Criticizing

Posted on October 19, 2011 by dkoop

My words count. What kinds of words do you remember the significant adults in your life using toward you? Were they positive, encouraging words that built you up and made you feel valuable and worthwhile? Or did you hear more terms like “loser,” “worthless,” “stupid”?

The memories either bring smiles or cause pain. Your words have the same effect on those around you, especially on your children. Take a mental inventory of your speech. Do your words build up or tear down? With God’s help, commit to being the kind of person whose words encourage and edify others.

The bible tells me what words should and should not come out of my mouth:

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.  

The words I speak need to be:  

 1.  “…Good and helpful”   The words of a Christ follower are to be helpful, constructive, encouraging, instructive, and uplifting. Sometimes, our words must be corrective; but that, too, can be helpful when done in the right spirit.  We need to “speak the truth but only speak it in love.” Ephesians 4:15.  Raw truth is seldom appropriate and is often destructive.

 2. “…An encouragement to those who hear them.”  Obviously, we should avoid saying things that intend to harm, discourage, or disappoint someone else. Everyone admires the person that says something that is encouraging. Proverbs 25:11 says: “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.”

 Why do we speak words that harm and destroy?

 The mouth and heart are connected. “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34).  You can expect a change in speech when you become a Christ-follower.

 It is interesting to trace the word mouth through the Book of Romans and see how Christ makes a difference in a person’s speech. The unbelievers’ mouth is “full of cursing and bitterness” (Rom. 3:14); but when he trusts Christ, he gladly confesses with his mouth “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Rom. 10:9-10,). As an unbeliever his mouth is stopped before the throne of God (Rom. 3:19); but as a believer, his mouth is opened to praise God (Rom. 15:6).

 Change the heart and you change the speech.

 I want to fill my heart with the love of Christ so that only truth, goodness and encouragement can come out of my mouth. How about you?

 Darrell

 For more on the My Big Mouth series, go to www.ridgefellowship.com

 Sources:
Bible Exposition Commentary- New Testament
New International Version
New Living Translation
MacArthur New Testament Commentary

 

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Tithe Challenge – Week 5 – Your Reasons

Posted on October 19, 2011 by dkoop

Know of my prayers for you.  As you move forward in faith, you will continue to face resistance.  One of my mentors says, “When it comes to change, one of the most powerful words that help us change is the word ‘because.’   You have your ‘because’ reasons that lead you to begin the Tithe Challenge.  Because you want to… grow in faith, see if God is for real, be obedient, have better control over finances, to be blessed by God.  

You may also have had reasons why you didn’t tithe sooner.  These are barriers.  Do you know what they were?  Today I would like to introduce a great website that will serve as a great source of encouragement, answers and resources.  Its www.Generousgiving.org   In this website they list the top 30 Barriers to why people do not give.

I am going to list three of the top barriers.  If these three are not one of your barriers then perhaps some of the other 27 may be.  Here’s the link: http://www.generousgiving.org/barriers 

Listed will be the barrier in bold, followed by some reasons we should not let this be a barrier or a ‘because.’     

… I am up to my ears in debt. I cannot give now.

God knows exactly what brought debt into your life, and His desire for you to be liberated from its burden is even greater than your own. As you work to repay creditors, trust God to guide you; listen for His voice. When He leads you to give, recognize that He does not want you to be deprived of the joy that comes with generosity.

 The Bible tells all Christians to give to God from their “first fruits” (Proverbs 3:9). As Larry Burkett, one of the founders of Crown Ministries has said, the first check you write belongs to the Lord and no one else, not even a creditor. God’s grace is sufficient to allow you to be obedient to Him, and to give generously, even during times of debt.

 … I would like to give, but my spouse does not share my desire to give.

Generosity and marital unity are both precious biblical values in God’s eyes. He longs to see you demonstrate both and would not expect you to sacrifice one in pursuit of the other.

Honor your spouse and honor your marriage, knowing that there is no challenge within a marriage that God cannot resolve, no distance He cannot bridge. Prayerfully and patiently, allow your faith to be reaffirmed. Give individually in ways that will not challenge your marriage, and then wholly trust God’s grace to bring you and your spouse together to experience the immense joys of giving generously as a couple.

 …We would give, but we are a young couple with no nest egg. (Or) We would like to give. But we are only a few years from retirement, paying for two kids in college, and have very little saved. (Or) Next year I have a promotion coming. We will give then, but right now the budget is pretty tight.

Isn’t it interesting that at every stage in life, there are tempting reasons not to give? Yet aren’t budgets always tight?  Early married life, late middle age, and career transition are all periods of relative economic vulnerability. And yet, nowhere do the scriptures exempt the economically vulnerable from generosity. In fact, ironically, many biblical examples of generous givers are poor people (Luke 21:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:1-2). Jesus tells His followers not to be afraid for their well-being. God has been pleased to give you the kingdom; His grace helps you put fear aside and lay up your treasure in heaven by giving to others (Luke 12:32-34).

God knows what you need, and He promises to provide it (Matthew 6:32). If God is inviting you to give, however vulnerable you might feel, you need not fear for your security. But if you are waiting to give until you feel financially secure enough, that time likely will never come. Ironically, God assures you that giving is the most financially secure move you can make. But the experience of His provision comes only after the act of giving (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). That is how faith works, and God invites you to test Him in this (Malachi 3:10).

Thanks again for stepping out on this amazing journey!  I am thankful for you and pray that you continue to have more reasons to give than not to

I am praying for you, Darrell

Tithe online at www.ridgefellowship.com

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Complaining

Posted on October 15, 2011 by dkoop

If you are like me, it is so easy to slip into a mode of complaining: about the way people drive, about the price of gas or the line at the post office.  Without even trying very hard I could find fault with everything and everyone.  I have learned the hard way that that is no way to live.  When I slip into the complaining mode, I become miserable.

Do you think God wants us to complain?  A verse I taught my children, because they can be like me is Philippians 2:14   Do everything without complaining or arguing. 

Complaining started with Adam.  Immediately after he disobeyed God, he blamed Eve complaining to the Lord that “the woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit” (Gen. 3:12). Instead of blaming himself, he blamed God. Some years later, his firstborn, Cain, complained bitterly to God that his punishment for murdering his brother Abel was too severe (4:13–14). Moses complained to the Lord because He did not deliver Israel from Pharaoh quickly enough (Ex. 5:22–23). After God miraculously delivered them, after only three days into the wilderness, they complained again because they didn’t like the water at Marah.  The Lord graciously responded by making that water sweet. Shortly after that, however, the people were complaining again about the lack of food (16:2–8).

After Caleb, Joshua, and the other men returned from spying out the land of Canaan, except for Caleb and Joshua, the other spies were afraid and complained.  (14:2). Then all the people complained against God, saying, “‘Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? So they said to one another, ‘Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt’” (vv. 3–4). Their complaining turned into a rebellion as they almost stoned Caleb and Joshua, along with Moses and Aaron (v. 10). They rejected God’s plan, God’s chosen leaders, and God Himself. 

 And we have looked at only the first two books of the bible! There are many more examples from every book of the bible about how God’s people so easily complained about their circumstances.

 As the story of the Israelites in the wilderness continues to unfold in the book of Numbers it is obvious God is not happy with His people complaining.  To show them He doesn’t like complaining, He sends snakes to bite them (21:4-8), opens the ground to swallow them (16:31-34) and sends fire to consume them (16:36-38).  I’m glad he doesn’t respond that way today or I would be crispy!

 Every circumstance of life is to be accepted willingly without complaining. There is no exception.  It is always wrong for believers to complain about anything the Lord calls them to do or about any circumstance which He chooses to allow. Whether the task is difficult or easy, whether the situation involves a blessing or trial, negative attitudes are off-limits. Two chapters after “Do everything without arguing or complaining,” Paul’s own spiritual growth had led him to write of this attitude: 11 For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  (Phil. 4:11–12). His example shows that such a Christ like attitude is possible.

I want to do everything without arguing and complaining. Will you join me?

Darrell

For more on the series My Big Mouth go to www.ridgefellowship.com

 Sources: 
— Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) – New Testament
— Life Application Bible Commentary
— MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The
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Tithe Challenge – Week 4 – You are Rich

Posted on October 11, 2011 by dkoop

I am so proud of you!  You are stepping out in faith and it’s awesome.  My prayers are with you right now.  

You may be under attack as you have committed to give to God’s kingdom.   It’s ok, that’s a sign you are doing the right thing.  Hang in there.

 We already have another story from someone in our tithe challenge –that’s four weeks and four stories!  *( To read the stories, check the comment below, the email I send to those signed up or on our Facebook page:   http://www.facebook.com/RidgeFellowship )

You may see something good happen like a check in the mail, or getting the job or raise you’ve been wanting like we have seen.  You may not.  But, you will feel satisfied and closer to God as you walk in faith.  You will know that God is God at some point during this three months, but don’t quit. 

Today I am going to share something from the Global Rich List (www.globalrichlist.com )   You may want to check out this site for further encouragement.  

Every now and then you may see a list containing the richest people in the world.  You may even wonder what it would be like to have that sort of cash. But where would you sit on one of those lists? Here’s your chance to find out. If you type in your income, there is a chart that figures out where you compare in the world to the other people. 

If you make $48,000 annually in your household, you are in the top 1% of the wealthiest people in the world. 

These dots represent the people in the world; the last dot, underlined represents you.

…………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………….

Did you know three billion people live on less than $2 per day while 1.3 billion get by on less than $1 per day? 

You are rich! It’s all a matter of perspective.  Don’t listen to the marketer’s perspective.  “You need this to be happy.”  Listen to God’s perspective “For everyone to whom much is given, from him/her much will be required” Luke 12:48

This verse is haunting to me.  I have to tell myself.  “God has given me so much.  But why? To keep, to hoard, to spend only on myself?  No, to give back.”

Be rich, but be obedient too.  Giving is good. 

 Darrell   

Tithe online at www.ridgefellowship.com

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