“hey pastor eric last week was the first time I pay’d all of my tithes in a long time and the last 3 weeks our hours were slashed to 24 hours and this week after paying tithes we are working overtime. God is great!!!!! thanks for all you do. it seems like every time I hear a sermon at journey its something I need to hear.”

Journey – Trust God – He is faithful.. So faithful.

As believers it's an opportunity to retreat, or to trust and press in by continuing to exhibit a lifestyle of giving.

The Gospel of Luke gives us some great words of encouragement on the topic:

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”   – Luke 6:38

As 2008 draws to a close I want to ask you. Have you been faithful to God in the area of your finances?

If the answer is yes, then praise God, continue to live to give. If the answer is no, prayerfully consider what God would have you do. The close of the year presents us with an opportunity to finish strong in this area of our lives. We can then continue that into 2009 and just watch what God will do.

It's also the last opportunity of the year to get a tax deduction for your 2008 donations as well.

Church, lets finish strong..

Click here to donate online.

Jeff shared a story about a church that He was a part of that got in over it's head at one point and stopped it's missions giving. He noticed that stopping God's flow of giving had an even greater negative effect on the churches finances so he asked the pointed question – Eric are you guys being faithful in tithing your outside missions $.

I am greatful to say that we are, we continue to make our 12% outside contributions faithfully as some of the first checks we write. In November we had our highest ever monthly missions giving of over $6400. At Journey we have also been aggressively looking at ways to cut expenses and have shaved over $1000 per month off the top to try to be great stewards over all that God has entrusted us with that we might be positioned well as we enter 2009.

So, to twist the situation back to you and I the challenge at the core becomes do we trust God with our finances even in difficult times? Do we believe scriptures like,

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”   – Luke 6:38

I read scriptures like this and try to keep it simple. Simple, pratical and put into practice.

So my thought and challenge is this. During this Holiday season do a few things – 1) Take God at His Word, 2) Be faithful in your tithes and offerings, infact be a hilarous giver and watch what God does in your life, 3) Don't get into debt over Christmas.. Live within your means.

Prayerfully consider where you are at in terms of giving. If you have not been faithful in this area of your life – repent, seek God's direction, and put His word into practice. If you have been faithful trust in God, stand on His promises, even if things look bleak know that He has your back.

I humbly thank the people of Journey Church for their faithful, over and above giving, keep making a difference – keep the gift revolution going. Let's blow this area away with how much God loves them.

How important is this as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach.

There will be much to say about the two upcoming series "Gratitude List" and "Gift Revolution"

But suffice it to say – I challenge the people to step up more than ever before – during these tough economic times and be a church that is passionate about ministry for the least of these. No doubt we will be helping Pastor Moses out at Triumph. In fact.. 2 weeks from now Pastor will be preaching here and I couldn't be more excited about him sharing about Triumph.

We want to make sure everyone at Journey as a great thanksgiving.

If that might now be the case for you be cause of your economic situation would you email me ejaffe@journeychurch.org  and we will see what we might do to help!

Pray for us also. This weekend we will be starting a new series in addition to a capital campaign aimed at moving into the new facility with excellence. The series is called iBuild and will be a study of Nehemiah and the building of the walls, God’s supernatural provision corporately and individually. It should be a great series to lead us into the opening of the new facility.

If you would like to help us get a jump start by contributing online it would mean the world to us.

Click here to donate online.

I really think that God wants to move in our midst tomorrow night and challenge us in a big way not to run from the calls he places on our lives, or drift away from them, but to go after them with everything we have. Not to hesitate, but in this day and age, in this season of time on earth, to realize that he has planted us here for a reason because he has called us like Jonah to be vessels to call people unto relationship with Christ, to call them to repentance. If we do, he will deliver, He will forgive, destinies will be changed.

Might He move on our hearts tomorrow. Might many people get saved and many people get set on fire for the things of God. May we be a people who hear God’s word and respond.

May 24th – Belly Button Birthday – turned 38 this year.

May 31st – Born Again Birthday – turned 16 this year.

June 7th – Churches 1 year anniversary..

It was not something we planned out in any way, but it looks like something we will have to look forward to year after year.

Something to pray about and consider for this week.  We are looking to create a tradition of benevolence on the Journey Church birthday. Our motto is you have to give it away to keep it when it comes to finances, so why not consider buying a Gift Card to a gas station, or wal mart or something of that sort and leaving it in the God Box this week as a birthday present that we can use to make a difference in the lives of others for weeks to come..

Also – show up, bring a friend. We are having a pot luck dinner afterwards and would love for everyone to be a part of our 1 year anniversary celebration.