Opportunity Update...

This is just an update about a project I believe in supporting. I hope that you will prayerfully consider supporting it as well. 

From Michelle:
Hello friends and family,

You are receiving this email because you are one of the 34 backers in my kickstarter project. I wanted to personally thank you all for your generous support! I couldn’t do it without you! As of today (Sunday at 3:45 pm!), I am 16% funded and only 18 days to go! That means I still need 702 people to pledge $25, 176 people to pledge $100, or one person who would pledge $17,535 by Friday morning, September 27th! Many people have expressed their intention to pledge but haven’t done so yet. Would you help me to continue spreading the word?

For those on facebook, thank you for sharing my link, and it is especially meaningful when you attach your own personal note to it. I’ve also seen great responses when friends have emailed their contacts or talked about it in person. If you’ve backed me, it’s probably because you believe in the project, you’ve heard me as a worship leader or music teacher, OR you simply know me and want to support me in something I’m passionate about. Whatever the case is, thank you so much and I can’t wait to finish this project and get out your rewards!

God bless you,

Michelle

An Opportunity to Bless Another

I had planned to share a true story next of how one person I know is using a mindful approach to share a blessing of riches with another.  But while I have been working on the details of the story (because I have a responsibility to keep it true), I received an e-mail from a friend with a story about another friend.

In the spirit of sharing riches and because time is of the essence, I am passing along the contents. Let me preface this story by saying that I first met Michelle several years ago while we were both volunteering at Royal Family Kids Camp. She has a beautiful talent in her music and the arts... and a vision to share these gifts through a cd and a children's book. Please check out her website: www.michellegarciamusic.com and click on the "Kickstarter" link or you can click directly from here: http://kck.st/1dP2BDK
I admire Michelle's strength and faith as she shares her story. I also admire her stewardship: of her gifts and talents, and also by trying to raise her funding through a source like Kickstarter. Kickstarter.com is a website where people fundraise for creative projects.  You can go on and support the projects you believe in and receive rewards in return.  Michelle won't be able to complete this project without the help of beloved friends and family.  You can get all the details, pre-order a CD, and check out all the other great rewards being offered on her kickstarter site.  The Kickstarter project will run through Friday morning, September 27th, so please check it out while you have the chance!  Feel free to share the website or this email with your friends and be inspired by Michelle's story. Blessings to You!



 

Riches

Last week, my parents and I were enjoying a conversation and they shared the following passage from Dr. David Jeremiah. My parents asked me what I thought DL Moody was referring to when he used the word 'care' in relation to 'getting riches'. Before I share my reply, please read the passage below:  

turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org

Tuesday, August 27

How God Sees Money The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10

Recommended Reading 1 Timothy 6:6-10

In his book about heaven, D. L. Moody writes, "Somebody has said that getting riches brings care; keeping them brings trouble; abusing them brings guilt; and losing them brings sorrow. It's a great mistake to make so much of riches as we do."

As followers of Christ, we need God's wisdom in our approach to money. We need to view our checkbooks, bank accounts, and paychecks exactly as He does. He knows we have bills to pay. He knows we need to provide for our families and store up for rainy days. He also knows the brevity of life and the uselessness of money beyond the grave. The most valuable things are those He provides free of charge, like air to breathe and sunlight to bathe our faces. The Lord knows how to provide for us in every condition. The tentacles of greed wrap themselves around us when we substitute our wisdom for God's as it relates to money. May the Lord Jesus give us His wisdom as we remember that nothing we have belongs to us. We belong to Him, and all we have is His. As long as you want anything very much, especially more than you want God, it is an idol. A. B. Simpson, in Days of Heaven upon Earth

 

So, in reading this, I wonder a few things. When asked the question, it was put in the context that the word 'riches' is referring directly to money. I would love to read where DL Moody actually writes this passage because I wonder if the concept could be applied to all riches. For example, I don't particularly have a lot of money, may at times think that if I had a little more then my life might be easier, but I always somehow have enough to meet my needs. In other ways, I am tremendously blessed, such as with faith and a hopeful positive outlook. I have found that this 'riches' requires great responsibility because it can be a detriment if I don't use it wisely. -It can be a turn-off, or even misperceived.

The other thing I wondered was, what does he mean by the word 'care'? So I looked it up and this definition hit me: "serious attention or consideration to doing something correctly to avoid damage or risk" Some of the synonyms listed are: discretion, forethought and mindfulness... WOW!!! -Then I read the small print.... the antonym is careless; I immediately inferred 'sloppy' and thought about care-less, and not caring; and then read this: "a feeling of or occasion for anxiety", it also refers to the cares of the world, which bring anxiety, sorrow, worry, trouble.... ouch! Thank God, His Word tells us to 'cast all your cares upon me' !!!

In answer to the question, what is care referring to?, I believe this: that acquiring riches, yes of any sort, brings the responsibility of mindful, diligent use; this might be stressful but with God's help, we can accomplish this. He warns us that much is required of him who has, and He comforts us that He will not let us endure anything that we cannot handle together with Him. This is my take; would love to hear all of yours!!!

1. 2.

   serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or to avoid damage or risk.

   "he planned his departure with great care"

   synonyms:

   caution, carefulness, heedfulness, heed, attentiveness More "handle with care" discretion, judiciousness, forethought, thought, regard, heed, mindfulness; accuracy, precision, discrimination "she chose her words with care"

   antonyms:

   carelessness

   • an object of concern or attention.

     plural noun: cares

     "the cares of family life"
   • a feeling of or occasion for anxiety.

     "she was driving along without a care in the world"

     synonyms:

     worry, anxiety, trouble, concern, stress, pressure, strain; More sorrow, woe, hardship "the cares of the day"