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By Larry Slings, November 10, 2011 8:09 pm

I know we all have questions to ask God.  Asking questions of God is very Biblical.  Jesus invited us to “ask, seek, and knock”.  God invites our questions -even our hard questions.  David asks God: “How long. O Lord?  Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and everyday have sorrow in my heart?  How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Psalm 13:1,2)  It’s good to know that even David had questions and God invites us to ask such questions too.

Have you ever asked God questions aboutmoney?  No, not “when will I get more” kind of questions, but questions about your use of money.  Because God is the owner of all and we are His stewards, it would be a responsible thing for us as stewards to consult the owner for his direction.  Randy Alcorn in the most recent edition of his book: “The Treasure Principle” asks such a question.  “Lord, am I honoring You as owner and CEO/CFO of the assets You’ve entrusted to my care?  Or am I treating you as a mere financial consultant, to whom I pay a fee (2 percent, 10 percent, or…)?  Have I been acting as if I own the store and You work for me, rather than recognizing that you own it and I work for You?” (p. 101)

That’s a good question isn’t it?  I wonder how God would answer that. He has told us; “The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.”  (Leviticus 25:23) Dare to ask God the question of how you are doing as His tenant. And instead of saying “Lord give me…” and then listing our requests, maybe we ought to ask, “Lord, what do you want me to give?” Or “what do you want me to do with your property?”

I think God wants us to ask such questions of Him.  I think he wants to be involved intimately in that part of our lives.  I think He waits to give us direction and wisdom and insight in our financial decisions and our giving decisions. I think He is eager to show us His answer.  After all, didn’t he promise: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault” (James 1:5).  I think He waits to give us wisdom about our giving too.  What do you think?

David got it right when as he and thepeople were giving their offering to God asked God “But who am I and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?  Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”  (I Chronicles 29: 14)  Wasn’t he wise?

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By Larry Slings, November 3, 2011 1:03 pm

In a few days it will be World Hunger Sunday in the Christian Reformed Church (designated by the CRC Synod in 1979 to be the first Sunday in November). So today we bring our “Peter Fish” and give our offerings for the hungry of the world.

God cares about the hungry!  Psalm 107:8,9: “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” The Bible reveals over and over again that God is gracious and provides.  He provides in a variety of ways, including through his people with the instructions to love our neighbors by sharing with them.  There are instructions to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, and make provision for their needs.

I love the Old Testament pictures of the gleaning of the grain after the main gathering of the harvest.  I have fond memories as a child of groups of us going out into the corn fields after the harvest and picking up the left over ears of corn. In this way we gathered hundreds of bushels of corn. (In our case, that was then sold and the money given to the Christian School)  In Bible times, it was the poor who were permitted to glean from the fields for their own use.

God in His law made it clear that His provision by giving a bountiful harvest of grain was to be shared with those in need.  His law instructed landowners to leave the harvest that was missed so that the poor, the widow, the orphans could be fed. I’ve always loved the story of Ruth in the fields of Boaz. I picture this young, destitute widow and her widowed mother-in-law Naomi being provided for in this way.

Our church youth group in Minnesota went into the fields and gleaned food left in the fields for the feeding of the poor.  That had such a Biblical feel to it!  I pray that we can feel that same participation in God’s providing for the needs of those around us.

One of the ways we do that is through our giving on World Hunger Sunday.  We also have another opportunity in the month of November. Haven Church is committed to helping “His Harvest Stand” in November to stock their pantry shelves with items needed by those in our community.  Would you “glean” through your cupboards and find items to bring?  Also, please consider going to the store and filling a grocery bag and bringing it as on offering on November 20 (or even the 13^th).  We will be placing those items in the front of the worship center.  Those items will then be given to “His Harvest Stand”.

The Bible reveals God as the “Generous Provider”.  Woven throughout the pictures of God’s generous provision are the warnings about hoarding, gluttony, withholding care from the poor, neglecting the hungry, and presuming on God’s goodness without  “acting justly and loving mercy”.

Join me in praying that on November 20 the front of our worship center will be piled high with “gleanings” and “provisions” for those in need in the Zeeland area for World Hunger Sunday.

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By Dustin Ver Beek, October 12, 2011 12:44 pm

How did you learn to give?  When you left home, how well prepared were you to make financial decisions –including decisions about giving?  Parents and teachers spend 18 to 22 years preparing our youth for occupations, but often only a few hours (if at all) teaching children the value and use of the money they will earn during their lifetime. 

Parents are responsible for teaching the principles of handling money and of giving.
We can do that using these three methods:

I. VERBALLY

 The Lord said we are to diligently teach these things to our children: “Impress them on your children.   Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6: 7)  Good giving habits are verbally taught.

II. MODELING

 Children soak up parental attitudes like a sponge soaks up water.  Parents need to model how to handle money faithfully. – Especially in the matter of giving.  Good giving habits are caught. I learned from watching my parents and grandparents.

III. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

Children need to be given opportunities to apply what they have heard and seen.  In this way they actively learn by putting it into practice.  Good giving habits are learned by practice.

Which is why I’m so excited that we are having the “PETER FISH” opportunity.  It gives parents (and grandparents?) a 3-week opportunity to daily –sitting at home or walking on the way, to teach children about giving.

Why PETER FISH banks? 

You remember the story of Jesus feeding 5000 by the Sea of Galilee. He used 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish that a young boy had been willing to share. Most believe those fish were tilapias that live in the Sea of Galilee. (Remember how in Matthew 17: 27 Peter was instructed by Jesus to catch a fish and open its mouth and takeout the coins he would find there to pay the temple Tax?  Look carefully at the plastic “Peter Fish” and you will see the indented place just behind the gills.) In Israel today you can order “Peter Fish” in the restaurant. Just as Jesus used those fish to feed thousands, our children can learn how God will use their small gifts to feed the hungry.

So, don’t miss this opportunity to meaningfully engage your children and teach them about giving.  The daily devotionals will help you use the 3 methods mentioned above and do it in an enjoyable meaningful way.

And then, on November 6, in the month where we celebrate Thanksgiving, the children (and you) will have the joy of knowing their giving will be used by God to feed the hungry.

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By Larry Slings, October 5, 2011 3:12 pm

Most of us would say that we enjoy the beauties of creation and this time of the year has so much of it to see.  But, sometimes we only “half see” or “in seeing we do not see”.  I realize that again when I spend time with grandchildren.  Children have a way of noticing things that help us discover again the wonders of creation.

Some years ago I was walking with my first granddaughter before she had learned to speak.  She kept saying “woof, woof”.  I didn’t know why she was doing that.  Then, sure enough, as we walked on I heard the dog and later saw the dog that was barking.  My granddaughter had been much more “in tune” with creation than I was and alertly responded to it.

Another grandchild and I were out in the paddleboat.  She was seeing things and asking me questions about what she was noticing.  “Grandpa, what happens to the weeping willow leaves that hang under the water?” So we paddled over and looked –which I would never have done without her curiosity and awareness.

Why are children so fascinated by water?  Because of our grandchildren I’m more aware of the colors and movement of water –and also more alert to the dangers when they are around a body of water.

Just this week, Sandy and I were walking with a grandchild who pointed out to us that there was a half moon in the blue sky.

What I love is that everything they see is interesting, novel and worthy of attention.  It helps remind me again that the beauty of creation is “new every morning” and I can get real delight in witnessing it afresh “THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD”!

God who made it and owns it all shares it with us for our enjoyment and even “holy moments of wonder”.

We know we are supposed to “consider the lilies” but how do you do that?  I’D SUGGEST TAKING A CHILD FOR A WALK.  Just as I experienced God’s world through the eyes of a child, God wants your and my eyes open to the wonders of creation so that we can appreciate Him and His work more fully in all areas of our lives.  My grandchildren have helped me see things that were there all the time.  I simply hadn’t noticed them.  God want us to notice!

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By Larry Slings, September 24, 2011 3:42 pm

Let me begin by sharing one person who made all the difference in my life by sending a card.  Her name is Mary Ann and she was a member of Sandy’s church.  She sent a card to my wife Sandy after Sandy’s husband had died.  It was an expression of sympathy and an invitation to call if she ever wanted to talk to someone whose husband had also died.  That card especially struck Sandy because of its picture:  Thomas Kincaid’s “The Light of Peace”.  -The people with whom she worked had given that painting of a lighthouse in a storm to her after her husband’s death. It struck her as “a God thing” that Mary Ann had sent the same picture. She never planned to call this person she didn’t know but the card continued to lie on her counter and some weeks later she did call Mary Ann.  They later had lunch.

Out of that lunch came Sandy’s attendance of a grief group that Mary Ann led.  Later she became part of the leadership of the group.  When my wife died, a friend of mine urged me to attend the grief support group that met in her church . . . the same group that Sandy was helping lead.  I ended up in her small group and after attending I later became a co-leader with Sandy for a year, we then began to date, and a year later were married.

-All of this “unfolded” because someone sent a card.
-All because someone cared enough to reach out.

That is what has so impressed me about the “Blue” colored Post-its on the “Timeline” in the library hallway. (If you haven’t checked it out –do!) Those Post-its show the influence people have as they care and serve.  Every Church I have been a part of has had people who have influenced me.

God can use any of us to be an agent of his grace in other people’s lives.  Mary Ann is a person very like any of us.  She is quiet and unassuming –and yet God used her to make all the difference in Sandy and my lives because she was willing to care and serve.  I wanted to share that story for your inspiration.

I also want to comment on the pastors whose names appear on the “significant” Post-its. All the pastors who have served here were a blessing in someone’s life.  Please remember that when you think of or speak about a former pastor:  WHATEVER YOUR RELATIONSHIP WAS WITH THAT PASTOR, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT GOD USED THAT PASTOR POSITIVELY TO BLESS SOMEONE HERE!  That is a way of honoring God and His work through His servants.  Sandy and I honor God as we recognize God worked through Mary Ann.  We don’t want to be guilty of not honoring God.

And finally, let us consider how important even a word or a note can be in the life of someone. And remember that God might use that act to “significantly influence” the life of another.  –YOU NEVER KNOW…