A Blueprint For Blessing

( an excerpt from With Love & A Pinch Of Salt--just the point and then I've expounded upon those points)

1. Give God the first hour of every day.

I must admit I don't always practice this but I do believe in it--did that make sense? :-) I was just speaking to a lady yesterday and we got on this topic about our husbands will get up early enough to read their Bible and pray. Selfishly--all I am thinking about is a little more sleep before the 4 girls get up! I am not sure we have to give God the 'first hour of every day' but what about just 5-10 minutes? I think I am really going to strive to make this a daily practice...and then when I fail...which I am sure I will---I'll quickly pick it back up. Why not join me and see what God can do with just the first 5-10 minutes (or more if you are able)of each day?

2. Give God the first day of every week.

I was talking with our assistant Pastor's wife the other day and she had to take care of her twin (I think 2 year old) granddaughters and their baby sister...who is like 6 months or so. She didn't know how I could get out the door with 4 girls each Sunday. It does get easier as they get older...but now we have hair issues--they want their hair to be PERFECT and if it's not then I am standing there trying to convince them that it's okay! (knowing in the back of my mind that I use to be the same and still like my hair to look 'in place') It is so important to give God the first day of the week -- and every day for that matter. I am not sure where I'd be spritually if we didn't faithfully attend church EVERY Sunday. The ones who are the "Easter and Christmas Bloomers" are definately missing out on MANY blessings!!! If you and your family are not in church faithfully, start this coming Sunday!! Oh, trust me, the devil works overtime on Sunday mornings in our house--girls can't find shoes, they get up fussy, the littliest decides to eat breakfast AFTER you get her ready so she goes to church 'wearing her breakfast'---just determine that you're going to be found faithful to God's House when the doors are open!!! You'll definately be blessed!

3. Give God the first of your income.

I remember when we first started tithing and things would get tight. I was more reluctant to say, "Well, we have to pay so and so or we'll get ourselves in a mess!" Now, there is no question. I can't tell you one time when God didn't provide our mortgage, our electric bill, our water bill, phone bill, and on and on I could go. Has it always been easy? NO! BUT has GOD ever failed? NO! He is faithful. Just the other day someone mentioned how they couldn't hardly afford to pay their tithe...and I thought "How can you NOT afford to do it when it's the Lord's?" We are just greedy people aren't we? Even though the Lord only ask for 10%of our income and we are left with 90% (or maybe a little less if we give beyond our tithe for other offerings)...we still feel like that's a bit much but remember NEVER forget what He has done for US!!!

4. Give God first consideration in every decision.

EVERY DECISION...making a move? purchasing something? thinking of getting involved in a ministry? family decisions? marital issues? getting ready to say something or do something for someone? in EVERY decision we need to give God first consideration. How many 'bloopers' could we have kept ourselves from had we given God first consideration? Now, I do believe that we learn from our mistakes and we grow by them too...but a lot of times we may find ourselves jumping to something without FIRST getting with God!

5. Give God's Son first place in your heart.


I know this is number 5 but I almost think it should be first and then the others would probably be easier to follow. Ladies, if you have never accepted Christ as your Saviour, today is the day. Don't wait til tomorrow or some other day...we are not guaranteed tomorrow or even our next breath! DON'T Wait! As Christian ladies who are saved, we still need to make sure we give God's Son first place in our hearts...daily! Is it just me, but life just seems to get busier and busier! I wish I could just relax for one day and about the time I have that thought it seems my plate just gets fuller! Again talking to a lady I previously mentioned, told her about a book called "Growing Weary Doing Good" by Karla Worley! A pastor's wife recommended this book when I first started dealing with panic attacks. That was a point in my life when I was helping with a Sunday School class, involved in the jail ministry, Monday night visitation, Ladies Fellowship, playing the piano for a singing group at church so practice every week, and on and on...I was definately busy but I think I could honestly say...even though I was SO busy for the Lord...I wasn't giving HIM first place in my heart. Does that make sense? That book I mentioned above has so many outstanding points that it's a book I could read over and over and over again. In fact, I purchased 2 copies (after reading it the first time) so I'd have one to share and pass around to other ladies who would share how overwhelmed they felt. Keep the Lord Jesus first place in your heart. I have come to the conclusion...I am only to please the Lord and if I please Him then that's all that matters. When we allow ourselves to get to the place of wanting to please people by saying "YES" to everything we are asked to do...then we have missed the target. That is back to point 4--Give God first consideration in EVERY decision!

I hope these little "Blueprint For Blessings" will bless your life.