I was personally thinking of setting aside a couple extra dollars each month and give it towards a 'building fund'. I thought about it a long time, a few days later I had just made my mind up..."I just can't afford it!" I prayed about it and told God that it's almost difficult to even give my tithe...and He simply replied in my spirit,"You can believe Me to provide when you give your tithe, barely, but you still believe. Now you wanted to give a little extra for My work, but you can't believe for any more?"

Now, it wasn't a convicting reply yet a choice He was giving me. I still haven't gotten paid so I still haven't made the choice, well I'll probably give a little more so that we can build. Yesterday I was reading an article from some junk mail I received and it brought me to Matthew 10:41-42 which reads:

"Anyone who welcomes a prophet, just because that person is a prophet, will be given the same reward as a prophet. Anyone who welcomes a good person, just because that person is good, will be given the same reward as a good person. And anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just because that person is a follower, will surely be rewarded."

These are a simple couple verses that speak about giving with faith. Notice the very last part that screams out at me "will SURELY be rewarded". That is the promise that God has for us when we give out of faith, a sure reward. It's simple, you're probably saying, Hey, I knew that.

Now here's my question...If you aren't giving a little extra (beyond your tithe) to our church, why not? I never really looked at how simple it is, you give, He rewards! WOW, it really is that easy! It's a promise, the bible doesn't lie...that's why we call it inspired and infallible, right?

Now I could really care less about getting money, see, I blow money...I'm the world's worst steward of money. Once, the military placed over a thousand dollars in my hand...mistake. I rushed to the music store and went equipment shopping. Just ask my parents, it has been a long road out of debt...one which I haven't finished traveling.

This isn't a rebuke, like I said above...I'm the worst steward, but this is a word of encouragement. God has really been changing me, my faith has been on increase, and warfare has been on the rise. I have been called to instantly "grow up" which I have been fighting for a long time. God has been dealing with me on issues of personal purity, and circles of sin. Isn't true repentance considered revival? If so, this is a personal revival.

I spend most of the time, during my day, speaking to God. I won't listen to music that isn't Godly. Everytime I see a pretty girl "Warfare! Warfare!" rings in my head and I cover myself with the blood of Jesus again and again. Gossip is a thing of the past, I find that my tongue will quit working if it even sounds like I'm going to gossip. I don't even complain much anymore, I'm so joy filled when I'm at work that I do a better job than ever.

I have faith. I have felt a release from my current job, and heard a fair warning not to quit before I am lead to the next job. I also was warned not to apply to everything out there, because He wants to bless me with the best. Now that one freaked my parents out, it must be some world-wide rule that you have to apply everywhere when you are looking for a job! I know a warning when I hear it.

Here's the one that will get you! Pastor, if you are reading this, you better sit down. I have made myself a bedtime. No staying up after 1am. I have also declared war on the alarm clock, I beat it up every morning. I've been working towards waking up no later than 10am, but I'd really like to wake up at 9am. So, I suppose that is a bit of a prayer request...perhaps you could bind the spirits of slumber and laziness for me?!?!

I have been tempted, attacked, and physically harmed more times in the past week or so, that I am MAD at the devil. I've wanted to lust soooo bad, but can only think of my future wife. I've wanted to kill every student at the high school because they left trash everywhere, but then the warfare bells go off and I start fighting it. Desks have fallen on me, chairs have fallen on me, I've hit my head on every piece of classroom furniture imaginable, and I praise God everytime. I've been told that the quality of work I'm doing stinks, but I bless my boss in the name of Jesus.

I was singing a song today while vacuming where the words went,"Three young boys they wouldn't bow, to the idol of some old king. Yet for so long myself did bow, to nearly everything. These boys faced a furnace as real as death, and me I've shuttered at every breath, but now I'm gonna make my change...Fire it up! Hallelujah!...Fire it up! Hallelujah!... said Fire it up! Hallelujah!... Fire it up! 7 times...."

There are a lot of songs that pour out from me as I vacume each day. And the depths of my heart pour out on those carpets as I fight and praise and pray and fight some more. It's not just me, it's something that is happening to the entire church. Jesus has been manifesting Himself in our midst, He's always there but now He's showing us. His glory has been spilling out a little more each time...and I know why!

Pastor Beverly briefly has been saying things, prophetic things, and perhaps without even realizing it. See, the more we empty ourselves, the more He comes in and the more He is able to work through us. I've never felt anything like I did last Sunday, morning it was intense but evening it was worse than intense. God spilled out so much that it filled me and made me want to take a nosedive with my bass guitar in my hand! I'm emptying as much as I can, and at an alarming rate.

I'm having a spiritual garage sale! Take anything you want, it's just a lot of useless junk. I'm getting rid of everything, piece by piece, because I want God to spill more into me. See, I feel like a million dollars, I am hungry for the things of God. I'm ready to make leaps of faith by taking a hammer and breaking the chains that are holding me so still. Things can never be the same...Christ is indeed gathering His people for a harvest.

I'm going to give out of what I would normally spend on food, and give it to the work of God at the Eagle's Nest. I want the reward, not only with my promised new job, but spiritually as well. See I want the heavens to open above our heads. I want the glory of God to fill, instead of trinckling! I want other people to get to a place of successful warfare, where their lives are changed and the enemy's defeat is proclaimed. I want the harvest of souls...I can think of hundreds of people I've known that I'd like to see get saved. I want the Spirit of God to fill some of these mortuaries that are called churches in this town. I want to see people healed and dancing before the Lord. So much, that I'm willing to give it all, yep everything.

I'm giving up my chance to play bass guitar professionally, and I'm giving up my dreams of going to bible school. Those were my dreams, and I'm tossing them away for you, our church, and this silly little town of Waycross. I've always wanted to visit California, the roots of my christian walk, and I'm giving that away too. I'm even...gulp... giving up a girl that I am in love with to stay here and bring in the harvest. Yes, I am in love with a girl that lives miles away...deep, true love...the kind of love that drives you bonkers...and I've laid her at the Lord's feet because of this place.

I could cry this moment, it's hard to actually admit to all your friends and fellow ministers that you are giving up your dreams to see souls won for Christ. It's time for maturity, and it's time for a change.

Okay, I've been known to write 10 pages and go on and on about the things of God, but I'll spare you all the emotional junk that would normally go here. I am joyful at the moment, yet for the first time I actually spoke about that I am giving up my dreams and love, for my duty to Christ. These were things that I never wanted to let go, and I don't know whether to cry or praise God, or both?

Most of you know the power of a spoken word, either you are speaking blessing or curse, but some blessings don't really seem like they are in your favor. All I can think of at this moment, is of a person that I love...I'm not sure if she realizes how much I have fallen in love with her, but it is a lot. It's not something that I give up lightly. I'd almost like to erase this whole letter for that dream, but...well...she would agree that winning souls is much more important.

Have a good night, and a blessed day! *sniffle,sniffle*