:3 in reflection of the holidays that have just gone past.  Gonna take a look at the
joy of giving.  8D

How much joy did you have in your giving this season? ^_^ (pauses while you
contemplate your answer.  Yes, I expect you to answer these questions to yourself.
Shocking, I know)  If it is better to give than to receive, then why don't we do it
all year long? :D (pause to think about it)

The right gift.
Have you ever received an indescribable gift?  One that you still treasure to this
day? (usually things we got as children)  Stores always are telling us that the more
we spend on a gift, the more it'll be treasured.  When there are lots of grandparents
:3 in reflection of the holidays that have just gone past.  Gonna take a look at the
joy of giving.  8D

How much joy did you have in your giving this season? ^_^ (pauses while you
contemplate your answer.  Yes, I expect you to answer these questions to yourself.
Shocking, I know)  If it is better to give than to receive, then why don't we do it
all year long? :D (pause to think about it)

The right gift.
Have you ever received an indescribable gift?  One that you still treasure to this
day? (usually things we got as children)  Stores always are telling us that the more
we spend on a gift, the more it'll be treasured.  When there are lots of grandparents
who treasure their grandkid's finger paintings more than anything.  

Now, weddings for example.  The bigger the better and the more love you must have
for her. (ring size included).  Caskets!  Honor your dead by sending them into the
dirt in style!  WTF? It is not your final resting place, so why the heck spend so
much on it! -.- I plan to get buried in the cheapest coffin there is.   More
expensive does not mean more meaningful.

2 Corinthians 9:15 "THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS INDESCRIBABLE GIFT!"  

Our giving to God is never about time or money, it relies directly up on the heart. 
For you could be dirt poor and as busy as a coal miner but if your heart is in the
right place you will still give and still be joyful for it.  So you nor I have the
right to say "I'd give... but I don't have the time or the money".  Nope ;D it means
you don't have the heart.

indescribable is the nature of the Lord.
How would you describe him? (pause to answer) I don't think I could.  Its so
difficult to wrap words around it, even then they don't usually seem to fit.  Not
just because of his nature, but also his purpose.  

The Christ child did not come to deliver a warm fuzzy feeling around Christmas time.
 God sent his son to be an intimate, daily, minutely part of your life.  Nor did he
come to condemn the world, but to save it.  

So, have you shared his gift?  but before you can do that, have you accepted
his gift?

Because of this grace and love (which is of his own free will, no one ever said he
had to be kind) while I am a sinner he came to give me the greatest gift.  Grace is
about a personal relationship with the God of all creation.  Yup, the big cheese
cares about little old insignificant me.  

Some people go through this whole season completely ignorant of why we have it.  :/
and those are usually the people who dislike it. Grumbling about having to buy
presents for everyone and getting stressed out about giving.  Seems really
backwards...

About God's grace, we don't deserve it and we never will :] 
About his effects.  I can't begin to tell you of all of the things he has done for
me in my life.  Some of these things are intricate chain reactions that are directly
caused by my relationship with God that would NOT have happened otherwise.  Having
Amanda or any of my little sisters is one of them.  I'd still be an ass hole of a
guy who treated girls like crap.  There are so many blessings in my life because of
him and the day I die I'll get to see it all laid out before me and I will be open
mouthed and struck dumb how it all tied together.  

Receive the greatest gift of God's love, and then turn around and share it.  The
purpose of your live is to be available to share his gift by giving our lives.  No,
calm down.  We do have to make some sacrifices of our time, but its not this HUGE
loss that everyone thinks it is.  We gain so much, we just have to give a little up
in return.  (I think i'll expand on this area sometime >>

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If you're a teenie-bopper who enjoyed Twilight :3 yeah, don't watch this. 

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/473402

We had child dedications this sunday again. It is where new parents bring their
children onto the stage and the whole church prays for them, but that's not exactly
all of it.  It is called a child dedication because it is the parents dedicating the
child to Christ, no, this does not give him Jesus points.  

It is a dedication of the parents to raising their child to know God.  If this info
is new to you, I've mentioned it before in a previous Note (shows how much YOU pay
attention ;D).  So, it is the parents promising to live as good Christians and to
raise their kid right and be a good example for him/her. 

We thank the Lord for entrusting us with his children, they do not belong to us,
they are lent to us.  It is God being willing to trust us to raise the child right
We had child dedications this sunday again. It is where new parents bring their
children onto the stage and the whole church prays for them, but that's not exactly
all of it.  It is called a child dedication because it is the parents dedicating the
child to Christ, no, this does not give him Jesus points.  

It is a dedication of the parents to raising their child to know God.  If this info
is new to you, I've mentioned it before in a previous Note (shows how much YOU pay
attention ;D).  So, it is the parents promising to live as good Christians and to
raise their kid right and be a good example for him/her. 

We thank the Lord for entrusting us with his children, they do not belong to us,
they are lent to us.  It is God being willing to trust us to raise the child right
and to share in the joy of raising a life.  It doesn't mean God should deny crack
heads the ability to reproduce (though most of us wish it did) he gives equal
chances to everyone, even if he knows they are gonna screw it up.

Now, how many of you did some Black Friday shopping?
" :D I got the greatest deal on an electric ceiling buffer!!"
Do you need it?
" :D no! But I got two because they were ON SALE!" 

Destitute and Bankrupt.  WE've gone over contentment "just a little more, THEN I
will be content".  We've gone over joy "If I pass this test I didn't study for, win
the lottery without buying a ticket, and get that hot supermodel on the magazine as
my wife THEN I will be joyful.  But if the girl turns out to have fake boobs, or if
the money isn't enough or if I only get a C- on the test, I won't."  We went over
how joy should not be dependent upon your stupid circumstances. 

Now, coming to church is not about the church.  We come to church to gain and then
improve our personal relationship with God and his son.  

Even in the midst of the worst situations we can have joy in God's promise that one
day we will be blinked out of this life and immediately be in his presence.  We all
need to realize that God does not care too much about our mortal lives, which ends
so  soon.  He cares about our immortal souls.  So he does allow ill to fall upon us,
especially when we do it to ourselves.  So get over asking "WHAT HAS GOD DONE FOR ME
TODAY!" He is not the servant here, he is the master and we need to remember that.

We've gone over available resources, how we are asked to cast our worries to God
through prayer.  We give up our "right" to worry, it doesn't mean we don't try as
hard, but that we accept that he is in control, and that even the bad will be used
for good.  Even when something good fails and we wonder why, it is because we have
been spared something worse.  Have faith, trust in God.

We also have a bankruptcy of thankfulness.  We have pride, to trust in oneself no
matter what, that we can do anything and we can do it alone.  Neither accept nor
give comfort and compassion.  You are your own God.  This is the humanistic view. 
"I'm a self-made man."  

The next breath you take right now.  That is a gift from God himself.  I want you to
realize that.

To have a critical spirit is to always complain "poor me" being the Eeyore (heheh,
spellcheck wanted to make that into eyesore)  People like eeyore are a pain to be
around.  Even in the best of luck they can and will find something to complain about
to make themselves look like a victim to be pitied.  

You critical people who complain daily, do you know you are that way?  Do you
complain because you have problems, or are your problems caused by your complaining?
 You cannot look around and be thankful for our wise seniors and our growing students
in the church, you only care about yourself.  "What are they doing for me?"  Me, me,
me.  I know some people who are good friends of mine here who are very prone to
being eeyores, so don't think that none of you are.  Honestly as you sit there in
your chair think about how often you complain and place yourself as the center of
your life. 

Here we all know of some parents that are constantly tearing apart their kids.  "You
didn't do this right, you were too slow, you are so ungrateful what did I do to
deserve YOU!"  Some parents truly can never be pleased, for they are also critical
spirits, eeyors.  The bible says "DO NOT EXASPERATE YOUR CHILDREN!"  A good visual
of exasperation is if I walked up to you and punched you in the gut, taking your
breath away and leaving you gasping for air.  THAT is exasperation.  

Parents are to build up their children, to discipline them when it is needed and for
the purpose of helping them in the end.  Affirm your children so that they are
confident and joyful and can be grateful to have you for a parent.  Do not be afraid
to discipline your children when needed, it does not create rebellion it simply
unearths rebellion that was already there. (you students are like "CRAPIT!" XD)

A complaining person is a selfish person who seeks to destroy joy and thankfulness. 
We get familiar with things and forget to be thankful for them.  We take things for
granted.  I recently read the book called "The Devil's Arithmetic" for my Lit.
class.  It sucked and I didn't enjoy reading it at all, it went in huge detail about
one 13 year old girl's experience during the holocaust.  But ever since I've read
that book I sometimes stop what I'm doing and I am so thankful. 

I am not hungry, I am currently sick but it isn't that bad, I have both of my
parents, I have a warm jacket, I have my own car!, I have sisters who love me almost
as much as I love them, I have clean air to breath and the list goes on.  

Be thankful.

If you are a negative complaining person, it is a sin.  "That's just who I am!"  No
good Christian may ever say that phrase, for it is a lie.  We all change.

Ephisians 5:20 "Always give thanks  to God the Father for everything, in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus".

Happiness does not equal joy, for happiness is dependent on your outward
circumstances while joy is what you have when you came through the door.  We are to
pray continually and give thanks in ALL circumstances.  That includes while you're
in the middle of school or waiting outside your parent's hospital room after a
surgery.  

Thankfulness is to be expressed.  Not "This little light of mine, I'm gonna keep it
to myself and make sure no one notices <3 :D" EXPRESS YOUR THANKFULNESS!  Some of
you just need to learn to say thank you, I know I do.

If you don't live in the wonder of God, I do not know how you can worship. 
Irrelevant of the band playing, worship comes from within you and if you don't have
that sense of awe and wonder and thankfulness then how can you worship?

BE THANKFUL!  If you can be thankful for NOTHING today, you can be thankful that
when your life ends (excluding suicide -.- idiot) you will be in heaven and spend
eternity in the presence of the Alpha and Omega.  For when you accept God into your
heart you are immediately a saved soul.

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Bankruptcy is what we’ve been going over for some time, we’ve gone over
contentment, and joy.  And we’ve gone over priority shifts. (If any part of that
is unfamiliar you need to glance back at other recent notes)

The big focus is students, elementary through high school and college.  We’re told
all of the nicest things, all we need to do in order to be happy is to buy the right
product <3 Need that popular boy in school to love you? Buy the right clothes and he
will.  Need to pass the test? Buy all of the newest study aids.  Need your friends to
forgive you?  Buy them something. :D

Resources Available to us…

Bankruptcy is what we’ve been going over for some time, we’ve gone over
contentment, and joy.  And we’ve gone over priority shifts. (If any part of that
is unfamiliar you need to glance back at other recent notes)

The big focus is students, elementary through high school and college.  We’re told
all of the nicest things, all we need to do in order to be happy is to buy the right
product <3 Need that popular boy in school to love you? Buy the right clothes and he
will.  Need to pass the test? Buy all of the newest study aids.  Need your friends to
forgive you?  Buy them something. :D

Resources Available to us…

God we need a bail out.

Prayer.  There’s a huge resource.  1 Thessalonians says to Pray continually. This
means if you are happy, sad, angry, depressed, or silly.  If you are in a crisis God
says “Great! Run to me in a crisis, for you will learn how I help and that you need
not be in a crisis to run to me.”  Pray always.
When we pray, we relinquish control and give it to him.  We let him carry our burden
just as he asks.
Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what
you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

If you know Christ today, then you know he is always with you as a resource.  We are
always in his presence, we just need to believe it.

Strength.  Strength comes from God.  Students, it is tough to be a Christian on
campus, you will be made fun of and alienated.  I can  guarantee you that.  But he
will always support you, as will I.

Invest in Eternity (sounds like a marketing gimic)

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should
give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so
that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every
good work.”

The people who were being spoken to in this passage were in poverty like you never
have and probably never will experience, they resided at the church for they had no
home and yet they gave magnanimously.  (If you don’t understand that word do not
sit on your butt and complain about not being told, go to dictionary.com)

If your security is in your bank account, you will never have peace longer than a
day.  And you will never have contentment.
God’s word.  Yup, as you have guessed God’s word is a great resource because
through his word we have hope.  It is NOT about how much you read, but what God is
giving to you through it.  The word is God’s breath alive, it doesn’t change and
yet always has more to give and means more in light of different situations.

Family.  Not biological family, but Christian family, church family where the only
thing we have in common is a love of God.  I am a grateful part of your church
family and I want to be a resource to you.
When the bottom of your life falls out and your cup is crushed.  You want to escape.
 But your church family always cares and will hunt you down if need be to make sure
you are alright.

Mathew 6:25-33 (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ THIS) “ 25"Therefore I tell
you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body,
what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more
important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or
store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more
valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]? 
 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They
do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was
dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which
is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you,
O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall
we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and
your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Do you want security?  Seek God.  Religion doesn’t fit in a box or a time slot,
you cannot be a sometimes Christian.

Grace.  Only by God’s grace do we have life eternal.  Do not think there are
things you can do to be good enough, for you are mistaken.  There is NOTHING you
can do to make God love you more!  And there is NOTHING you can do to make God love
you less!

Right there in your chair you need to say “God, you are the unlimited resource of
my life and you have always been there for me, even when I didn’t see you, and I
want to work continuously in my life so that one day soon I may be there for you so
that you may work through me to spread your grace.”  That is one of the daily
prayers of my heart.

2 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “ 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in
all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

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You are not here by mistake, you are here by design.  This Sunday was communion for
my church. 

Many people do not realize that communion is a celebration of all of the work, the
blessings, and the wonders and promises of God.

We are proclaiming the Lord’s death with communion.  “If there is anything wrong
with your life or yourself and you don’t feel worthy, then do not take
communion.”  NO!  IT is only God’s grace that has made us worthy of anything at
all.  No person is worthy of communion or heaven.
	
God sent his son to die for you, and for me.  Could we examine ourselves and ask
You are not here by mistake, you are here by design.  This Sunday was communion for
my church. 

Many people do not realize that communion is a celebration of all of the work, the
blessings, and the wonders and promises of God.

We are proclaiming the Lord’s death with communion.  “If there is anything wrong
with your life or yourself and you don’t feel worthy, then do not take
communion.”  NO!  IT is only God’s grace that has made us worthy of anything at
all.  No person is worthy of communion or heaven.
	
God sent his son to die for you, and for me.  Could we examine ourselves and ask
what we are doing for him in return?  We really are to learn to offer our whole
lives to him.  I can always say that in the good, the bad, and the ugly of my life I
will always worship God with every breath I take.
	
What communion really is is us asking God to be a part of us, every day.  Not just a
part of us even, but the center.  A reminder to start anew, changed for him and for
his work.
	
	
Bankruptcy of contentment commercials “You cannot live without this potato
peeler!”

Our contentment factor is way down…  We have bankruptcy of joy as well, there ARE
times where we can’t be happy.  Bad things WILL happen.  There are things we are
unhappy about, yes, but God is in control and even when we don’t see it.  We are
to be JOYFUL.  Life eacy day knowing that no matter what the current circumstance HE
IS IN CONTROL!  We owe him everything, and we, myself especially need to get used to
giving back of time, money, D-all of the above.
	
Priority shift.
Many of us are spending less in order to save money, there are tons of examples of
this.  Like when you go to the store and you buy the cheaper brand, even though
It’s not as good or whatever, it is a priority shift.  
	
This Sunday we drank crangrape (cranberry + grape juice) Instead of the usual Welsh
Grape.  It doesn’t matter, grape is not more holy than crangrape!  Communion has
nothing to do with the juice and the crackers! 
	
I am not focusing on these things, but the role of God in your life.  God gave his
son to me, what am I giving back?   He gave his son for you, what are you giving
back?  We are owed nothing, and neither do we own anything.  All is a gift and a
privilege that we plain don’t deserve so we need to stop acting like we do.  “I
don’t want to give my time to Christ! I'll do it laterrrr DX  The bible is too
long! I demand a shorter one before I'll start reading! -3-”  Grow up!   No, I am
not saying you have to spend at least 6 hours a day reading the bible and another 2
hours a day preaching the gospel.  But you do need to pay attention to the times
when God is asking you to be useful to him.  And yes, I do believe any Christian
should read something out of the bible once a day.  Even if it’s just a paragraph.
 If you would like recommendations just ask.
	
Who's the God?
You are not the God of your life so don’t act like it.  Can you imagine seeing
your own son being tortured and eventually killed?  Can you imagine the immense
sacrifice that is?  Now to put things further in perspective, when was the last time
you went outside of your comfort zone to try and share God’s gift?   
	
Here’s a tip, never tell someone “:O IF YOU DON’T BECOME A CHRISTIAN YOU’RE
GOING TO HELLLLL!”  Nothing turns someone away like damning them; only idiots
chase away people like that and do God such a disservice.  
	
Just be willing to follow God’s teachings and grow at your own pace.  If something
happens that shakes your faith, then get up off your butt and go seek the answer to
your question.  I guarantee you that if you keep searching and asking you will find
the perfect answer.  Not just an answer, but one that makes perfect sense when
thoroughly understood.  I encourage you to question your faith, but only if you
actually seek the answer. (can ya tell this is a pet peeve of mine? ;D)
	
Example:
“Why would God let bad things happen to good people? DX I don’t want to believe
in a God that allows bad things to happen to me!(because we always assume we're a
good person)”  I get this a lot.  The answer is not a short one, and if you would
like to hear it please send me a letter.  If you can come up with any question that
you’d like answered I will do my best to help.

(I got a bit off topic >> forgive me, I rant a lot)

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Joy- “an evidence; a result of the presence of God in your life.”

Happiness is circumstantial, joy is intrinsic.  We say this often and many still
can’t grasp the concept, but we are told to have joy as part of the fruit of
Christ.  

Galatians 5:22-23 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things
there is no law.” 

If you don’t have joy then you better check to make sure you are walking with God,
because joy is part of the evidence of a changed life with him as the center.  That
Joy- “an evidence; a result of the presence of God in your life.”

Happiness is circumstantial, joy is intrinsic.  We say this often and many still
can’t grasp the concept, but we are told to have joy as part of the fruit of
Christ.  

Galatians 5:22-23 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things
there is no law.” 

If you don’t have joy then you better check to make sure you are walking with God,
because joy is part of the evidence of a changed life with him as the center.  That
might sound harsh but it is the truth.

1 Thessalonians  5:16 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Be joyful ALWAYS.  Not happy, there are plenty of things we are not happy about and
would have to be sick in the head to be happy about.  No matter what I want you to
know GOD IS WITH YOU and that ALL things work towards good!  Even when something
good fails, that also is working towards good that you and I may never understand in
this life.

Enemies and excuses.
Some are generational differences.  My pastor says he remembers when he was a kid in
church there was no laughter during a service, everyone sat there quietly and
listened to the preacher.  But when people are like “Grrr, I can’t worship that
way! I dun like singing!” or “They didn’t play my favorite song!”  Well,
some people liked the song they did play, it’s not all about you.  Some of us are
working so hard in our lives that we forget to enjoy the good things that come up
along the journey.

Cultural Differences.
We’re in California, we have every type of culture within a square block of us.
“If you’re in America you gotta worship like Americans do!” ^ ^; no.  Any two
Christians should be able to worship God together no matter HOW different their
cultures are.

Qualifying Circumstances.  (meaning situations we’re in that we let dictate the
quality of our lives)
“You just don’t understand what has happened in my life, I can’t be joyful.”
 What makes you exempt?  “Why me?”  well “Why NOT me?”  We feel like we’re
not supposed to  have ANY discomfort in life because we love God.  If your joy is
tied to your circumstances then you will never.keep.any.joy.  Regardless of the
circumstances of your life, you should by all means be capable of experiencing joy
on a day to day basis because of what God has done, is doing, and will do for you
and through you.  It’s not about me, it’s all about him.  So what if those
around you have not been through your exact circumstances?  That does NOT give you a
right to be Eeyore, God is the alpha and the omega, he created the universe and he
wants to have an intimate relationship with YOU.  That should make you wanna say
WOW.

Wounded eyes.
Some people walk around wounded, shallow, super sensitive.  If you say anything to
them “ DX uhh! That was so hurtful!” Talking to them is walking on eggshells. 
We all need to show a little grace and not carry our wounded egos around.  Some of
us really do need to be a little thicker skinned, not to let things hurt them that
are just plain silly and unintentional.  We need to lost our stupid expectations. 
Like expecting people around you to know how you’re feeling without you telling
them, and being so abashed when they can’t guess!  Grow up.

Needing Forgiveness.
“Oh, but you don’t know the things I’ve done.”  People like you carry your
sins everywhere you go and refuse to just let them go!  God wants to take the weight
off your shoulders, stop flogging yourself because it does NOT please the Lord to do
so.  Let the past go because God’s love and grace is sufficient for you TODAY.

The Answers.  (he spoke fast so I couldn’t get everything as well as I’d hoped)

Needing Forgiveness.
When we understand how he has forgiven us it becomes easy to exercise a little grace
and forgive those around us.  It’s not about me, it’s about my walk with God.

I don’t want to be about religion, I am about having that one on one relationship
with God and always working to grow in it.  I know that I am seen in my entirety,
all of my ugliness, in front of God.  But I do not turn away, I embrace him and
thank him for loving me regardless of my follies.  I want to live my life to please
him!

John 15:5 “"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him,
he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing”  What God is saying is
that he is the vine, the living vine that we are to be a part of.  We can’t be
apart from God and live for long.  Have you ever seen flowers cut in a vase?  They
don’t last, they wilt and die soon enough.  Also, we have plants that are fake,
they look nice but they are not real.  And they certainly aren’t alive or
connected to anything. But they look nice 8D 

Be attatched.  Be in God’s word and around his people so that you may grow and
bear fruit.  In the story of Neomiah he comes across some of God’s people who are
silent and still, he asks why are they this way and they reply because it is a
sacred day.  Neomiah says “This IS a sacred day, so we are to be joyful and to
celebrate it!”

The world needs joy, and when you have seen what God has done to you, for you, and
through you, you will certainly feel that Joy.  We are not to seek feel-good moments
and warm fuzzies, but to learn about your word and how we can be better people.  For
through ministering and being examples of changed lives we will spread his joy.

God help us not to be defined by our ever changing circumstances.  We don’t want
our outward things to dictate what we feel inside.  Help us not to be bankrupt of
contentment and joy in our lives, regardless of the situations and circumstances
around us.  You’ll always provide and take care of us and we trust you.

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Investment Strategies

Fear factor.  It is amazing how we get so fearful so quickly.  Especially with our
money.

Here is the antidote to our fear

Mathew 6:19-20 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not
break in or steal"

Investment Strategies

Fear factor.  It is amazing how we get so fearful so quickly.  Especially with our
money.

Here is the antidote to our fear

Mathew 6:19-20 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not
break in or steal"

Material things are temporary.  "How long does that new car smell last?"

Styles are important too these days, what brand you wear.  Showing one's affluence
by meeting some standard set by other people.  It is all meaningless.

We try so hard on things that are so temporary.  We miss the fact they don't last. 
Fix your eyes upon eternal things.

There are plenty of people who are paying for storage on junk that they are still
making payments on that they hardly use!  You won't believe when I helped Robin move
her stuff out of storage how many RVs were parked there, some were so so new looking,
and they had cobwebs around their tires.

Mathew 6:24"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love
the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve
wealth AND God."

Where your treasure is is where your heart is.  Our attitude towards things forms
our attitude towards life.  "I have to have this to be happy, only when I have that
will I be truly thankful."  Life can be good without things 

Mathew 6:25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be (AG)worried about your life, as
to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will
put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"

Right now I want you to list all of the things you feel you need.  Clothes, a new
computer, some games, books, shoes, McDonald's, energy drinks.  If you have to have
those things to be happy, then by your standard those who live in a 3rd world
country cannot possibly be happy.  And yet many are happy and content living without
all of these luxuries we've learned to need.

WE ARE SO SPOILED!  We sacrifice time with family and especially time with God, all
for THINGS!

Can you, you reading these words right now, can you be happy with little?  Little
meaning Wal-mart sale clothes, a roof over your head, and food on your table.  Often
the happiest and most content people have little. What is your response to that? 
Right now tell me what your first response was to that comment.  Type it in and hit
enter.

Here is a phrase I hear from young couples all of the time "We have to have a home
to heave a kid."  or "It is a RIGHT for me to have a home if I can just make minimum
payments."

Here is what I should be hearing "I don't know how we're gonna pay the rent but I
know God will provide".

God cares about you.  If you've lost everything, would you still be happy? If all of
your "things" were gone?  God promised to provide for our needs, not our greeds.  And
we assume that when he doesn't provide for our greeds that he has failed us and
forsaken us.  God is not a genie in a bottle.

(That was a very important statement, so let me repeat it) God cares about you.  If
you've lost everything, would you still be happy? If all of your "things" were gone?
 God promised to provide for our needs, not our greeds.  And we assume that when he
doesn't provide for our greeds that he has failed us and forsaken us.  God is not a
genie in a bottle!

Are we seeking God and investing in spiritual things?  A lot of people, upon meeting
the first hurtle or the first wave on the sea stop giving to God.  If there is ANY
financial trouble, the first thing to go is giving money to God.  Its backwards, if
we cannot give of our earnings, then surely we can give of our time and effort!  God
knows what we need and he will provide but man is also meant to WORK.

Identify greed versus contentment.
Be responsible to give, pray, trust, and work.  If a man will not work then he will
not eat.  Lastly TRUST. IN. THE. LORD.  Money is not the problem, it is the love and
dependency of money that is the problem.

Maybe you do need to lose some things to learn contentment, maybe I do too.  The son
of God gave his time, effort, and then his life for us so why are we so reluctant to
give back?

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