Pray for our Missionaries BS, DS Central Asian People– DJ East Asian People– SH European People– CP GSA– BP Northern African and Middle Eastern People– DO, EW, JR South Asian People– CB Sub Saharan African People– Daren Davos, Ben Sustar Alberta– Kristen Troussaint North Carolina– Stephen Mayfield Ohio– Michael Brooks Pennsylvania– Eduardo Reyes Wednesday Night Supper Pot Roast $5.00 Family of 4 or more $15.00. Everyone is invited. Helping in the Kitchen : Youth February Wednesday Night Support for March and April March 14– Finance Team March 21– New Visions Sunday School Class March 28– Deacons April 4– Sonshine Kid’s April 11– Vision Team Southeastern Correctional 26th Annual “Soles for Soles” Walk Saturday, April 21, 2018 Check in 10:00am. Walk 10:15am, Lunch 11:30pm All contributions made will enable SCM to purchase written Bible studies, devotionals and other written material. See Carolyn Schaubach or contact the church for more information March Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center Items for Play therapy, markers, Playdoh (the brand name only) Construction paper Happy Hearts March 13th 10:30am Program: “ See how a favorite athlete, Bible verse and song come together. We will be watching two short videos on the big screen” Presented by Barbara. You don’t want to miss this exciting Meeting! If you are going to the play in April, please bring your money. Menu: American Subs, Chips, and a St. Patty's dessert! ;-) HBC Counting Report for March 4, 2018 8-102 Wednesday Night Supper……………………..….……$137.25 8-103 Drink Machine…………………………………………..$5.00 8-403 Food Pantry………………………………………….$320.00 8-403 Food Pantry in Memory of Carl Parker…………..….$100.00 From the Tribble Class 8-403 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering…………………….$100.00 8-407 PORT………………………………………………..…$10.00 Budget offering……………………….……………..….…..$7073.25 Total Deposit……………………………………………….$7745.50 R & R Account 3-301 R & R Building Fund in Memory of Carl Parker…......$30.00 3-301 R & R—From First Friday Quilt Group For Replacement doors………………………………$400.00 Total Deposit………………………………………………...$430.00 Sunday School Attendance 33– two classes no report Contacts 77 Worship Service….No Report February Recap Budget Deposits $26,341.93 Budget Expenses $22,821.66 Designated Deposits $6759.39 Designated Expenses $7765.84 Money Market $23,039.74 Savings $6545.96 Outreach $16,493.78 PDF/RR Account $20,447.03 PDF $7,043.24 RR $13,027.38 Deacons $376.41 The Hilton Baptist Church Record Lynwood Wells, Pastor March 6, 2018 Designated Account $48,998.54
8
Embed
March 6, 2018 - Hilton Baptist Church...week. We will resume on March 14th. Sonshine Kids Korner! Wednesday Kids Class 6:00pm Sunday School Sunday 9:00am Kids Church 10:00am Let your
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Pray for our Missionaries BS, DS Central Asian People– DJ East Asian People– SH European People– CP GSA– BP Northern African and Middle Eastern People– DO, EW, JR South Asian People– CB Sub Saharan African People– Daren Davos, Ben Sustar Alberta– Kristen Troussaint North Carolina– Stephen Mayfield Ohio– Michael Brooks Pennsylvania– Eduardo Reyes
Wednesday Night Supper
Pot Roast $5.00
Family of 4 or more $15.00. Everyone is invited.
Helping in the Kitchen : Youth
February Wednesday Night Support for
March and April
March 14– Finance Team March 21– New Visions
Sunday School Class March 28– Deacons
April 4– Sonshine Kid’s April 11– Vision Team
Southeastern Correctional 26th Annual “Soles for Soles” Walk Saturday, April 21, 2018
Check in 10:00am. Walk 10:15am, Lunch 11:30pm
All contributions made will enable SCM to purchase written Bible studies, devotionals and other written material.
See Carolyn Schaubach or contact the church for more information
March
Peninsula Pastoral
Counseling Center
Items for Play therapy, markers, Playdoh (the brand
name only) Construction paper
Happy Hearts March 13th
10:30am Program: “ See how a
favorite athlete, Bible verse and song come together. We will be watching two short videos on the
big screen” Presented by Barbara. You don’t want to miss this
exciting Meeting! If you are going to the play in April, please bring
your money.
Menu: American Subs, Chips, and a St. Patty's dessert! ;-)
HBC Counting Report for March 4, 2018 8-102 Wednesday Night Supper……………………..….……$137.25 8-103 Drink Machine…………………………………………..$5.00 8-403 Food Pantry………………………………………….$320.00 8-403 Food Pantry in Memory of Carl Parker…………..….$100.00 From the Tribble Class 8-403 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering…………………….$100.00 8-407 PORT………………………………………………..…$10.00 Budget offering……………………….……………..….…..$7073.25 Total Deposit……………………………………………….$7745.50 R & R Account 3-301 R & R Building Fund in Memory of Carl Parker…......$30.00 3-301 R & R—From First Friday Quilt Group For Replacement doors………………………………$400.00 Total Deposit………………………………………………...$430.00
Sunday School Attendance 33– two classes no report Contacts 77 Worship Service….No Report February Recap Budget Deposits $26,341.93 Budget Expenses $22,821.66 Designated Deposits $6759.39 Designated Expenses $7765.84 Money Market $23,039.74 Savings $6545.96 Outreach $16,493.78 PDF/RR Account $20,447.03 PDF $7,043.24 RR $13,027.38 Deacons $376.41
The Hilton Baptist Church Record Lynwood Wells, Pastor
March 6, 2018
Designated Account $48,998.54
Weekly Assignments
This week at HBC
www.hiltonbaptistchurch.org
Greeters March 11– Moses Sabb
Leann Gardner March 18– Robert Overman
Pam Cooke
Usher and Parking Lot Attendants March 11– Mia Kuhlne Colleen Devol– Back PL Moses Sabb– Front PL
March 18– Joe Caskie– Front PL Paul Thorne– Back PL
Lock Up March 11– Robbie Ayscue March 18– Sue Monfalcone
Van Ministry March 11– Joe Caskie
March 18– Kirk Crippen
Food Distribution this week March 6– Gloria Ammons
Kathy Moore March 8– Cathy Childs
Sue Monfalcone March
March 13– Jean Parker Ann Nickols
March 15– Marilyn Hargrove Chung Hae Kim
Nursery Helpers March 11– Faith Class March 18-Tribble Class
Sonshine Kids Church March 11– Dreama-
Karen Simpson March 18- Kathy Caskie
Pat Schell
Tuesday, March 6th 1:00pm—3:00pm Food Distribution
Wednesday, March 7th 5:30 pm Wednesday Night Fellowship Supper 6:15 pm NC Practice PORT
Thursday, March 8th 1:00pm—3:00pm Food Distribution 6:00pm Lenten Study- Dinner and Bible Study at Hilton Presbyterian PORT
Friday, March 9th PORT
Saturday, March 10th PORT
Sunday– March 11th 9 :00 am Sunday School 10:00 am Worship Celebration Kids Church 6:00pm Bible Study PORT
Happy Birthday in March 1– Raymond Dunn, Jr. Priscilla Jones 2– Robert Cafffacus 3– Donald Beard Heather Nunn 4– Daniel Spears Michael Wight 6– Patrick Nicholson 8– Christine Douglas Vince Figuenick Samantha Sanford 10– Scott Schaubach 757-364-0428
Hilton Area Churches Lenten Study
All the Hilton Area churches are coming together and having a study on the spiritual gifts during the Lent Season. Each church will host a night of the study. Below is the schedule. Please make plans to attend these studies as we prepare for the Easter Season. Each Church that
hosts the study will be providing soup and bread for the meal before the Bible Study.
March 8– Hilton Presbyterian Church (PORT at Hilton that Night so we realize that some will not be able to attend) March 15– First United Methodist Church March 22– Trinity Lutheran Church Dinner served at 6:00pm, Bible Study 6:30pm—7:30pm
Hilton Baptist Church Phone 757-595-3300
www.hiltonbaptistchurch.org
John Quarstein has written a book about Hilton Village. Materials were supplied to him from the 75th anniversary including the shared church
histories. We have so much to be thankful for in this shared legacy.
2018 is our village centennial and Historic Hilton Village Inc, the community group would like to sell the book. To purchase the book it is $25.00.
The profit of each book ($9.00 will go directly to the centennial celebration.) There are several
things that have been planned through the year and we will update you as we get them
If you would like a book, please see Dreama.
Van Drivers are Needed
We are need of a couple of other drivers for people
that need to be picked up. If you can help with this
important ministry, please contact Pam Cooke. She
has a place for you!
We need your help!
“ Serving Our local Community with the Love of Jesus” Reminders of Volunteers for PORT– THIS WEEK!!!!
Wednesday, March 7th 6:45am—7:45am– Unload and Set up Pam Cooke, Joe Wircenske, Dreama,
6:00pm-9:00pm Front Desk Name tags- Kathy Caskie, Bag tags-Emma Beard, Bedding Log Mary Ellis, Bag Runner Mandy Verastek, Pass out Bedding– Mandy V. Dinner- Check Name tags– Brenda E. Coffee attendant-Paul T. Serve Dinner– Charles, Denise, Jeanne, Gloria A Clothes Closet– Take Requests– Don Moore Shoppers– Margaret U., Keith W. Debbie Marfa, Cheryl Moore Showers– Escorts– Stan Langdon Towel/ Shower Attendants– Ray M. Jim Upole, Nadine S. Towel Washer– Kathy Moore Overnighters 8:45pm– 4:45pm- Joe C, Stan L, Pam
Thursday, March 8th Collect Bedding– Joe C. Breakfast Check Name tags– Brenda Coffee attendant-__________ Serve Breakfast and clean eating are and Restrooms Joe W, Vince & Diane F, Jim Egnot, Front Desk– Jan H, Return Belongings– Joe C, Collect Bedding– Pam
PM Shift 6:30pm– 9:00pm Clothes Closet– Take Requests– Karen S Shoppers– Margaret U, Kathy C, Pat S, Gloria A Showers– Escorts– Stan L, Nadine S, Jim U, Towel/ Shower Attendants– Ray M. Towel Washer– Josh Moore Overnighters 8:45pm– 4:45am- Joe C, Moses S Friday, March 9th 6:30pm– 9:00pm PM Shift Clothes Closet– Take Requests– _____________Shoppers– Margaret , Kathy C, Beth Wilson and her daughter Showers– Escorts– Stan L, Ray M Towel/ Shower Attendants– Jessica, Annabelle, Blake and Jim U Towel Washer– Kathy Moore Overnighters 8:45pm– 4:45am- Stan, Bob S.
Saturday , March 10th 6:30pm– 9:00pm PM Shift Clothes Closet– Take Requests– _____________Shoppers– Kathy C, Petra Showers– Escorts– Stan L Towel/ Shower Attendants– Ray M Towel Washer– Kathy Moore Overnighters 8:45pm– 4:45am– Stan L, Moses S Sunday March 11th 6:30pm– 9:00pm PM Shift Clothes Closet– Take Requests– _____________Shoppers– Kathy C, Denana,, Justin Showers– Escorts– Stan L, Denise V Towel/ Shower Attendants– Ray, Charles Towel Washer– Kathy Moore Overnighters 8:45pm– 4:45am- Joe C,Stan L Monday , March 12th 6:30pm– 9:00pm PM Shift Clothes Closet– Take Requests– _____________Shoppers– Kathy C, Beth W and her two daughters Showers– Escorts– Scott D. Towel/ Shower Attendants– Nathan D, Ray Towel Washer– Kathy Moore Overnighters 8:45pm– 4:45am- Moses S, Bob S Tuesday, March 13th 6:30pm– 9:00pm PM Shift Clothes Closet– Take Requests– Karen S. Shoppers– Margaret U, Gloria A Showers– Escorts– Pat P Towel/ Shower Attendants– Ray, Jim U, Nadine Towel Washer– Kathy Moore Overnighters 8:45pm– 4:45am- Joe C, Charles V Wednesday, March 14th 6:00am– 9:00am Clean up and Get HBC back in order Pam, Brenda, Dreama, Kathy C, Charles, Dennis
We still need helpers….there are many holes to fill. You can sign up today in the church or call Pam Cooke and she will be able to help you.
If you are not able to meet your time slot that you chose, please call Pan Cooke at 757-660-4226 or call the church office. THANK YOU for
your time and resources as we help those less fortunate than us!
Sonshine Kids Korner! Wednesday Kids Class 6:00pm
Sunday School Sunday 9:00am Kids
Church 10:00am
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven . Matthew 5:16
Egg Hunt, Lunch, Prizes
and lots of fun!
Saturday, March 24th
At Hilton Elementary School
Ages 4– 12 years old
Invite a friend!
Please let Dreama know if you want to help!
Easter Donations for the kids.
We are collecting plastic eggs and individually wrapped candy
to go inside the eggs for our Easter Egg Hunt scheduled on
March 24th. If you can donate any of these things, please
put them in the box in the front office marked for the kids.
Please no chocolate for the eggs , it will melt! :-)
Super Hero Sunday- March 25th
Wear your favorite Superhero Costume, Shirt,
or outfit to Church that day! Come for a great
time of fun and excitement. Bring a friend!
That will also be food pantry collection day so don’t forget
your canned food!
Due to PORT we will not be having Wednesday Night Class this
week. We will resume on March 14th.
Sonshine Kids Korner! Wednesday Kids Class 6:00pm
Sunday School Sunday 9:00am Kids
Church 10:00am
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven . Matthew 5:16
Egg Hunt, Lunch, Prizes
and lots of fun!
Saturday, March 24th
At Hilton Elementary School
Ages 4– 12 years old
Invite a friend!
Please let Dreama know if you want to help!
Easter Donations for the kids.
We are collecting plastic eggs and individually wrapped candy
to go inside the eggs for our Easter Egg Hunt scheduled on
March 24th. If you can donate any of these things, please
put them in the box in the front office marked for the kids.
Please no chocolate for the eggs , it will melt! :-)
Super Hero Sunday- March 25th
Wear your favorite Superhero Costume, Shirt,
or outfit to Church that day! Come for a great
time of fun and excitement. Bring a friend!
That will also be food pantry collection day so don’t forget
your canned food!
Due to PORT we will not be having Wednesday Night Class this
week. We will resume on March 14th.
Forgiveness: It's Your Choice
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you
do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. —
Matthew 6:14-15
When studied alone, these verses might lead someone to wrongly assume God’s forgiveness is conditional. They
read like an exchange—we forgive, our Father forgives; we don’t forgive, our Father doesn’t forgive.
But the passage above refers to only part of our relationship with God. Jesus wasn’t saying we get forgiven by forgiving. He was teaching that people who are forgiven by God become more forgiving people—not perfectly, not entirely, but increasingly. If we remain unforgiving toward others, it reveals we neither understand nor have truly received God’s forgiveness in our own lives.
Truth is, forgiveness always requires a choice. It can’t be forced, and it isn’t a feeling. True forgiveness flows out of a decision apart from emotions—often in spite of painful feelings. It's the choice to release someone from an obligation that resulted when they injured you. Forgiveness is what God has done for you in Christ and asks you to do for others.
For many, the real question regarding forgiveness is, “Is it always necessary? Do I really have to forgive? Aren’t there some offenses that are simply too painful to forgive?” Though our sinful world abounds with examples of seemingly unforgivable actions, rejecting the necessity of forgiveness means we haven’t considered the cross and recognized how seriously God treats it. It also means we have failed to see the personal consequences that result from not extending grace to others.
God didn’t make you and me with the capacity to carry forward the residue of all the negatives from our past. He doesn’t expect us to store it or ignore it. “Emotional baggage” is an understatement. It’s more like toxic trash or radioactive waste—unstable and explosive. You must get rid of it. But you can’t throw it in a mental closet, lock the door, and hope for the best.
“I can’t forgive” is simply another way of saying “I won’t forgive.” Claiming inability to forgive hides the choice you are making. Until you get to the place where you understand that refusing to forgive is also choosing to live in the bondage and misery of unforgiveness, you won’t forgive.
But when you realize the grace of forgiveness is the best way to keep your own life healthy and your relationship with God unhindered, you will make it as important as He does.
On the grace journey together with you, Pastor Lynwood
God’s Trumpets
“Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work you shall make them; and you
shall use them for summoning the congregation and for having the camps set
out.” Numbers 10:2
It’s a process that never stops. Since the first trumpets were developed more than 3,000 years, specialists have applied advanced mathematical and acoustic processes to learn how to shape each instrument. They’ve discovered that the sound is impacted by every aspect, from the material chosen to the shape, to the mouthpiece. Each is unique in its design and purpose. Not simply any trumpet will do. Today, as in the past, elite trumpeters demand instruments that produce just the right sound they want to achieve the purpose for which they are going to be used. A cousin of the trumpet, bugles were developed around 1750 for use by armies in Europe. These instruments were designed to produce patterns (such as “reveille”) that coordinated troop movements. Years earlier, God used the same principles to help the Israelites communicate in the wilderness. He told them to make silver trumpets of “hammered work.” He was specific because these instruments had to make specific sounds! This silver produced unique tones that could be heard clearly over long distances. One signal meant that everyone was to gather. One signal reminded them about appointed feasts, while another told them to leave camp. Some sounds warned about dangers. These trumpets only could be played by the sons of Aaron. They were the priests of the people and uniquely called servants of the Lord. They were to be heard above the roar of the world around them. There could be no mistakes for they were the voice of God! The use of trumpets reminds us of how God communicates with us. We, too, need to know what “sound” He makes. To be alert to deception, and recognize counterfeits. We, too, need to be certain of His Word! But we also need to be sensitive to the leading and warning of the Spirit. Today, remember that God wants to speak to you. Make sure that you are in tune with Him. Fill your life with His Word. Spend time in prayer, listening. Ask for discernment. And learn to hear His voice. Let Him lead and guide you.
Crossing Your Jordan River…
For 40 years the nation of Israel wandered throughout the wilderness, and as one person after another died, an entire generation wasted away in a wilderness of despair; the opportunity to experience the life God promised them lost was lost by their disobedience and lack of faith.
The Bible speaks of 40 as a symbol of completeness. It takes forty days for a person to form a habit. If you do the same action every day for forty days it will likely become engrained in how you live. It rained for 40 days in Noah’s flood; Jesus was tempted for 40 days; and the Israelites were camped in the wilderness for 40 years.
Imagine if you will, they come to the edge of the Jordan River time and time again, wondering what’s beyond, yet never venturing across. Knowing that it signified the edge of their promised territory—the boundary of what they could possess—but they were unable to move beyond that limitation.
After 40 years the size of the river grew in their hearts and became more for them than just a body of water to be forded, it became a line of containment. It said to them, “This far, but no further.” It was a limit to their potential, a lid that God never intended, on their hopes and dreams.
I believe every person has their own Jordan River, a place they have been to but never beyond. The Israelites would dream about their Promised Land of abundance but were so accustomed to life in the wilderness that they struggled to comprehend what life would be like on the other side.
We too, come to points in our life that require a monumental shift in identity and perspective to overcome. Our Jordan River is a line that separates our current position from where God has planned for us to be. We accept our current barren setting because the alternative of crossing means stepping into a vast unknown that carries with it risk and exposure.
So for many people, the choice is made to accept the wilderness and not cross their Jordan. But the Jordan was never to mark the end point for the Israelites, and neither should it for us! We too can have wrongly marked boundary lines on the map of our heart. Instead of letting them be a signpost that turns us back, they should tell us that we are at a point of new discoveries, where we have never gone before.
This is exactly where God is calling us, because it is on the other side of our Jordan that we find the fruitfulness and fulfilment God promises. Put plainly, to ENTER IN to the life God promised you, you will have to cross your Jordan.
Knowing What the Saddle Is For… We're told that it is a very frightening experience for a wild horse to feel a saddle on his back for the first time. Some horses react with anger. They rear back and kick and struggle to get away. Their nos-trils flare, their eyeballs roll back, and panic takes over. But other horses are so afraid that they can't move. They just stand in one spot as though
frozen, shaking and trembling like a leaf on a tree. Many Christians are just like that. Take a good look at yourself. When something unpleasant or threatening happens, do you react with anger, lashing out at other people, even at God? Perhaps something has occurred which you cannot control or change, and you're so angry about it that you are determined someone is going to pay for your discomfort. You say, "God, You did this to me!" or you ask, "God, why did You let this happen?" Or do you react with such fear that you are essentially immobilized? You're afraid to step one way or the other, thinking that if you do anything you'll make a fatal mistake. The mature Christian, the one who is constantly growing in Christ, can be compared to a horse which has learned to trust his trainer, and knows what the saddle is for. He knows that when the saddle of trouble and difficulty is suddenly thrust upon him, it is there for a purpose. That purpose may be known only to our Heavenly Father, but as long as He knows it, the mature Christian doesn't kick and rebel.
The Last Impression At a church meeting a very wealthy man rose to tell the rest of those present about his Christian faith. "I'm a millionaire," he said, "and I attrib-ute it all to the rich blessings of God in my life. I remember the turning point in my faith. I had just earned my first dollar and I went to a church meeting that night. The speaker was a missionary who told about his work. I knew that I only had a dollar bill and had to either give it all to God's work or nothing at all. So at that moment I decided to give my whole dollar to God. I believe that God blessed that decision, and that is why I am a rich man today." He finished and there was an awed silence at his testimony as he moved toward his seat. As he sat down a little old lady sitting just behind him leaned over and said to him: "I dare you to do it again."
Sunday Mornings 9:00am Wednesday Nights 6:00pm
Saturday Nights – “Fervor!” 6:30pm
Join Pastor Tee and others for
these dynamic Youth Bible stud-ies with the best of contemporary small-group interaction. Helping students identify distortions in vital areas of life, and see with greater clarity and truth about
God, themselves and others… in terms to which
they can relate!
Pray for Pastor Tee & Our HBC Youth
That they will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of God!
THIS WEEK - WEDS MAR. 7th – WEDS MAR. 14th HBC IS THE HOST CHURCH FOR P.O.R.T!
P.O.R.T. (People Offering Resources Together) is an emergency winter shelter that hosts an average of 100 individuals per night, for 20 weeks during the winter. The name of this program really explains it all: it’s a safe harbor, made possible by a network of 130 interfaith (Christian and non-Christian) groups that provide the facilities, volunteers, food, clothes and many other resources to homeless men, women and children in our area.
The shelter moves to a different church every week, and each night, there’s a new group of volunteers responsible for welcoming the guests and providing at least 2 meals (dinner and breakfast) per day. Each season, PORT counts with over 5,000 volunteers that get involved in planning, cooking, or distributing clothes and hygiene.
Other services provided at PORT include: community referrals, case management, collection of homeless data, medical referrals, on-site medical evaluations and dental care, showers, provision of transportation, flu/pneumonia shots, information for affordable housing, job placement and job referrals, identification services, filing taxes, nutrition education, AA, N.A, life skills training, and more.
P.O.R.T. – Ministry To The Homeless March 7th - 14th
We NEED YOU! We still have many Volunteer Positions That Need To Be Filled
Please Sign Up or call church TODAY
Seven Years Of Feast & Famine Joseph has always been one of my favorite Bible characters. His roller-coaster ride from favorite son to slave to master of the house to prisoner to a Prince of Egypt is both amazing and inspiring. The outcome and summary of Joseph’s story in Genesis 50:20 holds out hope to every believer going through difficult times: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good."
What an inspiring example of God at work in the broader affairs of men to accomplish His ultimate purposes. Even those things planned by our enemies, or those who would harm us physically or emotionally, God can overrule them and turn them for our good! Lately, I've been pondering the story of Joseph from a little deeper and differ-ent perspective, specifically the lessons it holds from a financial standpoint. That today, we should prepare, anticipate and not be surprised when we go through our own times of famines and our economic resources become lean. We notice that the turning point of Joseph's experience in Egypt occurs when he interprets a pair of dreams for Pharaoh. He realizes that Egypt will soon experience seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine. Joseph is put in charge of the preparations during the years of plenty, so the people can survive the coming years of famine. The Bible is clear about cycles of being both lean and plentiful, of blessing and curse. God is still the source of our total supply. We need to be ready and anticipate both. Joseph wisely saved 20% of the harvested grain, and was able to save not only Egypt during the famine, but the surrounding nations as well. That should be our goal—to be faithful stewards now while times are good, in preparation for any future hard times. In being faithful this way, we may find ourselves being used, like Joseph, as instruments of God's deliverance in time of distress. Naturally, this prepara-tion for the future shouldn't keep us from the ongoing planting of seed and being generous givers now. Don't lose sight of the major theme of Joseph's story: God is at work even in times of hardship. Perhaps it will only be through a financial "famine" that someone will ever become "hungry" for spiritual food that truly satisfies – Could that someone be you?
Why Should We Tithe?
Since God owns everything — "the cattle on a thousand hills" and all there is — it might seem that He doesn't really need our tithes and offerings. He doesn't need them, true, but we need to give them. For, in instructing us to tithe, God is helping us to understand the law of reciprocity.
In addition, when we fail to tithe, it means we are actually robbing God of what already belongs to Him. In Malachi 3:8-9, God spells out the results when the nation of Israel does not repay Him what they owe:
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse — the whole nation of you —
because you are robbing me."
And while you are free to designate your offerings, the Bible instructs:
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and
pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will
not cast their fruit," says the Lord Almighty (Malachi 3:10-12).
Clearly, God views the failure of freely bringing all our tithes in an undesignated manner into the storehouse as robbing Him. Why? Because the tithe is His property. Leviticus 27:30 tells us the tithe is His. Presenting the tithe is literally “returning” to the Lord what belongs to Him already!