors of my church or throwing me in jail or beating me up yet at times I refuse to speak the name of Jesus. Am I afraid of someone shunning me or laughing at me or not liking me any more if I am so "radical" that I take Jesus into the workplace or my neighborhood.

I've just finished reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Part of his challenge is to really seek God and what He would have me do with the abundance I have been given. One of the things he did was downsize his house so he would have less house payment and more money to give away. His church in California is giving away 58% of all they take in financially.

And it's not JUST money he talks about giving away. He also talks about time and energy and giftedness. I get so comfortable in my own little world that I often forget about the "least of these" that Jesus challenges me to help. Reading this made me think of Matt Beasley and his LOT project in Anderson. Matt is a college student who was burdened for the kids from the projects and decided to do something to help and the L.O.T. (least of these) project was born. http://thelotproject.com/The_Lot_Project/The_Lot_Project_Anderson_SC_Homepage.html

As I celebrate Christmas and the God who gave His best, His only Son, I am challenged to give my best, to even give until it hurts. Especially since I don't face any persecution or hardship in my walk with Jesus.

Christmas Offering

Perry mentioned today that we will be taking a December/Christmas offering. He told us to begin praying about what we would give. Not just a "$5 thank you Jesus" offering but a real expression of God's faithfulness and my gratefulness.

As soon as he said "give", a dollar figure came into my head so I'm pretty certain that figure is what God would have me give back to Him. But that doesn't mean my mind is closed to what God might want me to do. I am open to whatever God wants from me. God may increase the figure but I certainly don't believe He would ask me to give less. I like it when God speaks and I am listening!

I agree with Perry that I need to give more to my local church than para-church organizations. Not that these organizations are unworthy, just that God asks me to support His church before everything else. Giving is as much an expression of my worship of God as any song I might sing, of any service I might perform, of any words I might speak.

Thank you, Jesus, for caring for me; for providing me with a job and income that I might give back to you. I want to be like the widow who gave out of her poverty - giving until it hurt - rather than those who had plenty and only gave a little.