Paneh Weekly Roundup #7: Giving Edition
Every Thursday, I will post a link round-up of articles I've found while researching the Internet. While all may not be directly related to dance ministry or worship arts, I hope it will be of benefit to the dance ministers, mime ministers and worship artists that frequent this site.
We are entering the holiday season, this time of year means different things for different people. Some focus on giving, others receiving, for some it means spending and others celebrating and memories. I wrote a guest post for Christian Personal Finance called There is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch – Or is there?, it has to do with the concept of giving selflessly. As we prepare for Thanksgiving festivities & Christmas productions, let’s go out of our way to be a blessing to others.
Enjoy these articles from around the web!
Do You Hear What I Hear? – Reverend Stephanie Butler reminds us to be open to receive a fresh wind from the Lord. Just like he communicated to young Samuel (1 Sam 3:1-12), He is still communicating today.
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.
Proverbs 19:17
Dancers, do you know why you are told to breathe while Stretching? 4Dancers blog explains the “why” of this important stretching element. For those that teach, it may help to explain why breathing properly is important.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:3-4
Homemade Christmas Ornaments & Decorations – Debt Free Adventure shares these ideas to help decommercialize Christmas and get together as a family creating these crafts
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
James 2:15-16
Sign On the Dotted Line started as a comment by Minister Rekesha Pittman on Dance Ministry Ethics #2: Contracted Ministry. The response was so thorough and passionate that it deserved to be its own blog post!
Conduct a food drive or help out at a soup kitchen this holiday season
His Hem Ministry provides information on a Tambourine workshop this weekend in Pennsylvania hosted by Shachah Ministries International.
In case you missed any of the articles posted here this month, there is a full recap in the October Summary
Paneh Weekly Round-up: Fellowship & Family Edition
Every Thursday, I will post a link round-up of articles I’ve found while researching the Internet. While all may not be directly related to dance ministry or worship arts, I hope it will be of benefit to the dance ministers, mime ministers and worship artists that frequent this site.
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Exodus 20:12
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
From the Mailroom: April 2009
April 10, 2009 by Lakita
Filed under From the Mailroom
The following question was emailed to me in response to the Dance out of Debt post. One reader, we’ll call her Ms. T, responded with a particular situation that she would like to see addressed (highlights and emphasis are mine)
My husband and I have been trying to do better with our money since I am out of work and the job prospects are slim. The one thing that I would love for you to share in your next edition is how to do balance being financially sound and walking in faith when it comes to the needs of your church. We pay our tithes and offering and give extra when we can but as a leader sometimes I feel that if we can’t give all the time we are looked down on. I know that I have to walk in faith but I cannot continue to allow my bills at home to get behind because of the giving beyond the tithes and offerings
Ms. T, as I read and re-read your situation the items I highlighted stood out. You are giving according to HIS word and your faith. Please don’t let your feelings dictate your giving!
It could be that you are not looked down upon at all but your perception of the situation has led you to feel that way. Alternately, if you are "looked down" on…it is by man, not by God! We (general body) need to focus less on people-pleasing and more on God pleasing. Joyce Meyers deals with this very subject in her book Approval Addiction: Overcoming Your Need to Please Everyone
I would suggest talking to your spiritual leaders if you have not done so already to make them aware of your situation. Continue to allow the Lord to lead you in your giving. Besides, if we are giving to appease men and look right in their eyes….are we really being that cheerful giver that God loves? Just a thought!
What do you all think? Have you faced a similar situation or have additional advice for Miss T?
