Most of the time I try to print more of God’s Word than my own, and that’s because I’ve learned that we’re living because of Him, for His glory, and for His pleasure. He created us so we could enjoy this beautiful world He created, and if it weren’t for Him creating our bodies the way He did, we wouldn’t even be alive. You know what? I’m finally glad I’m alive. There have been times when I wasn’t.

God is taking care of me, my husband, my mother, and all our children & grandchildren! And I thank Him! Somewhere in the bible I read that we’re supposed to tell what good things the Lord has done for us. So I am. I couldn’t find the Scripture, so I challenge you to! Email me if you do.

“8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 3:8-11

When the pastor shared verse 11 above, I thought of how dry last year was, but our hay field produced 300 bales of hay, and people all around Blanco didn’t get a cutting. God can make a field produce. And it’s so comforting to believe that God will “rebuke the devourer,” too!

Verse 10 above made me think of my clothes situation and how “my closet runneth over!” I give a few things to the Good Samaritan and pretty soon I don’t have a place to put all my clothes! God does cause everything in your life to “be in abundance” when you begin tithing your ten percent and giving to others.

And don’t keep track of it either! Jesus said “3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”

Ever since I learned about giving to the church my ten percent, and began doing it (faithfully), God has blessed me out of my socks. Truthfully, my vats are overflowing. Our preacher gave a great sermon on tithing today, and I just have to tell you that God does reward you when you cheerfully give to your church your ten percent. That’s only one dollar out of every ten. You feel good when you tithe. You are in good standing with God when you tithe. He said we’re robbing Him when we don’t. Everything belongs to God, but He gives us the opportunity to use the money while we’re alive (realizing that someone else will be holding it when we’re dead!). Did you ever think about that?

The land I’m living on (that I purchased) belonged to Indians a long time ago, and eventually to the man I bought it from, and then it will be my kids when I go to heaven, and then it will belong to someone else after them, and so will my money that’s in the bank! Money comes into our hands and goes out of our hands, and it floats around all over the world. While it’s in our hands, it’s an opportunity to “sow good seeds”, by doing something with it to help others, and thereby creating for ourselves a harvest or reward for our good deed.

2 Corinthians 9:6 “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

I have to tell you that trusting in the Lord is so simple! But, like our pastor said, we must renew our minds daily, and that means we must read our bibles, because our faith (that ability to trust and believe in God’s Word) only comes by reading our bibles and hearing it preached. Trusting in God’s Word is so relaxing and fulfilling. It’s wonderful to trust in God’s Word. What else and who else on this earth is worth trusting? I haven’t found anyone or anything yet, who will never fail me or let me down.

Verse 10 of Malachi 3 says “prove me.” I can tell you, God will deliver. You can “prove Him” and He will deliver. If you cheerfully give to the church your ten percent, He will make sure you have everything you need. And you know what? Your heart may even change, so you’ll no longer have the desire to spin your wheels for bigger and better. You may even reach the point where you’re happy with a used vehicle that’s paid for, instead of a new one with high payments. And you may be happy with a small home that needs repairs, instead of a large one that has a high mortgage that you just can’t pay. You may be happy with less, and content with your joy in the Lord that’s in your heart, and the clear, free mind that is stress free! I have everything I need, and am content to be alive with my good health. And, I’m telling you, too, that my health is good, and God is in charge of that, too! But I’ll save that one for another time, because I’m out of space! May God bless you!