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Diane Stivers
Stewardship Ministries
WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO
Matthew 6:19-21
“Lay not up for yourself treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
We are all aware that our country is in a financial crisis and people are losing their lifetime investments overnight. There does not seem to be a secure place to invest. We know that our life on earth is like a vapor that appears for a moment, and then vanishes. Life is a place where we prepare to live eternally.
Scripture offers us hope for this life -
I Corinthians 15:19
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
John 14:1-3
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
An example of giving from the heart was of a crippled lady named Nellie, who was a member of our church when I was a child. Nellie was not only physically challenged, but also mentally challenged. Every year the missionary leader would take pledges for foreign missions. Nellie loved the Lord and always pledged $100 to the missions. We lived in a small town in Kentucky and Nellie would sit on her porch in her wheelchair. Many people would stop by and visit with her. Nellie always had a testimony about how she loved the Lord. She would then proceed to tell whomever she was speaking with about the people in other countries that did not have the privilege of knowing Christ as she did and how she wanted to send $100.00 to the missions to spread the gospel. Nellie had a container and she invited her friends and acquaintances to give. Before long, Nellie would have $100 to send to missions. Only God knows the souls that were reached with the gospel through a willing vessel that had a vision for the gospel to be spread. Nellie was laying up for herself treasures in heaven and I am sure her reward is great.
TEAMsupport
Diane Stivers
Stewardship Ministries
Jehovah Jireh – The God Who Provides
God equips us to do the work that He is leading us into. Many times, however, we can feel inadequate. We begin to make excuses to God of why we cannot do what He is calling us to do. Moses felt the same way.
Exodus 4:1 “And Moses answered and said, but behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.”
Exodus 4:10, 14 “And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
God’s Response -
Exodus 4:14b “Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.”
Exodus 4:16a “And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people.”
He is Jehovah Jireh – the God Who Provides
I want to tell you about a man of God that is very close to me, my dad. He has experienced Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides, many times. One time in particular, he had to ride the ferry from New Jersey to New York for work. He had not received a paycheck and it cost five cents to ride the ferry. He dug in his pocket and only had four cents. He said he got in the line that was waiting to get on the ferry and was trusting God. He said he looked down and on the ground was his penny. At that moment, a penny was what he needed.
Another time that God divinely provided was when my dad was on a fast for many days. Every morning my mother would ask him if he was going to eat breakfast and he would say, “Not this morning.” Several days into the fast mom asked dad if he was going to eat and he said, “I have already eaten.” He then explained that during the night, a huge hand appeared and fed him. Dad loves fruit and I remember in particular how he talked about being fed huge, juicy grapes. He said the hand had a large cup and he drank and drank until his thirst was quenched. This was divine provision. Dad was visited by Jehovah Jireh.
At times God will divinely provide for our needs. Other times, He will lead us to the source and allow us to help ourselves or others.
Whatever your need is nothing is too small (even one penny) and nothing is too big - even if your barrel is empty. Jehovah Jireh is truly our Provider.
TEAMsupport
Diane Stivers
Stewardship Ministries
Stewardship in an Everyday World
A Christian steward is one who uses the gifts God has given him to accomplish the work God is calling him to. Often times, misperceptions can cause us to not see our everyday opportunities as ministerial stewardship.
Do you ever feel like going into seclusion? Pulling the covers over your head and asking, "What is the use?"
Do not allow the enemy to make you feel that mothering your children is less of a ministry than leading worship in a stadium. God is using you to nurture, mold, and prepare those children for life. In time, God will use those same children to minister to you and in the Kingdom of God.
As well, do not allow the enemy to defeat you because you have to work long hours to provide for your family. Through your work, look for God to send people in your direction that are in need of His love and care. By being a good steward in your work, you will cause others to recognize God through you.
The enemy can even cause one to feel that caring for the sick (daily spoon feeding, changing their soiled clothes, bathing, administering medication, etc.) is less of a ministry than healing the sick. As good stewards, we are to care for God’s people - whether sick or well.
Wherever God has placed you, commit to being the best you can be and God will cause you to be a minister for Him. True stewards do not seek the applause of man, their names on buildings, or ministries named after them. They minister because of the love spilling over from grateful hearts.
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Paulette Ramsey
Stewardship Ministries
“Consider Your Walk”
Genesis 17:1 reads, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God: walk before me and be blameless.”
Deuteronomy 5:33a tells us, “You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you…”
Both these verses have a promise attached. Genesis 17:2 reads, “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”
Deuteronomy 5:33b, tells us, “that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.”
I believe God says the same to us today and His promises are still true. Have you considered your walk? If we were able to stand afar and watch ourselves walk through this life, what would we see? Would we see a walk of faithfulness? Or would we see our walk on a path of inconsistencies? We need to consider our walk and ask God to help us walk blameless before Him. This is good stewardship.
Editor’s Note: Bro. & Sis. Ramsey will be moving to Alabama this month. They will be greatly missed in the Michiana Region. We pray many blessings for them and their ministry.
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