Top 10 List--Clues that one may have trouble tithing

We took an informal survey and we came up with the UNofficial-- Top 10 List--Clues that One may have trouble tithing 1) I am trying to make change as the plate is passed. 2) When directed to take the wallet of the person next to me and give like I've always wanted, I still can't do it. 3) I think that tithing is Old Testament and we are under a New "tithe free" Covenant. 4) I see the new tires on pastor's car and my first thought is, I paid for those. 5) I am saving my tithe for a trip to Vegas next month. If I win, I already promised God that I would tithe on the winnings. 6) But my boat payment is due next week. And what about gas? 7) Things are tight now….I couldn't tithe before the semi-annual sale at Neiman’s. 8) That's for wealthy people, when I am one of them, I will tithe. 9) You ask the Usher, "Do you accept Kids Kash from KidsOasis?" 10) I won't be able to afford my 2nd venti Caramel Macchiato every day if I tithe? Let's be real. We can laugh about it, but many of these from the top 10 are based in truth. I realize that many churches out there are not teaching enough in the area of finances. Some will even say when it is offering time, if you are a guest here today, this is just for our members. I understand that is politically correct, but what a crazy approach to teaching people about finances. No wonder many ministries have to beg for finances. I want to encourage everyone to spend time reading God’s Word and specifically regarding finances over the next few weeks. There are incredible promises, but we have to begin by honoring Him and being faithful with our finances. The Bible says in Malachi chapter 3 that “God will open up the windows of heaven through our tithing and He will pour out a blessing that there will not be room enough for us to receive.” In Proverbs chapter 3:8-9, when we bring the tithe into the storehouse, God will fill our barns with plenty. The Bible says in Luke chapter 6, “Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.”

From a dear friend and business owner I know.

Top 10 List--Clues that one may have trouble tithing

We took an informal survey and we came up with the UNofficial-- Top 10 List--Clues that One may have trouble tithing 1) I am trying to make change as the plate is passed. 2) When directed to take the wallet of the person next to me and give like I've always wanted, I still can't do it. 3) I think that tithing is Old Testament and we are under a New "tithe free" Covenant. 4) I see the new tires on pastor's car and my first thought is, I paid for those. 5) I am saving my tithe for a trip to Vegas next month. If I win, I already promised God that I would tithe on the winnings. 6) But my boat payment is due next week. And what about gas? 7) Things are tight now….I couldn't tithe before the semi-annual sale at Neiman’s. 8) That's for wealthy people, when I am one of them, I will tithe. 9) You ask the Usher, "Do you accept Kids Kash from KidsOasis?" 10) I won't be able to afford my 2nd venti Caramel Macchiato every day if I tithe? Let's be real. We can laugh about it, but many of these from the top 10 are based in truth. I realize that many churches out there are not teaching enough in the area of finances. Some will even say when it is offering time, if you are a guest here today, this is just for our members. I understand that is politically correct, but what a crazy approach to teaching people about finances. No wonder many ministries have to beg for finances. I want to encourage everyone to spend time reading God’s Word and specifically regarding finances over the next few weeks. There are incredible promises, but we have to begin by honoring Him and being faithful with our finances. The Bible says in Malachi chapter 3 that “God will open up the windows of heaven through our tithing and He will pour out a blessing that there will not be room enough for us to receive.” In Proverbs chapter 3:8-9, when we bring the tithe into the storehouse, God will fill our barns with plenty. The Bible says in Luke chapter 6, “Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.”

From a dear friend and business owner I know.

Intensity & transformation

This was from a business partner about a bible study we were at which I totally had to share.

I feel immensely privileged and thankful for the quality of the Biblical mindset training we get each week with Tim and our other leaders. What a great topic today on avoiding lukewarm-ness in our walk with the Lord, as well as in our business. Pa-tooey! Spit that stuff out!

The study sheets for today's call would make excellent guides for searching Scripture on many of those topics, both positive and negative. That stuff is gold – thanks Tim!
There are some quotes I come across that really encapsulate an idea very powerfully and I keep them as reference because the wording is really good, or the idea behind it. Here's one for this very concept of being white hot on something and how it affects everything else. I've observed this happen in my own life in different areas and can attest that it's true.

++++++++++++++++++
The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment.
Earl Nightingale
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Now of course we know it's the Holy Spirit who directs our path, and we're not going to be burying our passion for Advantage Conferences deep in our subconscious…but the idea is that when there is something we're passionate about, it gets planted and puts roots down in our minds and begins growing. As we just go about daily living, that passion is putting down deeper roots, it's beginning to affect everything we do and how we view situations. We're being transformed! Romans 12:2

We probably can all point to a divine appointment that wouldn't have happened the way it did if we weren't in transformation mode, viewing things from a new perspective, if that idea wasn't directing us to fulfilling it….as we are in Christ, it is the Holy Spirit bringing us into being conformed more and more to Christ-likeness. That's what a transformed mindset is all about, the ultimate goal.

Through our business, and subsequently the community of believers that is forming here, we have a gift that is ours to share, which is the gift of transformation in Christ. Now that is not something to be lukewarm about!

Phil. 1:6  For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Aren't ya glad? (that's one of our pastor's favorite sayings)

Becki in CA

Be blessed,

It wasn't by chance and it's not up to chance

It wasn't by chance that you are where you are today.  It was up to you.  It's not up to chance whether you are going to make things happen.  You are in control.

Just like swimming against a current, you are either swimming and moving forward or you are resting and drifting in the current.  This world doesn't allow stop.  It allows success or failure.

Success means urgency.  Jesus had it.  He had a definite time for when things were going to happen.  Urgency has been definted as time defined accomplishment.

Do you find yourself wondering what you are missing and why it isn't happening for you?  Put urgency back into your life.

Here's a story to put it into perspective.  Say you are a sales person dependant on making sales to make a living. You can market, advertise, or stretch your wings and reach those within 3 steps of you.  Actually, it is not either or.  You should do both.  But, your 3 step away warm market are where you are in control.  If you decide that you want to make $21,000 in 10 days, it is up to you.  You can be clear that you are making the sale in 10 days and that product will go in that time and you are looking for the right person to make that sale to.  That adds urgency.  That urgency will make the difference between drifting with the current downstream or stroking against the current upstream toward your goal.

A leader makes things happen.  A leader collects decisions and works with urgency.  A good friend often says "Are you willing to do today what other's won't, to have (and give) tomorrow what
other's don't?"

God said it this way to Adam.  "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."  God, didn't say rest and I will lay it all in your lap.  Those are action words.  Subdue the earth.  Dominate the fish, birds and animals.  Control your world.

You are in control.  If you aren't then you have lost control.  There's no in between.

This is a hard lesson for me.  It is rough for me whenever God uses a mentor or friend to teach me this.  God has blessed you for a reason.  You have to take responsibility for what He has blessed you with and multiply it.

--
Eric Standlee
http://www.linkedin.com/in/ericstandlee
Prospered not to increase my Standard of Living,
but to increase my Standard of Giving
Take this entrepreneurial quiz: http://www.7kovernover.com/quiz.pdf

See what our Team Members have to say:
http://www.7kovernover.com/testimonialsar.htm

Download Slay Your Giant (orignally $29.95) at no cost quick before this link stops working:
http://businessconferences.info/SlayYourGiant.pdf

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Marketplace Ministry

Are you looking for opportunities to share and minister throughout your workday?

In the marketplace, we are reaching out into the 9 to 5 missions window and God wants to use us to reach them.  Are you praying with them?  Are you just saying goodbye to those being downsized?  Why not take time to relationship and pray with people and see where God leads?

--
Eric Standlee
http://www.linkedin.com/in/ericstandlee
Prospered not to increase my Standard of Living,
but to increase my Standard of Giving
Take this entrepreneurial quiz: http://www.7kovernover.com/quiz.pdf

See what our Team Members have to say:
http://www.7kovernover.com/testimonialsar.htm

Download Slay Your Giant (orignally $29.95) at no cost quick before this link stops working:
http://businessconferences.info/SlayYourGiant.pdf

brought to you by the geniuses at it.crusaderx.com