Thomas Merton’s Prayer of Abandonment

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you and I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.

And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road although I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Word on Tithing

I Timothy 5: 3 – 5

3 -4 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting, slander, and evil suspicions.

5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don’t tell the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich.  6 Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth.  7 After all, we didn’t bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die.  8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

11 But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. 13 And I command you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate.

Faithfulness is about fruit

• “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:20)
• “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  (Matthew 11:28)
• “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God.”  (Romans 8:28)

• “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?”  (Matthew 25:44)
• “Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruit of the kingdom.”  (Matthew 21:43)

• “I am convinced that neither death nor life…nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8:38-39)
• “Even though I walk through the deepest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me.”  (Psalm 23:4)

Servant Leadership

Jesus also talked about enemy rulers as tyrants, in contrast to the kind of servant leadership he expected from his followers:

You know that among the Gentiles [Greeks and Romans], those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you… (Mark 10:42-43).

Hear the Word…. Again

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13)

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)

“Therefore My people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge …” (Isaiah 5:13)

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Hear the Word… Again

“Consider the lilies of the field…” Jesus says.  He goes on to say: “You cannot serve both God and money.  Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”  (Matt. 6:24-28)

Giving

For a local church to grow and make a good impact in the community it has to be staffed for Preaching, Worship, Children’s ministry, Nursery, Youth Ministry, Counseling ministry, Janitorial work, utility bills paid, technology updated, etc. All of these important essentials will be paid whether you tithe or not, because of the faithful core of tithers.

Bringing the first ten percent of our income (Un-designated) into our local church

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. Mal. 3:9

When everyone in a church tithes, then the church leadership is able to start doing the extra things that DEEPLY TOUCH the heart of God. These are areas like benevolence, inner healing counseling, Christmas for Singles Parents, Camp Scholarships for needy teens for Youth Camp and Back to School Supplies. Each of these EXTRAS is something that is SHOUTED about in heaven. Each of these extras is a situation where people’s eternal souls are reached.

The Lord created the tithe to help local churches to become spiritual FAMILIES! The tithe keeps the Rich from becoming Arrogant and it keeps the Poor from feeling Shame. The tithe allows everyone to contribute  EQUALLY to the needs of their church family.

The Single Mom who only makes $450 per week can look at her $45 tithe check, sitting next to the successful business owners who make $4,500 per week and their $450 tithe without shame or superiority. They both gave equally to THEIR church family.

It is impossible to ever have your church become a family unless you are willing to share responsibility for the needs in that family.

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate FAMILY, (Including Immediate Spiritual Family) he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8