$100 limit for Christmas
Quick update, so Matt and I just got done listening to a fantastic sermon series at church around tithing.
For some of you, that might make you cringe. The notion of "the church just wants your money" is unfortunately a false message that has spread around our society. We've come to learn though that it's not about giving away money to the church, but the state of your heart and relationship with money vs. relationship with God. Where do you put your hope and trust? Who is the ultimate provider of all that we have? These are core questions that we've been considering and trying to reconcile what we believe with how we live.
So Matt and I have been talking, praying and wrestling through all of this. We've always had generous hearts, but our tithe has slowly decreased and often gone to other organizations besides our local church. This series has put a firm conviction in each of our hearts and we are eager to obey God in this way. Right now the numbers don't add up in our monthly budget to tithe 10 percent on our gross income but we are faithfully stepping out in obedience and praying that God will show us the ways that we can adjust our lifestyle and income to make this sustainable. When you've gotten off course and prioritized things out of order, it's hard to make the transition but we are both committed and excited about the freedom on the other end!
I wanted to take a moment and write down some thoughts though on an experience that happened yesterday during the sermon. As I was wrestling with the tithe and our budget as Ryan talked about the 10/10/80, I felt a very strong command from the Lord that we were to do Christmas this year for under $100!!! Yes, that is total! Immediate family, extended family, total. $100 total to spend on gifts for us and then $100 total to buy for others, as we love pulling names off the tree and giving to those in need.
When I felt this command, my answer to God was an immediate and resounding "NO!" I absolutely love buying Christmas presents and the idea that my two little girls would come downstairs Christmas morning and not see a pile of gifts under the tree made my heart thud in my chest. I had such a physical reaction to this that my face actually started turning red! It was crazy!
And then I felt God gently whisper to my heart, "Allow me to teach you the lessons that sticking to this $100 limit will show you. The joy, love and true meaning of Christmas that has nothing to do with the material things."
Alright, Lord. I am game.
I know this might seem like such a minor thing in comparison to all that is happening in the world and I realize that we are so, so, so blessed to even be able to spend $100 on gifts to those we love, but for me this feels like a big deal.
I have no idea how we are going to do this, but I'm excited to find out and experience everything that God has in store for us!
For some of you, that might make you cringe. The notion of "the church just wants your money" is unfortunately a false message that has spread around our society. We've come to learn though that it's not about giving away money to the church, but the state of your heart and relationship with money vs. relationship with God. Where do you put your hope and trust? Who is the ultimate provider of all that we have? These are core questions that we've been considering and trying to reconcile what we believe with how we live.
So Matt and I have been talking, praying and wrestling through all of this. We've always had generous hearts, but our tithe has slowly decreased and often gone to other organizations besides our local church. This series has put a firm conviction in each of our hearts and we are eager to obey God in this way. Right now the numbers don't add up in our monthly budget to tithe 10 percent on our gross income but we are faithfully stepping out in obedience and praying that God will show us the ways that we can adjust our lifestyle and income to make this sustainable. When you've gotten off course and prioritized things out of order, it's hard to make the transition but we are both committed and excited about the freedom on the other end!
I wanted to take a moment and write down some thoughts though on an experience that happened yesterday during the sermon. As I was wrestling with the tithe and our budget as Ryan talked about the 10/10/80, I felt a very strong command from the Lord that we were to do Christmas this year for under $100!!! Yes, that is total! Immediate family, extended family, total. $100 total to spend on gifts for us and then $100 total to buy for others, as we love pulling names off the tree and giving to those in need.
When I felt this command, my answer to God was an immediate and resounding "NO!" I absolutely love buying Christmas presents and the idea that my two little girls would come downstairs Christmas morning and not see a pile of gifts under the tree made my heart thud in my chest. I had such a physical reaction to this that my face actually started turning red! It was crazy!
And then I felt God gently whisper to my heart, "Allow me to teach you the lessons that sticking to this $100 limit will show you. The joy, love and true meaning of Christmas that has nothing to do with the material things."
Alright, Lord. I am game.
I know this might seem like such a minor thing in comparison to all that is happening in the world and I realize that we are so, so, so blessed to even be able to spend $100 on gifts to those we love, but for me this feels like a big deal.
I have no idea how we are going to do this, but I'm excited to find out and experience everything that God has in store for us!
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