Help Fund the Great Commission

I've listened to Money Matters on the Christian radio station for about 7 years. People call in daily to get their financial questions answered.

Money Matters teaches:

• Biblical financial principles
• how to get out of debt
• how to help fund the Great Commission.

When you have no more debt and interest to pay, God can show you how to help fund His Work.

The Money Matters Radio Show is also online.

Their website, Crown Financial Ministries, is filled with - helpful financial articles, budgeting and saving calculators, and free financial tools.

Scripture References about budgeting, saving, investing, debt, giving, greed, and riches.

(Fish image is from ChristArt.com)

A Million Dollars

What would you do if you had a million dollars - to give to God's work? Would you start a ministry? Would you give some to missionaries, your church, Christian organizations?

Yes. You would pray about it before actually giving the money away. I'd like to know what types of ministries are dear to your heart. Which ones would you be interested in supporting? (but pray about first)

Well, I'd really like to get your answers and add them to this post. You can include links, too.


God's Girl said: I would really pray before making specific donations but off the top of my head, I would sponsor missionaries, make a donation to an organization that translates and distributes the Bible worldwide, start a women's ministry that has been on my heart for years, donate money to a local women's ministry that I believe in, donate to my church's building project....for a start! hehehe

Debbie said: Wow! That is a thought provoking question. I agree with the others-you would need to spend a great deal of time in prayer first! I really know so many missionaries and mission projects around the globe that it would be easy to spend a million dollars. I think I would have to donate a hefty sum to Piedmont Baptist College. They do a great job of training Christian leaders. I would also pray about giving funds to the Baptist Mid-Missions camp outside Lima, Peru. It has never been funded enough. After that I would give a massive sum to national pastors and missionaries. Your dollar goes a long way with these dear servants. I know dozens here in Peru that live off so little.

I don't suppose I will ever have the chance to distribute a million dollars for the Lord's work. But, if anyone wants me to try, just let me know! Sounds like a blessed job to me.

Joyce said: Personally....I would probably "break up the money" and distribute it to various missionaries and missions organizations that need it badly. I wouldn't probably give it to so many of the "well known" or big agencies, but maybe a few that I trust. My heart goes out to the people/missionaries who are doing the work but haven't much $$$ support. Right before I read your comment on my blog...I had just wrote a check out to a little "Girls" home in Mexico that my friends are involved in. Because they haven't any heat and it's gotten cold there and their heaters were dangerous. Not working, expelling toxic gases, etc...so...several of us have all pitched in to help buy them a new furnace...because they couldn't afford it. That's the kind of things I want to help out with.....and of course other things as well. Orphans, AIDS, clean water, child prostitution, and human trafficking is a huge issue I am dealing with in my heart. I can't stand it. Those last ones put me over the edge. Child prostitution and Human Trafficking. We have some friends that are now working in that realm too.....so I would pour money to that cause big time. I don't think I would start a new missions situation only because there are so many working ones out there. I would check them out though and make sure they are reputable before I gave to them. I've seen and known of financial abuse even in missions areas...and I don't go for people living high off of missions funds.

Christina said: I would pray, pray and pray some more. A million dollars is not chump change. I pray before I spend my last twenty so I would surely pray. Where the Lord led me I would follow.

Shari said: I would - support some Gospel for Asia Missionaries (only takes $1800 a year to fully support one), support the projects of Operation Blessing (helping low income families worldwide and orphans), finish my college education (so I will be better educated to work for God), send each of my kids on a short term mission trip, contribute to my church's various fund raising projects, adopt or help other Christians adopt, and help my husband start the Christian camp that he has been dreaming about for 20 years.

Just Jen said: If have a million dollars just to spend on God's work, He would have it spent before He gave it to me. God gives His grace in measure. :D I would think He would do the same with the money....just as he did with the fish and bread....

Karan said: I'd start with first, researching people or families and organizations who were in need of help and decide on who I would give some of the wealth to.

One activity my husband and I already do is, if we have read a thoroughly inspirational book that helps us to grow and think in our own lives, we recommend it to others by purchasing many copies and mailing them to friends and family to read.

I'd probably add more names to our missionary list to help support their work for the Lord. At 65 I'm too old and too tired to go to a foreign field, but I'd like to help send others to forward the name of Jesus.

I'd also like to help serious Bible College students to get through college. When I was a young woman in Bible College, my dream was to have a youth ranch for troubled youth. I most likely would consider making this dream a reality even now, by financing something similar to this.

There are so many small ways to help those in need, if you choose to give away little by little and you can include your children, grandchildren or students by teaching them how to give. Some examples I'd choose would be food, medicines, seeds, rice and shoes. You can organize a shoe drive for orphans or needy kids. I took my grandsons to a shoe dept. and we picked out shoes to send to the orphans - it was fun. I've even seen needy people or disabled people shopping and not have enough money to buy a pair of shoes or some needed item. What a look of surprise and joy on their face when I told them I'd like to buy the shoes for them. Actually, I think my own heart was more elated. There are so many ways we can be an example to our children and younger generations regarding giving. And we can always give to hunger in America. I'd like to gradually give out my wealth and not do it all at once. Spread the blessings over time!

This is an acceptable start on what I would do with a million dollars. It would go quickly, and I would need to make a good advantageous plan before I started. I would also encourage my grandchildren to join in learning how to give to others in need.

A New Woman

The Sunday Scribblings prompt for this week is "New".

This year, I want to be a new woman with a new attitude. I want those I know to say: "Hey. Is there something different about you?"

• Away with the bitterness. It only hurts me when I hang on to the hurt, feeling too wounded to forgive.
• Away with the impatience. God sure has been patient with me. He waited 17 years for me to get back to church.
• Away with fear and worry. I've finally realized that it really doesn't make my circumstances better.
• Away with competitiveness. Jesus wants us to work together and encourage each other.
• Away with laziness. I only have so much time on this earth.
• Away with unhealthy eating habits. I want that physical energy back, that I had 7 years ago.
• Away with being unappreciative. God gives me blessings every day, things I don't deserve and haven't earned.
• Away with hoping in my plans. They've been known to change for the better. Thank you, Jesus.
  

Now and Then

The Sunday Scribblings prompt for last week was "Now and Then".

My physical circumstances aren't much different "Now" then they were "Then". I still have: the same lack of money, the same debt, the same rented house, and the same lack of prospects. But, now my spirit and mind are different.

You see, the difference between "Now" and "Then" is that - Now, I am living in God's Will. I decided to stop worrying about what I don't have. It's so much easier saying: Lord, what do you want me to do today? He sends little opportunities and people my way. Well, they seem little to me. However, if they are part of God's Will, then they are part of His big plan.

Telling God that I want to live in His Will can be scary. It's not about telling him where I'm willing to serve or live. Currently, I live 3000 miles from where my extended family lives. This was never part of my plan, but I know beyond a doubt that I am living exactly where God wants me to live. My physical circumstances haven't improved by living here, but my Christian walk has improved. My ministry for Jesus has grown.

Not Searching

I'm not searching for the meaning of life. I'm not looking for the right religion. I know the Truth. There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus is the way. My life has meaning. My purpose is to serve Him and worship Him. I have such a peace in my heart, because I know what my future holds when I die. I will live forever in Heaven. It is so exciting.

Help Rescue Them

Today, I received an email from Ron Hutchcraft Ministries.

Ron said: "My prayer for 2008 is that you won’t just make a casual "new year’s resolution" of some kind. My prayer is that rescue will become a burning passion of your heart - that every day you will look for, and seek out opportunities to share the hope you have in Jesus."

There are so many ways to participate in evangelism. You can: let your Christian light shine to your neighbors, witness through Christian community projects, support existing evangelism and ministry projects, help attract non-Christians to your church.

It is important to tell people that they need a Savior, because one day they will face God’s judgment for their sins. If they aren't going to heaven, they are going to hell. That is the awful reality.

There are hundreds of witnessing ideas for individuals, families, and churches at the Easy to Evangelize site.

(The clip art is from ChristArt.com)

Self Worth: Feeling Inferior

Do you find your worth in what you do? Are you concerned that others will think less of you, if they knew what you do for work? Are you self-critical, because you are trying to win the approval of other people.

Galatians 1:10 Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

It is vital to see ourselves through God's eyes. We are worthwhile to Him. He created us with a purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

He doesn't want us to get caught up in the world's values, but to value what Jesus says is priority. We are to be like Jesus. He came to serve, not to be served.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant.

Dear Jesus,

I'm tempted to compare myself with others, even other Christians. Sometimes I think - I'm not as "spiritual". I'm not as likeable and outgoing. I'm not as thin and good looking. I haven't finished my college education yet. It's not that other people are being critical of me; it's that I am critical of myself. I give into the feelings of low self worth.

I need to remind myself that you value me. You know what's best for me; you have a purpose for me. How do you want me to serve and minister to others? I want to know Your will for my life and to follow Your way for me.

Love, Shari

True Self Worth

This is what I learned about Self Worth, today. Self worth is the belief that you have value and significance. My true self-worth is not based on what I do, or how I look. I have value, because God gave me value.

I was made in His image. Christ willingly gave His life for me, even though I didn't deserve it.

Romans 5:7-8 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

He designed me to need Him. Jesus needs to be my highest priority. In Him, I will find my true worth.

Colossians 1:15-17 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

Our Family Christmas Traditions

This year, I've really tried to make the Christmas season fun for the family, and get the focus off of the commercialism. We've kept our family traditions and added some new ones.

• Made Happy Birthday Jesus Cakes (our favorite tradition)
• Shared Our Christian Faith (passed out stocking ornaments with a Santa Gospel tract inside.)
• Participated in the church's canned food collection
• Watched most of the Christmas TV specials
• Made Christmas Crafts
• Had a family snack food party and played cards
• Made gingerbread men and hung one on the tree
  
• Hung Christmas lights in the bedrooms
• Had a slumber party next to the lighted Christmas tree
• Added links, nightly, to the Thankful Paper Chain
• Participated in our church's Nursing Home Gift Ministry

On Christmas Eve, we plan to:

• Track Santa's Flight through the Internet
• Go to our church's Christmas Eve service
• Let the kids open one gift each
• Leave cookies and milk for Santa inside, and Magic Reindeer Food outside
  

Hope: Thinking Back

Sometimes, I find myself going through a difficulty and doubting that things will get better. I forget to hope in God. So, I do a “thinking back” exercise. I remind myself of a time in my past that I didn’t have much hope. It felt like the problem would never be resolved, and that I would never recover. Then, I think about how God helped me through the problem and it’s emotional pain. God helped me to overcome it and therefore it became a part of my past. This gets me believing that the same thing will happen with what I am currently facing. This, too, will eventually be a part of my past. And I want it to serve a purpose, to be something that God can use in a positive way. I want to grow and learn during hard times, so that I will be able to help someone; have empathy for another person facing a difficult situation.

True Hope

Christians can have true hope. This hope isn’t wishful thinking, or hoping in someone to rescue them, or hoping in money or a material item. True hope is in Jesus and Him alone. The Bible is filled with verses instructing us to hope in Him. He promises us so much and His values are unchangeable. That doesn’t mean everything will work out as we want it to, but it does mean that we can trust God to work it out for us – His way, His will, to glorify Himself.

Hope in Jesus is not disappointing.

Romans 5:5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. NLT

We can trust that His hope is best for us.

Hebrews 6:19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. NLT

True hope is only in the Lord. We can get help from a caring person, but our dependence is on Him.

Psalm 39:7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. NLT

Lamentations 3:25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. NLT

Prayer: Making Hope a Habit

Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

The following is from the Book: One Minute Prayers for Healing

Give me a deep desire for Your Word, Lord. Draw me to the source of strength and instruction that buoys and builds my faith. When I think, “I know what Scripture says,” humble my spirit and direct me to the passages written to bring me hope this very day.

During difficult times, endurance can be as basic as showing up. I’m here, Lord, with open Bible and hungry heart. I know You will do the rest. - Amen

Remembering Christmas Traditions

This is the time of year for Christmas Traditions. My family had them when I was growing up. These are the traditions that I can remember:

• We each had a date night with Dad - to eat dinner and get a Christmas gift for Mom.
• The kids got our own Christmas tree in the family room to decorate with our handmade ornaments.
• We got to stick gumdrops on a plastic Christmas tree.
• We stayed up later to watch the Christmas specials on TV.
• As we decorated the tree, we talked about the ornaments and the memories.
• We sang and danced to the Elvis Christmas Album.
• Each family member was a secret Kris Kringle and did nice things for one person during December.
• The relatives would come over for a Christmas party.
• Aunt Betty always brought a cake and we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.
• We went to see Santa at the mall and have a yearly photo taken.
• On Christmas Eve, the kids got to open one present each.
• We frosted cookies and decorated them with sprinkles and red hots.
• We had advent calendars.
• The kids received a letter from Santa thanking us for the milk and cookies.

My kids are keeping busy this season with out family traditions. I've kept some of the ones that I grew up with and added some new ones.

If you would like to add some new traditions to your Christmas season, you may want to see my other site with 100 Christmas Tradition Ideas.

Help Me Change

Joyce Meyer writes in Starting Your Day Right Devotions

Pray: Lord, please help me to change. Show me the root of my problem and how to get over it. I want positive changes in my life.

We keep ourselves from the future plans God has for us, because we are caught up in our bad attitudes and excuses. What are we missing out on? Let’s give up our “right” to anger, bitterness, or whatever. God has a purpose for each of us. What if Billy Graham got stuck on a bad attitude and never became available for what God had planned for him?

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24)