Union Baptist Church - North Charleston, SC

May The Lord Richly Bless You Is My Prayer

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:45:00 +0000

Someone has written these beautiful words. Must read and try to understand the deep meaning of it. They are like the ten commandments to follow in life all the time.

1. Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout.

2. So why is a car's windshield so large and the rear view mirror so small? Because our past is not as important as our future. So, look ahead and move on.

3. Friendship is like a book. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4. All things in life are temporary. If it's going well, enjoy it, that won't last long. If it's going badly, don't worry, that won't last long either.

5.Old friends are gold! New friends are diamond! If you get a diamond, don't forget the gold! Because to hold a diamond, you always need a base of gold!

6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, God smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!"

7. When God solves your problems, you have faith in His abilities; when God doesn't solve your problems, He has faith in your abilities.

8. A blind person asked St. Anthony, "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied, "Yes, losing your vision!"

9.When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10. Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's peace.

Live this day to the fullest. It could be your last! Trust in God and enjoy life. It's the only one you'll ever have. God is in control even if you don't think He is. He's been running the universe for countless years and He'll continue to do so. Relax, breathe, laugh and rest in the knowledge of God's power, purpose and care of your life.

An Interesting Story

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:35:00 +0000

(This was sent to me via e-mail)

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.

Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you.

I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.

Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.

By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing

Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot.

But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room.

When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful - in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front.

Jim was terrified.. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed,

Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and

then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!

His name is "Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.

"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said. Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
If you plant hard work, you will reap success
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

Think about this for a minute.

If I happened to show up on your door step crying, would you care?
If I called you and asked you to pick me up because something happened, would you come?
If I had one day left to live my life, would you be part of that last day?
If I needed a shoulder to cry on, would you give me yours?

This is a test to see who your real friends are or if you are just someone to talk to you when they are

bored.

Do you know what the relationship is between your two eyes?

They blink together,
they move together,
they cry together,
they see things together,
and they sleep together,
but they never see each other;

that's what friendship is.

Your aspiration is your motivation, your motivation is your belief , your belief is your peace,

your peace is your target, your target is heaven, and life is like hard core torture without it!

Save the Earth. it's the only planet with chocolate!

This reaaaaaalllly cool guy is looking for a job opening

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:00:00 +0000

The Resume of Jesus

Christ Address:     Ephesians 1:20
Phone:        Romans 10:13
Website:      The Bible . Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus

_____________________________________________________
Objective
My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.
_____________________________________________________________________
Qualifications
I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)
_____________________________________________________________________
Occupational Background
I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49 ).I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15 -17)
_____________________________________________________________________
Skills Work Experiences
Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33 ).Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)
_____________________________________________________________________
Educational Background
I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3).My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).
_____________________________________________________________________
Major Accomplishments
I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26 ).I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15 ).I defeated the arch enemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15 ).I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website
._____________________________________________________________________
References
Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance.
_____________________________________________________________________
In Summation
Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47 ). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15 ).

Send this resume to everyone you know, you never know who may have an opening!

Thanks for your help.

God's order???

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:55:00 +0000

What an awesome and orderly God we have!

For example:-the eggs of the potato bug hatch in 7 days;-those of the canary in 14 days;-those of the barnyard hen in 21 days;-The eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28 days;-those of the mallard in 35 days;-The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days.(Notice, they are all divisible by seven, the number of days in a week!)

God's wisdom is seen in the making of an elephant. The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the same direction. No other quadruped is so made. God planned that this animal would have a huge body, too large to live on two legs. For this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily.

The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first. A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first. How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation!God's wisdom is revealed in His arrangement of sections and segments, as well as in the number of grains.-Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind.-Each orange has an even number of segments.-Each ear of corn has an even number of rows.-Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains.-Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number.-The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to the minute in all Kinds of weather.All grains are found in even numbers on the stalks, and the Lord Specified thirty fold, sixty fold, and a hundredfold - all even numbers.

God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day, so that Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed!

Thus the Lord in His wonderful grace can arrange the life that is Entrusted to His care in such a way that it will carry out His purposes and plans, and will be fragrant with His presence.The lives of each of you may be ordered by the Lord in a beautiful way for His glory, if you will only entrust Him with your life. If you try to regulate your own life, it will only be a mess and a failure. Only the One Who made the brain and the heart can successfully guide them to a profitable end.

Only the God-planned safe life is successful. Only the life given over to the care of the Lord is fulfilled.

I HOPE YOU FIND THIS AS FASCINATING AS I DID. WOW!!!May God bless you in ways you never dreamed of!

T'was the Month before Christmas

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:25:00 +0000

T’was the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away

The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,

not Happy Holiday !

Please, all Christians join together and

wish everyone you meet

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!

Be who you are and say what you feel,

because those who mind don't matter,

and those who matter don't mind.

Theodor Seuss Geisel

The Temple is Within.

Call Jesus

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:35:00 +0000

As I was driving home this week worrying about all the crap going on in Washington

and how my life was falling apart I saw a yard sign that said:

NEED HELP?

CALL JESUS

1-800-005-3787

Out of curiosity and desperation, I did.

A Mexican showed up with a lawnmower.

Jesus Loves me (the Senior Version)

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:15:00 +0000

"Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me, this I know,

Though my hair is white as snow

Though my sight is growing dim,

Still He bids me trust in Him.

(CHORUS)

YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..

YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,

With my hand in His I'll go

On through life, let come what may,

He'll be there to lead the way.

(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,

In my heart He puts a song..

Telling me in words so clear,

"Have no fear, for I am near."

(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,

And life's victories have been won.

He will take me home above,

Then I'll understand His love.

(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?

Have I ever told Him so?

Jesus loves to hear me say,

That I love Him every day.

(CHORUS)

How would you spend 86,400 a day?

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:55:00 +0000

Imagine that you had won thefollowing prize in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit$86,400.00 in your private account for your use.

However, this prize has rules, just asany game has certain rules.

The first set of rules would be:

Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you. You may not simply transfer money into some other account. You may only spend it.Each morning upon awakening, thebank opens your account with another $86,400.00 for that day.

The second set of rules:

The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, it’s over, the game is over! It can close the account and you will not receive a new one. What would you personally do?

You would buy anything andeverything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all peopleyou love, right? Even for people you don't know, because you couldn’tpossibly spend it all on yourself, right?

You would try to spend every cent,and use it all, right?

ACTUALLY This GAME is REALITY!

Each of us is in possession of sucha magical bank. We just can't seem to see it. The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!

Each morning we awaken to receive86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when we go to sleep at night, anyremaining time is NOT credited to us.

What we haven't lived up that day isforever lost.

Yesterday is forever gone.

Each morning the account isrefilled, but the bank can dissolve your

Account at any time....WITHOUTWARNING.

SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400seconds?

Those seconds are worth so much morethan the same amount in dollars.

Think about that, and always thinkof this:

Enjoy every second of your life,because time races by so much quicker than you think.

So take care of yourself, be Happy,Love Deeply and enjoy life!

Here's wishing you a wonderful andbeautiful day.

Start spending!!

Power of the Word

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Did you know that when you carry "the Bible", Satan has a headache,

when you open it, he collapses,

when he sees you reading it, he loses his strength,

AND when you stand on the Word of God, Satan can't hurt you!

And did you also know... when you are about to forward this message to others, the devil will discourage you, but let's do it anyway.

ASAP!

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:40:00 +0000

means "Always Say APrayer"

"God, our Father, If it is your will, walk through my house and take away all my worries and illnesses and please watch over and heal my family

in Jesus name, Amen."

This prayer is so powerful. Please share with others.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

A Christian

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:55:00 +0000

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston , Texas . Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area.

When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.'

Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount?

Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet.'

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, 'Here,you gave me too much change ..'

The driver, with a smile, replied, 'Aren't you the new preacher in town?' 'Yes' he replied. 'Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday.'

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, 'Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.'

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read.

This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself 'Christian.'

Watch your thoughts ; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits..

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny

. I'm glad a friend forwarded this to me as a reminder. So, I choose to forward it to you - my friend. God bless you.

Beware

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:05:00 +0000

WARNING

BEWARE OF TERRORIST GROUPS IN CHURCH

Latest news reports are that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches.. They have been identified as: Bin Sleepin, Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin.

Their leader, Lucifer Bin Workin, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ . The plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy..

However, there have been reports of a sixth group. A tiny cell known by the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church.. Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along.

Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ. We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has different characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin Fastin, and Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ to return.

NO CHURCH IS EXEMPT!

(However, you can spot them if you bin lookin and bin goin.)

Plant the seed

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:10:00 +0000

The farmer opens the earth drops the seed in the hole, covers the seed with the earth, some how that seed pushes up through the earth and reaches the light nothing stops it, yet we who are more than a seed allows things that are covering us henders our pushing towards to light. What are you waiting for keep on pushing you are almost there.

Alone ?

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 05:43:00 +0000

Alone? well not really listen ! hear anything? I thought you would, every sound in your ear is powered by God.

The Son

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:01:00 +0000

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands..

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift..'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence...

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh'S, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford..

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son..

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel.. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over..'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son over 2,000 years ago to die on the Cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything!

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE

The Bible

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:16:00 +0000

When you carry the Bible, Satan gets a headache..... When you open

it, he collapses..... When he sees you reading it, he faints..... When he sees

that you are living what you read, he flees..... And when you are about to

forward this message.... he will try and discourage you.. I just defeated

him!!! Any other takers?

Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point!

Layman's 10 Commandments.

Mon, 23 May 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Someone has written these beautiful words. Read and try to understand the deeper meaning within.

They are like the Ten Commandments and should be remembered all through life.

Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs you along the right path throughout life.
Why is a car's windscreen so large & the rear view mirror so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.
Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.
All things in life are temporary. If it's going well, enjoy it! It can't last forever. If it's going wrong, don't worry, that wouldn't last long either.
Old Friends are like Gold! New Friends are like Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond in place, you always need a Base of Gold!
Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, my dear one, it's just a bend, not the end!
When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems, HE has faith in your abilities!
A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"
When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them. So at other times, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.
WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today's PEACE.

Money-the Rest of the Story

Thu, 05 May 2011 14:35:00 +0000

In the book of Acts, Chapter 18 you will find is account

24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a] and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

In many churches today preachers will site scriptures in Tithing. And just like Apollos, while what they are telling you is true and biblically sound, it is only part of the story. The sad part is that for the most part, this tactic of just telling their members to tithe is just not working. According to most national statistics 53% of Christians have not given to their church in the last month. Not only that, but church giving has not exceeded 3% as a portion of income in 40 years. Church members want to give, but they are so burdened by personal debt that tithing is difficult. If Pastors and other spiritual leaders really want their church to be the givers that God wants them to be, then they need to give their flock the whole story about how God wants us to relate to money.

Let take a look at the congregation, when you pull up you see a lot of nice car, but do you consider those nice care payments. You enter the doors and you see a nicely dressed congregation, but you don't see the credit card bills
Our members may seem to have plenty, but the majority of them are probably struggling to make it. With all of their bills-credit cards, student loans, car payments. mortages-they don't know how they can afford to give.

Sadly, 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. The reality is that church and charity giving isn't always a part of their budget. The result? Churches with limited resources for ministry progress, outreach and missions.

Church leaders need to rethink what messages they are giving their members about handling money God's Way. If these instructions are given the right way, and people learn that they don't need to try to impress their neighbors, then an amazing thing will start to happen with your congregation. You will see some of the following:

Increase giving
Develop a long-term plan for your church-without debt.
Create church-wide energy and motivation to get right financially.
Help repair marriages that are strained by financial problems.
Make church financial decisions easier.
Reduce pastoral counseling load.
Develop and grow new leaders.
Learn how to revive and renew the church.G

God the father has given his children, more than 800 Scriptures about money. Here are a few of the many verses that will help you understand how God views finances.

God the father has given his children, more than 800 Scriptures about money. However, my churches leaders only insist on telling part of the story. They insist on doing the same thing, the same way and expecting a different result. This will not work. Perhaps it's time for those churches that want to see change, to do something different, perhaps it's time to teach your people the how God wants them to handle money, riches and blessings, so that they can in turn become givers the way God wants them to. There are already several great Bible themed money management programs(Crown Financial, Momentum) , and those churches that have been using them, have seen a big difference in their congregation in terms of giving, and in turn of spiritual growth. Of course getting Church leaders to change is just a difficult as getting their members to change, in this age tradition often supersedes the word of God.