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Ave. . SaintLouis,MO63104
2300Lafayette
Phone:(314)771-92L4 t Fax: (314)771-2940
Email: lafayettepark@sbcglobal.
net

DearLPUMC
Family,

ForthepastfewweeksI havebeenpondering andpraying for Godto givemethisletter.A letter

thatwillhelpmeasStewardship Chairperson
directthiscongregation alongtheroadto spiritual
giving,Tithingis ourChrlstian
duty,AsStewardshipChairlt is myobligationandprivilege
to help
youbefrerunderstand themanywaysthatGodlrasprovided for ussothatwecangrowin giving.
aboutgivingis Acts3:1-8whenthe Apostles
Oneof the mostheaft-felt scriptures no longerhad
physical
Jesus' presence
butwerefilledwiththe promised gift of the HolySpirit.OnedayPeterand
Johnweregoingupto thetempleat the hourof prayer,at threeo'clockin the afternoon.A man
lamefrombiithwascarriedin. People wouldlayhimdailyai the gateof the templecalledthe
Gatesothat hecouldaskfor almsfromthoseenteringthetempfe.Whenhe sawPeter
Beautiful
andJohnaboutio go inioihe iempie,heaskedthemior aims. Peterlookedintentlyat him,asdid
John,andsaid,"Lookat us." Andhefixedhisattentionon them,expecting to receivesomething
formthem, ButPetersaid,"I havenosllveror gold,butwhatI haveI giveyou;in the nameof
JesusChristof Nazareth,
standup andwalk."

I knowpersonally thatthishasbeena verytryingtimefor manyof usfinaneiallyandis a

continuationof tryingtimesfor some. So,let useoneentratesf whatPetersaidto thisman. "I
giveyouwhatI have." PeterandJohnlookedintentlyat the man,Theythoughtseriously about
andgavewhattheyhad. If youcontinuereadingthisscripture
the situation the mangot up and
walked.Hereceivedan e.Jengreatergifr thenhe couldhaveimagined, Throughthe gift of the Holy
SpiritPeterwasableto giveasthe churches wereableto give. Paultellsusat 2
of lvlacedonia
Corinthians8:1-5thatthechurches of Macedoniawerehuftingbuttheygaveliberally.Henotes
thatnotonlydidtheygivevoluntarily buttheybegged for privilege
of sharing,Theygave
anonymously andtheygavejoyfuliy. Paulrelateshowtheygaveout of "theirabundant joy and
theirextremepovety."
To be ableto do whatPeterandthe churchof Macedonia didwasnoteasy.Thistakesspiritual
discipline.In orderto gainspiritualdiscipline
takesprayerfor the HolySpiritto enterour livesand
guideus. It takesattendingWorshipselice sothat we arefed regularly.It takespersonaland
corporate studysothat we will knowhowto usethe giftsthat Godprovidesfor us. It takesjoyfully
givingof ourtime,tafentsandgifts.
Thefirstaccountof givingan offeringin the Bibleis the storyof CainandAbel.TheBibledoesnot
tell uswhyAbel'sofferingwasaccepiable to Godor whyCain'swasnot. Hebrews 11:4tellsusthat
"ByfaithAbelofteredto Goda moreacceptable thanCain's."Perhaps
sacrifice it was the-qualityof
th6 giftsbecausewhatwe do knowis thatAbelgavethe bestthat he had,the flrstlings..I think
thatiot onfywasit the qualityof the gift but Abefthoughtserisuslyaboutthat gift andthat hegave
voluntarilyandjoyfullyasa privilege.
liberally, '
AsChrisr-ians, we arecalledto do as Peter,the churches andasAbeldid' Giveour
of Macedonia
first fruib andgivegenerously andgivethemwith joy'

LastyearI toldyouthatI am notwhereI shouldbein mygivingandi askedyouto growwith

me. Hardtimeshavehit meandmy lovedonesalsobutthisyeai'in spiteof thatI amgoingto sGp
up. Thisis scary.I knowthat this is goingto takemoreprayerthat throug_h myfaith
Jesus.Christ
will be Srengihened.I will needto studymorein private I
andcorporately, will makesure that I
am fed reguia4y throughattendingWorship andfellowship.I witlmakea pointof participatingin
the manyministiiesthat areofferedthroughLafuyette ParkUMCandoursisterchurch Centenary
andthroughourConference, to
Thisis an invitation "getup andwalk" piease join T9. Startby
flllingout[ne enelasedgivingestimate eardandthentakeadvantage of the wonderful oBpoftunities
that LPUMC is offering.

Frayingfor youdaily,

BrendaCook
Chair
Stewardship