Why Do We Give?
Moral Concerns Call to Action
When Jesus called His disciples, when He commissioned them, when Jesus spoke to the crowds that followed Him, He used action words to designate the behaviors He was commanding the disciples, followers, those wishing healing, etc. to do. When our pastors and elders in the I. P. C. Messenger articles write their directions on how we should act, study, or respond, the parts that I appreciate the most are the actions that a person can take to make a difference in his or her own life and the lives of others to glorify our Lord and Savior. So it is with the way God gives us directions on how to respond to His calling. So when God calls you to protect the unborn, the response needs to be a behavioral as well as mental and spiritual change. What will I do, personally, to accomplish this task that the Lord has laid on my heart?
This is how I came to the Right to Life movement in Savannah and became a sidewalk counselor at the abortion clinic here. The successes of babies saved, moms and dads coming to Christ, and people experiencing the love of God for the first time are truly awe-inspiring. Coming face to face with the works and power of the devil are eye-opening and real in a way I never experienced before. The example you set to your Christian friends, family, children, even strangers makes a difference. He can and does use imperfect sinful Christians like myself to accomplish His goals on a daily basis. God will use you too!
So let’ s say God has laid a burden on your heart for the unborn and their families. What can you do?
1) Pray about it. Ask for clarity on what you should do, how you should do it, and then pray for the strength and clarity to implement His direction for your life.
2) Talk with you Christian friends / family about it. Here at I. P. C. we have so many valuable resources both professional( pastors, elders, deacons) and personal( friends, Sunday school peers, and mentors) all provided by a loving God. Use them! Talk with someone who does it already. Seek out people who are doing the work now and find out what it takes.
3) DO IT. That’ s right, the time has come to initiate the new actions or behaviors that you have chosen and know are right. If it takes some training, find it. If it takes some additional resource, get it. Put on the full armor of God because Satan will come after you in new tangible ways when you are following God’ s lead, especially when you start.
Volunteer opportunities are abundant in Savannah with the Right to Life movement:
- Sidewalk Counselors for Life Savannah- Savannah Care Center- THRIVE express- The Living Vine- Rincon Care Center- 40-days for Life- I. P. C. bus trip to Washington D. C.- MCC committee at I. P. C.
Please talk with any members of the I. P. C. Moral Concerns Committee with any questions or clarification that you may need to accomplish God’ s will for your life in the Right to Life movement.
Submitted by Forrest Williams Moral Concerns Committee
Why Do We Give?
Once a year during stewardship season, the officers of the church take the opportunity to focus attention on‘ tithes and offerings.’ I would like to do this by posing the question— Why do we give? Our God is self-sufficient, meaning that He is not dependent upon us for anything, including our money. So why are we called upon to give? I think there are several reasons.
First, in order to make a determination on how much to give, we are forced to take a look at how much we have. This is a time of reflection on God’ s goodness to us, to count our blessings, and to recognize that the heavens and the earth belong to God, and all that is contained in them.( Psalm 89:11)
Second, it is an opportunity that God gives us to show our love for Him through our obedience. God demands our love and obedience. As a loving Father, He provides the means and the method by which we reveal our love and our gratitude.( Deut. 16:17)
Third, God loves us and wants to bless us for our obedience. Our obedience in the area of giving“ releases God” to pour out tremendous blessings on us.( Malachi 3:10)
Fourth, giving serves as an exercise of our faith that He will provide for all of our needs. As we faithfully give, we confirm our trust in God’ s promise to provide for our every need.( Luke 12:27-28)
As we approach the stewardship season, please give prayerful consideration to what God has called you to give and that He would enable us to give with cheerful and grateful hearts. …“ For God loves a cheerful giver.”( 2 Cor 9:7)
— Andy Brodmann Stewardship Committee
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