“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
2 Corinthians 9:6

Within Geoff’s message, this verse was a cornerstone to explain just what being generous means. Now I will be the first to admit that at times, we can become too close to our money to let it go. “How am I going to pay for this? What will I do if I don’t have enough?” These are all questions every single one of us deal with at some point, and for others, this may be the question we ask everyday. One thing I would like to remind you of, though, is that we serve a generous and caring God. Whenever I doubt that, I remind myself of this: God is our Father, and He is going to take care of His children. When parents have a child in need, they do whatever they can to make sure that their child is okay. Well, the God we serve is no different. When we are generous in our giving, whether in church or to others, God is going to take care of the needs we have. It may not come exactly how we would have imagined, but there is one certain: it will come.

I encourage you this week to start taking small steps in trusting God with your finances. It will be amazing realizing what God can take care of in your life.

Listen with an open heart.

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
 Matthew 11:28

We live in a tired society. 90 hour work weeks just to pay the bills, constant activities for children to be involved in, and many more. Rest is very uncommon in today’s world, or so it seems. This past Sunday, Geoff preached on the Sabbath, a day of rest. As he mentioned as well, Sunday was still looked on as a day of rest in some states not too long ago. Somewhere along the way, though, the Sabbath became just an ordinary day.

In the eyes of an every day American, Sunday is no different than Monday through Saturday. Yet in the eyes of a believer, Sunday is the day we wait for Monday through Saturday. It is the day to be replenished through God’s word, while allowing Him to work as we rest from the week before. Far too often we try to accomplish everything on our own, not seeking God’s help. Yet we grow tired, weary, and fed up with the lack of progress. These are the times to take a step back, relax, and let God take control.

Is there something holding you back from resting and letting God work? Pride? Self-worth? Examine your heart this week for what needs to be let go, in order to let God in.

Listen with an open heart

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” Matthew 6:5

I would like to keep this short and sweet, with the focus on Matthew 6:5. As you go through this week, keep your eyes and heart on God in your prayers. It is easy at certain times to bring ourselves glory, rather than give God the glory. So as you enter a new week, start with a new wave of prayer, focusing solely on the Lord and all He has done for you.

Love unconditionally and listen with an open heart.