This year’s Stewardship Campaign theme has everything to do with “counting your many blessings.” But before you inwardly ‘groan, gripe or whine’ about how the church is always asking for money, please consider: how often you ask God—for anything? When don’t you ask for: guidance, comfort, direction, purpose, health, wholeness, joy, contentment, or innumerous other things you need to survive?

Counting Many Blessings is merely our Stewardship committee’s effort to focus your attention on acknowledging God as our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of life. It’s our attempt to encourage you to give thanks and praise for the blessings we enjoy and often take for granted.

How many of you, if you had (or have) young children in the house growing up, didn’t stand them up alongside a door frame or in a closet and measure each one’s height to see how they had grown? I’ve even known some families who don’t relocate to a new home without removing that measuring mark because it is a cherished part of the family’s history. It marks history.

Counting God’s Blessings is our challenge to raise your giving to the church. When did you last figure just what you’re giving to the ministry of Jesus Christ amounts to? What percentage of your income for the year are you sharing in Christ’s mission?

Counting God’s Blessings does not involve measuring yourself against what others (who may have more or less than you) are giving. Nor do we want to simply consider the church’s budget needs and divide by the number of givers to “tax” everyone an equal share.

As we do each year, we invite you again to consider giving proportionately. The biblical measure (mark where you stand) has always been a ‘Tithe’ – or 10 %. God calls each of us to strive to tithe. . . and I’ve known some who give sacrificially, who give even more than 10% of their income to God. If you’re “not there” yet, then consider and calculate what percentage/proportion of income you do give. If you gave 1 % of your income to our ministry last year . . . give 2 or even 3% this coming year.

Whatever goal you set for yourself, take the time to count God’s blessings in our life. Mark it, note it, be proud of it. Give thanks to God with more than words and worship. Give thanks to God in good measure of all the blessings we enjoy. Give thanks as together we celebrate God’s Blessings faithfully.

Ministering with you in Christ’s service,