Sermon Tone Analysis

Alright, well, a couple things before we I jump into our message for this morning.

First of all, I want to give you a bit of an update on how things are going.

Last year, of course we were in a very unfortunate situation with the tenant we had in our school building, which resulted in a lawsuit.

That was resolved, the new tenants moved in about a year ago now, December was their first month, so they have been with us for a year.

I have heard amazing things from the community about them.

In fact, just the other day, a mother was here picking up her child and stopped Kelley and thanked her for giving her the information for the school because it’s going so well.

They have incredible hearts.

Their desire is to be the best school in south Florida focused on kids on the Autism spectrum, through the school, their therapy company and their non-profit foundation that focuses on helping families.

Here’s where I want your prayers.

Because they are a new entity, when they applied for their certificate of use from the Miami-Dade fire department they were told that new regulation stated the building needs a fire suppression system, a sprinkler system, which the building does not have.

This is a very big project, and as a tenant rather than an owner, they had to seriously consider their options, as did I.

I am so grateful for the relationship that we are building with the owners of the school as we were able to come to an agreement that we felt it was not 100% their responsibility, being on a 5 year lease to upgrade the building to that level, and it was not 100% our responsibility as the owner of the building, because we don’t need it to conduct our business.

So we came to the agreement that we would split the cost 50/50, and we agreed we would extend their lease by an additional 5 years.

I’m working with our amazing lawyer to update the lease parameters and make sure we have everything done correctly.

Two points of prayer: First, we want favor and grace from all of the governing bodies involved to ensure that not only the school can continue to do their work as this project is happening, because there are timelines involved that with the way things have happened, it’s completely unrealistic.

Second, this is a very big financial project.

The whole project is estimated to be around $60,000.

Which, in the long run, having the school here is of financial benefit, but this is money we did not intend or wish to spend, especially at this point.

As I said, they have agreed to pay for 50% of that cost, but still requires us to put forward about $30,000.

Financially pray that God gives me the wisdom how to navigate things to the best of our ability.

I’ve said this before, my belief is that generosity, giving, and the concept of tithing, which is the biblical giving of 10% of our income to the house of God, these are opportunities.

God blesses whether we give or not.

God is gracious to us regardless of whether we feel able to give or not.

Grace is undeserved favor, unmerited favor.

So as soon as we are told that we have to do something to receive it, we are missing the point!

BUT, like I said, giving is an opportunity to step into.

When God invites us to give, His promise is that it is like a seed going into soil that will reap a harvest.

When God invites us to tithe, it’s with the promise that we will financially and physically prosper.

And this has been my personal experience.

God has looked after us.

The bible says very clearly we should never be coerced or manipulated into giving.

So when we talk about finances here at Cutler Bay Worship Center.

When we mention giving.

That is our intention, that you personally decide, and exercise your own faith in choosing to take God at his word.

Paul says, everyone should decide in their heart what to give.

Personal decision.

It’s between you and God.

Kelley and I tithe 10%, we always have, and we probably always will.

It’s our way of honoring God with what we know He’s given to us.

Another situation we have had recently is with our air conditioning on the property.

Of course that takes maintenance, and a few weeks ago I came into this building and it was HOT.

Some things need repair.

In the other building there was a mishap that caused some damage to the system, and that was a pretty big repair.

How many know, we can’t do anything in south Florida without AC.

I know, we need to work on making sure it’s not TOO cold in here, but I think that’s better than it being too hot!

So, be praying for these situations.

I think collectively us asking God for favor and wisdom is as powerful as giving, and I also believe that our generosity is a conversation God wants us to have with Him.

I think as a parent one of my greatest joys is when I see my daughter who is using my money that I’ve given her, decides she wants to be generous with it.

It does something to my heart.

I share these things this morning for two reasons.

Like I said, we need your prayers and support in these areas.

But also, I want you to be aware of what goes on here.

When you do give, I want you to know that we don’t take that lightly and we do our absolute best to be faithful with those finances.

We are individually called to be wise with our finances, but we are also as a church called to that.

So I try to be as transparent and open about where we are at.

Also, if you ever have any questions or concerns, come talk to me.

I’ll do my best to be an open book.

And I mean that.

Conversation doesn’t make me feel awkward.

Questions don’t make me feel awkward.

If you wonder why we do something.

I will have an answer for you, OR, I’ll let you know I’ll find an answer for you.

The same is true with what we teach here.

If you hear me say something that you need some explanation on, you have options.

You can come talk to me.

I WANT you to come talk to me.

There’s a good chance I get something wrong at some point.

For instance, a few weeks ago I said the Proverbs 31 wife goes hunting in the morning.

There’s some speculation that this isn’t actually true.

I’m going to defend my position because the word used for “food” is actually prey… BUT, it does NOT specifically say that she goes out hunting.

Ok, I might get it wrong from time to time, and I’m ok with learning in the process as long as you’re good with it too!

WELL, I want to start his morning by sharing a testimony with you.

Something God did in our lives this week that I want to give Him glory for.

As some of you know, we bought our house this week, which we are pretty excited about.

But ya know, we’ve been talking about working at not worrying, and not complaining, and choosing to give thanks when it’s easier to do something else.

And in the midst of reading and learning and reminding myself of what I should be doing, how many know you get opportunity to do the opposite?

Right?

When we ask God to teach us patience, we suddenly get given opportunity to BE patient.

When we ask God for character, we find ourselves in situations where we can prove our character.

And so we’ve been asking God to help us be grateful in the face of complaint, confident in the face of worry, full of faith in the moments of anxiety and leading up to closing on the house I noticed this thought trying to creep in, “Ya know, you’re turning 40 in a couple months… and you’re about to sign a 30 year loan… that puts you at 70… close to the rest of your life ya know, and with your health, who knows...”

I’m just being honest.

These are the things that were trying to get into my head.

NOW, remember what I said last week.

If it doesn’t line up with the character of God expressed in His word, the it’s not Him saying it, which means it’s got to be coming from somewhere else.

And in the moment I’m not in a conversation, and this isn’t something anyone has said to me, so it’s either the father of lies, or me recycling something, and both of those I have complete control over.

I can CHOOSE to tell the devil I’m not listening, and CHOOSE to tell myself God’s truth.

And I can also choose to tell myself to stop thinking these things BY choosing to think about something else.

Here’s the absolutely wonderful thing about God.

Sometimes we get these little reminders, physical reminders that help us in those moments.

I don’t ever check the mail in the morning, maybe once every few months.

And on Tuesday morning I decided to grab the mail as I was leaving to bring Kaylee to school.

I put it on the seat next to me, drove to her school and then went over to Winn-Dixie to buy a couple turkeys and some things I needed for dinner.

I get home, bring everything inside and throw the mail on the counter, no intention to look at it until later.

But, I decide, meh, I’ll flip through it and throw out the junk mail.

Well there’s a letter from Wells Fargo.

And it’s got that sort of official check looking paper that I can see through the envelop window, but, we don’t have any dealings with Wells Fargo, so I just assume it’s a credit offer and they’re using that type of paper to entice me to open it.

I think maybe I should just rip it up, but I open it, and it’s a letter that says, “When you signed for your mortgage with Wells Faro for 10831 Laurnet Place (Raleigh), you paid a rate lock charge.

We have decided to refund you that amount, WITH INTEREST, PLUS, because you have been without this money for this time, we are adding money to it...” And the letter was accompanied by a check for just over $2,000.

This is from a home we sold more than 10 years ago.

We’ve lived in 3 countries since that point.