I knew it!

Just based on the heart of God towards the stranger, widow and the fatherless, I knew that God could tell us or we elect to give our tithes to those who needed it that He would bless us.

Then my pastor gave this scripture to us yesterday:

Deuteronomy 26:12-13 (NKJV) “When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year— the year of tithing—and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled, then you shall say before the Lord your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them.

What does this mean to me?

I know that some people have a hard time giving to churches.  Okay, whatever.  You can still honour God and give ten percent back to what is already His in the first place by giving to those who God has such a special love for.

So like those day laborors on the street corner? Leviticus 19:33-34

So like all the kids who grew up without fathers? Psalm 10:14

So like the single moms whose boyfriend/husband who has left for the woman to do it all? Psalm 68:5

God never said your tithes had to be funneled through a church to help the needy.

You see a need?  Let the Spirit stirs your heart.  Ask Him, “What do You want me to deliver to those in need?  I don’t give what is not mine.  I just a carrier of the portions that God has blessed me with.”

Strangely enough, God is so good like that.

Loving the gas prices? No.

Loving the how risen gas prices affect food prices by two ways? No.

Hence, I love this list of The 20 Healthiest Foods for Under $1 Per Serving.   This post lists things like Wild Rice, Oats, Tofu and Coffee.  I love everything on this list and have a recipe for all of these ingredients.  Nicely done, the article has recipes suggestion.

I would also put in yogurt just because it is so cheap and so good and good for those who are lactose intolerant.  Do a little bit more research and add Ham to that protein list for about $2 per serving.

My peeps:

James
Brent
Kristen
Buddy
Dan
Rick
Brandy
Deborah
Joel
Theressa
Steven
Love
Tawny
Kelly
Jen
Ron
Darla
Theressa
Heidi

This is why we need prayer.  Everyday.  For all things.

Not as soon as Jean prayed for me, I had a battle last night.

Let me say that because my strength and shield are of God that nearly all the time, I feel nigh invincible.

I am not so cocky that things won’t get to me and hurt me.  I know they will.  I am fighting a battle.  I am in a war.  I can’t expect to fight and not get hurt in a serious way.  But whatever injuries, critical, crippling or otherwise, I know my God will protect, heal, deliver and restore.  My God has it all.  Whom shall I fear?

Then just last night, I was helping out a friend who used to be in porn and saved by the grace of God Almighty.  Unfortunately, she still has images/videos all over the internet many of which she has no control over.

She wanted me to respond to a myspace wall post from a guy.  So I go to the guy’s myspace page to send him a message by posting a comment when I have to scroll to the bottom of his profile.

Let us say we know now he is an “old” fan of my friend.  In other words, he had a picture of my friend that I wish I hadn’t seen.

In the past, that one pic would have broken me.  Satan and his armies launched a million exploding arrows upon me day after day and this time, one hit me square in the chest.

This time, I felt the sting of the pierce.  I feel my skin lit on fire.  I smell the stench of cooked human flesh as the arrow exploded.  I hear the armies of Satan laugh with a victorious roar.  It is enough to take the breath out of me.

I know the arrow is there.  I know it hurts like all hell.  My mind wanted to race a million miles a minute and ease the pain away.  The flesh knew what to do.  My flesh thought he had life again.

But my spirit is born and sustained by God.  Without stopping in my tracks and through gritted teeth and eyes full of tears from the pain and torment, God reached out, pulled that arrow out and healed of my pain.  In my joy and thankfulness, I reached out to His hand, kissed it and told him, “I love You”.

This is how God is so good.  Glory to God in the highest.