The Shepherd’s Staff: Sin – Flagrant or Unaware?

The Shepherd’s Staff: Sin – Flagrant or Unaware?

Our family enjoyed a week in a rental house in Frisco, North Carolina at the end of the Summer season. The
house was situated within walking distance to the Atlantic Ocean with sand dunes separating us from the water. It was an ideal location for the 8 adults and 12 children.

One night we decided that a beach campfire would be a fun activity for all of us. So we drove to the closest convenience store and purchased marshmallows and bamboo spits to toast those delightfully sweet, sticky and fluffy white morsels. Of course we needed firewood and an accelerant to get the wood burning. The store sold small packages of fire wood and we bought a can of liquid fire starter.

When we got back to the house, I noticed that there was a white slip of paper wrapped with the package of
wood. It was printed by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Cape Hatteras National Seashore
and it said in bold letters “Beach Fire Permit”. It listed two permit procedures; “1. Read Beach Fire Regulations
listed on back, 2. Sign and date below.” I am a stickler when it comes to obeying things like that, so I read the
Regulations, signed and dated the permit and delegated to my son and sons-in-law to light the fire.

They did a great job and in the cool, dark, starlit night, we enjoyed the mesmerising red, orange and yellow
flames as they devoured the wood and provided heat for comfort and for toasting the marshmallows.
We were enjoying the fire for about a half hour, when a Park Ranger appeared out of the darkness and stood
by the fire. I approached him and asked if I could be of any help. I told him that I had the signed permit back at the
house and he said that someone had complained that there was a bonfire on the beach. He was dispatched to
investigate the report. When my son-in-law retrieved the permit and showed it to him, he said that the fire was not in
compliance with the regulations in that it was not below the high tide mark. I was completely taken off guard because
I thought the placement of the fire was away from vegetation and any thing flammable. I then realised that I had
indeed read the regulations, but I had not read them as thoroughly as I should have. I was definitely in violation of the regulations, so I apologized to him.

He said that we would have to extinguish the fire immediately and spread out the wood and ashes and then drown it with sea water until it was cool to the touch. He went to his Jeep and secured a shovel for us and the older boys did what he told them to do while he watched them extinguish our fire. While the boys were doing their job, I conversed with him about his career as a Park Ranger and it was a very informative and cordial talk. Then we walked toward his vehicle and he asked me for my identification because he was going to have to give me a formal warning instead of a fine. I was surprised but thankful for his graciousness as he filled out the warning and gave me a copy. The warning said, “This warning has been issued to you for a violation of the regulation as shown above . It has been issued in lieu of a summons or fine.”

The Shepherd’s Staff: Love Letters

Why am I writing this to you? Because I want you to experience the presence of the living God, Who is like
no other god created by man.

The Shepherd’s Staff: W.I.F.E

“A happy wife is a happy life!” Many of you have heard that little catchphrase and most husbands would say, “AMEN!” to that. Well, I believe this following statement also warrants an “AMEN!” “A happy church is a happy life!” Let me explain myself. A happy wife is one...

The Shepherd’s Staff: Hope

God, YHWH, made a covenant with the church through the blood of Jesus Christ, which Jesus initiated at the Last Supper and ratified at the Cross. This new relationship was not revealed in the Old Testament, and it included gentiles, Greeks and Jews. All who trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are also called by His name. That covenant was also eternal, unconditional and unilateral. The loving and faithful God will never cancel either covenant.

The Shepherd’s Staff: Sin – Flagrant or Unaware?

Our family enjoyed a week in a rental house in Frisco, North Carolina at the end of the Summer season. Thehouse was situated within walking distance to the Atlantic Ocean with sand dunes separating us from the water. It was an ideal location for the 8 adults and 12...

I was embarrassed but I had violated the regulation out of a sincere assumption that I had followed it. My transgression was that I was not diligent in paying attention to each regulation. I had assumed that I was in compliance and I felt confident when I first spoke to him. Then he pointed out my error. There was no excuse, and he could have rightly given me a fine, but he recognized that I had not intentionally disregarded the regulations. I sincerely thought I was complying.

Did you know that the Lord God recognizes that there are two categories of sin? There is presumptuous or
flagrant sin, and there is innocent sin, or sins we are unaware of. In Psalm 19:12-13, David writes these words, “Who can know all his errors? Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of. Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins; do not allow such sins to control me. Then I will be blameless, and innocent of blatant rebellion” (NET). What David is addressing is the fact that every day we walk in this world and do things, think things and say things that we are completely unaware of. Some of those things are of no moral consequence but some of those things are sinful. While we had no intent to do them, they are still sins. We are imperfect believers who are battling with our sinful flesh all the time.

As followers of Jesus Christ, our desire should be blameless before a Holy God. The Apostle Peter wrote these words in 1 Peter 1:14-16, “Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” When we confess our sins as in 1 John 1:9, God forgives the sins we confess and also forgives our unknown sins. So keep a shortlist between you and the Father and be sensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

The Shepherd’s Staff: Joints and Ligaments

The Shepherd’s Staff: Joints and Ligaments

“Head bone connected to the neck bone, neck bone connected to the shoulder bone, shoulder bone connected to the back bone, back bone connected to the hip bone, hip bone connected to the thigh bone, thigh bone connected to the knee bone, knee bone connected to the shin bone…” and so on. These are some of the verses from a song entitled “Dem Bones,” a spiritual song composed by James Weldon and his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson and first recorded
by the Famous Myers Jubilee Singers in 1928. In my study of the “one another” passages in the New Testament, that song came to mind. 

I was reading Ephesians 4:15-16, “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all [aspects] into Him who is the head, [even] Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love,” (NASB) and Colossians 2:19, “and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God” (NASB). Paul was writing about the analogy of the Body of Christ, the Church, and its diverse parts all working together to produce growth. What intrigued me, was the use of the terms ‘joints’ and ‘ligaments’. In my past readings of those two texts, I glided over those two terms without questioning their function. I understood the function of each body part and their interdependence of each other, but these two terms gave me more insight into the connection between the parts of the body.

I looked up the word ‘ligament’ in the dictionary and here is what it said. A ligament is a “short band of tough flexible fibrous connective tissue which connects two bones or cartilages or holds together a joint.” A ‘joint’ is “the connection made between bones in the body which link the skeletal system into a functional whole. They are connected to allow for different degrees and types of movement.” Wow! I thought. There are joints and ligaments holding together the parts of the human body but what spiritual analogy is that in the Body of Christ? What is it that connects the parts of the Body of Christ? I know that the Head (Jesus Christ) is the authority over the Body (the Church) and the Holy Spirit is the power (the brain) enabling and leading the Body, but what in the Church connects and holds together the parts? Connection is the key word. I believe the joints and the ligaments can be described as the community of the parts. Another term would be the Greek term, ‘koinonia,’ or fellowship, or abiding. What a picture of the application of the ‘one another’ passages! There are over 20 verses in the New Testament where the term ‘one another’ is used in an exhortation to build up the Body of Christ. Here are just a few, “members of one another” (Rom. 12:5), “devoted to one another” ( Rom. 12:10a), “honor one another” (Rom. 12:10b), “be of the same mind with one another” (Rom. 15:5), “accept one another” ( Rom. 15:7), “admonish one another” (Rom. 14:14), “greet one another” (Rom. 1:16). When the parts do not properly exercise the ‘one another’ exhortations, the church will not function according to design. When the parts properly exercise the ‘one another’ exhortations, the church will be built up and function very well.

The Shepherd’s Staff: He Emptied Himself For You and For Me

In the midst of singing carols, decorating trees, exchanging gifts, feasting on pastries and roasted meats, and gathering together with other believers-in person or online-to worship the One Who was born 2 centuries ago, there is a deeper, and more profound aspect of...

The Shepherd’s Staff: The Blessed Hope

If you have ever received correspondence from me, I typically sign it with the term, “Maranatha!”. The term is found in 1 Corinthians 16:22

The Shepherd’s Staff: Love Letters

Why am I writing this to you? Because I want you to experience the presence of the living God, Who is like
no other god created by man.

So how can a church be a healthy and vibrant church, bringing glory to the Head of the Church, as diverse individual parts working together in unity? By connecting with each other in properly exercising the ‘one another’ passages, a local church will grow into a body of believers who are mature and able to multiply and equip other believers who will then carry on the process of 2 Timothy 2:2, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (NASB).

How are you functioning as a joint and ligament? Are you properly exercising your gift by encouraging one another, by praying for one another, caring for one another, accepting one another, honoring one another, or really being connected with one another, etc? If you are not a part of a Community Group, ask yourself why not? Community Groups are where the ‘one another’ exhortations should be properly exercised. Connect with the other parts of the Body and enjoy the fellowship and growth. Remember that you are gifted by the Holy Spirit to work with the other parts of the church in order to build it up. Give Wes Williams a call and ask how you can join a Community Group so that you can be a joint and ligament.

Bill Olsen, Elder

The Shepherd’s Staff: The Lamp Of The Body

The Shepherd’s Staff: The Lamp Of The Body

I recently went for my annual eye examination at the Salem VA Medical Center. It was an extensive examination, first by an optometry intern and then an attending ophthalmologist. They had all kinds of diagnostic apparatus to allow them to not just look at the exterior of my eyes, but also to look deep into those magnificent orbs created by God. I mentioned to the young intern that it must be amazing to observe the extremely complicated design of this gelatinous part of the human body. She told me that she is always amazed at what she sees. I encouraged her to never take for granted that God has designed these intricate and essential parts. How often do I take for granted that when I wake up in the morning I can look at my clock and see what time it is, I can read my Bible, I can see my lovely wife, my daughter, and son-in-love, my five grandchildren, the sunshine and so on, all day long. There are so many things I can focus on during the day that are good and produce thankfulness to my God.  

But along with those positive and good things, there are negative and bad things that come before these marvelous eyes. I’m reminded of the children’s song, “Be Careful Little Eyes What You See!” I have control of what I allow my eyes to focus on all day long. What I choose to look at, gaze at, lust upon, will result in consequences. Jesus had some words to say about the use of our eyes when He delivered His sermon on the mount in Matthew 6:22-23, “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!” The context of these verses concerns how we deal with material possessions. The two verses (vs. 19-21) prior to these two verses, warn us to check our hearts. Where our heart is, will determine where we store up our treasures. What do we do with our earthly possessions? Do I make it my goal to be materially rewarded at the expense of being spiritually impoverished? Is my heart in making money or is it in bringing glory to God? Then in verse 24, following the verses about the eye, are verses where Jesus pointedly says that we have to make a choice. We cannot serve God and serve money at the same time. It is an impossibility. There can only be one master, otherwise, it is not a master. Either our master is Jesus or it is money. No joint ownership.

Now, Jesus is not saying that money is evil. All blessings come from the Father, even material wealth (James 1:17). It is “the love of money that is a root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). In verses 19,-24, Jesus is telling us that we need to be careful about what we see. What we allow our eyes to see will affect our actions. The advertising world knows that principle very well. Why do corporations spend millions of dollars on Super Bowl commercials? It is because they know that the way to your heart (and pocketbook) is through your eyes. If they can make their product attractive to your eyes, your heart will desire their product. The Apostle John wrote these words in his first epistle when he was in his later years, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world” (1 John 2:16 NLT) When we focus our eyes on those attractive material treasures, we are deceived into believing that they will bring lasting joy. While it may be sweet initially, the end result is bitterness. 

The human eye provides light to the brain so that it can instruct the body to walk in the light. If something hinders our eyes from seeing what is in front of us, we will stumble and fall. It is like walking into a dark room where you think you know that there is sufficient light to navigate your way. That light you think you have is really darkness which will hide the obstacles in front of you. “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4, NLT). Instead of focusing on those attractive material things which can lead us into darkness, we need to focus our eyes on Jesus, Who is the Light (John 8:12).

Ask yourself these questions. 

1) When I focus on getting more material things, am I ever completely satisfied? 

2) When I fix my eyes on Jesus and His kingdom, am I content? “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (Philippians 4:11 NLT)

3) “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33, NLT)

4) Where do I focus my eyes? Jesus or something else?

 

Bill Olsen, Elder

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The Shepherd’s Staff: Members of One Another

The Shepherd’s Staff: Members of One Another

When a baby is born, parents marvel at God’s creative masterpiece. They wonder what this little baby will be like as he or she grows up. They have all kinds of aspirations for this remarkable gift that God has given them. As the baby grows, he/she inherently begins to open and close its eyelids, sucks with its tongue, cries with its vocal cords, moves its arms and legs, holds onto Mommy’s or Daddy’s fingers, digests milk, eliminates waste, and so on. As the baby grows it develops the use of its internal and external parts because this baby was designed by God in the mother’s womb from the moment of conception. The Bible speaks of that in Psalm 139:13-15, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous–how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.” (NLT). All the parts were designed by the Creator God to work according to His design. As the baby grows, the parts inherently learn to carry out their function and each part grows in its ability to fully work together with the rest of the parts of the body they belong to. As the child grows even more, he or she observes other children and adults using their body parts. The child further enhances their abilities as they observe and practice the use of their body parts as they mature.

The Apostle Paul uses the analogy of the physical body to describe the spiritual body of Christ, the Church. In Romans 12:4-5 Paul writes, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other” (NLT). Just as a baby has many body parts, so does the Church of Jesus Christ. You and I become a part of the Body of Christ when we are born from above by the Spirit of God. God has given each of us a function in that Body, which is called a spiritual gift. At the moment of our new birth by the Holy Spirit, He imparts at least one spiritual gift to each of us.  These gifts are intended to build up the Body of Christ as we exercise them. They are called gifts because we did not choose them or create them ourselves. Just as a child is gifted with physical body parts, so is the Church.

Paul addresses several churches in the New Testament concerning the faithful use of these gifts. His most extensive description is of the church at Corinth. This church was gifted generously but they were misusing their gifts for their own selfishness and not for the good of the Body of Christ in Corinth. He said that they were still immature in their spiritual growth. In 1 Corinthians 12:7-12, Paul explains this gifting, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ” (NLT). Paul instructs the Romans how to use those gifts in chapter 12, verses 6-8. “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly” (NLT).

Our spiritual gifts are to be used for the good of the Body of Christ and they are to be used well. Just as a baby grows and inherently uses its body parts in the way God designed them to be used, that baby also uses the parts of the body better as it practices and learns from others. So it is with the church. We as gifted members of the Body inherently use our gifts unaware of them until we begin to know by experience that we have them. I believe the Holy Spirit gives us that insight either by His inward prompting and through the encouragement of others who notice our gifts, just as a parent points out how to use legs and hands and fingers and other body parts to their child. We also derive enjoyment and outward encouragement when we notice that our gifts are effective with other members of the Body who may have different gifts. We learn how to work together as one body with many parts. So, the key is to grow in Jesus Christ and cooperate with God, Who is conforming you into the image of His Son. Use your gifts for His glory and enjoy your part in the Body of Christ in building it up.

Bill Olsen, Elder

The Shepherd’s Staff: Love Letters

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The Shepherd’s Staff: W.I.F.E

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The Shepherd’s Staff: Warn One Another

The Shepherd’s Staff: Warn One Another

While on vacation with three of my children and their families (there were 20 of us), we were staying at a rental house on the beach in Frisco, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Because of the effects of hurricane Teddy, the surf was extremely treacherous. Warnings about riptides were posted on the Weather Channel and it was obvious when you walked into the water, that the postings were legitimate. We arrived at the house on Saturday afternoon and the wind was incredibly forceful and relentless. It was in the 60’s and not conducive to a visit to the beach. Then Wednesday arrived and having been watching the forecast on the Weather Channel app, we were looking forward to spending a good deal of time sitting in the sand and watching the surf but not going in it. The adults were standing near the surf line as the children mimicked the sandpipers by running away from the surf as it came up and then following the surf as it receded back into the ocean.

I was sitting in my beach chair enjoying the children playing in the sand and playing with the foam that each wave left on the sand. As the sun grew hotter, I decided that I would get wet by walking into the shallow surf and splash myself with cool saltwater. So, I got up and gradually walked past my son and son-in-law, who were diligently overseeing the children. I slowly walked into the water and as I carefully took a step or two deeper into the inches of water flowing up the bank, I would stop and check my balance. I felt that I was being quite sensible in the way I was facing the treacherous waves in front of me. I had no thoughts whatsoever of venturing into danger. I was confident that my cautious actions were going to keep me safe.

Then, I heard my son yell, “Dad! What are you doing? Dad, come back!!” All of a sudden a bigger wave broke a good distance from me, but the water generated from the wave rushed toward me and knocked me off my feet and washed me toward the shore. Mark got to me and grabbed my arm and helped me get up. I was not hurt, embarrassed a little, because the whole family watched the dramatic scene, but I slowly walked back to my chair. Mark and J said that they were asking each other “What is he doing?” as I ventured deeper into the surf. They saw the danger before I did because they had been observing the surf for quite a while as they watched the children. Their call was a warning of impending danger, but I was confident that I was in control of my actions. Their motivation was a loving concern for my well being as well as the incredulous thought that I was doing something foolish. They knew something I didn’t realize until it was too late. Fortunately, all turned out well. I learned a lesson and so did the rest of the family as they watched the adventure. That will probably be a memory that will be repeated many times in the future.

You know, that incident reminded me of the fact that we are members of a family which is much larger than our physical families, the family of God, the Church. Each of us become members of God’s family when we are born again spiritually, having believed in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and the gift of eternal life. As members of that family we are to be watchful for one another as we experience life together. Some of us will be in the position of observing the others who may be a little too adventurous and willing to take risks because we have false confidence in our own strength and abilities.

Some of us may be foolishly testing the waters of pleasures which appear harmless or controllable. Some of us may have observed that same or similar water and have seen or experienced the consequences of false confidence. When we see a brother or sister blindly moving in the direction of a foolish action, we are obliged to warn them out of our love for them. Then we should be there to rescue them and minister to them. 

Paul told the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:31, ”Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” The term “admonish” means “to warn”. As Paul was ministering to the believers in Ephesus, he was warning them about the dangers facing them.  He also told the Corinthians that he was admonishing them, too. “I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children” (1 Corinthians 4:14). It is the responsibility of those who lead and teach others to warn their disciples of the dangers facing them. It is also the responsibility of fellow family members to admonish one another as Paul wrote in Romans 15:14, “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.” 

Out of love for one another, let’s watch out for each other. If we see a brother or sister getting too close to a dangerous situation, let’s lovingly admonish them. Let’s warn them with a gentle word that they are approaching danger. If they don’t heed our warning, let’s be ready to help them recover and restore them.

 

Bill Olsen, Elder

The Shepherd’s Staff: Offer

The Shepherd’s Staff: Offer

Are you a child of God? According to the Apostle John, anyone who has received Jesus as his or her Saviour, by believing in His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of their sin, is a child of God. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). Have you ever heard the saying, “the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree?” How about, “Like parent, like child?” We interpret those sayings as referring to a child’s behavioral resemblance of the parent. In most cases it is a positive assessment. There are exceptions to the rule, but when we observe the personality of a child we can see traits in the child that resemble the mother or father.

Our Heavenly Father wants us to become just like His Son. As a matter of fact, Romans 8:29 says an extremely out of this world promise concerning God’s plan for His children, “He (has) predestined (us) to become conformed to the image of His Son”. In Philippians 1:6, Paul adds these words concerning God’s work in us, “[For I am] confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” In other words, it is going to happen! One day, and for eternity, we will be like Jesus, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2).

So what does it mean to be conformed into the image of God’s Son, to be like Him? It doesn’t mean that we are all supposed to look like a Jewish man in his thirties with scars on our hands and in our side. It means that the Father is doing a work in our hearts to make us look like Jesus in our character, in our actions, in our speech and in our thoughts. After all, “the apple hasn’t fallen too far from the tree.” We were born again by the Spirit of God (John 3:3),  “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Having been born again, Christ is in us, ”I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).

To totally be like Christ is an impossibility this side of Heaven. When we reach our final destination we will be like Christ, but meanwhile, there is a work going on in our lives by the  Triune God. Amazing! He is working on all aspects of our lives and He wants us to be cooperative in the process. That’s what it means to walk in the Spirit, to be obedient to His Word, to be a living sacrifice, to take up our cross by dying to self.

There are many attributes of God that are communicable, that is, able to be transmitted to us through His working in us. One of them is the attribute of being a “giver”. God is the greatest giver in the entire universe and throughout all eternity. How do I know that? The Bible tells me so. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”. God is love, and He demonstrated His love through action, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). There can be no greater gift than to offer His only Son to die in our place.

So, as children of God, one attribute God is working on in each of us is that of being a giver. Ask yourself, do I look like my Father in that aspect of my life? Am I growing in that aspect? Do I really want to? How can I be more like my Father in being a giver?

Let me tell you that there is inexpressible joy in being a giver. When Evelyn and I were planning on getting married, we were 19 and 20 years old, and one of Evelyn’s aunts asked us if we were going to tithe as a couple. Our answer was simple, I was going to go to college full time and Evelyn was going to provide the income to live, so “we would not be able to afford to tithe”. The wise aunt replied, “You cannot afford not to tithe!” We took that advice and since then, 52 years later, we have never ceased to give at least 10% to our church and additional money to missionaries and individuals in need. Even when I was unemployed, several times, we continued to give the same amount we had been giving when I was unemployed and even when there was no income at all. We took it out of savings. God has never, ever left us in a position of need, though we did not always have what we wanted. Sometimes we wondered if and when and how He would provide, and He always did provide. We did not ever feel deprived. We received many anonymous unsolicited gifts just when we needed them. God is a giver and He is making us more like Him. Won’t you consider letting Him freely work in you in becoming a giver if you are not already?

Bill Olsen, Elder 

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