My Balanced part 4

Music selections:

• (Unknown)
• Hands of the Healer-Eddie Kirkland

*All songs lead by Eddie Kirkland

In "Balanced' part 4, Andy discusses the aspects of "extra money" He states that we all have it-even if we think otherwise. He references extra money to

"having that extra large cup of coffee from Starbucks" or "if you went to a movie this weekend"

( i guess he never heard of gift cards) or even if you have a cell phone, or a car-you have EXTRA money. He also states that we aren't aware of how much extra we have until we are around the less fortunate. I never really thought about this in this aspect. Compared to city's in Guatemala or 3rd world countries-I have a TON extra. Fresh drinking water, food, a roof over my head. Basically all of us that live in the US, have extra. We don't realize this though because our culture is so set on what we don't have(i.e. 12 cars, a mansion in the country) that we don't even realize how rich we truly are!



What we do with our extra money is a reflection of what is in our heart. If we SAVE SAVE SAVE we are looking towards the future for ourselves. If we GIVE GIVE GIVE we are looking to the future of those less fortunate. he said

"what you do is a reflection of who you belong to, and is a reflection of whats
in your heart. its a reflection of your relationship with God".

it is believed in our culture that if you have more stuff-then God has blessed you, but if you don't it means your faith is bad. Interesting thought there.....




Everything that we have, or We have is because God allowed us to have it. Andy says its probably in our best interest to serve him, with what he gives us. If you GIVE to a charity, or the less fortunate, it is something that can not be taken away from you. even after you die. Andy made the point that when you die, its going to go to someone else anyway-you might as well give it to someone who needs it.

"Being rich towards others is being rich towards God"

Andy says. Giving to others is doing the job God intended for you here on this earth.


Then at the very end of the sermon-Andy challenged us to keep track of how much we GIVE in a year, that the % will be astounding to you. He then challenges us to pick a pre determined % and give it to a charity/church/ones less fortunate every month. I have taken him up on this challenge. While yes, I do not have the most money in the world-I am going to start tithing. Giving to the church every week. No matter how small. Like I said in my other blog-a wise woman told me recently to

"GIVE as much as my faith allows"

I really took that to heart, and started so on Sunday. I gave a few dollars to the church. She and others say "as my Faith grows-so will my tithing" we shall see. I have also decided to give 10% of income to the Livestrong foundation. Plus I will get one of those cool little bracelets everyone is ranting about!! :-)









Stay tuned for next week!!!

My Sermon Thoughts Begining.

So this is a new weekly blog to go along with the one I have already. I will post my thoughts on the NP Community church sermon from the week. sometimes it will be on Sunday afternoon, sometimes it will be late in the week. but most of the time it will be on the monday fallowing. The layout will be as fallows:

• A visual of the current series(if avalible)
• Songs from the week
• a Brief overview, and my thoughts from the weeks sermon.
• The title will be "My __________' with the ______ being the name of the series, and the part. (i.e. this weeks title will be: "My Balance-part 4") The first "thoughts/Recap" will most likely be posted tomorow.

I hope that this will be a blog people may turn to if they:

1. Missed the weeks sermon, and just want an overview(as oposed to watching the whole thing online)
2. Just want another persons perspective, and/or thoughts on the current sermon.

Enjoy!!!!