A fox in your wallet

Solomon 2: 15 "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

It's often not big things that holds us back, but the little ones. For example, we will easily spend a few bucks on coffee and a muffin or overspend on our grocery budget. All these little expenses and extras add up quickly and before you know it, your credit card becomes a problem.

If you think how many hours you put in to earn your salary ... getting up early ... no lunch ... extra hours without pay ... you should realize that you deny your own hard work when you do not keep your spending habits in check. How many of us, for example, check our slips after we shopped?

I usually just buy crystals for my cat’s sand box in winter. Two weeks ago I went over my slip back home and was shocked to notice that they charged me for two bags of crystals instead of the one I bought. Of course I addressed it with the shop and got a refund.

Similarly, you should also check your bank statements.  Ask them about new products that are affordable and presents value for money.  Status is not something you can eat.  So a platinum credit card, is great for your status, but it is normally the most expensive product.  You should also look at other aspects, such as your insurance. Your car depreciates in value, so does most of the items we specify. And yet insurance companies increases the premium annually. If you had no claims, and there are items that depreciated in value, you should insist on a reduction in premium, rather than an increase.

Do not let the little foxes destroy your financial vineyard. You are appointed as steward of your finances. Be responsible about it, but ask God what he wants you to spend your hard-earned money on before just wasting it.

Calm the storm yourself

Mark 4: 39 Then he got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still! "The wind ceased and there was a great calm.

What do you do when the storms of life are raging all around you? In Mark we read how Jesus accompanied the disciples in a boat onto the sea. Most of us would feel very safe with him with us in the boat, right? Well, the disciples were probably relieved too. However, the same disciples panicked when the storm raged and they were fearing for their lives. Suddenly Jesus’ presence wasn’t enough, they wanted to see him in action.  "Jesus get up. How can you sleep?  Jesus, surely you can do something."  Jesus spoke and calmed the storm.

Now for the surprise ... you will not be overwhelmed by anxiety and fear. Just as Jesus spoke to the storm, you can too. Really! The Bible teaches us that the same spirit that raised God from the dead, is within us. He lives in us, and He empowers us to experience victory in every aspect of our lives. Calm the storm yourself.  

Amazing, hey!

Giving

Mark 12 : 17 Jesus said to them, " Give to Caesar what is Caesar 's and to God what belongs to God." And they were amazed at him

It’s interesting how most of us won’t think twice about spending our money on just about anything, but the moment we have to give money to a beggar or the church, we become very tight fisted.  All of a sudden we start justifying why we are not ready to give… we first need to get our finances in order… the church is receiving way too much already… tithe of what?

It’s all about obedience.  You should first ask God what he expects of you.  And in all fairness, whatever you and I own, belongs to him in any case.

At the radio, we recently had a pledge.  God laid it on my heart to pledge a specific amount. The message was clear… I had to donate the money and request them to use it to put together a food hamper which should be given to someone who pledge from the little they have.  And so God started a miracle in someone’s life.  A man came to the radio and pledged R20.  He was unemployed and it was his last R20.  Do you know the impact a grown man’s tears can have on you? When he acted in obedience, he never knew that God was going to bless him with a food hamper.  He walked away blessed with so much more than the R20 he pledged.

Reality is that you cannot receive while your fists are clinched, holding on to what you have.  You have to open your hands, let go of what you have, in order to receive.  Someone once said: “You cannot out give God.”  Amen!

God's gift

Ephesians 2: 8 You have been saved by grace through faith. And that not of yourselves; it is a gift from God.

We serve a generous and loving God. If you have never loved someone, or if there is not someone who showered you with love, it would be difficult to imagine how great God's love for you really is. It is all-encompassing. He loves you so much that he would do anything to have a relationship with your. The Bible teaches us that sin separates man from God, but just remember that God does not want to be separated from you. This is precisely why He sent His Son to pay for our sins.

There are people who think they can earn their place in heaven. They think if they do enough good deeds or doing the right things or say the right things, it will be acceptable to God. Or they think that if they go to church and their sins are not too bad, they would still go to heaven.

Note, however, in today's verse, that salvation is a gift from God. We cannot earn or pay for it with good deeds. You only receive it, if you accept it as a gift from God.

If you have not yet accepted God as your Savior, I invite you to do so today. There is no better time than today to accept the gift.

May you be filled with a wonderful peace and comfort when you accept the precious gift.

See His amazing power

Ephesians 1: 19, and how enormous his power, which he exercises in us who believe.

Today I want to remind you of the power of God. It happens too often that we do not even bother to pour out our hearts to God. And it's not because we do not go through deep enough waters. No, it is because we unconsciously believes that there is no escape. And you know, it is precisely when there is no escape, because we do not call the right help in it.

Learn one thing today…that it is customary to approach God about anything. Discuss it with him ... pour out your heart ... let him hear dependence on him, and know that nothing can be done about your situation, unless he would intervene.

You may think that an omniscient God can see now what you're going through and that he ought to act as he is such a loving God. Think about the following situation. Someone close to you is struggling financially. Everything about them demonstrate their despairing, but they say not a word. You steer the conversation in a direction that you believe would give them the courage to speak, but they 'suffer in silence'. You use a birthday as an opportunity to give money as a gift, hoping that you help out, still no word. How would you feel? It's the same with God. He sees our suffering and tries to assist in subtle ways by sending people into our lives or a message, but we do not make use of the outstretched hand.

Would you like to see a miracle happen today? Would you like to once and for all get out of your situation? Then start today on your knees before this mighty God and ask Him for relief. You will be amazed at what he can do.