I hear the complaint from both men and women how they have lost material things in a previous marriage and my husband made the same complaint when I met him how his wife spent his precious.
I can remember my brother and my dad getting on the phone long distance and always talking about their retirement funds. I’m glad my dad was able to spend some of his precious retirement money. My parents saved 10% of their income. They also tithed to their church. I hope my brother gets to spend his precious. My husband never got to spend any of his, he was excited about his 401K how well it was doing. Like many other people’s 401K it took huge losses three years ago, but I know he does not care since he is in heaven. The Egyptians Pharoahs proved that you can’t take it with you. You don’t see a U-haul truck following a hearse. I have heard of people’s relatives loading up the U-haul to grab up things after the funeral.
God is not against us having things, but things having us. The money had Judas, the power of the ring had Gollum, materials things had the rich man who would not sell his things and follow Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:21-23
God deals with the “attitudes” of the heart. If we become tight-fisted with our things and money, it can be taken away from us. It’s not God that takes it away, but the attitude of our heart, can cause the enemy to attack our belongings.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. Proverbs 11:24
I had a thought when I worked at Methodist Hospital, back in 1994, that I was working in a secure industry since health care is a booming business with all the sickness and disease in the world. Soon after that thought, my middle manager’s position was cut and so was my position during reorganization they did at the time where they cut several middle managers. I had a dream before it was cut that it was going to be cut. I believe it’s because I did not acknowledge at the time that the job I had was from God so I lost the job. I could have been reassigned to another position, but took a job elsewhere and that job was also cut when a company had financial problems and the stockholders voted to sell the 25-year business to a competitor and they did not keep any support staff. I've heard the fear of losing your job is worse than losing your job and I've faced that fear twice in my life. Choosing to leave a job for a better position is a preference of mine.
You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. Duet. 8:17-18
I could have stayed and been reassigned at Methodist Hospital but the positions left over were not the quality positions I wanted to have. After having two positions where my job was cut, I ended up working at two different college for sixteen years which helped me work on an education. I still came out on top in life even though I lost my two jobs to downsizing.
My work story is similar to Nebuchadnezzar in that he failed to acknowledge that he was king because of God. Whenever we think “we” have accomplished something on our own power or our works than watch out …you can lose it. If we lose our physical or mental health like the king lost his mental health that will take us down financially.
he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.
I could have stayed and been reassigned at Methodist Hospital but the positions left over were not the quality positions I wanted to have. After having two positions where my job was cut, I ended up working at two different college for sixteen years which helped me work on an education. I still came out on top in life even though I lost my two jobs to downsizing.
My work story is similar to Nebuchadnezzar in that he failed to acknowledge that he was king because of God. Whenever we think “we” have accomplished something on our own power or our works than watch out …you can lose it. If we lose our physical or mental health like the king lost his mental health that will take us down financially.
he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.
Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. Daniel 4:30-32
God does not want or need our things. He does want us to use our things for his kingdom to bless others. I am far from rich according to American standards, not even now middle class as a single parent. As far as many in this world as American’s we are in such a wealthly nation, we are all rich compared to third world countries. I believe this scripture applies to every American. I have a friend who did not want to give back an engagement ring to her fiance when they broke up and she visited a 3rd world country on vacation and after going there she decided it was not something worth hanging on to and creating strife and bitterness because of “things.”
God does not want or need our things. He does want us to use our things for his kingdom to bless others. I am far from rich according to American standards, not even now middle class as a single parent. As far as many in this world as American’s we are in such a wealthly nation, we are all rich compared to third world countries. I believe this scripture applies to every American. I have a friend who did not want to give back an engagement ring to her fiance when they broke up and she visited a 3rd world country on vacation and after going there she decided it was not something worth hanging on to and creating strife and bitterness because of “things.”
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17
I’ve thought about why Jesus let Judas carry the money bag. That would be like Gollum holding the gold ring since Jesus knew he would be tempted to steal from it. Maybe Judas counted his “precious” coins every day. Apparently, there was more than enough in the money bag or the other disciples would have noticed that Judas was stealing. Jesus’ Father owns cattle on a thousand hills; He was not worried about having limited resources. During the whole time that Judas walked with Jesus, he could have told Jesus he had a problem with money. He could have confessed his fault to Jesus and gave God the problem.
Faith is reaching out to God in times of need and being dependent on him that we can’t do it on our own. It’s waiting on him to see us through. Since I lost my husband, I let the Lord know that "I'm His problem now." He is my husband in the absence of any men in my life since my father passed away right before I was married and my son lives in Australia.
In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master.' Hosea 2:16
A woman gave her whole living for Jesus. It’s not about how much we have in life, but how we use it. It’s about our heart.
In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master.' Hosea 2:16
A woman gave her whole living for Jesus. It’s not about how much we have in life, but how we use it. It’s about our heart.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." Matthew 12:44
Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:11
The song that Bette Midler sings, “From a Distance,” lyrics, God is not watching us from a distance -- He is watching, but He is “up close and personal” as far as he knows what is going on in our heart. Like Jesus watching the widow who gave her two coins. When my spouse passed away at the funeral, I was touched by $5.00 in a card I received from another widow. It touched my heart when I got the $5.00, because I know God’s word is applicable today. It was an honor seeing God’s word real (living) coming to action at that time in my life, even in the midst of a crisis.
It’s not all about giving money either. I believe in giving the first fruits of our time as far as serving and worshipping the Lord. I believe that pleases God a lot more than fitting God into our schedule and giving God our left over’s. One person’s gift looks different from another person’s gift. I have a friend whose gift is organization. He is good about getting a cooler together when we go boating and packing things that we need. I have another friend who has the gifts of helps in fixing things. God looks at the attitude of our heart in giving and he wants us to give out of joy, not out of compulsion or guilt.
and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O LORD, have given me." Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him. Duet. 8:18
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor. 9:7
God’s Multiplication Table
Most of us learned in elementary school either through counting pencils, crayons, apples, oranges, using an abacus, or a calculator that 2 + 5 = 7. In God’s kingdom he took two loaves and five fishes and he fed 5k with twelve basketfuls left over. 2+5 = 5,000 (even in little bread pieces it would hard to feed 5K from that?)
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed from those loaves! -- Mark 6:41-44
The widow gave her oil and wine to Elijah and it did not run out until it started raining again and the famine was over three 3 years later.
God multiplies differently than we can conceive in our minds.
Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Eccl 11:1
I've posted the song by Three Dog Night below titled One. In God's kingdom, one does not have to be a lonely number. It's amazing what one person can do. Elijah, a mighty man of God was sent to one widow woman, Elisha healed one person of leprosy -Naaman the commander of the army of the king of Aram, Rahab the prostitute was the only one person saved in Jerrico. David was one person who defeated Goliath, a 9' foot tall giant. When God came to Abraham and Sarah his name was changed to "father of many nations" and yet it took 25 years for Sarah to conceive and than their son Isaac 18 years for Rebecca and him to have twins. In all "appearances" it did not look like his descendents were going to be like the sands of the seas or the stars of the sky and numerous like God promised. One person can make a difference in life. God multiplies one and it is not a lonely number anymore. In God's kingdom one can put 1K to flight and two can put 10K to flight.
I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed--only Naaman the Syrian." Luke 4:27
How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up? Duet. 32:30
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 2 Cor. 2:14
The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. But the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go."So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink." Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place." Judges 7:2-7
One by Three Dog Night
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one
No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
`Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest number, worse than two
It's just no good anymore since she went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday
One is the loneliest, number one is the loneliest
Number one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest, one is the loneliest
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
It's just no good anymore since she went away
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up? Duet. 32:30
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19
Many times when God fought a battle, he did not want many people in the battle to show that he was fighting for Israel and that they were not fighting on their own power and strength. We know that all through history men such as General George Washington were discouraged when his troops ran into hazardous weather and the food rations were low and their clothing inadequate. Abraham Lincoln failed 30 elections before he became president of the United States, Walt Disney failed as an artist before his success, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks made changes from discrimination and blacks riding in the back of the bus and having to use different toilets besides the lack of education and being able to buy a home in certain districts. One person can make a difference! Many of those people fell on their face as far as failure several times. This is one reason I'm pro-life. God is a forgiving God, but I don't want to be the person who chooses when a life should live and when it should be taken. I'm not God. I was not a planned birth by my parents.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 2 Cor. 2:14
The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. But the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go."So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink." Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place." Judges 7:2-7
One by Three Dog Night
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one
No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
`Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest number, worse than two
It's just no good anymore since she went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday
One is the loneliest, number one is the loneliest
Number one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest, one is the loneliest
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
It's just no good anymore since she went away
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
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