Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation that complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel, which they complain against me. Tell them, 'As I live, says Yahweh, surely as you have spoken in my ears, so I will do to you.' Numbers 14:26-28 WEB.Several times in my walk with the Lord, I have seen the idle words I spoke come to pass in my life. Sometimes very quickly, bringing either good or bad consequences, determined by what I had said. This is an Old Testament scripture, but I can assure you it is still valid today. The Lord, and others, listen to our conversation. So be careful of the words that you say, for someone may be listening.
For a season, the church we attended at the time preached on giving so much that I began to feel nauseous. Now, don't get me wrong, we firmly believe in giving. We tithe on all the money that comes into our house, and we give above that. But I vividly remember one morning when they took five consecutive offerings, then sold donuts for a fundraiser.
After that time, we decided to determine an amount to give immediately when an alms offering was taken. Then the more the preacher talked about it, the less that amount would be. At the ten minute mark, our gift would reach zero.
Not long after that, we sold some property and had a large tithe from its sale. Typically, our routine would be to give it to our church. But we prayed and asked the Lord to provide us with wisdom. I told Sylvia that morning, "If they preach on giving again this week, then we are to give it somewhere else."
We went to church that Sunday, and the sermon was about healing. So we began to prepare a tithe check for the property. Halfway through his message on healing, the preacher suddenly paused, turned around, and looked right at us. Then he pulled out his wallet, shook it, and said, "Sometimes to get your healing, you have to give it all!" Then he went into a heated twenty-minute sermon on giving. I almost fell out of my chair laughing while tearing up their check.
God is so good, and I adore that He is not a respecter of persons. Your gifts and tithes are sacred to Him, no matter how small. He will guide your giving if you allow Him just as He did with us. God listens to our conversation, and He rescued us from a mistake. That day He had someone else in mind for our gift, which soon became apparent to us. We blessed some other ministries and people instead of following the usual routine.
Let the words you speak today be positive, encouraging, uplifting, and not doom and gloom. Involve the Lord in your decisions, especially financial ones. Like a small rudder steers a ship, your tongue guides your life (James 3:4). Prophesy your bright future so that it will come to pass, and do not speak curses over yourself and your family. He listens to the words you speak.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the wonderful life that you have given me. I know that the plans that you have for me are good! With your help, today is going to be fun, simple, and easy. It will be my best day yet! In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!Note: Praying you all have a safe, fun and joyful New Year's Eve celebration! ALSO, ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presence and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link:
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That is so true thank you Jesus
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen. Giving THANKS for all my Blessings. Health and safety to all in the New Year. God bless you Pastor Dion and Sylvia. AMEN
Amen Good Morning Everyone
Amen!! Happy New Year Paston Dion and Syliva, all the blessings to you both in the new year!! To all of the Refreshing Hope Ministries family I wish you all a very safe, blessed, joyful and Happy New Year!
Thank you Jesus for all our blessings.We love and worship you. Amen.Everyone have a blessed New Year and thank you Pastor Dion and Sylvia for RHM, God bless .
Thank you RHM for getting me through 2020 with your daily devotionals. Your Ministry always shares a personal story that gives hope and understanding to how God Loves us so much. God Bless!
Thank You Heavenly Father for all Your blessings through this year, for the healing You have provided us and for giving us the opportunity to have this Ministry to be closer to You. I humbly ask You to keep blessing our Pastor and Sylvia for the excellent job they are doing to keep us closer to You. In Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen. Thank You Lord almighty.
On this last day of the year wishing you and Sylvia and our great families in this Ministry a blessed, safe filled with love New Year, God bless you all. Amen.
Amen thank you Lord for your faithfulness!
Amen God bless us all in jesus name amen
Lord please continue to bless the RHM family in 2021! Thank you Father for putting pastor Dion and Sylvia in my life they are a blessing to many.
Thank You Father for all Your blessings and provisions! Help me to speak only positive and encouraging words, Amen.
Happy New Year to everyone here at Refreshing Hope! May you all be blessed in this coming year and a special thank you and blessing to Pastor Dion and Sylvia :)
Amen and Amen
That was great and funny and spoke to me on a couple levels, thank you. I hope you have a blesses New Years!
Thank you Lord for providing us with all we need and your extra blessings. You are such a great and loving God. May 2020 be filled with all the good things you want for your family. A Happy and Blessed New Year to you Sylvia and Pastor Dion. Oh how I would be lost without you.
Such an on-point message for me today, Pastor Dion! Lord, thank you for each person and situation You have placed in my life today. I know that the plans that You have are good! Praising You as we welcome in 2021!
What an excellent devotional. I've learned to try to speak righteously and not in a self defeating way. Unfortunately i revert to that bad habit and have to ask God for forgiveness. Please strengthen me dear God in the name of Jesus praise God Amen.
Yes amen Lord
I totally agree with you on this Pastor Dion. I usually give 10%, but I sometimes split up that amount between churches and other ministries that I feel the Lord leading me to give to. I think it is okay to speak on giving and especially to help people know what God's word says about giving, but sometimes some churches just take this too far. Sometimes you feel like they are hitting over the head with it. God bless Refreshing Hope Ministries. I am so thankful to have this ministry especially during the pandemic shut down when we can not meet with our normal church in person. Happy New year everyone and God bless you all!
Amen
Amen! The Lord listens and He answers prayers in His time, He knows what's best for us and all of those around us! Thank you Lord, praise, honor and worship unto You!!!
Amen!
It didn't take me to read more than the first few lines of this one to get wholloped right in the mouth by the truth in this devitional lol. Just another thing to add to the repent list. Thank you for this devotional, Pastor Dion, the truth hurts, but it's better than the alternative. Praying for the Lord's forgiveness for the junk that passes from my lips from time to time.