When I saw this post about tithing, I got excited! I have been a tither for so many years, and have so many testimonies of God's faithfulness. But I just wanted to share a few to encourage those who may need it.
I was always a giver but not a tither. When I felt the Lord was leading me to trust Him in this area, I was not excited, to say the least. I was unemployed, and single with four young children. I just graduated from a program at a local college and volunteering at a place I hoped to get my foot in the door for employment. And I was battling an undiagnosed thyroid disease. I stepped out on faith after many failed attempts and much conviction. Within months my life turned around. I got the job where I was volunteering; my health issue was diagnosed and was being treated; even though I worked at the job for four years and had no health benefits, my children and I never got sick. I went from trusting Him from tithing off the net to tithing off the gross income.
That job led to a related job with benefits and twice as much pay. I was able to purchase a house and buy a new car. We were able to take family vacations out of town! Lol (this was always I dream I never thought would be possible). Times get hard in between but I never stop tithing. And God always came through.
Several years ago I went to a seminar about financial planning. The gentleman who was looking over my budget said that he was the son of a preacher so he understood the tithe and would never tell me not to tithe, but that was the biggest expense outside of my mortgage and he didn't want to get struck by lightning. But adding up the numbers, it made no natural sense that I could maintain my lifestyle expenses. That's God!
This past year was difficult in many ways, including financially. I am blessed to be married to a man who is also a firm believer in tithing. He was a minister at his father's church when I met him. Through quite a rough road in our marriage (another story, but his father wasn't happy about our marriage, and didn't come to our wedding )- he is no longer a minister at his father's church. My husband took odd jobs here and there and we never stopped tithing 10% of all increase.
Family trials, health trials and financial trials really whipped up on us throughout 2014. Roof problems on our home caused damage to ceilings, flooding in our basement, roof collapse on our garage, two ruined boilers, etc. But we never stopped tithing! Lord, should we file for bankruptcy and just call it done?! No, Trust God and His faithfulness.
September 2014, 2 checks in the mail from settled mortgage and insurance issues totalling just over $6,000.00! In October, I recieved a telephone call regarding my unclaimed child support from my ex for just over $14,000.00. November, my husband starts working for a man in our church who is a general contractor. Our home is being fixed and our roof repaired. My husband was also doing side jobs with another man from our church who does plumbing and heating. Our boiler situation is being taken care of. We now have 3 cars and no car notes.
My father in law now loves and respects me and our marriage. My children are working wonderful jobs and are doing well in their lives with their partners.
Prayer, Love, forgiveness and Tithing!