Brochures are now available for the recent podcasts:
- Bringing Glory To God
- The Giver's Willingness
Links are on the right-hand margin of this page
Monday, March 09, 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009
Monday's Meditation - March 09, 2009 - Bringing Glory To God
A new podcast has been published to the More Than The Gift website and iTunes Store:
Bringing Glory To God
Discussions regarding Christian offertory giving can get bogged down by battles over which biblical principles should guide our giving. I think that part of the problem arises as we focus on scriptures in isolation rather than also trying to connect-the-dots. I have purposefully chosen to illustrate these lessons from both Old and New Testament scriptures. I have offered a glimpse of how God is leading me to connect-the-dots. The messages that I have received flow from the harmony and wholeness of God’s Word. God has not changed and He has been unveiling His purposes and plans for our giving since the time of Cain and Abel. Revelation of those purposes and plans are found throughout the Holy Scriptures, yet the church continues to struggle with interpretations of the messages and their appropriate application.
While I have tried to provide a harmonizing perspective through this lesson series, I have little doubt that differences of opinion will remain until Christ’s return. I’m reminded of Paul’s discussions of legalism and grace regarding the eating of meat that had been offered to idols. Paul knew that the insights he offered would not conclusively settle the debate. So, he concludes his discussion by saying “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV) I can think of no sounder advice on which to base this last lesson. In Isaiah 43:7 we are told that God created those who are called by His name for His glory. I will conclude this lesson series by attempting to point us and our offerings toward that purpose.
This is the final podcast in the series of podcasts regarding the theme : "What Our Giving Accomplishes".
As always, I invite you to receive Monday’s Meditation as “food for thought “ for the week, then let it become “fuel for action” for the weekend and beyond.
The is audio podcast is available on my website: morethanthegift.net and the iTunes Store. Links are provided in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog. if you don't have iTunes on your computer, a link is provided below to download the iTunes software.
After listening to the podcast in the iTunes Store, I encourage you to offer a review and to send an invitation to a friend or loved one to listen also.
A separate link for the podcast website is also provided .
Use this blog for your comments, questions and testimonies regarding the episode.
Keep praying with me!
Bringing Glory To God
Discussions regarding Christian offertory giving can get bogged down by battles over which biblical principles should guide our giving. I think that part of the problem arises as we focus on scriptures in isolation rather than also trying to connect-the-dots. I have purposefully chosen to illustrate these lessons from both Old and New Testament scriptures. I have offered a glimpse of how God is leading me to connect-the-dots. The messages that I have received flow from the harmony and wholeness of God’s Word. God has not changed and He has been unveiling His purposes and plans for our giving since the time of Cain and Abel. Revelation of those purposes and plans are found throughout the Holy Scriptures, yet the church continues to struggle with interpretations of the messages and their appropriate application.
While I have tried to provide a harmonizing perspective through this lesson series, I have little doubt that differences of opinion will remain until Christ’s return. I’m reminded of Paul’s discussions of legalism and grace regarding the eating of meat that had been offered to idols. Paul knew that the insights he offered would not conclusively settle the debate. So, he concludes his discussion by saying “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV) I can think of no sounder advice on which to base this last lesson. In Isaiah 43:7 we are told that God created those who are called by His name for His glory. I will conclude this lesson series by attempting to point us and our offerings toward that purpose.
This is the final podcast in the series of podcasts regarding the theme : "What Our Giving Accomplishes".
As always, I invite you to receive Monday’s Meditation as “food for thought “ for the week, then let it become “fuel for action” for the weekend and beyond.
The is audio podcast is available on my website: morethanthegift.net and the iTunes Store. Links are provided in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog. if you don't have iTunes on your computer, a link is provided below to download the iTunes software.
After listening to the podcast in the iTunes Store, I encourage you to offer a review and to send an invitation to a friend or loved one to listen also.
A separate link for the podcast website is also provided .
Use this blog for your comments, questions and testimonies regarding the episode.
Keep praying with me!
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Monday's Meditation - March 02, 2009 - The Giver's Willingnesson For Eternity
A new podcast has been published to the More Than The Gift website and iTunes Store:
The Giver's Willingness
Abraham had waited 25 years for the fulfillment of God’s promise and then (when Abraham was 100 years old) the fulfillment came. Sarah bore her only child, Abraham’s son, Abraham’s heir. Isaac was a source of great joy and hope for Abraham. Isaac was a symbol of God’s faithfulness and promises of blessing. So, I can’t imagine the thoughts Abraham had and emotions he felt when God requested that he offer Isaac’s life as a burnt offering. In spite of what he may have felt, Abraham’s response was amazing. Abraham exhibited no hesitancy. He did not question, barter or argue with God. He arose early the next morning and began his journey to the appointed place of sacrifice. Abraham exhibited great faith. On the third day, Abraham instructed his servants to stay with the donkeys while he and Isaac journeyed to the appointed place of worship. Before leaving them Abraham spoke words of faith, stating that both he and Isaac would return to them. The writer of Hebrews explains that Abraham was convinced that even if he sacrificed Isaac unto the Lord, God could raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham prepared to offer Isaac’s life not knowing that Isaac’s life was not the offering that God was really seeking. At the appointed time God provided Abraham with a substitute object of sacrifice, a ram in the bush. Why was a substitute acceptable? Why was a sacrifice of lesser value sufficient? It was acceptable because more than the tangible object of Abraham’s giving, the offering God was seeking was Abraham’s willingness to withhold nothing from Him. In raising the knife of sacrifice to offer his son, Abraham demonstrated to himself and us his unrestrained willingness to give his all to the Lord. No object of sacrifice was greater than the gift he had already given.
This podcast is a continuation the series of podcasts regarding the theme : "God Is Interested In More Than Just Our Gift".
As always, I invite you to receive Monday’s Meditation as “food for thought “ for the week, then let it become “fuel for action” for the weekend and beyond.
The is audio podcast is available on my website: morethanthegift.net and the iTunes Store. Links are provided in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog. if you don't have iTunes on your computer, a link is provided below to download the iTunes software.
After listening to the podcast in the iTunes Store, I encourage you to offer a review and to send an invitation to a friend or loved one to listen also.
A separate link for the podcast website is also provided .
Use this blog for your comments, questions and testimonies regarding the episode.
The Giver's Willingness
Abraham had waited 25 years for the fulfillment of God’s promise and then (when Abraham was 100 years old) the fulfillment came. Sarah bore her only child, Abraham’s son, Abraham’s heir. Isaac was a source of great joy and hope for Abraham. Isaac was a symbol of God’s faithfulness and promises of blessing. So, I can’t imagine the thoughts Abraham had and emotions he felt when God requested that he offer Isaac’s life as a burnt offering. In spite of what he may have felt, Abraham’s response was amazing. Abraham exhibited no hesitancy. He did not question, barter or argue with God. He arose early the next morning and began his journey to the appointed place of sacrifice. Abraham exhibited great faith. On the third day, Abraham instructed his servants to stay with the donkeys while he and Isaac journeyed to the appointed place of worship. Before leaving them Abraham spoke words of faith, stating that both he and Isaac would return to them. The writer of Hebrews explains that Abraham was convinced that even if he sacrificed Isaac unto the Lord, God could raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham prepared to offer Isaac’s life not knowing that Isaac’s life was not the offering that God was really seeking. At the appointed time God provided Abraham with a substitute object of sacrifice, a ram in the bush. Why was a substitute acceptable? Why was a sacrifice of lesser value sufficient? It was acceptable because more than the tangible object of Abraham’s giving, the offering God was seeking was Abraham’s willingness to withhold nothing from Him. In raising the knife of sacrifice to offer his son, Abraham demonstrated to himself and us his unrestrained willingness to give his all to the Lord. No object of sacrifice was greater than the gift he had already given.
This podcast is a continuation the series of podcasts regarding the theme : "God Is Interested In More Than Just Our Gift".
As always, I invite you to receive Monday’s Meditation as “food for thought “ for the week, then let it become “fuel for action” for the weekend and beyond.
The is audio podcast is available on my website: morethanthegift.net and the iTunes Store. Links are provided in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog. if you don't have iTunes on your computer, a link is provided below to download the iTunes software.
After listening to the podcast in the iTunes Store, I encourage you to offer a review and to send an invitation to a friend or loved one to listen also.
A separate link for the podcast website is also provided .
Use this blog for your comments, questions and testimonies regarding the episode.
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