Yesterday our Pastor delivered a message that ministered to Greg and I. Funny enough we were discussing finances the day prior to the message and just couldn't believe that that was the topic of our church's message yesterday. To say that people are concern about their finances in this time of recession, would be an understatement. We are faced with many challenges and many people feel that if they had more money they would have less problems. Yesterday our Pastor reminded us that, "God can meet all of my needs, not all of my greed!" That statement should resonate in all our hearts and be a guide for us to live by.
Our Pastor addressed five keys to financial freedom:
1) My Attitude: Who owns it? Basically, who has ownership of your money. See Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV and you will realize that God is the one who gives us the ability to produce wealth. If this is not your attitude with money; if you don't believe that your money belong to God then you probably feel that it is your money which is the wrong attitude. Also read 1 Chronicles 29:11NIV
2) My fear: will there be enough? You can do alot more with 90% of your money when you are giving 10% to God and trusting Him to meet all your needs. Read 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV
3) My stuff: is it my master? Those who love money will never have enough! Read Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 NLT and also see Matthew 6:24
4) My priority: Who's first? It should be God. Therefore you should tithe your 10% first before you do anything else with your money. Read Exodus 23:19 NIV; Corinthians 16:1-2 NLT; Proverbs 3:9 LB
5) My promise: can we trust God? Read 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV; Proverbs 3:10 NIV; Malachi 3:10-12 LB. Only when you totally trust in God with your money can you have financial peace.
I hope this minister to your hearts as it did to mine. Trust in all with all things. Remember that He will always make a way.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Keeping the Dream Alive!
Every year at this time many Americans remember Dr. martin Luther King. We honor MLK for his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King is a historical icon and a pilar in the African-American community. We appreciate him and will forever cherish his journey and the difference it made for us. However, as we celebrate his life's accomplishments we are also faced with remembering his death.
As a black person, I can admit that it's always an emotional moment for me when I remember Dr. King. While I am touched by all he achieved before his death, I cannot forget the injustice that has been done to my race. This injustice continues today and it is wrong. When will it end? I don't have the answers.
I will not sit here and tell you that everything is peachy. I will also not tell you that it doesn't make me angry. I will not tell you that I didn't cry so many times, even recently because of something racially offensive that a white person said or did to me personally. While I sit here, I also remember the despair that I feel every time I hear of some injustice done to someone just because of the color of that person's skin.
Dr. King had a dream. He wanted us all to get along and to be treated equally. As a black person, I have yet to see this equality. I know that America has come a long way but there is still a distance to go. Many African-Americans have felt hopeless living in a country where they feel unwelcome. When will it end? I don't have the answers.
I do know that today, I sit at home remembering Dr. King and it's the first time that I don't feel a total sense of despair and a lack of hope. Instead I feel a sense of pride to know that in less than 24 hours America will have her first black president. I am in such awe. Never in a million years did I believe that I would be alive on this day.
MLK had a dream and for far too long African Americans could only dream along with him that we would see this day. However, while we were wishing and dreaming, many of us lost our hope along the way. Then Barack Obama came along and gave us the audacity of hope. Now it is no longer a dream for us. We can hope again because change is coming to America.
Today and always, I beg of you to keep MLK's dream alive until we are all EQUAL!!!! May God bless you, The Obamas--Our First Family of America and our country.
As a black person, I can admit that it's always an emotional moment for me when I remember Dr. King. While I am touched by all he achieved before his death, I cannot forget the injustice that has been done to my race. This injustice continues today and it is wrong. When will it end? I don't have the answers.
I will not sit here and tell you that everything is peachy. I will also not tell you that it doesn't make me angry. I will not tell you that I didn't cry so many times, even recently because of something racially offensive that a white person said or did to me personally. While I sit here, I also remember the despair that I feel every time I hear of some injustice done to someone just because of the color of that person's skin.
Dr. King had a dream. He wanted us all to get along and to be treated equally. As a black person, I have yet to see this equality. I know that America has come a long way but there is still a distance to go. Many African-Americans have felt hopeless living in a country where they feel unwelcome. When will it end? I don't have the answers.
I do know that today, I sit at home remembering Dr. King and it's the first time that I don't feel a total sense of despair and a lack of hope. Instead I feel a sense of pride to know that in less than 24 hours America will have her first black president. I am in such awe. Never in a million years did I believe that I would be alive on this day.
MLK had a dream and for far too long African Americans could only dream along with him that we would see this day. However, while we were wishing and dreaming, many of us lost our hope along the way. Then Barack Obama came along and gave us the audacity of hope. Now it is no longer a dream for us. We can hope again because change is coming to America.
Today and always, I beg of you to keep MLK's dream alive until we are all EQUAL!!!! May God bless you, The Obamas--Our First Family of America and our country.
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