A Story from the Heart - God is Here All the Time
By: Karen Astrom, Treasurer

Summer is here! Everyone takes time off from work except God. We go on vacations to the parks, beaches, or just to catch up on sleep from our busy days from September until June. We see God in our homes, church, and when we are away. God does not sleep. God is here when times are good and we pray for traveling mercies and good health. In tough times or the “Rocky Roads” in our lives, we run to God and pray for jobs, food, and healing. God does not turn us down, but is always here to help those in needs through the Church. Here at Messiah, we receive food donations for our pantry; we have faithful members who pray for us in good and tough times in our lives. God is here all the time!

Messiah Lutheran Church is open 12 months a year. Messiah is obedient to God to deliver the Gospel message to all who come to worship. Messiah cannot be forgotten when we go on vacation. We come home from vacations and have gas, electric, and phone bills waiting for us to pay. Here at Messiah we have the same bills! God is here all the time!

Messiah tithes 10% of our offerings. Yes, 5% goes to the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) for people in need in the world and the other 5%
goes to people in need at Messiah, or in our community. This concept is taken from the Bible. Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the law in which all Israelites were to give 10 percent of everything they earned and grew to the Tabernacle or Temple.

Leviticus 27:30 (NIV) “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.”

Numbers 18:26 (NIV) “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘when you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the
LORD’s offering.”

Maybe you cannot tithe; but you donate your time and talents to the Church. There is a lot to do throughout the year to keep up the inside and outside of our Church Property in good order. Do you Tithe? Do you help out around the Church? 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

God is here at Messiah! We as a Church are Faithful, give Hope, speak the Truth, Forgive, and show the Light of Jesus even in darkness. God is here! God is here all the time.

Don’t forget Messiah with your offering, time and talents when you go away during the summer. Messiah does not go on vacation but continues to do the Work of God. Remember God is here at Messiah Lutheran Church all the time!