Tithing.

Tithing. It was a concept that I really didn't understand for the longest time. I had always had the belief that it was the church just looking for money. Seemed like they always had their hand out. Whenever I would attend a church, and they passed around the offering plate, I thought here we go again. Even as a new believer it took me a little bit to understand tithing and how it works. Then finally one day, God got a hold of me and changed my mind and softened my heart. He showed me that it wasn't the pastor just coming up with this stuff on his own. It was in the Bible. Several different places. It is a mandate from God! So I wanted to be God honoring. Read Malachi 3:8-10 to get an idea of what I am talking about.

So I was a single Dad not making much money. Paying child support and trying to pay my rent and all of my bills, the idea of giving money to the church willlingly, wasn't a very popular idea to me. Ten percent! Wow. I could use that money to go out to eat, or take my daughter to a movie. You know, do something selfish with it. How dare I take that money and give it to the church. Once God got a hold of me, it all changed. At first I didn't think that I could afford anymore money coming out of my account. Once I started incorporating it in my budget, it wasn't difficult at all. I loved giving to the church.

Once I started giving, boy did the blessings start coming from God! I got custody of my daughter. I got engaged. The house that we bought dropped $50,000 right into our price range. Needed a car, found one exactly in the price range we could accept. And finally, we got married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony in Iowa. The blessings from God are tremendous to say the least. In Malachi 3:10 it says to test God on this. Go ahead, you'll be amazed. Praise GOD for His provision!