The Spanking I got for not tithing :-) and Gods provision

Ok, so no one is perfect..i'm about to be totally honest with you all and make a confession regarding my tithes. I havent been paying them like I should. It seems like every time we get money, its going to a bill or SOMETHING. We are so caught up in all the things we have to spend it on that we dont take the time to set aside God's 10%. well its hurting us BAD. Robbing God is just not cool at all. There is nothing good about it.

Of course I remember to pay my thithes when i go to church, but by then we've spent it all. Our finances have been totally out of control since Jeff and I moved in together. satan has really tried to get us any which way he could and money happend to be one of our weaker points since we had none to begin with. So we are behind on our car payment among other things. We have very little money coming in and lots more going out. So tithing, i'm ashamed to admit, hasnt been the first thing on our minds until NOW.

I HATE absolutely LOATHE asking people for money. I cannot describe how much it bothers me to inconvenience someone like that. But yesterday i was going over all the bills (i know its Jeffs job but trust me he needs help) and I was discouraged. I emailed my ex husband about the car we have thats in his name still and told him we were behind. I then told him he could either pay the past two payments (he owes me money) or he could come get it because I had to buy school supplies and stuff my kids needed with the child support thats coming soon. no answer.

So last night i had this dream that my ex and, two friends, and I were standing in front of two elevators. I almost got in the elevator with them but i saw two sippy cups in the other elevator so i decided to take that one instead of the one they were on because my children really needed those sippy cups. So when i got aboard, i pushed the number of the level we were parked on and to make a long story short, the elevator would not cooperate and was WAY TOTALLY out of my control and began to fly around like a roller coaster! At the end of my dream, i find myself standing at the beggining of my grandparents road. I called my ex to see if he would drive me to my house. He was like why the heck are you calling me? I said "Look, you can either take me to my house or I'll just walk to my grandparents house." He didnt say anything and i knew he wouldnt help me so i hung up. I then went to my grandparents house and they let me stay. It was night time and I was worried about waking them up and being an inconvenience.

I really thought i knew what it meant...i was worried, stressed, concerned i'd be left without a ride and have to move with my grandparents or my husbands parents who are the same age as my grandmother and grandfather. MAN I was thinking ALL kinds of stuff! But PRAISE GOD for people He places in our lives to help us! I wrote Mia and told her my problem and my dream. I said I JUST KNOW IT MEANS IM GONNA LOSE MY RIDE AND HAVE TO MOVE IN WITH SOMEONE ELSE!!! But she said "wait. did you move in with them in your dream or did they just help you?" I said they helped me. Come to find out, the road i had to walk to get to their house was the road i didnt want to walk by asking them for help! I wanted to be home the entire time! My ex wasnt going to help me out, so I had to ask my grandparents who INDEED WERE happy to help when i called them today. But the dream I had made it much easier for me to call them because the Lord let me know ahead of time they would be happy to help!

Yesterday jeff came up to me and told me "Dont be afraid to tell me something the Lord has told you to tell me." It was a word from God for him to tell me. So today God tells me..."Ask for help from your grandparents, sit down with Jeff and make a budget and follow it. Pay your tithes and you wont have to worry about asking someone else for help!"

So I told Jeff PRAISE GOD IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE IN HIS WILL!!!!
Love you all!
Daph

Amen to that. Also don't forget that we are to tithe not only with money but with our time, talent and our treasure. God knows are needs are ability to pay tithe. Being obedient to the Lord in your tithe amount is what we should do but if you are having trouble meeting your tithe amount, ask the Lord to show you what to do to meet that tithe. He will show you if you are doing something that hinders it. If not are you giving of your time and talent? I would respond with a yes.

I am glad that all worked out.

God Bless,

Connie

Thank you Connie! That was a very encouraging word!
blessings,
Daph

WOW!! GOD IS GOOD!! I use that phrase too much lately!!lol...but its definitely true!...Because of your obediance, God is making a way for you! I totally agree with the "asking people for money/help thing". With me, I hate it when people hold things over your head, making you feel bad for asking in the first place! But GOd, being the god that he is, will always put the right people in your path that will give out of the kindness of their hearts!! Inspite of our error, we are made perfect when we confess our sins. Thats what you did, and GOd totally blessed!!!
thanks for posting, so encouraging
desiree

p.s. I was just thinking about the "sippy cup" thing. You weren't elevated because it seemed like you were worried about your situation/circumstance (not having money and the kids needing supplies). I feel like God is saying, "Seek me first" then everything else that you need (including the wants) will be added. (Matthew 6:33-34)..If you take care of God's business, he will automatically take care of yours! AS connie has mentioned, keep doing what you're doing (giving your time, being submissive, helping/encouraging others in God,). Because God sees all and knows all! HE IS YOUR SOURCE! YOU SHALL NOT LACK!!
...okay, before I get in 'preach mode' I just wanted to add that my sweet sis!
signing off finally-lol
desiree

LOL thanks Desiree youre right! PRAISE GOD!!!
Daph

Amen and Amen! I just love you guys to the enth degree.

Ms. Dove
you are so sweet!! I LOVE YOU TOO!!
desiree

Thank you for being so transparent. This really blessed me. I have been there and have struggled in this area myself. Just the fact that you were willing to share it helped me to understand that we all are tempted and fall short in some areas. I am encouraged in knowing of God's mercy and grace. I will continue to pray for you. I ask that you all do the same for me. I get to going really good for a good lenth of time and occasionally something will come up where I get behind by one tithe offering. It's like I better get it in the offering quickly or it's gone. I missed one this month and now it seems just to pay the second one is a strain. Again I will do really good for serveral months and bam. Something happens. I want the cycle broken. Thank you for being anointed but transparent.

Please pray for me

For married gals...I have wanted to tithe for a long time but my husband, though he loves God, has had a problem in this area. I called a pastor on Christian radio station KLOVE (dont you just love them?) and he said some men just have problem in this area. I was encouraged to ask for my husbands blessing for me to tithe on "my part" of the finances. He said "What ever you want to do".....I asked again. I told my husband that I only want to tithe If he gives me his blessing with his heart and his words, and he said (finally) "you know...If you feel good about this , go ahead Linda, and I do give you my blessing". I was encouraged.
I have had good things happen to me in these ten months. For the first time in years there is no fear in my financial area...and I have only "bounced" one check in ten months, much better than my previous record.....so I encourage married women to seek confirmation from their husbands on tithing....it has been awesome !!!

ps...the funds on that one check came in the next day but the bank still honored it!!!!! and now it is almost a year and still i am in awe at the way God is helping me learn to handle my finances everyday. I pray for prosperity for you all amen!!