Well there is so much to add on here. I have been so busy this week with so many different things that it is hard to know where to start. Today was fantastic! I got to help with the sacrament with a couple of fine young men that helped guide me. I thought I might be a little nervous about doing this but it was no problem at all. It was really weird sitting up there looking back at everyone though – you can really see everything from up there – LOL
I also paid tithing today which I do every two weeks of course – but this time was just a little different. You always hear stories of when people don’t have money (like me) and pay their tithing’s on time how there will be enough money to see them though – I have to admit that I believed- kinda,,,,, Well I am a full believer now. I keep a budget every month to see what needs to be paid and who needs to be paid – pretty much it just reminds me of how broke we really are and how we barely make it every month. Anyway getting back to what I was talking about – for the 2 months I have been paying my tithing’s and things have been very tight in the money department, bills barely getting paid. I thought for sure that there was going to be no way we would have anything left for Christmas because we have put what was going to be for Christmas for tithing. But sitting down to do the bills I notice that the food seems to have stretched farther this month and Christy’s school lunches still have money left in the account from past months and my paycheck was just a little bigger this month,,,, and a couple of other things also – but we now have a little money for Christmas when I should not have had any money – this is one great weight off of my shoulders and this I thank Heavenly Father for and all of the blessings he has bestowed on us.
I forgot to mention the Christmas dinner and the activities committee on Friday. It was great. This was our first activities from our calling and I so enjoyed working with my wife. I will try to post some of the pictures that I took. It was a lot of work setting up the stage and the chairs and decorations and then dishing out all of the food and cleaning up, but it was worth every second to see the look on children’s faces and to see all of the family’s together enjoying themselves.
On Saturday we had a lesson with the missionary’s, and we had also signed up to feed them. I was expecting Elder Farthing and his new companion Elder Fellows but Elder Farthing had a prior commitment so we had a great dinner and lesson with Elder Fellows and a new missionary that was just a couple months into his mission -it was great. Sorry Elder Farthing – you missed out on a great dinner, plus Christy made brownies that were awesome – of course we sent the rest home with the missionary’s – hope they saved some for you,,, LOL.
December 17, 2007 at 8:38 am |
I enjoyed reading about your tithing experiences. This weekend I was talking with some relatives who belong to a different church, and we were chatting about this very subject. They said they believed that a person should pay tithing on his or her net income only, and the reasoning was that a person isn’t expected to pay tithing on money that he hasn’t even received, and with such an enormous amount going to the government, well, you get the picture. I told them that I always tried to pay on the gross income. Whenever in doubt, I told them, ask whether you want to be blessed on your gross or your net.
December 21, 2007 at 12:51 am |
Ron,
I’m glad you’re having faith when paying your tithing. Let me tell you, I’ve had my fair share of experiences on the subject this year and lets just say that I am happy to write the check. The blessings do come in many, many ways. But the main reason why I do it is to show Heavenly Father I am willing to be obedient and show my faith in him; that he will provide me with all I need.
Marlajayne,
I’ve heard that simple question before as well – “Would you want to be blessed on your gross or your net?” The answer is so obvious.
December 21, 2007 at 11:07 am |
We’ve done both gross and net, but with net we just tithe on our tax return as well.
As a stay at home mom with a student for a souse we’ve really had a hard time financilly over the last year and a half. Often the money we were supposed to recieve hasn’t come through and we find ourselves frantically reworking payment schedules and the like. But we have yet to be late on payments and we always have enough food, even if it’s not super yummy food. We pay a full tithe and that won’t ever change, because I’d really rather not test whether or not we’ve been recieving blessings. And after all, if we can make it without our tithing than I guess we don’t really need to keep it, now do we?
December 21, 2007 at 11:07 am |
that’s my ’spouse’ that’s a student, not my ’souse’ whatever that is!
December 30, 2007 at 2:09 pm |
Thank you for the eye wash Ron. Words are a poor expression for the feelings and witness from the Holy Ghost as I read you comments on Blessings and Tithing. Tithing is paid by faith, not money. If you have enough money that paying tithing is easy, I don’t think you are aware of the blessings that come to you.
I am amazed at the progress you are making in the Gospel. I have come to the conclusion that your handle is now a misnomer. You don’t sound boredinphoenix any more!