Monday Morning Recap, 03.08
Some of my thoughts from yesterday...
Thanks to all who came yesterday in spite of the nice weather! A Pastor I follow on twitter told his congregation if they didn't come to church Sunday God was going to send the 6 more months of winter!!
Loving the warmer temps! Spring is coming. Theres always a nice spirit in the air when the sun is shinning after a long gray winter.
Parents don't forget Kidstuf will be happening in the warehouse next Sunday after the morning service. And please pray for the Kidstuf team this Friday as they take the show on the road to Kokomo Center Schools!
* Give...Save...Live on the Rest. This is God's way.
I really enjoyed talking on tithing yesterday. I'm praying and dreaming that more and more of you will begin practicing this Ritual each week. Tithing is so much more than an obligation it is an opportunity to receive God's blessing in your life!
This week spend some time in Luke 12 and Malachi 3. Let the truth of these passages change your life.
Are you a giver? Are you generous? Take a look at your checkbook and you will find the answer. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." How we spend our money reveals our priorities.
I have taught a lot on tithing over the years and the people who don't like it are the ones who...are you ready...have never done it! Those who do it love it because it works and it feels so good to be generous.
Tithing = Trusting.
Do you believe God can do more with 90% than you can do with 100% of your income?
I challenge you again...bring a tithe with you to church next Sunday. Remember-God doesn't need your money he wants you to trust him and he wants to bless you!
This Wednesday the Classes@oakbrook on Financial Wisdom is about leaning how to manage the "live on the rest" portion of your income. Please come...even if you didn't make it last week you can still comes. Remember my story...it all started to change for me and Ronda once we got educated.
I got to pray after the service with people who are facing some serious challenges because of the recession. Please join me in praying for people who are out of work and struggling to make ends meet.
* Thanks to everyone who has been responding to this blog. I love reading your comments...so encouraging! Keep them coming.
As always...Don't Just Talk About It...Be About It!
Love doing church with you guys,
Mark
Your Friend 
Comments
Mark,
Way to bring it Sunday! Morgan and I were challenged by you to tithe within our first year of attending Oakbrook and what started out as a challenge, then became a conviction & now has become a way of life. Throughout our years at Oakbrook we have had several opportunities to take that to higher levels with building campaigns & it has always blessed our family to be a part of this. Thanks for helping us grow & not become complacent.
~Sandra
By Sandra Young on March 08, 2010
Mark,
Thanks for the great message. Beth and I have tithed for many years and its true, when you set aside your tithe as the first thing that comes out of your paycheck, you don’t even miss it. And even in the lean times, God has always provided. I particularly appreciated your statement: “God blesses us so we can bless others”. We have been blessed beyond measure and fill prvileged that God has enabled us to be able help others through our giving.
By Tim Sheets on March 08, 2010
Mark,
I thing you did a fantastic job talking on tithing this Sunday. I was first challenged to start tithing when I attended the Oakbrook 101 classes when Karl spoke. It was really hard at first like you mentioned to let go of a portion when you feel like you can’t make it on what you have anyway. But as you said, I prayed and trusted God, and as I began to tithe consistently, He has definitely provided. Now when I get a paycheck, my tithe comes off of the top.
Thanks again for always delivering the message in a way that truly moves me.
Liz Tyner
By Liz Tyner on March 08, 2010
Hi Mark, I loved that you threw out the challenge for us to use our raise or bonus to help others. The last couple of years my yearly raise has been pretty small so I added it up & realized it was just the amount I needed to sponsor a child through World Vision. Now I have three girls, one in Ghana, El Salvador & Guatemala. It is a joy for me to be able to share with children who need so much. Thanks for all you do & how you care about people
By Ronda Eldridge on March 09, 2010