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How To Create Financial Margin

After last Sunday's talk on Financial Margin it is easy to become overwhelmed -- not knowing where to start. Here's some advice:

• First step - start tithing.
• Then begin to slowly make changes. Changes in spending, saving or even in your earning. Prayerfully ask God to direct your changes.

It's never too late to add financial margin.

Talk It Over - Margin 3

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I chewed gum while doing this video... sorry .... I didn't have time to shoot the video again so you get me and gum. :-)
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Have You Given Your Life To Christ?

1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Timothy 3: 1-5

When I read these verses I am reminded to pray fervently for people to know Christ. It is so easy for some to act the part, but miss the truth of a relationship with Christ. Please hear this, as believers we will all struggle. I am not concerned with the believer that messes up and gets back up to continue in their walk of faith. I am concerned with the one who falls and stays flat on their face, the person that clearly shows no change, the person that lacks the evidence of the fruits of the Spirit(Galatians 5:22-23). My heart breaks for those that need Christ. I am passionate about souls coming to Him.

If you would like to talk with me about your relationship with Christ, don't delay. Email me, call me-- I would love to help you take that step of faith and be secure in Him. I would love to talk with you and explain more about this relationship.

Let's pray for people to come to Christ, in Him they will find the power that brings about true life change.

Talk It Over - Margin Week #2

Niagara Falls Review reports on CATF

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2262392

Haiti

Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti as we hear of the stories of loss and destruction. The best way to help these poor people is to pray and to give.

• Pray for the physical and spiritual needs of the earthquake victims who have lost everything and for those who provide assistance in the name of Jesus Christ.
  
• Please send you financial gifts to Samaritan's Purse Canada This is an opportunity for Christ's love to shower a hurting country.

The Truth

When people are lying to cover their backside or to pull you down, remember it's nothing new. Acts 7:11"They persuaded some men to lie about Stephen." The truth always prevails, so distance yourself as much as possible from the ones lying. Don't listen to them and don't let their words and actions get the best of you.

Why God?

Why is the transformation of my life such a painful and long process? Why do I do the things I know I shouldn't do? Why do some areas of my life seem so wonderful and others areas so dark? Why after years of following Christ do I at times act as if I don't know Him at all?

Questions that I ponder and I'm sure most of you do the same.

Paul had this to say in Romans 7 NLT
15 I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

The good news Paul noticed his sin. If we are noticing sin that's a good thing, it indicates that we are a follower of Christ. We understand what should be and we desire a changed life. That's the good news. Read on

17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God's law with all my heart. 23 But there is another powers within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

The answer is found in Christ. He is the one who is righteous, not us. He will, in His time, free you from your sin nature. In some areas it is a miraculous change in other areas it is a slow transformation or renewal. For many of us it is painful as we have to unlearn old bad habits and ways of thinking. The truth is, we couldn't handle the transformation any other way but little by little, it would freak us out if it were to quick. For some it is simply waiting for the light to go on. Be assured of this, God will do a good work in your life.

Philippians 1:6 NLT
I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

God will finish what he has started. Your job is to listen to Him by reading the Bible, taking part in our Sunday morning experience, allowing the Spirit to control and praying. He will speak to you through these ways. Remember, that the day you stand before Him, you will be free from you sin nature and a the transformation process will be over. Until then, it's a process for all of us. Hold on tight!

We Are All Irresponsible At Times

Who are we trying to fool. We know our own hearts.

Blame is a way to shift responsibility. When we are irresponsible we know in our heart we are irresponsible no matter how hard we try to shift the blame. --
Andy Stanley

Here's a great message from Andy http://www2.northpointministries.org/player/player.jsp?occurrenceID=4538

Live for One

Live for Jesus he will never let you down, he will accept you no matter what, he won't misunderstand you, or leave you.

"NOTHING you will ever say or do will please EVERYONE. Keep your audience small...like, say...One(Jesus)" - Steven Furtick

Talk It Over - Margin 1

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Christmas Giving Update

Here's a great story from our Christmas Giving. I think we clearly demonstrated what it means to love your neighbour. I know God will use our simple act of kindness to impact these lives with the love of God.

We had a great time delivering the Christmas presents to the motels on Christmas Eve. The experience was a wonderful example of Craig's message the previous week, 'It's more blessed to give'. I was particularly glad that my girls could be apart of it. We were able to actually hand the gifts to maybe 12 out of the 20 people. The rest were put in their rooms for when they came home. Every person was very surprised and appreciative. One young man (18 yrs) was so happy that he started hugging everyone. Another gentleman opened a box of chocolates that he already had in his room and offered them to the children and adults. We had to wait outside the motel office after delivering some of the gifts because the owner had gone to the store and she needed to open the rooms to deliver the rest. So, while we waited, a man came out of his room wearing the hat we had given him and he had a gift wrapped in tissue paper for us. It was a mirrored picture with a poem on it about friendship. I thought that was very touching. We had a father and son who's mother had just passed away. They were very happy to receive their gifts but you could see the sadness in their faces.

A Story Of Faith

Here's a great life change story from a family in our church. They are everyday people just like you. Everyday people that have been forever changed because they said yes to God. Can I encourage you to do the same. Let's all live the Blessed Life.

When we were going through a time of financial difficulties we remembered the passage "I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you blessing after blessing. "(Malachi 3:10, CEV) Since we were at a point where what we had was not going to be enough, we took God up on His challenge. After doing so we have not stopped giving God the full 10%. This act of faith on our part has allowed us to see God provide for us in amazing ways. As Craig said in one of the messages the math doesn't seem to work out but somehow God causes what you do have to be enough. There have been times when it has felt difficult to give the full 10% but we have not failed to be obedient with this and God has never failed to provide for us. We hope you will find the faith to trust God with the money He has trusted you with so you can in turn see how faithful He is.