Time as a Tithe

With MyBibleDiary, I’ve had some mixed feelings about it lately. I do feel though, that if I were to view it as a tithe, that it wouldn’t matter whether it made any money or supported me and my family financially. My focus should be on souls as a return on my money. If my work brings others closer to Christ and God, then it doesn’t matter whether I can buy a bigger house or a new car because of my work. I am blessed to have a job that earns a good salary; I do not need a get rich idea. I want to contribute to God’s work – period. I feel that the bottom line is that God is calling me in this direction. Who cares how it would make money??? Do I really think God cares how it would make money??? God is saying, Michael, get on board, for His glory.

Asking for Feedback

I looked back at an email I sent to my dad a couple weeks ago. It said, “Please take a look at the attached project plan for the website venture when you get a chance. Let me know what I’m missing or not considering. The dates are pretty aggressive, but in my experience I prefer to push myself with aggressive dates than to take a casual approach.”

Problem is, this is worded in a way that puts the credit on my shoulders, which is asking for failure for something that God is calling me to do. There even may have been a problem in that I was seeking human feedback instead of simply trusting God.

Experiencing God

I have been feeling lately that I have failed in some way, or that I’m growing more distant in my relationship with the Lord.

Today as I was reading Experiencing God, I began to be aware that even the feeling of distance or failure could be God’s way of bringing me closer to Him. The feeling that I may have failed Him in some way could lead me to become more sensitive to learning how to continue to grow in my relationship with my Lord and savior. I feel that I’m doing the right things, but there are definitely areas to improve or raise the bar: prayer, tithing, obeying, etc. I want God to lead my life. I recognize that my life is not my own, but only what God gives to me.

Experiencing God

• If you depend on anything other than God, you are asking for failure.
• Reading today has given me insight about my feeling about failure or growing more distant from God.  I need to learn how to wait on the Lord.  “Keep asking, and it will be given to you.  Keep searching, and you will find.  Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” [Matt. 7:7-8]
• While you wait, continue doing the last thing God told you to do.  In waiting, you are shifting the responsibility of the outcome to God – where it belongs.

Thank you Lord, for answering my prayers and bringing light to my questions and concerns.

Pregnant!

[My wife] and I took a pregnancy test on Friday – and we’re pregnant!!! Words can’t describe the joy I feel in that. I do not feel fear at all. I believe that God’s hand is on my life, I know His Holy Spirit is working through me and I will continue to do my part. Because of this, I believe that God will provide in a manner according to His will and plan for our lives. I do not need material wealth, although this has been a struggle for me – wanting to provide for my family, when really it’s God who provides for us. My desire is for wealth of love and experience of God in my and my family’s life – there’s nothing more important. I am completely comfortable living a modest life for the sake of closeness to God and Christ. I trust in His plan.

Experiencing God

Experiencing God is a critical book to review on a consistent basis (highlights).

In His Footsteps

Thank you Lord, for answering my prayers and bringing light to my questions and concerns.

I pray that I would abhor that which God abhors.

Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God
– Bob Pierce (quoted within Experiencing God)

Please show me the ways in which I may adjust my life to you, oh Lord, and grant me the strength and courage to obey.