Recovery of a financial Kind

I have been so enthused ever since the state convention about the idea of being fireproof in different areas of our lives. I will admit I didn't receive this directly from the Lord however I read the book ''fireproofing your life'' by Michael Catt and the anointing from his inspiration has gripped my life. It covers every area of life from faith to marriage and how the Bible has protective guidelines for our lives.
I know you are very aware of the recession that this country is in and the heart of America is feeling the pinch in the pocketbook. I believe that the bible has the answer for the problem. I read a message the other day on the web entitled ''cirrhosis of the giver''. The attitude of giving goes beyond the financial realm it goes to the direct problem of the individual problem of ''self centeredness''. In most cases of this problem people aren't aware they are consumed with it.

Jhn 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Jhn 10:17
"For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.
Jhn 10:18
"No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."

Our God is a giving God. His greatest expression of giving is not found in possessions but in the person of Jesus Christ...Michael Catt

I truly believe if we put the Lord first in our lives in every aspect, including our finances that there will be what we need when we need. You may think well here comes another message on tithing. I am just saying if you want to get out of a recession....give. I don't mean just financially but of ourselves of time and energy. God gave so should we. He didn't give financially but he gave himself.
Adam and Eve a beautiful garden to live in, Israel a pillar of cloud for protection and a pillar of fire for guidance and manna from heaven for provision, He gave Israel the Promised Land, He gave Kingship to David, He gave His son. [excerpt from the book]... If you give what you do not need, it isn't giving....Mother Teresa....

2Sa 24:24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
I truly believe if we give of ourselves from our finances, time, and energy that we will receive far beyond what we invest from all of our resources. We do not to substitute church attendance with vacations[which are not wrong] we do not need to keep back which is God's for pleasure. We need to give. We need to give of everything we have. I have tried to keep things in my hands and lost them all, but what I have given into God's hands I still possess. Martin Luther.
I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. C.S. Lewis.
I need to realize I cannot carry anything with me when I leave this old world just as I brought nothing into it. I remember just this past Sunday when the Spirit of the Lord gripped us so mightily there was a 80 year old lady in the building who is deaf and can't hear music and she began to walk, which she doesn't do very well with tears coming out her eyes. She is not a lady with great means but she is a giver. The Lord spoke to my spirit and he said she's a giver. Not just of resources but she gives me time, effort, worship. I want to be like that. Inez Neeley walked around quaking....she couldn't heart and so was the whole church, so it was in tune with heaven that day.
I remember leaving the Greenville hospital system over 11 years ago with not only a special needs child but over a half million dollar hospital bill. Cindy had been on short term disability and I was working at Chiquola Mill. We gave and God gave back in return. I didn't give to receive but we gave to be a blessing and God gave back to us. We had to only pay 500 dollars of that bill .

Luk 6:38
"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, {and} running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
When God's work is done in God's way for God's glory, it will never lack God's supply. J. Hudson Taylor