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!
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