Yep, goin the religious route for a minute.
We had a big sermon on Sunday about how a LOT of people put money above God. They worry about money constantly, and are always saying, if I just had a little more. Sermon was REALLY good. Of course, talking about money in a church, tithe is going to come up. Now, as a Christian, you're supposed to tithe 10% of your yearly income. Doesn't sound like a lot. But when you are on a pretty fixed income....ITS A LOT!
Lucas and I thought about it, figured out home much we'd have to give for a month. There is no way, unless we don't eat and steal gas. Acoording to our faith, we are living above our means. But I swear....We are scraping to make it, we don't do anything, go anywhere, and we're barely spending anything in groceries....and it's all we can do. Not to mention, got a notice in the mail that we owe $230 to the county we live in for Vehicle tax....WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!?!?! I already paid that when I bought the car, and I gotta pay it again?
Just when we should be getting back on our feet after our trip home, and we get that in the mail. On to not doing anything again for at least the next two weeks.
SO our pastor, during his sermon, goes on to tell stories of people from our church who have been so strapped for cash they can't buy beans, and how they did this 90 day challenge to tithe like you're supposed to. God worked in their lives and things worked out for them. Someone got a promotion, and a single mother of 5 with no car, got a car gifted to her by someone in the church. That is great! Absolutely wonderful for them.
Not gonna happen for me. My husband is NOT going to get promoted to Sgt before he gets out of the Marine Corp, and I nanny. That means, I work the same hours every week for the same pay. There is NOWHERE for us to be making extra money. Unless someone wants to pay off the $450 a month in school loans I have, or we find a Wal-Mart gift card on the ground to buy $100 worth of groceries on, shit ain't happenin for us. I am not supposed to question the Lord. I am not. I just don't see how if I write an almost $400 dollar check every month to the church, I'm still going to have money to eat. Unless of course Jesus shows up on my porch and ands feeds the 5000 with fish and bread. That was cynical and rude...I apologize.....
Sigh....I need a real job.
I understand how difficult it is right now. The economy sucks, there aren't many jobs out there, and bills seem to continue increasing. Yesterday I saw that regular unleaded gas was $3/gallon. It is quite ridiculous. I worry about money too - where am I going to get enough to fund the rest of my schooling, pay my bills, etc. I know those things are just minor compared to the bills you have, but I can still relate. When it comes to giving the church money, I'm a little hazy in that department. I don't really give my own money to them right now, but I feel that if I could afford it, I would at least give some... not quite as much as you're saying your church wants you to give...
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do agree, that if we put our faith in God, things will begin to turn positive.
If we just stop and take a moment to think about all of the things God has blessed us with, we start to see how foolish we have been acting. Think about it: Every day we have food to eat, a warm home to live in, a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, and we have our family and friends who love us and would do anything for us.
We don't need expensive cell phones, big screen TV's, new cars, new clothes, etc... but we want them. And that is okay. Those are things that we choose to purchase to help us enjoy our lives, and that is perfectly okay.
Each day we should pray to Him and thank Him for everything He has blessed us with in our lives.
I know that each day I try to live more and more for Him. I put my life into His hands, so that He may help guide me on my journey through this life. Since I have come back to my faith, and come back to thanking God for everything, and trying to live more for Him, I have found things in my life have turned for the better.
I'm not saying that every day I am 'perfect', because that is definitely not true. I just try each day to be a better person. And the key is, every day, let God know how thankful you are for everything He has given you. When you consistently remind yourself of this, it kind of sets you back to 'reality'; it's just like when you have to remind yourself who you are and where you come from - it allows you to get back to your roots.
I love you dear cousin. Everything will work itself out.
"Do not worry..." Matthew 6:25
Look that up.. I think it's fitting for you (and I) right now.