Kathy, That was a good article. I agree that it's the heart attitude in giving that counts, not the percentage. Probably church members were offended because it hit a little close to home. I pray God will continue to speak to them and help them to grow. JulieMelton visit me at www.heart-and-music.com or subscribe to my podcast at http://feed.feedburner.com/hmradio Keep smiling! >From: Kathy Du Bois <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Electronic Church <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Attention Phil, (I've read it) >Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2007 11:28:30 -0500 > >Hi Phil, > Okay, being afraid that I would not get around to it, after >writing my last post, I went right to your site and read what you have >written on the subject of tithing. Truthfully, I believe that you and I >are on the same page even though we have come to that place from different >directions. > I've never experience the fear base preaching on tithing that you >speak about. As I was reading, I just couldn't help but think how sad it >must be to feel like God is demanding ten percent out of your wallet or >else lightning will strike. I have always been taught that it needed to be >done in love and thankfulness, otherwise, don't bother because God doesn't >want what you want to give with a stingy attitude. In other words, if it >couldn't be given in love, then, it wasn't really given. I wonder if >this may be part of the reason that you experienced so much blessing when >you quit tithing because Christ was celebrating with you that you >understood fully that you are truly free in Him. > Now I understand why you say what you do about tithing. It must >be freeing to be rid of that fear and sence that what God truly is after is >attitude. That's another whole line of thinking that is taught in the old >Testament, that isn't preached on very well. Samuel told Saul that to obey >is better than sacrifice and David says that a contrite heart is what God >truly desires. Giving to God must b a heart matter and not a rule of >thumb. > Who as a parent wants to receive a gift from their child because >the child "has too." That isn't love and true love casts out fear. Giving >out of fear is not love. > I do want to share with you an article that, interestingly enough, >I wrote last month for our church newsletter that is on the same subject. >Our church had a pledge campaign, for the first time this year. Now, in >asking for pledges, we did not ask for any certain amount of anyones >income. If people pledged 2 percent or ten, we have no way of knowing and >that is really between the individual and God. We have been making >unrealistic budgets, however, lately, and the hope was that if people gave >some thought to their giving so that we could do a better job of planning >financially, as a church, that would make the church a better steward of >its resources as well. > The idea of actually thinking about what you will give, is a new >idea to some of our people. Some individuals were offended, but they are >also the ones who dig through their purse, during the sermon to find what >loose change they can to stick in an envelope and put in the offering plate >as it goes bye. I know this because I can't help but hear it going on >behind me. That's what I was meaning about spiritually immature, in my >other post. > My article was an attempt to get at the point that it is an >attitude of the heart to want to give to God. Yes, I mention that Greg and >I tithe. WE love to do so. For us, this is a base. If we can give more, >we love too. Last year, when Greg was doing extra work at the post office, >we had an absolute blast giving a lot away to bless others. To be >truthful, I kind of miss that ability right now, but I know that the Lord >knows our heart and that's what He truly cares about. Anyway, I thought >that I'd just share it. It will be interesting to see your response. >God bless, >Kathy > > My Story of Giving >By Kathy Du Bois > > > We have always at least tithed. I was taught about the importance >of giving to the Lord as a child. When Greg and I began our married life >together twenty-five years ago, we decided, from the start, that we would >tithe. I never had a sense of obligation about tithing. I always saw it >as a privilege, an amazing fact that I could actually live on only 90% of >our income and give 10% away. When you think about it, that is just an >incredible concept that I don't have to live on all I make: rather, I have >been blessed and I can enjoy sharing that blessing with others. When you >consider that, truthfully, it all comes from Him in the first place, giving >back 10% or more, really isn't doing much. The trick is, never depending >upon that 10% to begin with, but rather, making it a matter of the heart >that you can do with less. >I can remember, about twenty years ago, seeing a TV evangelist use the >illustration of a big shovel and a little shovel. In fact, if you sent >money to his ministry to support his work for God, you could receive a >replica of a big shovel and a little shovel, on a key chain to remind you >that what you are giving financially, is nothing compared to what God will >give back to you. I think that the idea was that if you give to God, he >will bless you with tons of money, so don't hold back. >That, however, has not been our experience. We started giving because we >love the Lord and we wanted to have lives centered in his will. We weren't >concerned that God would, Pay us back, so to speak. Why should He, if we >truly believed that it was His to give in the first place. > We have not been blessed with worldly wealth, as many of you know. I >can remember Christmas's when we shopped at GoodWill to have presents for >our children. I can remember many Christmas's when there was nothing under >the tree for Greg and myself. There were times when we were almost >penniless. Once, when Greg and I were both out of work and Matt was around >six months old, we used our collection of pennies, about $25, to buy food. >There were times when I'll admit, I worried, and complained. I read Psalm >37 on a daily basis and I clung to the promises in those words, "I have >never seen the righteous forsaken," but we still tithed to the Lord out of >what we had. > I suppose that to many of you, this doesn't make sense and, to be >truthful, if you are someone who only views money from a worldly >perspective, I can't really explain it. There were times when I, >especially, was tempted to hold back, but we gave, and trusted God, and we >always got through the tough places. >You see, while it is true that God has not blessed us with great financial >gain, what He has given us is Himself. I wish that I could help you see >how much more valuable that is than any vast number in a bank account. >We've learned about God's faithfulness through trying times. We've learned >the importance of depending upon Him for everything. We've learned the >value of going on our knees to seek His will before making any decision. >What should we do with the car? Should we junk it or repair it? Where >should our children be educated? How should we deal with a difficult teen? > We have learned that nothing is too small and no need is too great, to be >placed before our heavenly Father in prayer. In poverty we have learned >how to walk with God and in earthly struggles, we have learned how to >depend upon Him. How can you use a shovel to illustrate the presence of >God Himself in your daily life? No shovel is big enough to demonstrate >what we have truly been given in return. >My God shall supply all your needs, becomes three-dimensional when you live >this way. I do have to admit that God and I have different views on the >idea of, "NEED" from time to time, but He remains patient as He conforms my >way of seeing to His, and, He's always right, and, He always gets us >through. >There have been the times when giving has felt as though it required >sacrificing. When we still lived in Michigan, we cancelled our membership >at the Y. M. C. A. so that we would have the money to continue sponsoring a >child through the ministry known as Compassion International. We found a >double stroller at a garage sale and took up walking instead. The blessing >there was that we were able to continue to support a child, I believe that >the one that we were sponsoring at the time was from Haiti. Later, >Compassion began a program in which it helped some of its sponsors to write >wills or living trusts, for free, something that we had neglected up to >that point. We took advantage of the offer, and took a step toward better >securing our family's future. God guided us all the way and while I >missed swimming, and still do, we gained some things too; an hour of family >time a day, fresh air and exercise on our walks, and financial guidance and >wisdom. It doesn't always work like that, but it does demonstrate how His >ways are higher than our ways, if we will just submit our ways to Him. >I have to admit that I'm a bit nervous about this upcoming year. We've >learned that our mortgage will be going up considerably. Liz may need >braces for medical reasons, on her teeth and insurance may not help much. >Our car is a constant concern because it is older and gets a lot of wear >and tear. Greg will be working much less at the post office this year, >which is good because he will have more time to devote to ministering to >you, but it will mean a cut in our income. Yet, we will continue to at >least tithe. Not because we have to, but because we love too. It's so >little compared with all that Christ has given us. >As I live, I have two main prayers for my personal life. The first is that >I will always do my best to be generous to others. This is the heart of >God at work in my life. I pray that we can be able to give more than a >tithe to continue to help God's church and those in need. The second is >that, if I am given a choice between my life and my Lord, that I will >choose Him over myself. Then I will know that I have truly lived well and >that He will say to me, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Now enter >into my rest." >I would just like to ask this, why do people hang on to all of their >earthly things so dearly? When they are gone, those things will go to >others if they are not broken or used up before that. >Life is the only investment that we can truly take with us. Even if our >earthly possessions were thrown into the coffin with us, they would do us >no good in the after life. Let's give of our time, our talent, our effort, >and our finances to what really matters: eternity, and the salvation of >others. That is the one blessing that we will never regret forever. > > > > > > > > > > > > >