Freewill Offering

In Ezra chapter 3, the people of Israel were returning to Jerusalem from captivity, and they had a desire to serve God once again. They reinstated various offerings that were required under Old Testament law including freewill offerings.

However, verse 6 says, “But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.” They needed a place to properly worship God. Throughout history, God’s people set apart places to gather and worship Him. The next verse shows that the people were willing to put their resources where their hearts were, and people willingly gave money so that the temple could be rebuilt.

This Easter Sunday, we’re taking a special “freewill offering” which will go toward buying the piece of property that our Youth Center sets on. Many people will willingly & sacrificially give to meet this need because they have a burden to see lives of teens changed for eternity.

There might be some older people in our church that will have a similar response to that of the old men in verses 12-13, “But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.”

These old men remembered what God did for them in the temple when they were young, and they cried and shouted, possibly with a heart cry of “God, do it again with this next generation!”

Encouraged, and Ready to Serve Again!

The past couple weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster! Circumstances have gotten me down to the point of wanting to quit. However, God showed me this morning through Pastor's message that my problem was anger and bitterness. I had become angry that some situations had developed, and bitter that I was forced to deal with problems I didn't create. However, that's NOT the attitude I've had in the past, and that's not the attitude of someone that God wants to use in His service. I know He has placed me where I am to be a help and blessing to others, and I REALLY WANT TO BE. Therefore today I confessed and forsook the anger and bitterness I was holding onto.

Thank you for those who have been praying for me during this, and for those who showed concern for me...it means so much that people care about me.

When I was a teen growing up at another church, it seemed as those in leadership lived so far above the rest of us, that I didn't get a chance to see their struggles; therefore, I missed seeing how they dealt with them. TEENS...I'm not perfect, and I want you to see that. But I also want you to see in me an example of 2 Corinthians 12:9 where Paul said about God, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."