Thursday's Check In-Preparing Our Hearts

Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. (James 1:17 NASB)

Sunday we begin Session One-Dedicate It All To God.  As you move those receipts onto a Transaction Record, you are encouraged to move your heart and your thoughts from the old mindsets and struggles you have held on to that connect you to the patterns, beliefs, and traditions you  now practice or deal with surrounding the area of your finances -- into a new place.  Move the core thoughts you have with scarcity, lack, and poverty alongside the behavior you display when handling  resources, time and talents -- into a new place.  All those "mind-traps" that have sabotaged God's plans for you thus far -- into a new place.  

Yes, a "new place."  A place that requires a heart and mind transformation.   A place in our hearts prepared by the Master for His use - an anointed place where the brokenness will unleash a sweet fragrance to your nostrils about stewardship and leave you wanting to draw closer to Him for a greater purpose in life and in ministry as a good steward. A place Crown Financial Ministries calls the "Oikonomia Principle." 

Allow your mind, your heart, and your spirit surrounding money management to be broken. To be changed - to be healed.   Let this song minister to you and saturate you so completely until you are broken, empty, and ready to receive all that Session One can pour into you so that you can grasp the full meaning, Dedicate It All To God.  Allow yourself to be humbled to learn from a new place--be broken.   Let your spirit receive the message in the song and post a comment if today's Thursday's Check In has encouraged you.  

                                                           

                       

God Bless-
Song: Break Me Lord-Darwin Hobbs 2003                                                   

Preparing For Session One

DEDICATE IT ALL TO GOD

Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom.  We adore you as the one who is over all things.  Riches and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are

made great and given strength.

1 Chronicles 29:11b-12 (NLT)

If you haven't recorded your transactions from your Receipt Envelope now is the time to put pencil to paper.   If you're struggling in this area don't give up and don't give in---you have right now time to push through the procrastination. If procrastination is an area you struggle in - give that struggle to the Lord today.  You have Kingdom rights to lift that burden off you and place it into the Master's hands so that you can move forward with managing your finances GOD's WAY.

If you've finished recording your transactions, now is the time to call someone in your group and check in on them.  Group Accountability will play an important part in moving towards the place God wants you to be as a manager and steward.  Cover your group with prayer.   Dedicate your group to the Lord. One by one, call out their names before our Lord on bended knees and lifted hands.  Dedicate the way each person in your group manages  finances GOD's Way.                        

DEDICATE IT ALL TO OUR GOD!

God Bless-


Facilitator's Note:
1. If anyone has a different "key verse" translation, post it in the comment section.
2. Do you have something regarding stewardship or the class on your heart you want to share--post it in the comment section.
3. Having experienced The Covering--do you see the connection with this class?
4. We'll meet Sunday, after service in the cafe corner of the overflow room--See you all Sunday!   "BrotherDoug" will be our facilitator for Session One. 

Thursday Check In - The Big Picture

All is well.  
Before going any further with today's post -- pause and from a heart of gratitude, begin thanking our Heavenly Father for what He has given you. Speak to His spirit so that
He may speak to your heart.

Amen.

Introduction: The Big Picture

I. Review Putting It Into Practice (p. 9):

1.  Remember  the only thing stopping God from working through you for His eternal purposes is Y.O.U.  

2.  The first step towards putting together a spending plan is knowing where our money is going.  The Transaction Record allows you to "see" what's going on.  Using the Transaction Record (p. 14), take the time to record your receipts -- do this faithfully and then we will check in as a group to see how we all did.

3. Reread Rick Warren's lesson statement.  What do you think God's vision might be for your life?

Group Question: 

II. Discussion Question - You can use the comment section of this blog if you want to share your answer.

1. What difference does it make when you consider that your money

    is on loan from God? 

2. Where will your money go, and how will it be used,

    once you have passed into eternity?

Key Verse:  (If you have a different translation share it on the comment section of this blog).

Tell them to use their money to do good. . .

By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven-it is the only safe

investment for eternity!

1 Timothy 6:18a, 19a (Living Bible). 

Facilitator's Note:   Sunday's Recap

WOW!  I'm still in "awe-mode" from our first class meeting.  Looking into each of your faces, looking whole heartily into your eyes at the beginning of class as we shared our financial "right nows", I stand in awe of God and what is going to take place in each of our lives individually as we surrender over to God, our thoughts and past patterns of money management.   With both groups asking ourselves the question, "How content are you with your present financial situation?" moved us into coming clean (maybe for the first time) with ourselves. How good it felt to have Minister Ian pray for us and then pour out "This Said The Lord" which had been sitting in his spirit -- waiting to come forth--waiting for ears to hear--for vessels that would receive a personal message from the Lord Himself, to us, concerning us---WOW!  See you all next Sunday in the Cafe-Corner where  "BrotherDoug" will be the Class' facilitator. 

God Bless- 

Thursday Check In

Receipt Envelope UPDATE - We're Almost There!

Continue to put ALL your receipts from purchases and bill payments during this month, February, into your Receipt Envelope (yes, that includes your heart-day gifts).  Believe me, I know for some the last few weeks have been either hard to do or uncomfortable to do since our past spending habits didn't include Receipt Envelopes.  But guess what?  It's all for the greater purpose of financial stewardship -- you'll see when we meet this Sunday immediately after Service in the overflow area.    Hang in there everyone!

God Bless-

Sneak Peek of The Big Picture

THURSDAY SESSION CHECK IN: 

By now your manilla envelope should have one or two receipts from purchases made and/or bills paid.   Keep stock piling those receipts for every financial transaction you make --- We do mean EVERYTHING!  Make sure you get a receipt after putting gas in your tank (especially if you filled it up).  Don't forget to get a receipt for the drive-thru meal that made you happy.  Get receipts for those utility bills and the tuition bill you paid.  Yes, you want to get a receipt for that Rock Star energy drink (or Snickers candy bar) from the canteen.  No receipt or forgot to ask for one?  Don't stress.  Simply take a slip of paper from a small pad, write down the item along with the date and amount of purchase, place it in your envelope --- Viola instant receipt!

KEY VERSE 

Tell them to use their money to do good. . .

By doing this they will be storing up real treasure

for themselves in heaven----it is the only safe

investment for eternity!

1 Timothy 6:18a, 19a (The Living Bible)

God Bless-

Principles of Christian Stewardship - Dr. Tony Evans

As we begin to look at our position as managers over resources, let's continue to align our mindsets to God's design and purpose of stewardship.  In his latest series, The Principles of Christian Stewardship, Dr. Tony Evans leads us in taking a look at God's plan entitled,  The Purpose Of Stewardship.  To hear Dr. Evan's message, click onto the title in blue.   Listen, be encouraged, and enjoy! 

God Bless-

Managing Our Finances - Introduction To Course Study

Welcome to Spirit & Truth Ministry Financial Stewardship Class

Managing Our Finances God's Way for 2011!



Along with the group sessions and e-mail communication, this blog is designed to be of additional group support while we go through the eight-weeks outlined by Crown Financial Ministries.    Although not meant to take the place of our regular class meetings, (it is vital to the group that we support and pray for each other by on-going face-to-face fellowship) it is a necessary tool for follow-up and encouragement.

Weekly assignments along with Key Verses to mediate upon will be here for continual commitment.  At the end of each posted blog message you'll have the opportunity to leave a comment, offer insight, or edify the class as you sense the Spirit of the Lord directs you to do.  Take the time to visit the video bar on the bottom shelf below or visit the resources link to the right for additional tools.   Check in often and discover God's principles to managing his resources and to becoming financially free.

FYI   and  Heads Up.  When we meet, what to expect?   The following has been taken from the Foreword of the Study Guide Workbook outlined by Chris Goulard, Pastor of Stewardship, Saddleback Church here is the following expected end for each Sunday meeting: 

• Catching Up:  We will open each meeting with an opportunity for everyone to check in with each other about how you are doing with the weekly assignments.  Accountability is key to success in this course!
• Key Verse:  Each week we will find a key verse or Scripture passage for the group to read together.
• Video Lesson:  There is a twenty minute video lesson for the group to watch each week. 
• Discussion Questions: Each video segment is complemented by several questions.  Please don't feel like you have to answer every single question.  The material is meant to be your servant, not your master.  If you don't get through all of the discussion questions, that's okay.
• Living on Purpose:  In his book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren identifies God's five purposes for our lives.  They are worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. 
• Prayer Direction:  At the end of each session, we will pray together.  The power of prayer is indispensable.  Praying together is a great privilege of small group life--don't take it for granted!
• Putting It into Practice:  This is where the rubber meets the road.  We don't want to be just hearers of the Word.  We also need to be doers of the Word (James 1:22).  There will be assignments to be completed before the next class meeting---We will not ask you to share your financial information with each other, but we will ask you to keep each other accountable to do the work and follow through with your commitments. 

We're so glad you're here!  May God richly bless you as you discover HIS principles and become, at long last, financially free to move forward!

Facilitators' Notes:

Sunday-January 30, 2011:  Each class participant was given an Introduction letter and a brown envelope marked RECEIPTS.  Please start putting ALL receipts into this folder for the next 30 days.  If you didn't get one, please use a Ziploc bag, a brown paper bag, or a white business envelope to get started.  We will have "Receipt Folders" available at the next class meeting.   Don't forget, we meet for our first class Sunday, February 13, 2011 right after service in the overflow 's "cafe" corner. See you all there!

God Bless-