In the past 7 years we have received, among other things:
a week long vacation on beachfront property for for our family of 10
$9,000 tax free
a brand new Prius
At first we thought we were lucky. We realize now there is no such thing as luck. The reason we received is because... we tithe. Happily. Cheerfully. With full understanding that God cannot be outdone in generosity and we will somehow get all that we gave back. We know it! When we first started tithing, (which is giving the first fruits or the first 10% of the money we earn or receive) we were stingy and gave out of obligation. I monitored every dime and would bother the priest with questions like,"does this count for tithing?" He would gently tell me that is up to us to decide and then started to diplomatically suggest maybe I could try praying about it! (duh) As we prayed we realized it didn't make sense for us to claim our trust in God and yet not to trust Him with our money. We began to test the boundaries of tithing, by giving and then watching what happens, and we were NEVER disappointed. Each time we tithe, we got the tithe back. Not always in the time we wanted but always more than we expected. Not one exception. Ever. When we first started giving to our church, we figured we just sacrificed our summer vacation..then we WON a vacation! And the more we gave the more places cash started to come from..like one time my husband got a letter stating he had been overcharged for contacts for the past 15 years so claim the money we paid. What? We decided to keep the kids in Catholic schools and knew what the costs were going to be..and all of sudden I get a certified letter from an attorney in New York..the letter stated a distant relative just died (that we never heard of or even knew existed) and because we are the closest living relatives we are entitled to the inheritance...so sign here and get the money. So many examples! When our cars were starting to need more repairs than gas we won a BRAND NEW car! We give our money to the church now with complete and total trust. This whole change in our dependence on God has not only benefited us financially, but spiritually and emotionally. We feel we are doing the right thing...and you know what? That is a good feeling! So part with your money...you will be happy you did!
What made you and the family decide to start tithing? I am interested in your story..but we don't really know how to start.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is a wonderful post about tithing. I know that for a lot of people it's such a sensitive topic. But truly, this just goes on to show that what God promises, He will deliver. Keep walking by faith, my friend :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great lesson to learn and to share! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! I am in total agreement in tithing! Though my husband is not a tither as he used to be. I myself tithe to God what I make, the full 10% and I see the harvest of being faithful to God in every area of my life! I love this and I am going REPOST this!! Thank you for sharing, God bless.
ReplyDeleteThis is encouraging & how awesome everything God has done for your family:) We've been tithers and over and above givers for over 15 yrs. Besides the obvious blessings I often think of everything that the Lord has protected us from that I may not even realize:)
ReplyDeleteYou know the saying " You can't out give God no matter how you try :)
Hello :) Following you back from Mommalicious Mom!
ReplyDeleteWOW...8 kids..Im super impressed!
Looking forward to reading your blog!
x
These are very wonderful things. I'm a new follower from Hop 'til You Drop weekend. http://www.grandmasguidetolife.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteVery interesting & valuable post...totally agree & love the facts you have mentioned...
ReplyDeleteLove this post! We are avid tithes too! Thanks for stopping by! I'm following you back! http://notesfromthenelsens.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! It is amazing what happens when you give. I just watched a special about a man that has won the lottery and money at casinos regularly. He gives away most of what he wins to strangers and is sure that this is why he continues to win- because he doesn't keep it for himself but instead gives it to others. What a wonderful lesson.
ReplyDelete~Jess
http://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com/
What a great lesson! Thank you so much!! I love hearing these things for the New Year
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new car! We have a Prius and it seriously is THE BEST car ever. Thanks for this post...loved it!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! Thank you for showing us an example of your spirit of obedience and your words of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteChar
http://1epicmom.com
I LOVE your post! Seriously, for the past 10 years we have not tithed regularly...every time I would want to start, my husband would say something like "Well, I hope we can make our house payment now"...and it would always get to me. We have been talking lately, and we have both decided to put our full trust in the Lord and start tithing regularly...after all, the Bible tells us in Malachi 3:10 to test Him, for He will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in. My husband and I both believe (now) that the hard times we've been thru the past several years is due in large part because we haven't tithed. Thank you for your post...it's amazing that you posted this when you did.
ReplyDeleteI am guilty of not tithing in a long time! I never realized that there is a lot of truth to what they say- that blessings come a hundredfold when you tithe. You are a shining example of that. Thanks for this inspiring post. Now, it has made me rethink the way I view tithing, and trust in God. Good start for the new year :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of the holidays! :)
I'm glad that I came by today. I am also guilty of not tithing in a long time. I have felt that because of so little I can tithe because of financial issues that it wasn't enough. I just ask hubby after reading this outloud to him. Does God see it the same as a person who struggles to give him 10 compare to someone who struggles to give him 100 or more? I think I just realize that it's not just about the amount. It's more about the value God see in me and me in him.Thany you for a great post.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the most inspirational and motivational posts ever!! Thank you so much for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI love your Faith!! (and your blog!! I cant believe you have 8 kids!!) God is so good, and it's so Amazing how well He blesses us when we put our Faith in the right place!!
ReplyDeleteYou really do get more back in tithing :)
ReplyDeleteI'm stopping by from the hop and am a new follower. Would love it if you'd visit my Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/myBabySleepGuide
blog rss
http://www.mybabysleepguide.com/
and twitter page
http://twitter.com/#!/babysleepguide/
Thanks!
Rachel
That is amazing! And you and your family are so blessed!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by and following me! I'm following you now too! Hope you have a great New Year!
Kim
Chubby Cheeks Thinks
Amazing Story! Thanks for stopping by the blog! Look forward to following!! Happy New Year, my dear!
ReplyDeleteTessa
thediaryofaworkingmother.blogspot.com
What an amazing story. Thanks for linking up with the New Year, New Followers follow fest! I'm following you back.
ReplyDeletehttp://firefly-chasing.blogspot.com
Your faith is amazing. I and my husband once gave tithes too though our local priest didn't obligate us. We were convinced to trust and just obey God and true, we never go hungry and blessings just came out in the air. We will think about giving tithes again.. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI just started a few months ago. Its was hard because my husband was not raised in any sort of religion so he does not understand. I aim to add as much as I can each month.
ReplyDeleteSo far the fruits have been a tremendous growth in the Church children's choir I direct. I know that is not for my family directly, but its what I felt is greatly needed in the community due to the cut back in Music Ed throughout California.
God bless you,
Pam
I am starting to understand what you mean about God's blessings after how much He has sustained us this past year. I am hoping we will be able to tithe once we are self-supporting again.
ReplyDeleteGod is so good. We've had a very trying year, but have continued to have faith in God and are still blessed. :) And wow, three kids in four years twice. Don't know if I can do that. We're contemplating a fourth, but we'll see. :)
ReplyDeleteyou know I heard this same exacting thing listening to a preacher last night while I was driving home! It is really important to help tithe, and 1/10th of what you make, I am trying to find my way on my path to God.
ReplyDeleteStopping by from the Alexa Drop Hop. Congratulations on winning a new car! I need to hang out with you online more often! I have lots of contests on my site. Stop by sometime. http://lookwhatigotforfree.com
ReplyDeletethis is a fabulous post! I totally agree with it and know that what you put out you get back 10 fold. Thanks for a good start to my day and for dropping by my blog. I look forward to reading more. Happy New Year to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteI really liked this post!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this. It is inspiring me to tithe more, Lord knows I need to be more faithful and diligent in this area. God bless you for sharing such life changing information.
ReplyDeleteAmen and amen.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you 100%. I could talk about tithing from now until the end of this month non-stop and what it has done in our lives giving those first fruits to God. And I was SOOOO reluctant til my husband forced me :)
such a great post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely comments and for following me. I am now following you also. Tithing, yes, it pays! When we were newly married and money was tight, there were a few times I held the tithe back planning to catch up the next week. Our water heater went out and this was a must. Or our kids got sick and needed medicine. When ever I held out - something happened to take that money! I am not saying it was punishment, but it did open my eyes. We tithe and get bargaina you wouldn't believe, and things go further and last longer. It pays to give to God.
ReplyDeleteOK, I don't get it! Titheing goes back years (which is the reason religous organisations will never suffer bankruptcy) but doesn't the bible condemn those who make a public show of their donations to religous organisations?(it was supposed to stop true believers from questioning where all those donations go).
ReplyDeleteDoesn't giving a donation while expecting to receive riches in return then make that donation meaningless?
I'll give donations to charities - both animal and human - but I expect nothing in return for myself, only those I want to help.
I may not have won exotic holidays but tbh I don't need to and if I did win something I don't think I'd automatically believe it was a return from god for my investment (donation).
I'm honestly not trying to be offensive here. I enjoy listening to other beliefs and enjoy talking about them. I'll listen with interest to the religous beliefs of others and if I agree with something I'll say so. If i don't agree I'll say that too, though I understand my opinion has no more bearing than the next.
Hope that makes sense.
Linda, I tried to reply personally but it seems you don't have a blog or an email I could use. I really understand what you say, my DH & I are Christians & tithe to God's work but we do it it because we believe it is God's due & not for any other reason. We delight to know that our Church is able to do the work God commands,& to support a preschool, & can reach out to people in need as the Bible instructs us to because we help to support the work. I commend you for your charitable giving, for us it is a blessing to be able to bless others with no thought of return.
Deletelove it love it love it!!!!
ReplyDeleteI tithe also and give offerings. I have to say that I sure haven't been getting back like you have. I do it anyway for somehow God seems to work everything out ;-)
ReplyDeleteGood for you. God sure does love a cheerful giver!
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't realize that "momto8" meant you are a mom of 8 as well! Yay, I finally found another mom with 8 kids! Did you homeschool them all through high school? My oldest is 14 now, so I'm just beginning to climb that mountain!
God bless you and Happy Valentine's Day!
Ang
(Following back!)
This is so encouraging. We have seen this is small ways also. I lost my job 4 weeks ago (just got a new job today!!) and my husband (also an attny) is in the process of starting his own business....so our income coming in right now is $0 until I get paid again and he gets going. It is scary...really scary. But people we didn't ask have stepped up and helped us. Many blessings in disguise. I am ever grateful. Trying to again trust God in ALL things even when we can't see how we will possibly make things work! But this again is a reminder that God shows up in ways we least expect! (Thanks for the follow on my blog btw...I am a new follower here! )
ReplyDeleteHi: Thanks for your comments on my jet pack and for following me. I enjoy what you have to say here and will follow you too. We serve overseas, and we've been abundantly taken care of, even if it may not look like it to others. I definitely see the Biblical blessing of tithing at work and believe our faith in God's GOODNESS and His desire to fulfill His Word for us is a part of it too. Thanks for being bold with your faith and His goodness!
ReplyDeleteJUst amazing and wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great testimony!
ReplyDelete