Journey of Worship

  Stewardship Is About Partnership with the Giver When we invest our time, talents, and treasure, we’re not just managing resources—we’re partnering with God in His redemptive work.  We recognize that what we might spontaneously think, our reactions or feelings and our want or need is not the greatest pursuit, but rather the spiritual impact we make through our resources.  Instead of chasing after the comforts and delights of this world, we recognize the urgency is to meet with people: to invest in ministering to others. I would venture to say, when we start recognizing our Wal-Mart run is for selfish gain (even the grocery run), and that our time and money can be used better elsewhere- or combining that with ministry opportunity- that God is really embodying us.  I challenge you to recognize that even the errands you run, the commute you're delegated to make, the practices and activities you sign your kids up for, and the delays in between, as well as the regularly ...

Chapter 5: Investing Your Time, Talents, and Treasure Have you ever received a gift, and immediately thought of someone else it would bless- maybe even more than you receiving it has? “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” —  1 Peter 4:10 God never intended stewardship to be limited to finances. True stewardship means recognizing that  everything  we have—our time, our abilities, our energy, our homes, our words—belongs to Him. 1 Peter 4:10-11:  "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ". Read Romans 12 and consider with me, how this looks in your home and as you interact with oth...

  The Heart Behind Giving God doesn’t ask us to give because He needs something from us—He asks because He wants something  for  us. We know from the creation account that He created all things and causes them to multiply.  We "hear" it over and over again in Gods' Word; that He created and is in control of the multiplication.  That He does all of this with delight for His creation, and a desire for His chosen likeness- us.  That He is just in the giving and the taking away.       Psalm 104:14-15 says, "He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-- bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine , and bread that sustains his heart. " (Take note all that He meant for good that Satan adulterated and can be taken with gluttony.)  Verse 27 goes on, "These all look to You to give them their food at the proper time.  When You give it to them, they gather it...

Chapter 4: Living Generously, Even When It’s Tight “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” — Luke 6:38 Generosity isn’t about how much you have—it’s about how much you trust.   When things feel tight, generosity can seem impossible. The natural instinct is to pull back, and protect what’s left. But the Kingdom of God doesn’t operate on the world’s logic. In God’s economy, the more you give, the more room you make for Him to pour in. Generosity isn’t about the size of your gift; it’s about the posture of your heart. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says "each one must give as he has decided in his heart (where the Holy Spirit convicts us), not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written:  "he has...

 The Purpose of Surplus God wants us to know Him as extravagant.  He is extravagant in His grace towards all of His children, and in providing.  He wants us to trust Him, and displays over and over again that He will provide.  God is not wasteful.  His provisions are gifts, and just like a gift given to a friend, there is an ongoing and growing relationship-trust- involved.  If you were to find out the gifts you were giving a friend were being squandered, used to hurt or manipulate others, or were not actually bringing the results you intended, you would stop giving gifts.  If you knew that your friend showed off the gift, never giving you credit for it, and became increasingly selfish, even keeping you at a greater and greater distance, you also would stop giving gifts.  I'm not saying God is like us, His grace and power means He has many more options to get our attention before He cuts us off completely, but He recognizes what is good for us, an...

Living in God's abundance means you recognize that you don't just have "enough", you have more than enough, you have surplus.  God wants you to see how He works in this way.   How?  You may be saying, "I don't understand how I'm supposed to get there when what I see, what I'm experiencing, is that I don't have enough!" It starts with your belief, He already provided, you just don't see it.  That's a pretty bold statement, but that's coming from someone who had the scarcity mindset and has experienced lack... and acknowledged abundance and am on the journey of experiencing it.   I spoke with a lovely woman yesterday, who shared her testimony as well, "change your perspective on who the Heavenly Father is, and you will live in abundance."   When you see Him for who He is, you will see the abundant life He has given you. It may seem awfully meddling to suggest you need to examine what you believe, but that's what I'...

A Kingdom mindset says: “Everything I have came from God.” “There’s always enough to bless others.” “If I give, God multiplies.” “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” — Psalm 24:1 When you shift your focus from what’s missing to Who provides , peace floods the spaces where fear once lived. John 15:1-17:  When we live connected to the vine, we will always bear much fruit.  Verse 8, this glorifies the Father, that in bearing much fruit, we show ourselves to be His disciples.  We must obey God's commands, living and giving in love, out of belief that we will never be empty, for it is in this way that (verse 16) "the Father will give whatever you ask in my name." The Overflow Principle In God’s Kingdom, overflow always follows obedience. John 6:9–13:    Think of the boy who offered his small lunch of bread and fish. Jesus didn’t multiply it until it was surrendered. Once placed in His hands, it became enough to feed thousands—with baskets...