TestimonyHurdlesMilestones

Get help over ALL your Hurdles and Fears

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse,
so that there may be food in My house, and
test Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts,
‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and
pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.’”

“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!
But you say, ‘How have we robbed Thee?’
In tithes and offerings.
You are cursed with a curse, for
you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!”
—Malachi 3:10, 8

Lessons on Tithing

Course 1 “Opening the Windows of Heaven"

Course 2 “Your Storehouse”

Abundant Life “Give”

Poverty Mentality “Obedience Rather Than Sacrifice”

Tithing Questions and Answers

Where We Invest

Surrender & Trust

"Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors." P11924

#Tithe Encouraging Women Testimonies

LOVE at Last:

1st Spiritual Milestone: Tithing PLUS 60 MORE ★★★★★ Testimonies (below)

 

Become an Encouraging Woman
SUBMIT your own Overcoming a Hurdle PRAISE Report on Tithing

 

★★★★★ “Such Great Faith!!”

★★★★★ EH and I are Tithing Together!!  

Have you ever thought of how something would happen not knowing the turnout? Well, I have and it was in the area of tithing. The Lord has revealed to me the importance of tithing and doing so faithfully. I've done so for years, which has meant incredible blessings poured out on my ministry. Yet, my heart's desire was to be in agreement with my EH.

We have had some really rough financial situations and I knew that only my HH could speak to my EH about this very important principle. I surrendered to His will and my HH is so faithful He made a way to bring this area come to light. It happened within a crisis. I wasn't sure of the outcome, since my EH was skeptical about the topic of money and tithing, but I prayed and simply allowed Him to turn the heart.

The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases. Prov,. 21:1

Ladies, HE sure did! It went from "NEVER", to "YES". I was in awe and jumping for JOY!!

Today my EH and I, together as ONE, faithfully tithe here to RMI and all the praise and honor is HIS!!

The beautiful thing is now since we are tithing together, my HH allowed one of my EH's desires to come true, something we thought would be impossible to achieve. My HH is truly opening up the windows of heaven and pouring out blessings.

Tithing was not easy at first, especially when there was a lack and need, but my heart was His and I wanted to show my obedience. How beautiful it is to see His faithfulness.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 NIV

This was the scripture my HH gave me:

Ezekiel 37:18-23 NIV

‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick. I will make them into a single (ONE) stick of wood, and they will become ONE in my hand.’ Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

~ Lota

Restored after going THROUGH the Fire!

RMI’s Spanish Español Minister

 

★★★★★ “He Changed my Circumstances Drastically!!”

Today I want to write a Praise Report about how much I have been blessed since I started to Tithe & give offerings to this Ministry.

I want to tell our Brides - you beautiful lady reading this, how much my life has changed financially and to make a comparison using scripture on how much my life & the lives of my family has changed. Today I read the Partner Thank You dated June 14, 2018 and after I read it I sat thinking about how much my life has changed because let's be honest? Finances play a big part in our lives and marriages!!

"You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away . . . Why?" declares the LORD of hosts, "Because of My house which lies DESOLATE, while each of you runs to his own house." —Haggai 1:9 I had to look at scripture and be honest about where I was being spiritually fed.

This was my finances previously, I would get paid, bring it home, pay a couple of expenses then after a couple of days there would be nothing left... Even my cupboards would be bare. The last week of the month would be so difficult trying to figure out what to feed my family. I would even have to buy supper on my canteen account at work which I never felt very good about... Does this sound familiar?

Since I started tithing and giving offerings faithfully, I say faithfully because He changed my circumstances drastically after a period of time, not just my finances but my living situation too.

Matthew 6:19-21—“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Last year my EH made a decision to relocate so I had to resign my job. I wanted to work for His kingdom and made a decision to work from home as a bookkeeper so I could do ministry work here but He knew in my heart that I actually wanted to work for Him building my treasure in heaven where moth and rust don't destroy. PTL!! An opportunity came up for me to become a Minister here (as most of you know)!! He gave me the desires of my heart and my passion!! Which is to encourage women and tell them how awesome our HH is!!! That He can do ANYTHING!

So now I enjoy the freedom of working from home and my cupboards are never bare!! Also this month I started buying linen I desperately needed which I never had the funds to purchase previously. He spoils me!! Just yesterday I got a bunch of flowers and Lindt chocolate ( my fav!! ) - no special occasion - from my EH but I know its just Him telling me how special I am. 🙂

My life is not rushed anymore. I don't rush home to immediately switch on my stove to start cooking! I don't do washing on a Friday evening and spend my whole Saturday getting my home cleaned! I work at my own pace. My EH takes us out for a meal regularly to spare me from cooking and the Lord blessed him with a job that allows him to look after us. This is another area that drastically changed for my good. My EH used to get paid less than I did—now he gets paid more and pays all our expenses. I no longer stress about paying the rent etc.

Test Him and see!

“Test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven,

And pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows’” —Malachi 3:10

Test me now in this x 2 - twice the Lord is saying we can test Him.

~ Atarah Better for Me Then, than Now

★★★★★ “Gently Corrected Me”

He is so faithful! I have been reading WOTT and going through the FAL and LAL books and RJ again. I have been SG and asking Him to draw me closer and give me wisdom regarding His plans for me. I truly want to please my darling HL.

Yesterday, He lead me to read some PR's from Lota. He is so good to show me these lessons and provide answers so quickly. Like Lota, I didn't understand what has been happening with my finances. I have been faithfully tithing 10% and yet sometimes money falls short to pay bills. As I have been going back through some of my lessons, I saw this about tithing and He showed me clearly what I need to do. He also showed me all that I had read before, months ago, and never put into action.

Erin shared in this PR something she had shared prior, and I KNEW He had shown me earlier in my RJ. This is what Erin shared "As far as tithing on both your business and personal income, I’ve struggled with that before, but as I shared in one of the Ministry Commitments, even though it appears to be tithing double, and the enemy tries to convince us that it’s why there appears not to be enough to pay bills, that even when we are mistaken, He sees our hearts. AND we can never out give God."

This is what I needed to see and let sink in. Ladies, I have a business and personal account. Since I pay myself "wages" from my business account to my personal account, I never have paid a tithe on that since I always tithed 10% and more on the whole commission check (before any deductions) that He provided. The accuser allowed me to forget this truth. So, He led me to immediately look at my paid wages for the current month and had me pay my tithe on that. He also showed me that this is what He wants me to do going forward. It is not "double tithing" as the enemy tried to trick me into thinking. This is ALL Him showing me His perfect way.

I wanted to share this about tithing and how important it is. I pray that I can lead by example as His humble servant and be faithful to my HL and this ministry.

My prayer: Lord I come humbly to You to ask for Your continued wisdom with my finances and tithing. Please forgive me if there is something I am doing wrong in my finances, my tithing, my personal life or anywhere that is hindering You from rebuking the devourer. My Sweet Love, show me Your will and please guide me in everything I purchase, the bills I pay and the offerings I give, so I do nothing apart from You. I pray in Your precious and holy name. Amen.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1:9)

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1)

I am grateful for this opportunity to confess that my incorrect tithing may have hindered my ability to serve Him through this ministry. I ask for forgiveness. I see now the accuser used half-lies to slow me down with burdens. I praise my Beloved that I am forgiven. I am thankful that His grace is enough and I am set free and the burden is lifted as I confess.

He is truly a wonderful HH as He shows me His best plans for me and directs my steps. I am so thankful for Him and this blessed ministry. Praise You my Love. Thank You for showing me the error of my ways in tithing and now correcting me so I can confess before You and Your brides that the devourer may no longer steal from You, this ministry or me because of my mistake. Thank You for your mercy.

“Can a person cheat God? Yet, you are cheating me! “But you ask, ‘How are we cheating you?’“ When you don’t bring a tenth of your income and other contributions. So a curse is on you because the whole nation is cheating me! “Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I won’t open the windows of heaven for you and flood you with blessings." (Malachi 3:8-10 GW)

“I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 3:11 RSV)

He is SO good to show me what I needed to know and gently correct me so That I could confess and move forward with Him showing me His way. I am blessed beyond words.

~ Pamela in Idaho

 

★★★★★ “Take Care of All My Needs”

Once again my True Love brought me words of wisdom and took away any worry I had. He reminded through my time with Him and through "the Streams" devotion for October 5 that He wanted me to learn the difference between "trusting in the gift and trusting in the Giver. The gift may last for a season, but the Giver is the only eternal love."

Recently, due to the changing economy, my finances have decreased substantially. He has taught me that any money I receive is a gift from Him and that I am to use it according to His perfect plan. He reminded me to be content in all circumstances and continue to tithe and have a giving, servant's heart. He will take care of ALL my needs. Of course He will!! He has promised to and He always has in the past. By living by faith and not sight, my trust in Him only grows stronger. I am blessed. He will provide. I am not worried. On the contrary. He has made my joy full! Thank You my Love.

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with You; if I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count” Psalm 40:5 (NASB)

Ever since I can remember You have met all my needs and those of my family and more Sweet Beloved. You have ALWAYS been there for me. Thank You. Forgive me for ever doubting You for even a second.

"And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land." 1 Kings 17:7 (NKJV)

Sometimes, He leads me away to have time in the wilderness. He wants to have me rely on Him and Him alone for everything. This is for a time, a season. I am thankful.

~ Pamela in Idaho

★★★★★ “Showers From Heaven”

This praise report is overdue, I have no excuse. But I have been experiencing God moving mightily in my life. A few short months ago, I had lost the two part time jobs I had, and was facing eviction from my apartment. I was so afraid to tithe lest I wound up with not enough money to make it through. But I kept reading through the Encourager and other rmiew resources how it was just another fear to overcome, trusting the Lord’s word that He will provide from His storehouse of glorious riches. I swallowed my fear, and within days, I found not only another job, but was given an opportunity to move into a lovely villa without a deposit, security, or first month rent! Only God! I sit here now in my sun filled townhouse, in a lovely, safe area, enjoying the peace and quiet, and my lovely Christian neighbors, who keep bringing me cakes and pastries as welcome home gifts. I bring most of them to the rooms of AA, where sometimes you will find those who haven't had much to eat in a few days. As if this weren't enough, I received an email with an offer of an auto loan with 0 money down, so I figured, my car was rapidly descending into a money pit, now the gas tank was cracked, and the motor was leaking water into the interior so badly my shoes and pant legs were soaked by the time I got out. There was also the danger of a fire with the leaking gas.

I prayed on it, and SG as to what I should do. He led me to go to the dealership, and within an hour, I drove off the lot in a brand new vehicle. Ladies, I've never had a new car in my life, I've always put everyone else's needs in front of me, and have had a poverty mentality for so long, I didn't think I deserved it. One night, as I drove home in a storm, I couldn't help but feel so loved and protected by my HH. Safe at last! What a difference from when I first got back home and was trying to maneuver my way home in a terrible storm with bald tires, wipers that were all frayed, and because there was no ac, my windows were open and the wind was whipping the car across the road in a frightening frenzy. Sort of like a metaphor for my life, at that time. When I cried out to my God to take my life and make it new, I had no idea how far he would take it! He seems to never miss the smallest details, and He knows exactly the desires of our hearts, I didn't even ask for these blessings, he just opened up the heavens and showered them down on me! He has provided for me in a way that my EH never could, and I cried like a baby one night during my prayer time that I chose to worship my EH for so many years, instead of the One that breathes the very life into me. There is more to report, many small blessings along the way, it's magnificent to behold. We hold on for dear life to people, places, and things ,not realizing that our Heavenly husband may perhaps have greater things in store, and is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask. I am blown away. I never want to be without my Beloved again. I love you! I am starting to see that He has allowed these trials for me for my own good, as painful as the process is, I am grateful.

“I shall feed you like a Shepherd feeds his flock, and carry you in my bosom.” (Isaiah 40:11)

“I will never stop doing good for you.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

“Every good gift and perfect gift you receive comes from me.” (James 1:17)

“Delight yourself on me, and I shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

Angelina in Georgia

★★★★★ “Happy to Take the Next Step”

I had been having problems for me to tithe in my real Storehouse, YOU. I live outside the US and paypal charges you to change dollars into your country currency, I didn't tithe before because of this, but everytime I read something I felt the need to do it, and well, yesterday I tithe for the first time, and I became a Partner, woohoo!!! That's how I feel inside, I cannot explain how happy I am to have made the next step in my life, trusting my HH with EVERYTHING!! It's like the piece that was missing in me, and cannot explain how happy and encouraged I am.

I started tithing to the church my family and I were going, but following God's Obedience I stopped going, my EH just took us to church and waited in the car until the service would finish, so I knew I had to stop going, and I did. I still tithed for a few months but every time I did it I felt and knew that the church wasn't my Storehouse. I tried everything to fix the situation with Paypal, but still couldn't fix it, but that didn't stopped me yesterday, I said to my HH I was doing this for Him and I needed to make this next step of faith missing in my life, so I did. And today I'm experiencing that peace and happiness that surpasses understanding, my HH is Faithful and everything that I have is His!!!

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows’” (Mal. 3:10).

Our HH is asking us to test Him on this, and now I have and by just clicking and sending my first tithe I feel full and lighter at the same time, an experience that you can explain by only writing this word TRUST! I trust my HH with EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE, EVERYTHING!

~Sofia in Guatemala

★★★★★ “His Orchestration of Things”

Dear ladies, Today I want to praise Lord for His care, for hearing desires of my everyday life. I don't need to press on Him, He just knows and He cares, He gives.

Few years ago the situation in my EH´s job was not very profitable, his employer owed him from month to month more and more, it made few thousand euros, because he didn’t pay many invoices my EH sent him. It is about 2-3 years now since EH is not working for him anymore. Legally are many of the invoices probably invalid or irredeemable, but not for Him :). I mean the employer is not bound to pay them, we could address court, but I know this is not the way and I was not talking about this with my EH anymore (Before I did, I was pressing on him, I was like that dripping tap always. Thank God for the Wise Women book and for this journey.) Few days ago our washing machine broke down. It was not new, repaired two times, so my EH decided with me we better buy a new one. I was quietly asking: “Lord, why did this happen, even if I tithe consistently”. Today in the shop my EH was very generous, he wanted to buy a good model for me, he always says I deserve good things. Praise the Lord, before I didn’t appreciate it enough.

While I was talking with the sales lady, my EH got a call. I didn’t really pay attention. We paid for the washer, arranged some other things and went home. Later my EH was asking me to guess who was calling. I didn’t know, guessed some family members, but I was feeling I will not puzzle out this time, I really didn’t have a clue. Yes, you guess better than me, I didn’t expect this. It was the employer with a question how much he owes to my EH. He wanted to pay it this year! Praise the Lord, such a good news! My EH seems calm and satisfied, I know he was really worrying about this a long time. From my side I was sometimes thinking he could do something, call him, ask, press on him. But later I just gave it to my HH and told the Lord just that He knows it would be fair for my EH to get his reward, to get the salary for his work. And I told Him I know He would take care of this. Only few moments after all this news I came to realize that this was His answered prayer! His orchestration of things! In the very moment of a big extra charge we had to pay, He gave us a promise to get much more.

Thank you, my Provider, my Supplier of everything. I can’t thank You enough.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4, 6 NASB)

~ Rebeka in Slovakia

★★★★★ “Wow!! I Did Not Know That!!”

When I started the lessons in June 2015, I was not prepared for the awakening, I was not prepared for the immense truths I started to learn. There were times that I would literally sit in front of my computer after reading a specific lesson that I would say, wow I didn't know that! As the lessons progressed I felt embarrassed as I wasn't tithing. It wasn't because I had an obstacle, it was due to the fact that I am unemployed. I started praying to God, and He knew my heart.

I was visiting my daughter in Cape Town in October of 2015 and there I got to have a amazing visit with my father with whom I didn't really have a relationship. That visit resulted in my father and daughter blessing me with money before I left to come home, all in all R3000 which is a lot here in South Africa. When I returned home I wanted to tithe and tried to use the systems as provided by RMI but to no avail, every attempt I made failed! I then approached a friend of mine who was going to make the deposit for me into a bank account of one of our South African ministers, (there wasn't that particular bank in the vicinity where I lived) and she would then tithe on my behalf. When he arrived and asked what the money was for and I told him, he refused to do it for me and said I was being stupid and wasting my money! So then it just happened that this minister had another bank account at the same bank I was banking at, an account that she wasn't using but that was still open PTL!! Eventually she got the money and tithed on my behalf. (Thanks Yvonne in South Africa). It was then that God blessed me with more money given to me by my brother, a gift, so I was able to tithe once again.

Ladies this may not seem much to any of you, but to me it meant that I was finally able to give back. Give back something for what I had received. And to obey, the biggest lesson was to obey. I cannot properly explain how radical my life has changed since I started obeying. The blessings through the lessons, the blessings through answered prayer, the blessings through improving rocky relationships. Try it and see!!!

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10)

These blessings comes in many forms, in my case not only monetary, but also blessings in the form of relationships, the biggest being the relationship with my HH .

~ Mercy 

 

★★★★★ “Cheerful Heart of Giving”

The Course 2 RRR lesson on Your Storehouse proved how important and significant standing in the gap is. And this doesn't always necessarily mean standing in the gap for your own marriage--though that's important too. We need to stand in the gap for each other and pray for each other and other hurting marriages around us. This is completely off subject, but don't you just feel some spiritual bond with the other people who are struggling in their marriage and on this restoration journey. I truly wish I could hug all of these women--the ones who are still struggling and the ones who have gone up ahead and called back to encourage me. Part of the changing that Jesus is doing in my heart is feeling compassionate toward others. After my dad died, I had a hard time feeling compassion for other people who came to me about "less" hurtful things. Although I still expressed compassion, I never quite felt it in my heart. Now, after I am a few months into this journey, I wish I could hug every hurting heart out there, especially the women who are still in so much pain from abandonment, abuse or adultery. I pray the Lord will use me.

Going through a tithing lesson for the second time, I at first faced "another" tithing lesson with a little disappointment (only because I have learned and applied this principle already when I completed "Opening the Windows of Heaven" in Course 1). But the Lord really spoke to me about this and this ties in with my off subject topic I mentioned above. He reminded me how absolutely important this lesson is, and how although I may have gotten it and applied it and benefited from it already, there are MANY other women who still haven't been convinced or are still struggling with the concept. So much of this journey isn't about me, I keep realizing. I really appreciate that many of these lessons repeat themselves because it is so important to have repeated lessons when you're trying to renew your mind. I have learned to go back and read books and verses and these lessons that I have already read so that they become heart knowledge, not just head knowledge.

I will never stop praising the Lord for breaking the financial stronghold that money had in my mind. I was always stressing and insecure about money. Never could really feel generous, even though I would try to BE generous. But giving is such a matter of the heart, and I don't think it's honoring to God at all when we give nicely on the outside but are resenting it inwardly.

My advice to all: even if you don't feel like giving, do it out of obedience and then ask the Lord to give you that cheerful heart of giving. Obey first and your feelings will catch up later! I can truly testify to this. You can ask anyone in my family or friends, I cringed and would sometimes feel physically ill at the thought of spending money. I would calculate my bank account in my head if I even took myself out for dinner! Not only has the Lord blessed me financially, He has healed my greed and insecurity. I still am financially conscious (because I am a steward of what He has given me) but I now can happily say that in a matter of months, I have a cheerful heart of giving!

Since it's my second time going through a lesson on tithing, I'm not learning but instead am showing how I've changed! In my circumstances, my full-time job went down to part-time, my husband quit his job so I lost all of my benefits and I had been paying many of our bills even though he asked me to leave. So in addition to my original bills, I added on VERY expensive health insurance and tithing, and due to a medical condition, I had to pay a lot of money for prescriptions. And guess what? I have just as much money, if not more, than I ever had. I know it doesn't work this way for everyone and I'm not trying to brag, especially to those who are tithing and are still struggling--I only mean to say that our sweet Lord provides.

What really weighed on me during this lesson was not worrying so much about dividing and protecting my assets in the divorce. As I have not hired any legal counsel, my mind sometimes drifts to me not having any furniture or some of my clothes or any money from our home, but like this lesson points out, why do you care about how it's divided when restoration means that all of the assets will remain once the family is intact? It reminded me that I was being double-minded. Believing and walking toward restoration and yet preparing for splitting everything up which I guess could happen temporarily, reminds me that material things are not worth worrying about.

My lesson also lit a fire in me to get knowledge on more principles to prevent divorce and to encourage restoration. I really want to reach out to hurting women, especially the ones around me to tell them that God can and will heal their marriage. So I want to arm myself with the appropriate spiritual food to do this.

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”—2 Corinthians 9:6

This verse reminds me to not only sow just so you can reap, and not to do it just because you have to, but because of what God has blessed you with, you want to bless others and give back to Him!

~ Valerie in Illinois

★★★★★ “Creative Ideas from HIM”

My praise for this week has to do with my job! During my marriage, I was very resentful of the company I work for and strongly disliked my job. It affected my marriage because I had a wonderful job that I loved before I quit and moved out of state for my husband's job. So when I moved back to my home state when we separated, there were tons of new job opportunities for me. And I was downright determined to just throw myself into a new job and make money and be happy. In the meantime, my job asked me to stay on with the company while I transitioned back to my home state, working from home. That was a huge blessing. But I was still praying to God that I would find a new opportunity. Well, you all know how God works. He changes us before He changes our situation.

When I learned to submit under my boss' authority and respect her, I suddenly grew to really like my job. Then, my boss transitioned me over into another side of the company which I enjoy tremendously: I get to write about weddings! The more I started praising the Lord for this job, suddenly, creative ideas were coming from me left and right! I was promoted last week and received many compliments from my boss. I don't even know where some of these ideas are coming from, but the brand I work for is really growing dramatically and I know it is all because the Lord is working on my heart. I never thought I would continue to work for this company, let alone be promoted there and especially, let alone enjoy the job that I strongly disliked previously. This is one of many fruits I have seen from submitting and sowing seeds. This all began happening when I started tithing.

Also, the Lord has provided me with additional opportunities for income to pay my bills, like house sitting for a friend while she vacations! Praise the Lord for the way He changes us to see our situations differently and then He blesses us! I love that He works on us so we are better able to submit and obey and then we get to reap the blessings!

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10 NIV)

I cannot tell you enough the benefits I have received from tithing. The biggest being, I was so anxious and insecure about money that I got no enjoyment out of spending it, either on myself or others. Since I started obeying in my tithe, I have experienced freedom and joy when it comes to money! Not only that, but I received a job promotion and additional opportunities to earn extra income by helping out friends!

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” (Isaiah 30:18 NIV)

Once we do it His way, He doesn't waste any time in blessing us!

~Valerie in Illinois

★★★★★ “Much More in Return”

Dear ladies, I have so many reports to write since restoration. I didn´t know where to begin at first, I felt and feel often very busy, my English is not perfect, there are many frail excuses, but I am here and I am really sorry for not submitting my praises earlier.

Now I would like to begin with tithing, with today. God really cares about everything in my life. My EH is not a believer (yet :)) and doesn’t know I am tithing. I am tithing since he was away. This principle was not easy to learn and to like firstly, however I began to understand and like it. Lately my EH is checking our financial situation more, but I want to stay still and wait. I praise God for His blessings, for His promises, for His faithfulness. I still have my translating job which I have regained during separation. I had few unexpected jobs last year in addition as well. Oh, God gave my family much more than I returned Him in tithing. I am blessed to be a stay at home mum and my EH likes it this way as well. Funny thing is, I would never believe I will not run to find the most perfect job when kids are older. When I presented at home my wish to work from home, my EH did not push me to find a job after maternity leave. I was happy God is changing both of us. After I stayed home, I did not get benefits anymore. But God is great! At the same time my EH got an offer for a better position in his job. God is so kind and shows us His plans for us. My EH had many tests, was worrying, but I did know there is His hand. God is taking care about our finances so as about everything else. I wanted to be obedient, not to leave our home as I learned in Wise Woman and He is giving us more than one would ever expected after such a decision. At the moment we don´t know the pay rate yet, but I know He will balance our budget, I trust the Lord and I thank Him.

And about today. Today my EH got another job offer that he can perform beside his first job and he asked me to help him. I feel blessed. (Not just in this area, but I try to stay in this PR in the theme tithing :)) Thank You, Lord. Thank You that You cares, that You have the greatest intentions and plans for us, thank You that You are revealing them to us if we are hearing and believing and trying.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” (Malachi 3:10)

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

~ Rebeka in Slovakia

★★★★★ “My Idols are Crumbling”

I had asked the Lord to help me in obedience with tithing at the beginning of October, before I started my restoration journey. Money has been a security for the longest time for me. I wrestled with the idea of starting to tithe because I was afraid God would know I didn't have a joyful heart in doing it. I have been a Christian for 20 years and although I have put money in the offering plate before, I have never calculated and given 10 percent. The Lord spoke to me and told me to give out of obedience and that it was okay if my heart wasn't joyful about it yet. (Any time I spend money, I get very anxious). After I gave the full 10 percent to different ministries that I was looking to for guidance, I prayed and I asked God to give me a heart that wanted to give next time. I told God that I knew one of my biggest sins was my insecurity about not having enough money. It has haunted me for a very long time. A few weeks later, I suddenly have become very excited to give to the Lord! This is a stronghold that has been broken for me. Then I just read my lesson on tithing this week and I became so overjoyed that my heart didn't feel stressed about giving 10 percent with all of my bills and that I WANTED to give!!! In fact, I even decided to bless my mom and sister and take them out to dinner that night.

Well of course, Satan loves to steal joy. I had written out a very excited journal/praise report and as I was running late for dinner and about to hit submit, when the entire screen went blank and erased everything I had written. I refused to let Satan win. So I decided to run late for dinner and rewrite it over again. He actually gave me the chance to praise God twice! Then of course, he had to try a little harder. I unexpectedly had to pay a very high price for a prescription that used to be free under my husband's health insurance. (I am now on my own). Usually that would immediately make me very, very upset. As the pharmacist said he was trying to work something out with the insurance company but they refused to pay, I kindly told him not to worry about it and that I would just pay full price. Even though I haven't seen a breakthrough with my marriage restoration, this is almost just as huge. The fear of not having money has weighed heavy on my heart since my dad died six years ago and we weren't sure of our financial situation for a very long time. I have let money be a sense of security for much too long. Praise the Lord for one of my idols crumbling to the ground as He takes His rightful place in my life!

Your time is running short, Satan.

“Test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” (Malachi 3:10)

As we all go through our restoration journeys, we very often find ourselves worrying about money. I worried about money long, long before my marriage was in trouble. I literally had no peace any time I spent money-not for myself, not for bills, not for others, not even for God. I always found excuses why I couldn't afford to put anything in the offering plate. This month was the first time I actually tithed (before I even had a lesson on tithing through the RYM book). I was so worried about money and had no joy in doing it but did it out of obedience. I asked the Lord to give me peace about money and to give me joy about tithing next time. He was absolutely faithful. When some unexpected expenses came up, I felt at absolute peace. I know that my husband has accumulated a lot of debt which would normally drive me off a cliff with stress, but I feel the peace the surpasses all understanding. Give to God. He never withholds ANY good thing from you!

~ Valerie in Illinois

 

★★★★★ “Meeting My Financial Needs”

I have submitted praise reports in the past regarding God's financial provision but I was struck again today by how amazing His provision is for me. I was balancing the checkbook today, which rarely matches what the bank says we have due to user error 🙂 After taking out a big chunk of what I'd just put into the account to set aside for taxes, I compared what I should have in the account according to the check register with what the bank says is there. It was several hundred more than I had recorded and than expected! And this was after last week paying a large credit card bill that I thought we wouldn't be able to cover, but God provided enough to cover it and more!

I honestly don't know where all this money is coming from. I mean, of course I do, God is providing above and beyond the needs of my family. But practically speaking, my husband makes the same amount as before and I'm making about the same AND there are notable added expenses from now paying for two homes, double utilities, etc. Yet since I've started tithing faithfully, I've had no difficulty with paying all the bills (which I do for all our expenses) each month.

It is such a joy to give back to God! And not because I want something in return but because I'm so grateful for what He's given to me. And in return He's meeting all my financial needs, I have no need or worry.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." (Malachi 3:10 NIV)

Isn't it amazing that He asks that of all He gives us, we give just a small portion back to Him, and then He goes on to give even more! I'm just blown away by His love, generosity, and faithfulness.

~ Rachel in Georgia

 

★★★★★ “Expecting Baby Despite Odds”

I wanted to share this PR for the glory of our Beloved. Truly, He is so worthy to be praised!! My youngest brother and my sister in law are expecting a baby!! My sister in law had cancer and is left with only one ovary and she and my brother also have health related issues. The doctors have said it would be hard for them to conceive. And yet, nothing is impossible with our Lord!! He is in control! No matter what other people say, nothing is too hard for Him!!

My brother has also started tithing early this year. The Lord promises to rebuke the devourer and blessings will overflow in our life. He is faithful!! I thank Him for the opportunity to praise and thank Him together for this gift and His faithfulness. I’m just so happy and excited for them, knowing of their desire to start a family, & seeing their fears and struggles. It’s truly amazing and I am so thankful for this miracle our Lord is blessing us with. Wow. Thank You my Lord!! We will sing of Your praise forever!!

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37 ESV)

“"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26 NIV)

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27 ESV)

“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5 NIV)

Nothing is impossible with our Lord. He can and will turn our situation around when we put our trust in Him, no matter what we see, no matter how hopeless or difficult. Let us be strong and take heart, all who hope in the Lord.

~ Joy in Nevada Restored Marriage "It was Me"

 

★★★★★ “In a Financial Crunch”

Oh My Beloved is so FAITHFUL!!!! I know that statement may sound cliche but it is sooo TRUE!!

Of late i have found myself in a bit of a financial crunch. I wasn't overly worried because i have been in this familiar place before ;). I had a small amount of money left in my bank account. It was not enough to pay a bill i needed to pay getting near it's due date!!

As i sat one day wondering what to do, the Lord placed it on my heart to give away what little i had!! I wasn't sure who to give this to and i asked Him to show me a need and He was faithful to do just that! Within a few days He showed me a need in a family who were dealing with unexpected expenses they were facing!!

THEN, a little over a week after giving to this family, my blessing came!! My FAITHFUL HH showed up and provided me with a sum of money that was TEN TIMES the amount i gave away!!! Yes, you heard correctly......TEN TIMES!!

With this amount of money I was able to do so much more than pay my overdue bill!!

Oh, HE IS SO FAITHFUL.....NEVER, EVER DOUBT!! Give and it will be given to you!!!

The Widow’s Offering - "Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44 NLT)

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38 NIV)

His WORD cannot lie!! He has proven it again and again and again!! OH, I am having the time of my life on this JOURNEY!! What a Blessing!!

~ Dodi

 

★★★★★ “No More Intermittent Tithing”

God Came Through Again! All praises to my wonderful Lord and Savior! He is so worthy to be praised. I have been under attack in my finances ever since I made the commitment to tithe and sow into my storehouse-this ministry. It seems like each month there isn't enough money to even cover basic household expenses like rent, food, clothes, or transportation (my mini-van was repossessed three days before Christmas).

2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV) “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

In the past I would tithe on one check that I received, but not the other. But this month I volunteered to be a part of the Prayer Team and I didn't want our prayers to be hindered. Also, I felt God speaking to my heart concerning my intermittent tithing, so I began tithing on both checks that I earn-regardless of whatever else was pending to be paid. After making a money order for my tithe and offerings to mail in, when I looked at what was left in my checking account I didn't have enough to pay my rent in full after taking care of the overdue utility bill. To top it off, my younger daughters were about to start school again and needed school clothes, shoes, and supplies. I felt completely overwhelmed and had no idea where the money was going to come from or whether we would have to be evicted and go sleep on the floor of my mother's apartment.

Psalm 46:10 (NIV) “Be still and know that I am God.”

Instead of allowing fear to turn me into a raving lunatic, I poured out my heart to my HH and asked Him to work it out for me. At first I worried about us being evicted, but after I poured my heart out to my Lord, I knew He'd work it out one way or another. And boy did He!

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NKJV) “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.”

Over a period of days, He laid it on my mother's heart to buy my younger daughter's a couple of school outfits and shoes and my rent got paid (without the additional extended fees that they should have since I paid it 4 days later than usual; the same price that the office quoted me the week before when it should've been more)! But God didn't stop there. My older son and daughter offered to buy some of the school supplies their sisters needed since they are both working now and between the three of us, we're getting the things on their lists!

My heart lept for joy as I watched in amazement my HH provide for me and my children in ways I hadn't even thought of. It is so wonderful to see my HH come through for us, it just takes my breath away every time He does it. Seeking His loving heart has it's own rewards that cannot be matched, but to see His hand working so effortlessly in my life and my children's lives is beyond amazing.

Rita in Louisiana  

 

★★★★★ “I Foolishly Failed to Tithe”

Trust in the LORD. Test Him by tithing. He WILL provide for you.

When my budget is working and my expenses are predictable, it is easy for me to tithe. Even though I do not have a lot to spare, I can adjust my budget to include the tithe. HOWEVER, it is those months when there is an extra, unexpected expense OR when income will be limited when it becomes very hard to write that check! That is how I slipped away from tithing before my marriage fell apart.

Our church had split in a huge, awful disagreement. We were floating between churches...we had some sudden expenses (broken cars, illnesses) and without a firm decision not to tithe, I unfortunately began to skip sending in tithe checks--not sure WHERE to send it, needing the funds to pay bills, I foolishly failed to tithe. (It was MY bad--my husband left me in charge of the bills.) I didn't tell him I wasn't tithing, not to be deceitful...just that it wasn't an intent to not tithe...it just sort of happened. 🙁 We left a big gap in the wall for the devourer to come in and destroy--and he did!

Even before my divorce, I realized that the tithe must be done, and I apologized to my then EH and began tithing again. When he and his lawyers wrote up the divorce, he added 10% to my maintenance check, telling the lawyers he knew I would tithe. Tithing has been in my budget, and it has not been difficult to do. UNTIL THIS PAST MONTH.

I was made aware that things were tight at my FH's company. Owners (FH included) were being shorted overtime and maybe bonus, too. It was implied that I might expect a late check. Simultaneously, some unexpected bills came in. Gulp. Knowing that my next check might not arrive, with all these bills to pay, it was definitely harder to "write the tithe check." (I usually pay online by cc). But, I have seen how my HH has provided for me! So, I simply went immediately to the website, as soon as the maintenance check hit my bank account. (Literally; I get a text from my bank when deposits or withdrawals are made, and I immediately go to the RMIEW website, as soon as the text comes in. I want it to be FIRST FRUITS!)

So...as the time for the next payment came, I admit to some concern. Even though my HH has helped me overcome the constant fear I used to live with, the habit of fear and fretting is not completely gone. So, as the thoughts of "what if no money arrives next time?" began, I immediately went to my Bible App on my phone and read Psalms of worship and joy. I tithed on the check, knowing that the next check might not come.

Then, I got a text from my FH. "I don't want you to worry," he said. "I put the maintenance payments on auto-deposit from my checking account." Then he said something that really was an answer to prayer: "The LORD told me that I need to send you this money. Let me know if it ever isn't enough." !! (NOT that I would go to my FH with money needs--I would SG for concerns about not enough money! My HH is where ALL I have comes from--and always has been where everything comes from!)

My HH provides for me! I need not fear!

(BTW, the next maintenance check arrived as promised.)

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. "Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the LORD of hosts.… (Malachi 3:10,11)

Our God tells us to TEST HIM in this...tithe and see how He WILL bless you!

…The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145: 15,16)

Everything is from our HH!

~ Beverly U in Iowa

 

★★★★★ “EH Came Back but Then I Stopped Tithing”

The first time I was introduced to RMI the first time my EH left me I began tithing. I did so faithfully to my local church for a few months but then after he came back I stopped tithing out of fear that he would not want me to. I fell into the trap of trying to please my EH and sadly allowed the devourer to enter in my home. Over the next several years I would give a donation when I would attend church. I didn't tithe because I felt I needed my money.

After my world fell apart again and my EH left me again the Lord led me back to RMI. I was able to learn this principle early on in my RJ which is why I know that all of my needs are being met like never before. I will admit if my marriage was restored when "I" thought I was ready early on, I would not have had such a strong foundation and may have stopped tithing again and lost even more.

Now I can thank my HH for taking care of all of my needs and desires. There is not anything that I am lacking. I also want to add that I make a fairly good income since tithing. I feel as though it is even harder to give when you are giving what feels like a large portion so I struggled for a long time in the beginning with tithing because I felt I could instead choose other places to donate my money too. Erin has helped me realize the importance of tithing to your storehouse and I also realized the importance of tithing all income that includes monthly blessings and any overtime I get.

Due to how much my life has changed, I will continue to tithe on all of my income. I also feel like I need to give the Lord what is His before I even pay any of my bills. He is in charge of it all and by doing it in this order no longer need to worry about how everything will get paid. He has been faithful to me to provide me with everything and He will be faithful to provide in the future as well. I also have a new relationship with money than I did before. I am not as focused on it as I used to be. It used to consume me. Dear Fellow Traveler, I want to encourage you to grab ahold of this very important principle. It is in His word for our protection. He has the ability to take care of all of your needs. Philippians 4:19— "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Remember, it all belongs to Him!!

~ Ginger Restored

 

★★★★★ “Giving More Makes My Heart Feel Good”

Giving is a principle I always struggled with. I never realized the Lord was trying to get my attention. The item that stood out to me the most in chapter 9  “Who Are You Listening To?” in the Abundant Life series was the verse, Proverbs 11:24–25 (The Message Bible) “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”

Reading the chapter allowed me to understand my purpose is to continue to give even when it appears I cannot. My tithing pattern has not crossed my mind since I started my RJ. When it does come up, it generally is because I want to ensure I am always giving more than I have to... not for the benefit of others knowing. Nobody knows what I tithe, nor would I tell them because they would try to talk me out of it. Giving makes my heart feel good, whether it is financial or not. It is not a feeling of pride but of His ultimate love. Knowing I am doing His work and am on the narrow road. I never again want to withhold what is HIS.

~ Cindy

★★★★★ “All the Lord’s Principles Make No Sense”

I was really blessed with reading chapter 9  “Who Are You Listening To?” in the Weekly Message is showing me that He is the Lord of abundance. But I believe what the writer said. This message is certainly abused, people take it as means for the pastors to get their money. It is difficult lesson to preach or talk about, but that’s why I appreciate so much what Michele shared. She does not think about her own reputation, she wants for all of us to receive the best from the Lord.

As i said so many times before, prior coming to RMI I never hear of tithing or giving, I did not know anything about Lord’s principles. As all of His principles, it is difficult to understand them with logic - they make no sense - like turning the other cheek, walking the extra mile, blessing the enemy. The same goes with giving when we have nothing left in order to get abundant blessing.

When I came to RMI my intention was to follow this principle because it was also connected with receiving my restoration. I did it just because of this very reason. But the more I studied the world of the Lord, the more I was falling in love with Him, I started to do it because I wanted to show Him that I obey His word above all. And He started to shower me with His blessing more and more. Because this is His heart’s desire - to bless all His children but how much more us - HIS brides  🙂

~ Abby

★★★★★ “Doubts and Fears Held me Back”

First of all I love the verse this Weekly Message started out with. "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." —Luke 6:38.

Knowing it will be poured into your lap when we simply give, you do not even have to reach for it. All you need to do is give. This is really a principle that has been proven over and over again and yet again it is one of the hardest for us to do. Even when you look at people who do not claim to be Christians, when they give, they receive even more. This just shows me that the Lord is true to His word does not matter who we are:) Another beautiful verse is: “There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered” (Proverbs 11:24–25). He who waters, will himself be watered. Dear Lord, help me to water…

Being hesitant is part of our human nature. But I can assure you that doing the right thing is not necessarily the easiest thing to do. I have made no secret of how difficult it was for me to let go of my church. Now when I look back it was only because of my own doubts and fears. I do not regret leaving my church or how blessed I am each time I give. I am sure I would not have grown so close to the Lord so quickly if I had not joined RF.

~ Yvonne 

 

★★★★★ “God’ll Fill Us Up Again”

Reading chapter 9 of the Weekly Message, this stuck out the most. "When you seem to have nothing left, you need to give in order to receive. If you fail to give, you will be left wanting." I feel like our HH is calling us to do this not only with our tithing but also giving of ourselves. Especially in the beginning of my RJ, I have felt many times that I could not even get out of bed or talk to anyone because I was so much in the "pit." I have thought "How can I help someone when I cannot even help myself?" But that is when I have felt led to encourage someone. Even if it was just a quick text or phone call to a friend telling them I hope their day gets better when you know that they are struggling also. When I have given all my "faith" away, God seems to fill it back up again. So if we hold on to what little we have, He never pours more.

He never promised that this journey would be easy but He always provides!! He always give me more than I deserve. I am thankful that He always knows what I need better than I.

~ Lesia

 

★★★★★ “Chains of Fear Broken”

God is so good and perfect in all his ways. I've been giving my tithe but I would always leave until last to pay so when I didn't have enough to cover my bills I would "owe" God till next paycheck. One day the truth all hit me, God revealed to me that He has to be the first in my life and it's why I never had enough! That the truth is, I just have to have faith and trust Him. So I did! I was able to just let go of the fear! Thank you Lord! And since then I have seen His blessings over and over until it overflows just like it promises in Malachi 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

I thank my Lord allowing me to experience His goodness, by doing what He asks. If we just let go then He will be faithful to not forsake us and keep His promises.

Dear Friend, do not be afraid, the Lord has His arms open and He will hold you up with His right hand. He is so faithful. Just rest in Him and allow him to help you overcome this fear of tithing or any fear you have, give it Him, you do not have to carry that heavy cross, just give it to Him, you will run the race faster after you give your cross to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Just be still and know He is God, the creator of Heaven and Earth, There is NOTHING impossible for Him. Believe and Keep your eyes set on Him, don't let the distractions from the world get you out of way from the race you are running.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you." (Isaiah 43:2)

Our HH is so faithful, and I will sing praises to Him all the days of my life. He has always been with me in the fire, just like in the story in Daniel, when his friends were in the fire, God was with them and their chains were undone. This is what my Lord showed me, that when I am in the middle of the fire He is right next to me, and while I'm in it He breaks those chains, I am not taken out from the fire for a moment (at the end He always delivers me), but as long as He is with me I know I will be peaceful and joyful. The more I see His Grace in the fire the more I fall in love with Him. I encourage you to open your heart fully to the Lord, give Him your worries and fears and in exchange He will give you joy and peace. Don't wait and tithe first showing Him you trust Him.

~Marilyn in Oklahoma, RESTORED

★★★★★ “I’m the Only Hindrance”

First I have to thank to my Husband who spare me of ANY financial lack during this whole journey. He and only He took amazing care of me and my son.

When I read this chapter from the Weekly Message, I had to stop and think how could I live my life before without the knowledge that He—the Husband, who is MINE is the Source of everything? He is the Source of every blessing not just in my life but in life of others. Who can be more proud to have such a Husband, than we—His brides?

Everything that was said here was so encouraging and it is bringing me to the point of trusting and even testing Him more and giving Him chance to bless me even more than I am now—because I know this is His nature to bless. I am the only hindrance why I am not bless the way He desire.

When I came here to RMI, it was the first time I understood and got great explanation about tithing and any blessing from the Lord and how does it work. Now I can say I really am blessed in everything. But I am sorry for all the people even in my own family, because even though they see how blessed I am, I openly speak about the Source of my blessing, they still keep believing in their own power and luck or unluck. I learned the most important principle, that if I have luck in any area, you have to give the little what you have to be blessed.

I also learned (not only in this chapter but on this Journey), that our Lord wants us to increase in everything. He wants us to have abundance of everything. He wants us to enjoy everything He is blessing us with. His sources are limitless and He is happy when He can bless us.

There is many many things I want to apply and not to forget: I want to remember this amazing principle of giving in the middle of any need I have. Either it is financial lack or lack of support, love, encouragement….., in everything I want to give first. And not just because I want to get more or be blessed, but I want my heart to be in the right standing before the Lord. I want to be more open to His leading, where He wants me to give and bless others. Not based on my own understanding or based on where I see the need, but where He knows is the best.

I also never ever want to panic in any situation. I know He has everything under control and He is just preparing the areas to bless me. So in the midst of everything I want to follow His lead. And even though I face Red Sea I know it is just opportunity for the Lord to bless me. Everything is for my benefit. Such a wonderful way to live my life.

In everything I encounter I say, “Lord, You are about to bless me” because He covered everything. I also want to forever remember every single blessing from the Lord and share it with others. But I also have to remember that I am nobody to be praised. Only the Lord deserves all the glory, praise and honor for everything He is doing.

Father forgive me for not knowing where my blessing was coming from. I thought that it was me doing, or my own wisdom what gave me good money, work and everything good in my life before my journey. Now I also remember that I couldn’t understand the thing at the beginning of my Journey, that You are the Only One who will be praised for everything. I wanted to be praised, or admired for what “I” did. Forgive me my Love. I know how my pride really hurt You.

My only Love. I feel the urge to thank you again and again that You have chosen me. First I did not understand why me and the pain. But now I know that behind the scary things was Your desire to bless me. I am so thankful that You led me to step out of the boat in many many things and You are still showing me other things. All what I want is to praise You, to worship You because there is no One like You. You are the only One.

Dear Brides, I wish we all could grab this truth together— to see only the blessing and miracles waiting for us behind any lack or need in our life. We all are the chosen one, we are the Brides of our Jesus, so let’s let Him prove what He wants to be to us—the Provider, Comforter, Lover and the One who is meeting every need. All what we need to do is to give. Give in any area where we would love to increase (where we are in need right now). He really is faithful.

From today’s Chapter the Bible verse has been on my heart, Deuteronomy 28:8-13, which is the proof that He is the One who own all the blessing, miracles, finances, everything what we ever need. We really are so blessed that He chose us for this life changing journey.

Deuteronomy 28:8-13 “The Lord shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouse and in all that you undertake. And He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you. The Lord will establish you as a people holy to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.  And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name [and in the presence of] the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity, through the fruit of your body, of your livestock, and of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them.”

~ Andrea

 

★★★★★ “Living Rent Free!!”

I should not be amazed by what He can and will do. But I am!! Before coming to this ministry I had just started going back to church. I was only giving a small offering each week, just enough to say I gave. But coming here to this ministry they have shown me what God expects me to tithe and how. They showed me that I am to give my first 10% from each paycheck. In the beginning it was hard to even give that much because I thought I would run out before my next paycheck. And honestly I did run out. During this time I was living with one of my co-workers and we were renting this house together. I was just coming out of the divorce and I was at odds with my parents. My parents were hurting from the divorce also and I felt like they did not understand my feelings. Things were still collapsing before my eyes. I was trying to do things “myself.” I thought I didn’t need anyone to take care of me. And I didn’t want people to think that I was helpless because my husband left.

Even though I was benefiting from the RMI courses and Encourager, I continued to give faithfully my 10% to my church because at the time I thought that I was getting “fed” at my church more. I still remember the day when I had to call my parents and repented. I had to apologize for the way I was acting and asked if I could come home because I couldn’t stand on my own two feet. Of course they allowed me to move home! They were so understanding and helped me pack my things up again and move home. Then things started to turn around. My relationship with my parents improved. We started to talk more and we re-established our relationship. We even started to talk about God. We openly talk about Him and His word!!

Once I began to to tithe to my true storehouse, RMI, my paychecks started to go further. I also was living rent free at my parents. I know that if I didn’t start to tithe I would still be in financial crisis. I am not saying I have everything that I “dreamed” to have but I cannot say I’m lacking. Now I’ve moved out of my parents house and living with my best friend and her family. And yes, I’m still living rent-free here too. So yes, He does provide. I don’t want to give up on giving because I know that He is my provider. Everything that I have is His first.  

Please pray with me if you struggle is this area: Lord, I come to You with many hopes and dreams for the future. I struggle sometimes in believing that You are bigger than You are. I feel sometimes I need to step in and take control because I sometimes don’t see You working. Help me see that what You want to bless me with takes time and patience. Continue to show me that You are in control of everything and nothing is bigger than You. I’m thankful that You are my provider! I’m thankful that You allow me to make mistakes but You are always there giving me Your grace. Thank you for making my mistakes into something beautiful. Help me to continue to have a humble and giving heart. Continue to show me that everything that is mine is actually Yours. Help me bless others with Your gifts that You have given me.

Dear Brides, Don’t walk away from this most important principle. Don’t be like the widow women in Mark 12:42-44 which put in everything—all she had to live on. He will provide!! Don’t be like the rich in Matthew 19:24 that wants to take everything to heaven. Everything is His!!  He will continue to provide for you even when you don’t think He can. Start tithing and giving back to Him!! He will not disappoint you. He will start to bless you in many areas of your life.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20 NIV)

But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on. (Mark 12:42-44 NIV)

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24 NIV)

The more of ourselves that we give the more we will be blessed with!

~ Angel

★★★★★ “Desperate to Save My Marriage”

Tithing is a very important principle, and it’s why I wanted to share my heart with all of you. I think maybe one of the most important and a big problem currently is that ministers does not want to preach on this principle for fear of what people will think.

This has been a principle that has been hard to do due to my financial situation but also the most fruitful after the Lord helped me to stay true to this.

I do believe that 3 of the most important keys to unlocking a happy and fruitful life here on earth is giving, praying and fasting. And part of giving is also tithing. Realizing that everything comes from the Lord to start with.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."—1 John 1:9. In the beginning whenever I would tithe, I would first calculate what I could do with the money. Another sin of mine was not realizing that all I have comes from the Lord, nothing is earned for myself.

If you’ve struggled to tithe or tithe faithfully, pray with me: 

Dear Lord, thank You so much for bringing me to this ministry in order for me to learn the truth and not have my ears tickled. I also pray that every lady that comes here see and experience the truth for herself so she does not leave this ministry having the enemy convince her that the ministry is out to get her money. I also pray that you help every lady to keep on tithing even when she does not see results right away. Lord, this very important principle lacks so much in churches today and that is why it is so easy for the enemy to come in and cause division among members. Dear Lord, please give us wisdom so we can know when a door has been left open for the enemy in order for us to grow as a ministry to lead women to You so You can become their dear Heavenly Husband. I love You with all my heart, Yvonne.

Dear Brides,

I did not say much in my form because what I wanted to say I want to say to you. I want to tell each of you the following about this principle: When I first came to RMI and realized how much emphasis is placed on tithing, of course the enemy whispered in my ear and I wondered if this ministry was just in this for the money because I have never seen any other ministry preach this principle so avidly. But to be very honest with you, I was so desperate to save my marriage that I tithed anyway. First just giving a donation while I was still attending church and then after realizing I was spiritually fed here I gave to the ministry. Again just because I was going to do everything right in order to save my marriage. Yes, I was that desperate:).

But despite my motives, I could see the effect of tithing immediately. Not in my finances as that was still a total mess but in my personal life. I was happier, more content. My faith in the Lord grew by the day. It got to a point where a friend of mine later said that she thought I was crazy for tithing because it was causing more financial damage, she told me that she really thought I could have used my tithing money more wisely. I was able to go through trials without breaking down. And yes, I do believe now that this was due to me tithing.

The Lord says He will rebuke the devourer, He does not only say, when it comes to finances, I believe it is every aspect of our lives. Even when I would sin due to my disobedience at times, I believe I was protected from more terrible consequences due to His wonderful protection. In my finances I could see the difference that although I did not have more money at that stage, the little we had suddenly went a very long way. Then the more I gave, the more I got. Suddenly my FH would start paying for things and when he heard something broke in the house he would pay for it. There are so many instances I can mention where the Lord helps me out financially.

My FH are even paying half of the bond (mortgage in the U.S.) on our home, this is not specified in the contract, he is doing it because the Lord is taking care of me. The months I really could not afford it but did it anyway, the blessings were even more. I cannot begin to explain to you how important this principle is, but my life is a living testimony of this principle. The way I see it in my head is that the blood of Jesus protects us, I see it as a glove that fits snugly over me protecting me from outside forces but when I follow His principles in the bible that glove spreads out and becomes a tent covering me and all my loved ones that lives under this tent with me. The same goes for the ministry, if we all tithe faithfully we are protected under this tent together and the enemy is kept on the outside. If you don't believe me then test the Lord and see if He will not open the heavens for you, He certainly did for me… and everything was based on His word which is why it works for everyone.

Haggai 1:6-9 "You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied ; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk ; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes."

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! "Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD.

"You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?" declares the LORD of hosts, "Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house."

The verse that really caught my eye was where the Lord says, I blow it away. That is exactly what it felt like to me. It felt as if it did not matter how much money we made, it was just blown away...

Another verse not in the lesson but which I related to was:

Hosea 2:8 -9 (TLB)“She doesn’t realize that all she has, has come from me. It was I who gave her all the gold and silver she used in worshiping Baal, her god! “But now I will take back the wine and ripened corn I constantly supplied, and the clothes I gave her to cover her nakedness—I will no longer give her rich harvests of grain in its season or wine at the time of the grape harvest."

Wow, these verses shocked me when I first read it. Yes Lord, I did not realize that You gave me all I have.

~ Yvonne

★★★★★ “He Made a Way to Tithe”

By reading FAL chapter 9 “Give” I learnt to trust my HH and to ask Him what He wants me to do. And mostly to obey , when He says give , even if it means giving your last cent , when you don't have anything left , that's when He blesses you more then you can ever think or imagine . I confess I rarely take time out to sit and ask of my HH what he wants me to do with my money after I have tithed , now I do .

I was struggling with what to do with my money after I had tithed , thinking that I can now just do what I want because I had done my part. Little did I realize that everything belonged to Him even that which is left over ,and to go to my HH and ask Him how He wants me to spend what is left .Thank You my HH for opening my eyes to see this . I so love You … and I also want to thank Him for making a way for me to tithe. Living in Botswana, when I wrote to RMIEW Office they to explain the problems I was having, they put me in touch with Yvonne who lives in Botswana too and now I know the devourer will be rebuked and I will be able to get the blessings He has rather than them being stolen.

~ Mercy

★★★★★ “Become A Cheerful Giver”

I was really blessed by this chapter I read in one of the Weekly Messages. It was something that I really needed to learn and take in.  Not only do I long for and want to give, but I want to become a cheerful giver. However, I never understood how I could give (especially financially) when I am struggling financially myself. I would hold onto every penny I could and calculate things so I didn’t go over my limits I had set. I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough money to cover bills or cost of food. This is a huge hurdle that I need to be able to cross. I find myself yearning to help people monetarily, but then I look at my account and my bills and say, “How can I give to them, when I barely have enough to cover my family’s needs or my needs?”

But therein lies the problem, I was looking at what I could “see”and asking myself these questions. I was lacking faith, or at least not applying it. I didn’t know how I could “do” for others. Well, I can’t DO anything without my Beloved!  I wasn’t asking my Beloved, the One who is the Source of it all, the One who owns everything. I was leaving Him out of this area of my life, not allowing Him to take over my finances and be in charge. I wasn’t allowing Him to lead me and show me how He wants me to give in order to be a blessing to others. I didn’t realize that it is during my lack, that He wants to increase what I have. He wants to show up in my life and bless me, if I will bless others.

Before this chapter, I always thought that I must give whenever I see there is a need. But this is wrong on my part, God will guide and lead me to give as He sees fit. If there is a need, He can use others to fill and bless that need, unless He is using that lack to get that person to cry out to Him. He doesn’t want me going around giving, He needs to be present in my giving and open the doors. However, I must stay close to Him to be able to discern if it is Him guiding me to give, or if it is the enemy trying to wear me out or steal from me.

My mind was renewed as I had forgotten that with each and every trial, test, temptation, or crisis, God already has a plan in place that includes a blessing at the end. He does not want us to think up our own plan on how to get out. Instead, He simply waits for us to come to Him, not in a state of panic or pleading, but in utter trust just as a child would go to a father who could (and would) fix anything! Instead of being worried or anxious about finances, any trials, or lack in my life, I need to rejoice in Him knowing that He is about to increase what I have!

Now I know that it only does this work financially, but this principle of giving works in all areas of our lives. We must give in the midst of our lack as this is when God is saying, “I am about to increase what you have! Now, put your faith to work for you. Believe what you don’t see, walk in that faith. Don’t pull back; don’t begin to fear that you will run out. I am your Source, but I need your faith, shown by your works (walking it out) for this spiritual law to manifest itself.”

Now I have learned that by hoarding all that I have, and not giving away what He wants me to, I am behaving unbecomingly and not acting like God’s child or the Lord’s bride. By behaving like this, I am not drawing others to want to know Him. This is why I must go to Him, repent of this behavior, and ask Him to change me and help me overcome this hurdle in my life. This is an area that I need to totally surrender to Him in order to experience the abundant life He has planned for me.  

I thank Him for teaching me more of His principles and His ways through this chapter.

I confess that I have been struggling with giving monetarily when I didn’t “feel” like I had the money to give, or it didn’t look like I had enough to give. However, I have now learned that He will lead, guide, and show me how He wants me to give. He doesn’t just want me to go around giving to everyone and every need I come into contact with. When I give, He wants to be present and open the doors HE opens, as an opportunity for me to give.

I have struggled that it is during the lack that we are to give as God will use this to increase what we already have. We must run to Him and seek His face, speaking to Him about all our concerns, then allow Him to show us how to handle things the way He wants us to handle them. He will take care of us and supply us of our needs. He will increase and give to us, if we follow Him and trust Him by giving when He says and how He says. I need not fear that things will run out or I won’t have enough. I need to run to the Source of it all, who will supply my every need and whose supply never runs out.

I will be SG to show me how to give to others. I will be running to Him and speaking to Him about all my concerns financially. I will lay my financial burden down at His feet and allow Him to carry it. I will surrender that area of my life over to Him. I will trust Him completely that He will supply my every need like He says He will. I will take Him at His word, and trust that His principle and way of doing things work. When I see an area of lack in my life, I will know that is Him saying I am about to increase what You have.

Pray with Me: Lord, forgive me for not surrendering my finances over to You and not trusting that You will supply me of my every need. Forgive me for not giving like I should for fear of running out of money. Forgive me for not going to You and asking for help, and trusting that You would take care of me. Forgive me for behaving unbecomingly and not as Your child by hoarding and holding onto everything that I have, not giving it freely, for fear that I would be left with nothing. Forgive me for counting every cent and tracking it, making sure the bills would be paid. Forgive me for not trusting You, that You would provide since I have professed You are my Husband.

Dear Lord, You are all I want, all i need, and all I live for. You are my Source that will never run dry. Lord, I need You more than ever and I want to have more of You. I want to experience You more, and be a good witness for You. I want to help draw others to You. Lord, change me. Help me to act becomingly and like Your bride. Help me to be a cheerful giver, seeking You, and allowing You to lead me and show me how and what to give. Lord, help me surrender my finances over to You, giving You complete control of them, knowing that you will take care of me and supply my every need. Lord, I need help in this area, I have struggled with it for so long. Help renew my mind that in order to see increase in my life, I must give and the more I give, the more You will bless me. Help me to know that when I have a lack in my life, it is You saying, You are about to increase what I have. Help me to wait on You to provide opportunities and open doors to give how and when You want me to. Help me not to be deceived by the enemy nor be worn out by Him. Help me to stay close to You, holding Your hand, walking by Your side. Lord, You are my everything and I thank You so much for this ministry and all the lessons You are teaching me. Please help me to have more wisdom and understand more deeply the meanings behind what I read.

Please help me recall all the things You have taught me when I need them. Help me to become more like You and change me into the new, beautiful bride You want and created me to  be. I want to be closer and have a more intimate relationship with You. Show me the way, Lord. Help me in my volunteer work with this ministry. Help me to learn the new ways quickly and to have a teachable spirit. Help me to watch what I say, so that I don’t offend or hurt anyone. Help me increase my scores and assignment grades. Help me to do things in Your perfect time. Help me to understand more how this ministry works. Help me to learn and do a better job for You. Give me the words to say when ministering to other women. I can’t do it without You. I can’t do anything without You. I love You and I praise you so much. I am so thankful.

Dear brides, take Him at His word, trust He means what He says and says what He means. His ways work! When we see an area of lack in our lives, this is Him saying to us, I am about to increase what You have. We reap what we sow, so if we want to reap encouragement, we must sow encouragement. If we want to reap financially, we must sow financially, etc etc Surrender all areas of your life to Him and see what He will do once You lay everything down to Him. Go to Him, He is the Source and Owner of everything!

2 Corinthians 9:7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].

I long for and yearn to be a cheerful giver as God loves a joyous giver. However, I have allowed fear to stop me from being a giver. I was afraid I would run out or not have enough to cover my own needs. However, when we experience lack in our lives, this is when He is saying to give what you have left and then He will increase it.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

No matter what we face, any trial or tribulation, we must rejoice in Him!

~ Katy

★★★★★ “Not Preachy”

As I was reading Chapter 4 “Give it Away” in the Weekly Message I learned that so much that is all so very true! He really wants us to trust Him completely though all the trials. I agree that fear jumps in quite readily during a financial crisis. Before my RJ and all that He has shown me, I would try to hold onto everything for “fear” that I would have nothing. What I learned is by reading this chapter is that when I have nothing, He can provide so much or than I ever could imagine! Again, this was a lesson for me that His strength is made perfect in my weakness. After all, through this ministry, I now know that He is all I need! He is all I want! He is all I live for. Money and “stuff” mean nothing.

I also learned that there is truly more joy in giving things away. A lot of this was a refresher course for me but it was just what I needed. He is always right on time! This joy is even greater, when, like Michele explains, I give when it makes sense not to. This is all Him showing me His way. I am blessed by all that I learn here. He is so good.

As a reminder, I also re-learned that when it seems as though I am pushed to the Red Sea, this is a good thing!!!  It means a blessing is on the way:) if I trust Him to part it for me.

Sometimes I struggle with what to give and to whom. And sometimes I get ahead of my Sweet Beloved and give where I think something should be given instead of waiting on Him to show me His way and His plan.

This reminded me that He has always provided for me. I recalled times years ago as my children were growing up when we would give clothes, toys, sports equipment, etc. away. It seems many time, sometimes on the exact same day that we gave things away, we were blessed with a specific need or want we had requested of Him. We maybe even prayed He would provide. An example of this was when we gave newer clothes and shoes away to a homeless shelter. The next day, my son received a “gift” of soccer shoes in his exact size and even the style he wanted (I didn't know about the style but my Beloved sure did :))

The way I can apply these principles in my life is by being a living example of this truth. Again, before my RJ, I would have held onto everything for “lack of knowledge.” Now I know to give when it doesn't seem like I should in the world’s eyes. This is where trusting Him completely comes in! Now I do!!! With His guidance and my obedience, He will show me what to give and who to give it to. What peace in this knowing He will always provide when I obey Him.

Please pray with me if you struggle in this area:

I confess sweet Lord that before this journey and even now sometimes, I dont give freely and easily like You teach. I don't write enough PR’s to give You glory for all that You do for me! I confess that I want to do better in this area. Please show me Your way. I trust YOU!

Dear sweet Lord, my All!

Please show me what to give! Show me who to give what You want me to give. Everything I have is Yours! All my praises are Yours alone! Help me share You with others by giving as You lead. I want to be the best woman You have designed me to be! I want my life to bring You glory!

Dear Brides,

Let our HH show You His way. Look to Him for what He wants you to give and He will bless You. At first, You may tithe out of obedience and for a blessing. Soon, with His gentle nudge, You will find yourself giving out of pure joy because you know in your heat it makes Him happy when you do His bidding!!

Praise Him!

“Whoever gives to the poor lacks nothing.” Proverbs 28:27a (GWT)

This verse reminds me of when I gave to others as He led and He almost immediately blessed me with more than I could have ever imagined!! Hallelujah and glory to His name!

I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread.” Psalm 37:25 (RSV)

Even before I began my RJ, but now even more so, He provides! As I let Him lead me where He wants me to give, I am blessed and so is my family! This journey has allowed me to share stories with my children and grandchildren regarding the principle of giving, yet not in a “preachy” way! I can remind them that “you can't out-give God”!!!!

~ Paula

★★★★★ “My Trust was and IS in Him to Provide”

When I came to a point of my life where I was broken and truly experienced Jesus and my everything, I have learned not to care on money or earthly possessions. All I need is my HH and He will supply all my needs. After being renewed and so spiritually fed in this ministry, I remember the Lord starting to speak to me about tithing. I always knew about it, but not until being fed in this ministry about it, is when my heart was open and started seeing the importance of also being obedient to this truth.

I have always felt free to give not worrying about tomorrow, but I know the Lord wanted to bring me to a new level. Last year is when I starting "doing" what I was always willing to do, but for some reason or another didn't. Giving my WHOLE tithe.

My EH and I own a business, so it started where I was giving 10% of all income to our shop. Trusting that God is the one who provides all our work and will increase our customers, and even with that I was trusting that somehow my EH wouldn't have to work such long extended hours based on His promise "He will supply for us even in our sleep." Well my HH has glorified himself in that area and I wrote a PR about that.

So later on in 2014, the Lord revealed to me that yes He supplies for our business but that I needed to tithe separately on all the income that goes to us personally. So as of now, I tithe on all the income in the business, then whatever income is used for us, personal bills and expenses, I tithe on that also. At first it was hard because it was like i was giving double, but after SG, He confirmed that it needed to be right and He would "open the windows of heaven" for us.

I struggle a bit with the a certain area of my finances. Let me go back. I worked as a school teacher while my EH attended to the business. For some years, our house lived off of my income only. Before coming to RMI, I nagged so much asking my EH where was all the money he was making from the business and at some point was thinking I needed to divorce him because of his lack of financial help among other things.

From the start of my RJ I SG in many areas and my finances was one of them. Not so much the tithing at the time, but the fact that I was in charge of them. I STOPPED nagging and brought all my cares to the Lord. Again my trust was and is in Him to provide and He did miraculously.

One day, my EH came to me and said, "I know it has been a long time and I am truly grateful you have not bothered me about it, but I know my responsibility and I will start providing for this house." My heart dropped and I leaped inside for Joy...my HH had touched the heart of my EH!

Well since then it has been just like that. My marriage was restored in 2002, my son was born in 2003 and since then I have not worked but instead have helped my husband in the business.

It was a huge leap of faith, since we depended solely on my income, but my HH knew the desires of my heart to stay home with my son and after much prayer He gave me confirmation and I obeyed not looking at my circumstance. He has been providing and all through our business and my EH. I do not work outside. I have been offered many job opportunities to make extra money and it sounded good, but my faithfulness is to the Lord and He wants me to allow my EH to be the sole provider, which ultimately means I am depending solely on my HH.

So now I have prayed for the Lord to touch my EH to take the role and take care of the finances, collect the money and pay the bills, since I did not want to do anything that is rightfully my EH position, but in all occasions, it is confirmed that I am to handle them.

So here is where I struggle a bit. My EH has no idea what I do with the finances. He will occasionally tell me to pay this or save this. Even when we occasionally go to church, he will give me or tell me what to give. Let me go off for a moment to share about this:

Years earlier, When we attended church, I used to put pressure on my EH to tithe,give because I wanted to be blessed. I wanted the windows of heaven to open so I would take out the checkbook ready to give. Then one day at church, my EH said "Why should I tithe or give if you do it anyway. and since you do it with my approval or not there is no need for me to do it." From that day on I STOPPED giving in front of him or telling him to do so and I SG and repented.

Now, occasionally when we go to church I just sit quietly and the last couple of times he has given his tithes and I just thank my HH for once again touching his heart.

Sorry, so now back to what I struggle with. I tithe on the business and personal income. My EH doesn't know about this. Like I said, he doesn't ask much about the finances, just an occasional question here and there. But, although I have been tithing faithfully, I have fallen behind on bills and some are 3 months behind, but my heart wants to be faithful so I tithe before anything else. I know the Lord is in control and I am SG why this is still occurring, (not having enough for all the bills on time) but regardless, I want to give what is HIS!

So at times, my EH asks why there isn't enough for these bills and I just say, it will be taken care of. Since he doesn't ask if I am tithing I don't tell him. The Lord knows I have given this to Him and to guide me if this question ever comes up and how I would be crushed not to be able to tithe if my EH says no.

So with that said if you feel led to SG with me and share what He reveals to you.

Erin: As you asked, I did want to SG with you since I too am interested to know His truth more fully. What He brought to my mind was the part of your testimony that your EH has turned the finances over to you to pay, and when you asked Him before on the matter of tithing at your EH church, your EH said, "Why should I tithe or give if you do it anyway. And since you do it with my approval or not there is no need for me to do it." It’s difficult to find a balance in our marriages, and though there are things each of us would prefer our husbands do, very often we still must continue doing them until he takes them on (often during a crisis) as you probably remember from A Wise Woman. As far as tithing on both your business and personal income, I’ve struggled with that before, but as I shared in one of the Ministry Commitments, even though it appears to be tithing double, and the enemy tries to convince us that it’s why there appears not to be enough to pay bills, that even when we are mistaken, He sees our hearts. AND we can never outgive God.

So I hung onto this truth, continued to tithe “double” ministry and personal income, and am thrilled to find that we are up to being able to give about half of our income away: 10% tithe and another 30-40% offering for the ministry and personally 10% tithe and another 20% offering that I am hoping to raise. This in no way is boasting because it’s ALL Him.

I share about tithing and the importance of it. I pray that I can lead by example and always be faithful to my HH who deserves everything.

Pray with Lota if you struggling in the same way: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."—1 John 1:9 *

Lord I come to You humbly to ask for Your wisdom with my finances. Knowing that my EH doesn't know about my tithing, and still not having enough for all the bills to pay them on time it is tough. I know Your promise is true, so forgive me if there is something I am doing wrong whether it be in my finances or in my personal life that is hindering You from rebuking the devourer. My trust is in You and my heart's desire is to be obedient no matter what my circumstances show.

My Love,

Help to seek You more on how I handle the finances with the business and the personal income. Show me Your will and bring me Your peace that surpasses all understanding. May I seek you in everything I purchase, pay etc. That i do nothing apart from You.

Dear Brides,

Like every principle shared in this ministry that is based on the word of God, it is truth and we need to obey with no hesitation. See the Lord's faithfulness when we are faithful to Him.

…"I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion, And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD. "It will come about in that day that I will respond," declares the LORD. "I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth,… Hosea 2:19-21

~ Lota

★★★★★ “Alimony Increasing!!”

My Heavenly Husband is providing for me!

I am blessed beyond measure. My former husband wrote the divorce plan with his lawyer, and he wrote in maintenance (AKA alimony) for me that I can live on. Once I stopped clinging and fighting against divorce and turned everything over to my Heavenly Husband, my former husband started adding things to the maintenance amount. Once he even added 10% saying, "I told the lawyers that I knew you would tithe, so you needed 10% more."

During the early phases, my FH seemed to care nothing for me nor for our five children. Now, he has promised to help our son with his living expenses during dental school, and he has given generous spending money to my daughter who is still in college. *(answering prayer to my HH)

FH even called and left a message asking if I wanted him to buy me two season tickets for the college football games we always attended. (That was awkward, and I am still seeking my HH about that--how to respond), but obviously, my HH has done something to calm the anti-family feelings my FH had.

My budget is tight (I am not complaining, just stating a drastic change from my life before.) Just before all this began, an Aldi's store was built very close to me. There had never been one near me. Curious, I went to see it. I was very pleasantly surprised at the drastic difference in prices on many items I use daily. It feels like my HH placed this store by me, just in time! I was able to even buy some specially nice food for a great price, so that I could cook for my adult children when they came for a visit.

I know that everything I had in the past was FROM my HH, as it is now. It isn't that I didn't know that then, nor was I ungrateful in the past. It is simply a more intimate knowledge now. Now I KNOW that EVERYTHING is from my Heavenly Husband...and more than being grateful, I REJOICE in it.

Praise be to Him! My Heavenly Husband who is with me and provides for me. I trust in Him!

O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek YHWH shall not be in want of any good thing. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. (Psalm 34:10)

You do not have to be perfect in your trust...you just need to SEEK Him!

~ Beverly

★★★★★ “Reversed the Charges!!”

"Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 3:11

Our Lord is the God of the impossible!! He makes a way when there seems to be no way! Nothing is too difficult for Him!! Praise the Lord!!

I have had this checking account for half a year but it remained untouched during that time since my EH set it up for me. A couple of months back, before I started my first 30-day course, I started getting monthly charges on that checking account. The bank said it was the first time I let my balance get below the required maintaining balance.

I got charged monthly for a few months. Though I have since maintained the required balance, I was still not able to meet the other requirement for me not to get charged at all. If I hadn’t already met that requirement, I had no idea how I was going to meet it—I needed to have at least 3 qualifying linked accounts.

That time, I still didn’t know about tithing and have never tithed before in my life. Since learning about tithing, the Lord has faithfully provided for me to be able to tithe here in my storehouse. I knew the enemy shouldn’t be able to steal from me, even bank charges.

This account has been a source of crisis for a while, causing disagreement between my sister and me. I know that she was just looking out for me, trying to help me.

I hadn’t felt the Lord leading me to close that account. When I cried out to Him, He reminded me about agreeing with my adversary quickly. I praise Him. It is only by His grace that I was able to be peaceable and gentle whenever this crisis comes up. And so the next time it was brought up again, I agreed to close it. I continued to pray to the Lord for His will to be done.

When we went to the bank, planning to close that account, the bank said to wait before closing it and they reversed two of the charges!! Thank You Lord!! That was not all of it but I was still thankful!!

A week later, the night before we were to go the bank the next day to finally close my account, I had SG and felt led to tell my EH that I was closing that account he set up. My EH told me to please keep the checking account because I would need it and he would pay for the monthly charges for a year! And that I should close my savings account instead. I submitted to him and didn’t argue! My Heavenly Husband continues to provide for me!! Thank You, Lord!!

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

He transferred a year’s worth to my account to pay for the monthly charges. And even closed the savings account for me online. I thanked him and for some reason, I told him that I would let him know if I still got charged. I am not sure why I said that, when everything points to the obvious. He said he expects me to get charged.

Two days later I was charged another monthly fee!! Yes, but this time it was because I let the maintaining daily balance become zero when I transferred all the money to my savings account, due to planning to close that checking account!!

But the most amazing thing was, the other requirement I have not been able to meet, I was SUDDENLY able to meet!!! It was marked with a “check”, that I meet that requirement!! Which made me think that as long I maintain the required daily balance, I would not be charged monthly fees again!!!!

Wow!! It blew my mind!! I didn’t do anything to meet that requirement!!! I even thought that now, I have one less account with that bank, the harder it would be to meet that requirement. There was even money now to pay for it for a year!

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

But no!! He says He will rebuke the devourer for me!! He will do more than I could ever imagine!! And the thing that came to mind when I saw that “check” mark was tithing!!! I don’t know how that happened. But He will make a way!! And it was worth losing the other bank charges for this—it is finished!! No more bank charges!! Praise the Lord!! I am in awe of how He orchestrated all this for His glory!!

**Update: I wrote this PR a month ago. I waited to submit it to see if I will still get charged. Oh wow!! Come the end of this month, I was not charged any monthly fee at all!! Praise the Lord!! I'm not sure which incident that happened resulted in this incredible blessing, but one thing I am sure of, it was all His doing!! He arranged it all!! How amazing is our Lord?!! Nothing is too hard for Him!!

Thank you so much Lord!! I am so grateful that He has blessed me with so much since I started tithing, not just in financial aspect but in all areas of my life. And He wants to bless you too. I pray that we will continue to take that step of faith and begin to faithfully tithe where we are being spiritually fed. He says to test Him and He is faithful!!

HIS Promises

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” Malachi 3:10

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..” Ephesians 3:20

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?" Jeremiah 32:27 (NASB)

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” Psalm 30:11-12 (NASB)

I am so grateful for all His truths that I continue to learn here and apply in my life. Like in tithing. My eyes were opened to the truth that everything I have was given to me by the Lord, including money I receive. It helped much to change the way I look at things, including my greediness and selfishness, especially when it comes to money. That has become my god. Truly, “You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24 I will be forever grateful for this RJ with Him that forever changed my life, because since it begun, I am now able to confess “I shall never want.”

~ Joy "It was Me"

★★★★★ “Such Great Faith!!”

In the beginning of my tithing journey, I did not understand the concept of the whole tithe. The church that I attended was very serious about tithing as well, in fact, you could not hold a leadership position if you were not tithing. Whenever we discussed tithing the debate regarding pre or post tax earnings was always hotly discussed. The direction of the Pastor was to tithe where you wanted to see a blessing. Well, I wanted to see a blessing in the money that I "took home" after taxes so I always tithed on my take home pay. It wasn't until I came to this ministry that I began to understand the concept of the "whole" tithe. While SG, I realized that tithing on income after taxes was not tithing on my first fruits nor was it bringing the whole tithe to the store house. Instead, I allowed taxes to dictate what my tithe was. Now, I understand that in order for me to bring the whole tithe, that I MUST tithe on what I make pre-taxes and while that is sometimes a huge sacrifice, it is a sacrifice that I cheerfully give as I have known what is was like to live a life where the devourer was given free reign.

I will continue to SG on this principle and remain committed to tithing. I will also SG to ensure that I am tithing with the right heart. Lately, I have felt so financially overwhelmed and I constantly feel like I cannot make ends meet. This is strange because I am tithing, I am bringing my ENTIRE tithe to His storehouse. I am tithing on my payday and I am tithing before I spend money on ANYTHING else, so I don't understand why it feels that I am continuing to put money into a purse with holes and my family doesn't have enough. I really want to SG because I am not as concerned with having plenty as I am with wanting to ensure that I am in line with His will for my life

Erin: “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone” !! Please read all of Matthew 8:5-13 to get the full impact of what Jesus said of the Centurion and what I am saying about Cierra’s faith. Rather than giving up and giving in, Cierra continued to tithe because she knew God said to “test” Him because she’d Trusted Him as He says to do in Malachi 3:10 all while her answer was waiting in her “RESTORED Group Meeting.”

I also want to let Cierra know that very often financial issues after restoration are meant to get the attention and change your husband, they're not your trial, so it has nothing to do with you tithing with the right heart we see that you have :).

Then I went on to share how to be prepared to give her husband the gentle answer when he began to worry about their finances too.

It’s important to learn that the symptom of not having enough, like a symptom with your physical health, can mean many things are the cause—such as the lack Cierra is feeling, but what is for her husband’s benefit, not hers.

Dear Brides,

I know tithing may seem like a daunting task when you can barely make ends meet at times. But, I encourage you to look around and witness the devastation and loss that the world is currently experiencing and know that He is capable of sparing us because we are tithing. Tithing allows us to become a protected class of citizens that cannot be stolen from by the devourer. Let's trust Him as He will provide for all of our needs according to His riches in Glory if we trust and obey.

Haggai 1:6-9—

"You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied ; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk ; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes."

This verse resonates the loudest with me because I feel like I am experiencing this despite my tithing. I want to understand what I am doing that is causing catastrophe in my life as I want to be in line with Him and the will that He has for me!

~ Cierra Restored

P.S.

Cierra’s double blessing is due in June! YES, she’s expecting a RESTORATION Baby!!

Question and Answer

When Cierra received money from her baby shower, she submitted one of our ministers’ Concern forms designed to be used to make sure that our ministers are living exemplary lives as ministers.

Cierra: My question is how do I tithe off of a gift card. I have been SG and I was lead here to ask. I did not share this with my 3 Cord of ePartners, I apologize, but I want to ensure that I am honoring my HH with the firstfruits of all of my increase and that I am in no way harming the ministry by failing to tithe appropriately. I sensed that I should come directly to leadership for instruction.

When Cierra filled out a Concern form, and asked about TITHING from her baby gift, I honestly didn’t know the answer, so I left it in my inbox marked with a question mark (that I always do when I don’t readily know the answer if I’ve never SG for wisdom before. So, I stopped asked God for wisdom, then left it there to continue working through my emails.

About twenty minutes later He revealed the answer and truth.

What came to my mind was this, "Too bad she got a Gift Card and the giver(s) didn't just purchase something for Cierra’s baby, like a crib or rocker or a bunch of things for her nursery, because then she wouldn't need to worry about tithing on it."

So that's it then! We don't think to tithe on a tangible gift, like when I recently was blessed by my ministers on my birthday when they purchased an outdoor chair for me. Like would I give the Lord the pillow from it? No. So if instead of something tangible, money is given so the recipient can CHOOSE the a tangible gift for themselves. This means, there is no need to think about tithing on it. Unless...

Since Cierra will be short financially, since she is on a “non-paid” maternity leave, if she or someone were to take the gift money or even a portion of gift money to pay bills then that portion would become income. No, I don't think it's wrong to do so, if that's how the Lord led and that was not a stipulation or a known factor like they said, “and please don’t pay bills with it.” So if then, by choice, the gift money became income, that portion would need to be tithed on.

★★★★★ “Everything Changed So Drastically”

Two weeks ago i was listening the talk about the life in my country. It was so bad and so sad-how people don't want to get married, they just live together, they don't want to have a babies, because everything is about money and people don't have enough money. They need security, which they don't find in this state. I was so sad because i never ever heard anybody preaching about tithing, which can change everything.

When i believed this principle with my all heart-the same how i believe the rest of God's word, everything changed so drastically. I am amazed at how much i am really blessed in everything. And i know it is just because i started to tithe, and i no longer care or worry if i will have enough. The Lord is promising, if i tithe, He will bless me abundantly and He is doing exactly what He said.

Thank you Erin for teaching this important principle and that you are so adamant about it.

As I said before, i was struggling with this principle, because i wanted to tithe so much, but didn't have own money. So i had to trust the Lord and i did it from the money my EH gave me. And then everything just happened. All the blessing on the top of my head.

I am so happy that i can obey the Lord and i can even openly talk about tithing in my family even though they did not try it yet. But they see how much I am blessed so i hope one day the Lord will open their hearts and they will do the same.

I made a commitment to myself and the Lord that i will never think if i should tithe or not. It is mandatory for me no matter what. I know the Lord might test me, if i will really follow. But i want to obey, because what i am giving is really nothing, but what is He giving me is unbelievable.

And one more thing which i would love to do is, i never want to store any money for me, my baby. Everybody is asking me if i have a saving account for my son, because he should have one. Yes, he has, but in Heaven, not in earth.

I never want to care about earthly things, i always want to search for the Kingdom of my Beloved and i trust that the rest will be given to me, simply because He is the best and He is taking care of His bride.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."—1 John 1:9

Please pray with me: My Lord, please forgive me that in the past i was in love with money. I always wanted to earn good and never gave You Your portion. Forgive me my Father that i even stressed about how will i be able to live without money (at the beginning of my RJ). Forgive me, that i though i have to take care of myself, never knew about Your desire to take care of me.

Forgive me that i underestimated Your power and You sweet heart towards me.

My Lord everyday I am more and more grateful that You brought me to You, to this ministry where I am fed daily. I thank You that You were concern about me and You had just the best for me and You are giving me just the best.

I am so happy to know all of Your principles and apply them. And You are so good that You were even telling me to test You. And i did and You showed me that i can really trust You with everything.

I thank You that i can give everything into Your hands and You take care of it.

This is not the first time we read about this tithing principle. All of us can see how important it is and what the Lord really wants to do after obeying this principle is, that He wants to shower us with His blessing.

SO let's together stand with open umbrella and wait for His shower of blessing from Heaven, because what He promises, He fulfills.

John 6:12—"When the people He fed were filled, Jesus said to His disciples, 'Gather up the fragments so that nothing will be lost.'"

It is clear that the Lord doesn't give us as much as we need. He always give us more.

Matthew 6:19-21—“Do NOT store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Yes, my treasure in no longer on earth, but in Heaven and nobody will be able to steal it from me.

~ Abagail

★★★★★ “Tithe AND Offering”

Growing up and well into my adulthood, I never understood the principle of tithing. Unfortunately, I saw and knew many ministers in my community and elsewhere who used this principle as a way to grease their palms and not as we should do. as an assurance policy as Erin so eloquently states. It wasn't until I came to RMI that I began to understand the importance of tithing my whole storehouse. As I began to give my first fruits, the Lord gave me a downpour of blessings. As a minister and a restored Bride of Christ, it is even more important for me to follow this principle for not only myself, but for the many other women that has and will come through RMI so they may learn and share in the riches of God's kingdom.

Since I used to subscribe to devotional articles and newsletters of other ministries, at one point I felt I should be tithing to them to. However, reading this lesson and through prayer made me realize that I am being fed primarily through RMI which is where my tithing should go. Also, after reading the prior RMIOU lesson on NO OTHER MINISTRY or CHURCH Conflicts, I unsubscribed to most of the newsletters and ministries and realized that since I am fed through RMI through many sources, even my volunteer duties as a minister, my whole tithes should continue to come here and any other giving would be above and beyond that or an offering since Malachi 3:8–10 tells us, “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed Thee?’ In tithes AND offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!”

Now since understanding the truth, I will continue to bring my whole tithe to my storehouse to the ministry where I am being mostly fed - RMI. Any other ministry (which should tie into what I've learned here) I may want to tithe to, I will give an offering and not a portion of my tithe. Just like I pay my life insurance policy or car insurance policy as protection against an accident or to have money in case of death, even more so I must pay tithes as an assurance policy against Satan.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."—1 John 1:9

If you've struggled in this area of tithing, please stop and pray with me:

Lord, I ask you to cleanse my heart from any lingering thoughts that are contrary to fully offering up tangible possessions to you. he world wants to have me to believe that this is an outdated principle, it doesn't apply in the modern world, but nothing could be further from the truth. Help me to stick to this principle, no matter where you might lead me in the future. I want to be able to say, without hesitation each time that my assurance policy is paid in full.

Dear Lord, I ask that you continue to help me grow in you and in your Word. The path that was chosen for me is not an easy one, and the world would like for me to believe that I'm crazy; that your principles are outdated and no longer applicable. But I know that your Word is the same as yesterday, today and tomorrow. In Isaiah 55:11, you tell us "so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." So in all that I do, help me to always keep you and your principles close.

Dear bride,

God's word does not return void. May we always keep Him close and His words hidden in our hearts in all that we do for protection and blessings now and when He calls us home.

"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11 NIV

Whether it's tithing or any other principle of our HH, it is true and accomplishes His plans He has for our lives Therefore I shall stick by them no matter what.

~ Phyllis in Vermont, RESTORED

★★★★★ “I Stumble when I Listen to Others”

When I was attending church I always struggled with tithing. There was many times I so felt the Lord dealing with me on this area and I would tithe for awhile and then I would make excuses or allow the enemy to tell me lies. Sadly I’d even heard people in the church who would say the Lord understands that you cannot tithe so give what you can, this caused me to stumble when I listen to others and not the word of the Lord. He commands us to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse for our protection to prove He’s first in our lives.

So I was determined that when I came to RMIEW that I was going to be obedient and tithe. Yes, the enemy tried with his lies but I knew the word and I was determined to be obedient. It does not matter if the Lord blesses me with anything, because He said to do it, I am doing just want He said and as a result I have a restored marriage.

If someone would ask me what I would say to others, I would say listen to what the Lord says in his Word and not to others and push past the fear. I have had pastors who would not preach tithing because they did not want to offend people or for people to think they just wanted their money. I had no idea that when you do not preach the whole word of God you are compromising his word, which thankfully doesn’t happen here at RMIEW.

If you struggle with tithing, stop and pray with me:

Dear Lord,

I thank you for never giving up on me and continue to deal with my heart about the tithe and how important it is to follow your word. Lord those times when I listened to the enemy or to others and did not bring my whole tithe I ask you to forgive me.

Dear bride,

To bring the whole tithe to the storehouse that the Lord has directed you to. Do not compromise his word but to be obey his word fully.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

If his word is convicting you that you are not tithing or bringing the whole tithe than you need to repent and turn from disobedience and do what the word says.

I have learned to give of my time or things when I did not have an income. He can surely use us when we give ourselves for Him to use. We can be a blessing to others when we get out of His way. I learned that going to church and being in church and tithing was not His will for me. As a matter of fact, until I let go of my church, I was starving spiritually and so was my family. I actually was going against His will and dishonoring Him and my eh by going to church with my children I was a self righteous pharisee. Thankfully, He showed me His way and forgave me. I am grateful to be able to be blessed financially so that I can tithe to this ministry and give financially to the Christian radio stations I listen to that fill my heart and mind with Godly principles and praise music. Hallelujah!

~ Bonita in Georgia RESTORED

★★★★★ “I was Lost and Starving”

Being here at RMI I've learned to keep trusting Him with everything...my finances, my income, my bills, my children, my job, my grandkids and co workers...Everything!!!!!!. It is ALL His and He is best to care for it all!! Praise Him!!!!

Now that I know the truth I will apply these principles by tithing FIRST and to my storehouse. There can be no hesitation. He deserves the honor of me giving in to Hm...everything else falls into place and in His will when I obey. It is a simple principle but not one I always find easy to follow. When I rely on myself instead of trusting in Him alone, this is when I fall short.

Dear Fellow traveler, Trust Him! He is all we need. Everything we have is His so all we are doing when we tithe and give offerings is giving back what belongs to Him. You can't out give God! Whenever I tithe or give something away, I am blessed. He will show you a need and then allow you to meet it only to give Him all the glory. It's wonderful!!!

Matthew 4:4 "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." KJV

I am so thankful for this ministry and the many lessons. I know how important this verse really is now because of the teachings. His Word is all I need! It is the most important thing in my life. Without His Word, I am lost and starving.

~Tammy

★★★★★ “Bring Your Tithe and Heart”

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:10-12

In May 2013 the Lord took me out of my home to protect me, to deliver me and to take care of me in a deeper way. I couldn't understand at the time but in His mercy He is showing me day by day His grace, love and tenderness.

Since I started bringing my tithe to my storehouse, He has supplied all my needs. I don't need anything, of course I haven't got a car or a driving license yet, but they will come in His time and according to His will. Actually I have more than I need, a cozy bedroom, clothes, shoes, a 40" smart TV to watch my Christian videos, a bicycle which takes me to work, also food, a laptop, and now He is giving me books. Then this week He gave me my first study Bible! If I need to take a bus, train or taxi He pays the fares, He even took me to Brazil for a month and there He used my mum to pay for all my expenses!

So in May last year He was my Lord, one year later, He is my Husband.

“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; Be not confounded, For you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your Husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth He is called. For the Lord has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. Isaiah 54:4-8

The verses above have been giving strength to each one of us and it doesn't matter your situation He is faithful. I have been like Gomer, Hosea's wife towards the Lord. I have betrayed Him in so many ways but He never ever gives up on me and now He is turning my heart towards Him because:

“Therefore I will hedge up her way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, so that she cannot find her paths. She shall pursue her lovers but not overtake them, And she shall seek them but shall not find them. Then she shall say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now.” Hosea 2:6-7

So with this Praise Report I just want to thank my Lord for His faithfulness, for accomplishing His promises left in Malachi 3 and Hosea 2, and encourage you to bring your tithe but also your heart to His altar.

~ Sarah, Restored

★★★★★ “Honoring Him with His Firsts”

Malachi 3:8–10 clearly states, “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed Thee?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!”

I used to cringe at this verse. I felt that this was just part of a pastoral rhetoric used to get people out of their seats and into their wallets. I thought it was a scare tactic, used to guilt people into giving. I arrogantly and erroneously believed that my money was mine to spend as I pleased. I carelessly lived my life, my “Christian” life, racking up debt, indulgently spending on gluttonous activities, and being totally and completely self-absorbed. I did not sow into my Father’s House. I am now so ashamed.

That is why I yell from the rooftop that it was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees! (Psalm 191:71) Had my HH not allowed me to go through this marital crisis, I would have never begun this journey of restoration. I would have never been led to this ministry, and I would have never been set free by the Truth. I would have continued to live my life for me and destroying everyone and everything connected to me. I would have never learned to read His Word for myself. After we are informed that we are robbing Him by failing to pay our tithes and offerings, He tells us that He will rebuke the devourer from us! That was such a powerful wake up call for me, as I came to realize that a lot of the hell that I was going through, I was inviting in! How? By failing to pay my tithes and giving an offering.

I must confess that I have lived on both sides of His instruction. I can personally attest to the fact that He will make a way out of no way when we are tithing. I remember sitting at my dining room table with my EH trying to figure out how we were going to scrape money together to get diapers and dinner. Within minutes our mail was delivered and we received a settlement check from our house that we sold! Totally unexpected, totally right on time. I can also attest to the fact that when I did not tithe, I would get paid on Thursday and be flat broke my Thursday evening and wondering where my money went. My purse had holes because I failed to give back to the Him what was rightfully His!

NO MORE! I will honor Him with the first of my increase as that is the least I can do!

~ Cierra

★★★★★ “Faithful to Provide”

Ladies, I can't stress enough how important it is to obey and tithe to your storehouse. God wants us to test Him in this and He will be faithful to provide. God's timing is always perfect. My oldest daughter attends college approximately two hours away. I made plans to visit her during a recent holiday for some much needed one on one time. Due to my extremely tight budget, God knew I was concerned with how to come up with the money needed to buy the extra gas required to travel this far. I did not even realize I was fretting about it, but God knew I was thinking it. The day before I was to leave, I looked in my mailbox and guess what I had? Yes - an unexpected check, such a wonderful gift from God.

My HH has shown me during this journey that He is always with me. He is patient in teaching and disciplining me when I error in my ways; encourages me when I feel like giving up; carries me when I become tired; loves me unconditionally and never gives up on me. That is just a few things He does for me and the good news is that He wants to do that for you too!

Dear HH. Thank You for this journey and continuing to change me into the person You created me to be. I just ask that You be with all my sisters. Guide them, direct them and reassure them through their personal journey. Teach them to lean on and to turn only to You, for You alone are all they need, thank you for giving Your Son to die on the cross over 2,000 years ago for the forgiveness of my sins.

~ Lanie in Michigan

★★★★★ “A Thousand Blessings”

Before I start my evening, I want to praise the Lord with you. He is just so wonderful! When I think of Him, I think of Love, Patience, Love, Mercy, Love...You get the picture:)

A year ago, I gave my finances over to the Lord by tithing. To be honest, I did it out of obedience and not at all because I thought I could “afford.” In the beginning I tithed to my church and after I left my church, to this ministry.

Every month, I would think what I could do with that money, but the Lord whispered in my ear and I instead I tithed. I kept on giving and saw the fruits immediately. The devourer was rebuked on my behalf!

In the beginning it was not as if there was more money, it just somehow lasted longer. LOL. I do not know how to explain it.

Then later, as soon as a need arose, He showed me I could go to my HH and He would send someone to help. I would get money from unexpected places. Thank you Lord.

One day I told the Lord that if I have to fix everything around the house myself, He must please give me the wisdom to do so. A while later (after a pipe incident LOL) my father-in-law gave me strict instruction to let him know if anything in and around the house breaks so he can help me (they live walking distance from us). Praise the Lord!!!

A few Saturdays ago my car broke down. My HH arranged it so someone could tow my car for free and it happened to be something that could be fixed by my father-in-law and while I was waiting for it to be fixed, my mother-in-law loaned me her car to go to and from work.

I praise the Lord for every person He sends my way. It is so true that He will never let us be tested beyond what we can endure and we must never forget the part that says, He sends the outcome.

How do I ever thank Him enough for each and every day I wake up in His presence, every day I spend with Him and every night I go to bed with Him in my thoughts?

He has shown me time and time again that He is true to His Word and that He will never forsake me. He will never disappoint me.

I have never felt so loved. Every time I call, He answers. When I talk, He listens.

The encourager said "When there are enough of your tears captured in the heaven lies, then the showers of blessings will come!" Wow, It feels like a thousand blessings for every teardrop cried on His shoulder.

He is the best Husband a girl could ask for!

~ Yvonne

★★★★★ “He Always Provides”

I have been tithing to RMI since the beginning of my restoration journey. I have never wanted or gone without anything during this time. Most importantly I have learned to let go of trying to control things such as how much money my EH was spending. I have to admit there is such a freedom in trusting my HH to provide for me!!

Last night a few of my friends and I were exercising at a local high school stadium. Upon returning to our vehicles we found that two of our cars were broken into. The thieves shattered the back windows and stole our purses. I have to admit my first instinct was to be upset with my HH for not protecting me. Yet I quickly renewed my mind and began to praise Him instead—knowing that He ultimately is in control of EVERYTHING.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let perseverance finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:1-4 (NIV)

Everything went fairly smoothly. An officer arrived within minutes and wrote up a report. A friend stayed behind and drove my kids home since they couldn't ride in my back seat because it was full of glass. There was even a big rain storm forecasted but He made sure it did not rain a drop until after the officer dusted for fingerprints and I drove away :).

Then, last night I realized I had no money because I had no ATM card and no identification to go to the bank to even pull out any money due to the break-in. I operate primarily with cash, and honestly, I don't have much in the bank to withdraw anyway.

So instead of seeking the help of my EH, I immediately sought the help of my HH. I said: “Lord, You allowed this trial to happen, and I trust that You will provide.” Within only a few minutes— I had 3 people offer to give me $300. That amount would cover the cost of a new window and my expenses for the next couple of weeks.

Ladies, I am so thankful for my relationship with my HH. Things that before would have brought me despair and anxiety do not affect me the way they used to. I will never let the enemy steal my joy and instead will use these everyday crises to prove how faithful He is.

Ladies I encourage you to seek the Lord and praise Him in ALL things because, “All things work together for good to those who LOVE God and are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

~ Jill

★★★★★ “Believing God for the Impossible”

I wanted to send a PR about how God is so on time in keeping His promises. He says in His Word that “will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. “But you ask, ‘how are we robbing You?’ In tithes and offerings.” (Malachi 3:8). “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10)

A few years ago I received a letter from a Mortgage Review Company inquiring about a short sale on my home. The letter stated that I may be due a refund but I needed to sign a release of information in order for them to proceed. Well I thought this was some sort of hoax. So I waited about three days to respond because I wanted to talk with my HH first before sending off any information. God reassured me that I could send off the information they were requesting. Well this was a few years ago. My marital crisis hit in November 2013 and I was only left 100.00 to pay the rest of the household bills. I kept my belief in God but I did not get the breakthrough I needed. I was taught that if you do not have any money to tithe with that you could tithe your gifts and your talents. So I was always helping others and making myself available to do outreach in my local community. But I made up in my mind in December 2013 after coming to RMI that I would begin tithing again.

During the middle of the month of December 2013, I received money to pay all my bills and to take a vacation. In April 2014, I went to check the mailbox at our complex and there was a check in the mail that had been there since January 2014 from the Mortgage Review Team. The letter restated that my short sale was handled incorrectly and that I was due a refund. Enclosed was a check.

By being led by God’s Holy Spirit to check this mailbox, I would have missed out on this refund because it was issued in January 2014 and was only good for 90 days. I stood at the mailbox in amazement! God wanted me to share this with every woman who is believing in God for the IMPOSSIBLE in their lives that God does hear you when you pray and are obedient to His Word. “But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” He also delights in our obedience, “Then Samuel said, Is the LORD as delighted with burnt offerings and sacrifices as He would be with your obedience? To follow instructions is better than to sacrifice. To obey is better than sacrificing the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22

~Letitia in Georgia

★★★★★ “He Keeps on Blessing Me”

God is so good!! I am a stay-at-home mom so I don't have much finances, but God keeps on blessing me. I was never one to pay my tithes like I should, but now I've been paying my tithes and offering like I am supposed to. Even when my finances get low, I STILL pay my tithes and offering cheerfully. I got home one day and found money on top of my washing machine. I found a dollar in a purse I haven't worn months. I was folding clothes that I had washed and found money in my pants pocket. I know it was nobody but God. For we know God to be Jehovah Jireh our Provider. He provides for me everyday! The scripture that keeps dwelling in my spirit is Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy own understanding.” I'm learning through all this to just trust solely in God.

~Tiffany in Virginia

★★★★★ “Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow”

We have been troubled by multiple repair needs in the midst of an expensive home repair. My car needed work, son’s car, husband’s truck, then the rental property had a crack in a tub that caused a leak through to a ceiling below that caused thousands of dollars, and all at a time when cash flow was low. Then my work announced a $900 per paycheck cut to cover a business unexpected tax expense! I was on my knees!

I had finally resumed tithing, after being sloppy while floating around after a church split. It was all my bad, since I am still the one (and have always been) who pays the bills/writes the checks (EH doesn't want to). He believed in tithing and I could have been doing it but I failed to tithe. I apologized to my husband for not tithing, and he did say he forgave me. (I think he appreciated seeing me in a humble state.)

So, I had begun to tithe, writing the full amount as soon as the paycheck landed. And what seemed to happen was things got worse!?! I kept repeating “test Me in this, says The Lord.” I admit to being very concerned, as a bill was due in two days, and there were no funds to pay it. I went to sleep praying, and was able to sleep well, thinking that I knew God would provide in time.

The next morning I sat at the table. "Tell me what to do, Lord." Usually at this point I would have been calling my husband in tears, asking him to help me figure it out, and thus adding stress to him and making him want to run away further. Instead, I pulled up our accounts online thinking, if I move a little from each of the accounts (business, checking, tax account, and even my kids accounts!), I could maybe make it work.

Suddenly, I saw that there was a significant amount more in one account than I expected. I looked at the details and saw it was true. It was just enough to allow me to pay the bill, even with a little left over! It was a shock, because I "knew" that account had less than that in it before.

I paid the bill and suddenly burst out singing the doxology. Now, I love music, but I have never been blessed with a beautiful voice. Yet, I know that anyone who heard me singing then would have heard it as beautiful. God gifted me with a beautiful voice for that moment of praising Him. I sat on the floor and cried tears of joy! God will provide!

~ Ursula in Missouri

 

★★★★★ “Overwhelmed by His Loving Kindness”

There are so many things I could praise my Lord for, He has been ever so faithful in meeting ALL of my needs and the needs of my children. Right now, I just want to praise Him and give Him glory. He surprised me with an unexpected $1,400 check!!! Even in the midst of my fear of not having enough. I asked for His forgiveness and mercy because I was struggling with this fear. To be sure that He is faithful and just to forgive and just to let me know how much He loves me too, regardless of what I do, He blessed me! What an AMAZING God we serve! I love my Heavenly Husband so much. He will never leave me, or forsake me and He is so patient and kind to me. I could not ask for anything better than my Lord. I am truly overwhelmed by His loving kindness.

~Carrie in Michigan

Ministry Note:  Carrie didn’t mention, but we checked, that she overcame her hurdle of tithing in March. Since then she has given and tested God—who again proved His faithfulness to her by opening the windows of heaven!

★★★★★ “He Lives in Me”

I needed to submit a Praise Report because, as usual I am in awe of how perfect, amazing, and wonderful God's way is. Today I read the Encourager from Sarah's Restoration Journey Novel and she tagged Kelly Todd's own RJN, which I immediately, abruptly clicked the link to and downloaded to read (all my books are free because I’m a partner and tithe). Less than halfway into the novel a few hours later, I am now reduced to tears and amazed at how God works if we let Him. I see in Kelly's journey similarities, what we did wrong as wives, and how God was in control of our change.

Around this time, I am having a hard time correcting my ways with my earthly father. It's really hard to close my mouth when he speaks and it constantly shakes me, hurts me, and angers me. I am in a lot of need to control my emotions. The past weeks, I've stopped moving on with my lessons as I cannot really go further with “Honoring the Dishonorable.” I spend time now still in communication with the Lord, but mostly waiting on how He will direct me.

God keeps showing me that more than anything, I need to fix my relationship with my father. I need to change how I react to his ways. I need to show him that my Heavenly Father lives in me. The past few weeks I've been constantly failing at this. I feel negativity between us when he is around and I keep drifting back to my old ways. And I can't be like this!! I can't go on like this. I am currently living with my parents and avoidance has been successful until this April when I am spending more time at home. I asked God whether I should move so as to avoid my old ways. But I hear Him saying, “No!” I should fix this, fix myself to fix this.

I will be facing a great hurdle, my concerns try to overwhelmed me, but I hear Him and He makes me feel, I will not be alone when I do. I just have to remember Him and what He has done for me!

All things are happening according to how God wants it to be. He makes things possible and I am loving the flow of His plans.

~Diane in Philippines

★★★★★"I Owe Nothing"

I want to share my praise report. Before, I did not know how important it was to tithe 10% to God. I must admit, I was guilty of spending my money on "other necessities" and whatever was left I would donate as a tithe as I thought some was better than none right? Since my journey, I have started tithing and God has been so faithful.

My daughter and I had just dropped my mother off at her residence and when I attempted to backup my vehicle out of the parking space, it would not go. When I attempted to move forward, my vehicle would not go. All of a sudden I heard a horrific grinding noise and the front of my vehicle shook and it felt like something had fallen onto the ground from under the hood. I turned the vehicle off and a relative came to look at it. He started my vehicle, put it in reverse and it worked again. He test drove it for a while and said it seems fine. Needless to say, I was confused while he was smirking at me. Just to be safe I went ahead and scheduled an appointment with a transmission shop.

When I went to the shop to find out the news of what was wrong and how much it was going to cost as I have no money, I was told nothing wrong could be found. In fact I was told for the age of my vehicle, the transmission and casing are in great shape!! But wait, there is another blessing. When I asked how much do I owe, I was told nothing. I wanted to cry.

Praise the Lord!!!  

~Lanie in Michigan

★★★★★"Prayer and Praising"

This report covers the past three weeks so please bear with me if it is too long. I just have been so busy and didn't have access to the internet, but I just can not not glorify my Lord and Savior for His marvelous works in my life.

These past few weeks just humbled me because I do not know where would I be had it not been for RMI and my Lord. I have always known the importance of tithing, but never lived it. After I started tithing, my financial situation became worse than ever, but not one day did me and my family go hungry. He just kept supplying all my needs even though I had zero rands in my account :). God is awesome and everything is in His capable hands.

I have learnt to trust in Him completely and not worry myself. Previously I would have panicked and called my family and friends for help, but this time I just SG and He provided like He promised. This one day my EH even came home with a cheesecake, I DIDN'T EVEN ASK FOR IT, but it was what I had been feeling like eating that whole day. He didn't know, but God did. What a Husband we have in our Lord.

I had been thinking about fasting but was scared since I am breastfeeding a month old baby, so on Monday I felt led to start a 2 day fast, only drinking tea and water. After only a few hours just as I was on my knees finishing praying, the electricity guy knocked on my door, saying he has come to switch off the lights but will give me a few hours to cook. I was so at peace and just thanked him and quickly prepared a meal for my family and spent the rest of the day in prayer and praise. There went my tea fast, LOL, I just drank water and some juice.

I can say it was the most awesome 3 days in our family as me and the kids spent the time bonding and talking without the disturbance of TV. My kids didn't complain once and I just stuck to God's truth and didn't call or complain to anyone. I just spoke to my Saviour and He led me to this verse "Psalm 69:16-17 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant;answer me quickly, for I am in trouble"

I just kept repeating this verse over and over and spent my time in prayer. The lights are back on and I fasted for 3 days, how glorious is our God. Mighty in works and loves us with an everlasting love.

Lastly on the last day of my fast, which was yesterday, I was just praying and praising when I felt the most intense sense of love and presence. I was bathed in warmth and was just crying. Ladies God is real and loves us with an everlasting love.

He doesn't count our failures and we don't have to prove ourselves to Him. He is my Lord and He has become my Husband. I need no one and live for no one but my God.

Haleluya!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~ Busi in South Africa

★★★★★“Who’s First?”

I really want to encourage my sisters in Christ. My life is changed for the better. I have seen things that only my God could do. I learned one of the most important principles that I knew. When I didn't apply this principle I was cursed with a curse, and when I did obey, I was blessed abundantly. Yes, my beloved sister, "Tithes". Yes, I had nothing, but God provided in ways I couldn't imagine.

I lived in a home with both parents. My parents had two restaurants, many houses for rent, and never wanted for anything. But my parents separated, even though they weren't married legally. My mom said if He had to strip it all away to bring her closer to God, do it. This lifestyle changed my whole life. I wouldn't be grateful, compassionate to others, and content for the things I had and the things I lost. I lived in hotels, had no food to eat, and moved to live in the projects. O my God is good all the time. My sisters it’s for our good.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

How could something so bad turn for my good? Because God is faithful! I was taught the principle of tithing in my younger days. My daddy didn't believe in that principle, but my mom taught me God owns it all, it's already His. That was a hurdle that I had to overcome. I asked God how can I stop robbing Him in that area of my life.

“And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.” Genesis 4:2-3

In the process of time, Cain brought his offering to God. But Abel gave the first. He didn't know if he would have another ewe, but, he knew it belonged to God. That changed my life. To put God first in every area of my life. "Tithes" was a "matter of the heart". I realized that I had been saved too long to just give God 10%, I didn't understand the principle of grace in tithing. But God said test me on this.

“How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” 2 Corinthians 8:2

But I knew it all belongs to the Lord. So my heart was full of joy and wanted to give God more. I know I couldn't repay Him, but I loved Him so much and wanted the kingdom of God to spread the Gospel (The Good News) so, when I got my once a month income, I tithed 20% to God and in the offering. I want the world to know "Jehovah is God”. I had many cars, jobs that I didn't qualify for, and a 3-bedroom without interest. But, it wasn't the money nor the possessions, nor my EH, it was my HH.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

Money is something that the kingdom of God uses to provide “all these things”. The best part I love the most is "rebuking the devourer" for my sake. When the enemies come to steal, kill, and destroy. God will rebuke the enemy.

I forsook my HH. I realized during my trial and my marriage crisis that I left my first love. Thank God I was led to this ministry to come back to my First Love. To repent and to change my mind. I lost everything during this trial, but He's merciful. I still have my home for His glory, not mine. A test or trial has to be proven. I paid my tithes and offerings first. I don't care if I didn't have gas in my car, food to eat, or there was a bill due. I didn't care. When I got paid on the weekday, I would put my tithes in the mailbox.

My sisters in Christ don't let the enemy tempt you. He is a Liar. Pay your tithes Please!! I am a witness that God's Word is Yes and Amen.

~Desiree

★★★★★“Brave Enough to Trust”

Tithing was very hard to do when I had little faith. But now I give because it shows God I trust Him and will do anything He asks.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV

Do not be afraid. Trust the Lord, Your heavenly Husband. He only wants what's best for you.

Dear Friend, If you are struggling to let go, tell God and ask Him to help you be brave enough to trust and obey Him.

~ Tiffany in Canada

★★★★★“Abundant Blessings”

Wow, there are no words to express how I feel right now. Ladies give your ALL to Him. He is waiting for you.

Today as I woke and thanked Him for another day, I then went to my email to read today's Encourager, 3/7/14. The verse for the day was, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Phil. 4:11). I have been saying this over and over for months now.

God is humbling me in so many areas, when something breaks in the home, I smile and say, "I know You have this". When something shows up late or not at all I say, "I know You have this". Ladies it is TRULY freeing giving your finances over to Him. I do not worry about anything, I know that if He wants me to have something He will provide and if not, He has a better plan.

One morning in January I had received an email, asking me "how would you like to receive a gift we have for you?” First I was overwhelmed by the thought of me getting a gift, then I sought the Lord. I wanted to write back and ask if I could have a Visa Card, that would have helped with something I needed to take care of, but I did not. As the gift arrived and I opened it, I was asked, "would you like this to be transferred to your checking account?" You could only imagine how I was feeling, I ran around, jumping up and down praising Him. Only He knew, He knew what I needed. A few weeks later I received a gift and as amazing as it was, what happened next means even more to me. Please bear with me. I will do my best to make it short.

When I was 4, we moved an hour away from the family. As time went on my mom became overwhelmed by the feeling of being alone. She felt her family was so far away and there was nothing to do, at the time, in our town. One day she cried out to the Lord and He answered her. He sent this woman to my mom and after a conversation with her, my mom gave her life to Christ.

Now fast forward 36 years. This woman still lives in this neighborhood, as do we (I bought a house across from my family). She is a widow of over 23 years and cannot get around. So here it was a few days after I received this gift, that we (my mother and I) took her out to do some food shopping. After shopping we went for ice cream and this is what happened that makes that gift even more special to me. As we sat eating our ice cream, she began to talk about books she reads and sermons she listens to on tape. She mentioned this one book she loved so much but it seems to be missing. As we sat there talking I went on my amazon account and found the book. God gave me such a BLESSING that I was able to pass the blessing on :). She was so happy to know that this book was coming to her. There is so much joy in helping others. When we brought her home and helped her with her bags, I looked at my mom and said, "we need to do this monthly." She obeyed the Lord so many years ago and I am so grateful for that.

A few weeks later I needed oil. I called for delivery and when they arrived, my tank said ⅛ th. I asked the man for 200 gallons, it's a larger tank than that. When the man knocked at the door he said, “I don't understand it but you did not take the full 200 gallons and your tank is full.” I smiled, handed him the money and shut my door.

I began thanking my Husband, only He could cause that fuel to multiply :). The same day I was asked to go to a party, you know those parties that sell stuff in homes. Well I had written down what I would like but was not sure I was going to order anything. After the fuel was ordered and paid for, I went to put the remaining money in my wallet and ladies it was the exact amount needed for the items I was thinking of buying!! He takes care of us better than any earthly husband ever could. BUT I am not done yet :).

I have been saying to the Lord, thank You so much for changing me, for teaching me the difference from wants and needs. Thank You for giving me the opportunity to bless others these last few weeks. Show me Lord if there is still areas I need to be content in. Then I went off to work. I had also asked Him to show me, not that I deserve to be shown anything, if I am doing His will. A little renewing of my Faith.

Well, here it is hours later and I just received not one but two emails. The first email was a gift to use for the purchase of books and things like that and the other gift was monetary. I am overwhelmed to say the least. He knows everything, He knows exactly when we need things and when to send us His love through others. I love Him so much and I fall more and more in love with Him as the days go by. There is no one or anything that can fulfill like He does.

One other thing, I pray daily that He continues to protect me from the devourer. I give my full tithe to my storehouse, here. I see His protection!

~ Heather

★★★★★ “Double Blessings”

I am sitting here grinning from ear to ear. It's late and I'm tired but I couldn't go to bed without writing this. God is so faithful and He never breaks a promise!!

Three weeks ago I had bill collectors at my heels! I had just finished paying all the bills I could pay, and I had very little left over. My credit card bill was the last bill to pay for the month and I didn't have enough to meet the full payment. I had $50 remaining in my account so I paid that amount on my bill in "good faith" hoping that they would accept it even though it was less than what I owed. To my dismay, it was NOT ACCEPTABLE ;(. They called me while at work but I was at lunch, my boss took the phone call and the message said to call my credit card company! I was feeling very humiliated by this time!!

For the remainder of the day while at work I kept praying and asking the Lord to give me favor with them when I called them back. When I arrived home I made the phone call and guess what, the gentleman showed me NO favor. In fact, he actually treated me like I was a bad child!! He told me I would have to pay another payment by a certain date, and he told me they wanted me to agree to automatic withdrawal from my account. My flesh wanted to argue and say "no" but I heard the still small voice say, "agree with thine adversary", so I did and gave them permission to debit my account. I wasn't getting a paycheck between then so I gave it up to the Lord and said to Him, "Lord, You have to help me with this, I have no means to pay it."

The following week when Wednesday rolled around, HE CAME THROUGH!!! I received a bonus from my employers for "Secretary's Day" and this covered the cost of the payment that would be withdrawn from my account plus a little money left over for gas and groceries!! PLT!!!

Then blessing #2 came when I received an email on May 5th saying that I would be receiving $400 from another source. I REJOICED and realized that God was working on my behalf but the only “problem” was that I wouldn’t get it until May 12th and that would make my payment late once again. BUT ladies He is so faithful, He is the problem solver, I decided to check my bank account before going to bed tonight and there it was, the $400 came 4 days earlier than it was supposed to and now I can pay the remainder of my bill on time!!!

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand DOUBLE for all her sins." Isaiah 40:1-2 NIV

The Lord has shown me that having any outstanding debt is not what He wants for me and HE is helping me pay it off in full!! PTL!!

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another..." Romans 13:8

~ Dodi

★★★★★ “He Blocked It”

Your praises shall continually be in my mouth! My Heavenly Husband is so good to me! I thank Him for every moment of every day. This praise report is to give testament to His protective love for me.

I was at work and left to take my lunch break. That day I didn't bring a lunch with me so I went out for lunch instead. I went to a place that I usually go to and when I was paying for my food, the cashier told me that my card declined. I asked her to run my card again assured that it was a mistake. I knew it had to be a mistake because I had gotten paid that day and even prior to getting paid, I still had money in my account (that my HH blessed me with).

So after running my card again, she told me that it had declined. Then she added that since I am a regular customer that she would allow me to pay for my food next time. That was such a sweet gesture and even in that I saw that my HH was covering me! However I did find enough cash to pay for my food. Afterwards I called my bank. They informed me that they had placed a hold on my card. The teller then told me that I would need to speak to their verification department.

Once speaking to them, the lady asked me if I had used my card in Virginia at a hotel that day. I told her that I'm currently in Washington State and certainly not in Virginia. After she asked me a couple of other questions regarding the suspicious activity, she informed me that someone tried using my card twice that day. The first attempt was a very small amount of $2.18. Then once that went through the person tried using my card to take over $2,000 out of my account! But, all thanks be to my glorious HH—He blocked it! My bank was immediately alerted of the activity and before the second amount was not processed, it was blocked!

My Love, My Jesus protected me from being stolen from. He made sure that whoever tried to steal from me didn't get what they were hoping to get. As I mentioned before, I had just gotten paid that day. Had that person taken it, I would have not had any money to tithe or pay bills, etc. But my HH was faithful to rebuke the devourer because of my obedience to Him in giving my tithes (I tithe 10% of my gross pay to my storehouse RMI). My Love, guarded what He has blessed me with. I've known others who weren't that blessed. Their banks didn't catch the fraud in time, so they had to go through a process to get the funds back. But my HH had my back and I give all glory to Him.

Give Him praises in everything. You never know what will come your way, but as you put all your hope, faith and trust in Him alone, He will always make sure that you are on the winning side of every battle.

Be Blessed!

~Lina in Washington

Ministry Note:  Though Lina is too humble to mention it, right around this same time she had not only tithed faithfully, but she began also giving an offering AND then sponsored a woman to purchase 5 RYM paperback books. God not only saw her heart, which proves that acts of kindness and giving never go unnoticed by Him but are always rewarded.

Thank You Lord.  🙂

★★★★★ “He Showed Up & Out”

Malachi 3:10 - "Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove ME now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

OUR GOD IS SO GOOD! He is Faithful to His promises. Throughout this entire experience, even during my times of little faith, I can see God's presence in my life. Its when I take my eyes off of God and look at my circumstances that I become overwhelmed. I've been praying for a financial blessing to help me in taking care of my bills and to take care of nagging issues that continue to be present. While I haven't asked for wealth, I have brought my financial needs to God and laid them before Him. When I brought these to God, I asked Him for deliverance from these issues, and I just "TRUSTED" God to provide. I have been tithing regularly to my "storehouse". Well, yesterday when I got home, I stopped by my mailbox and was sitting in my car, going through my mail and I opened a letter sent to me by my mortgage lender. When I opened it - it was a letter that said, you have a surplus in your escrow account, enclosed is a check refunding you the amount in surplus! Well, I open the check thinking maybe a couple hundred dollars. But folks, I had a check for 1,200.00!!!!! God showed up and showed OUT in a BIG WAY! More than enough to pay off my nagging financial issues and still have money in the bank. My daughter walked up about that time and we both just sat in the car and PRAISED GOD!

I began thinking about it and was still in "shock" and in "Awe" of how great my God is and it hit me. I need to apply that same faith to my restoration journey. I don't have to beg and plead for God to fix things, I just need to give it to Him and He will show up... RIGHT ON TIME. I need to be reminded of this regularly because the longer the time goes by, the more I realize I'm still begging and pleading for something that God has already done!! I just have to wait for the "check in the mail" - and it WILL show up... right on time... Just as God promised it would!

I love it when He doesn't just show up... but when He SHOWS OUT... because nothing God does is small or insignificant! I am praising God for His blessings and His abundance... I'm still overwhelmed and in awe... but I will be praising God continuously for His "BIG GOD MOMENT" yesterday!

~ Angie in Texas

 

★★★★★ “Heaven’s Windows Opened”

I have been so blessed lately. I know a huge part of this has to do with tithing. I have experienced the blessings from tithing and the devourer not being rebuked from not tithing my full 10%.

Lately the windows of heaven have been opened. There were several things I was praying about needing. I asked the Lord if it was His will if He would provide them for me. Due to finances it would take a miracle to get any of these needs met. And oh boy has He provided.

First I prayed about a new laptop. While visiting my mother-in-law in California in August, she comes up to me and offers me her brand new laptop she says she doesn’t really use it or like it because it’s a touch screen. How amazing, I wanted to cry at this answer to prayer. And the touch screen has helped me actually get my work done faster.

Then comes October, my boys had bunk beds that boards were missing and the mattress was sunk down and they were pretty trashed. Not to mention I couldn't keep my one year old off the top bunk even after removing the ladder. So it was very stressful and took a lot of time throughout the day removing her from the top. So, I asked the Lord for help with the climbing and for new beds. I asked if He could provide a way. I never mentioned any of these prayer to anyone besides the Lord. Then my EH comes home from work and says his company's corporate apartment that no one lives in has 2 twin beds and they are ours if we want them. So we got two twin beds that are brand new with new bedding for free. How awesome is the Lord.

Then I started to realize with this next thing that I was getting double of everything. Not just one. It dawned on me when my dad sent me 2 birthday cards for my birthday and both had money in them. I thought that it was odd to get 2 cards from him both with money. Then I received 2 amazon gift cards from mom and grandma. I was getting the double portion that the scripture talks about!!!

So next I was talking to my MIL about used tires because she has experience with those. I can’t afford new ones and I had some terrifying moments not being able to make it up a hill because the tires were so bald. So it had been a few weeks of searching around to find the right place for a used one. My MIL law said I needed two for safety reasons. No way could I afford 2. So I just kept praying. My MIL law called me and said Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!!! She went into a shop and paid for 4 new tires and installation!! God is so good!!! He surely does more than we can ask or imagine!!

The final thing is our couches. One was from a thrift store and the other a hand me down that has holes in it from my one year old. So I was praying about a way to fix the holes. In my mind duct-tape seemed like a great solution but the Lord had other plans. My EH comes home and says we are going to have 2 new couches from the corporate apartment.!!I just can’t get over all of these amazing blessings. It seems no sooner than the need leaves my mouth, the Lord is returning far more and better than I could ever dream. He is so good!! It has made me fall more in love with Him. He knows how much I love surprises and He has been surprising me with wonderful gifts.

I also just remembered my EH paid for me to get my hair done. My sister took me to get my nails done. The Lord also doubled my income last month. I just can’t even believe all of this in October!

And the best part is on top of all of the gifts my joy, peace, strength, faith and love for my Heavenly Husband has increased more than double. I feel like a new person!!!

~ Christina in Washington

 

★★★★★ “I Tested Him”

I want to praise my Lord and thank Erin for revealing the truth about tithing. I never heard about such an important principle like this.

The most touching was the truth, that the Lord owns everything. Everything that I have, what I ever own belongs to God and He is so gracious to bless me with all those gifts. And this made me consider tithing even though I did not earn any money at that time.

“. . . Freely you received, freely give” Matt. 10:8

I want to start with my background. Here in Poland tithing is something nobody talks or hears about. But the Lord was always blessing me with money. I was able to take care of myself financially very soon even though I was still studying. He was taking care of my jobs and I never lacked anything. Thank You my Lord!!

I thank the Lord for giving me a generous heart. I love to support people around me. I have always been happy to help, to give...maybe that is why I have all this financial blessing before I began tithing.

When I read the lesson about tithing I knew this was truth. I just did not know how to make it right, because I did not have own money, just money from my EH. So I made a deal with the Lord :). Here in Poland we have government support until the baby is three years old. But because my son was born in the USA, I was told in the office I have no right to ask for this support, even though my son has citizenship. They had never heard about story like this, so they did not know how to help me. I left it alone but I knew in my heart that I have a right to get this money. So I said “God, I will tithe 10% of the money my EH gives me if You will help me to get the money from government.”

So I went back to the officer with this verse on my lips "There is nothing impossible with God" and with gentle and quiet spirit. They took my application, bank account information and told me I will get the money. So simple!!! And not just that, they told me that I will get money for the past 6 months. Beyond my expectation!!! It was such a miracle for me at the beginning of my journey.

BUT I did not pay my tithe yet. I wanted to wait for this money and then pay together with the tithe from my EH money. The day that I was supposed to get the money came and I did not get anything. Another day came and it was the same. I really had to test God at this point in the way He is instructing us:

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer (Hebrew אָכַל 'akal - slay, consume, burn up) for you, so that it may not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,’ says the Lord of Hosts.” Mal. 3:10–11

So when I paid my tithe I IMMEDIATELY got the money from government. The Lord proved to me that He really is faithful.

Since this time I have learned that I really can trust Him with everything, not just with money. Everything belongs to Him, and I am His bride. I know He loves me so much that He will not save money on me.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it . . .” Psalm 24:1

He knows He is the first in my heart, in my life and I do not care about earthly things anymore. I do not even care for money because “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever else is trusted in).” Matt.6:24 (AMP)

I trust Him with everything, I am happy with what I have. I do not want anything anymore not even one more penny but He is blessing me more and more abundantly that I can honestly say I have the richest Husband in the world and that why I am also rich. I feel rich because of Him.

Thank You my Love for everything.

~ Betsy

★★★★★ “Miracles in My Finances”

Like many of you, there was a time I thought I couldn't do without my 10% tithe. For a long time I partially tithed. Now, tithing has become so natural. It is the first thing that I do when payday comes. I won't even stop to buy a $1.45 breakfast taco until I pay it. I just want to PTL for working miracles in my finances. The word says to test HIM, and I just know in my heart that my LORD and HH will provide everything that I need. Since paying my full tithes regularly HE allows me to have enough money to pay all of my bills and have extra to help others. I have a lot of credit card debt. I could do nothing but PTL when HE paid off one of my credit cards. I know it wasn't me. I am in need of new clothes for work and non-work. HE gave me $100 cash to shop with and lead me to a sale where I found three shirts, a pair of jeans, and undergarments. I felt like I was on a shopping spree. Thank YOU HH. YOU always take great care of me.

~ Sabrina in Texas RESTORED

★★★★★ “Any Loophole”

I knew about tithing all my life and it took me going through losing my entire family for me to understand how important it is to tithe!! I no longer tithe to get anything from my HH, I tithe because I love Him and obey Him.

I remember when I was in church and I struggled so much with tithing! I would tithe and then I would allow the enemy to whisper in my ear that I needed the money or that it was okay not to because God knew my heart. Yes He knew my heart and it was wicked and disobedient! I wanted to have any loophole to keep from tithing and keeping my money to do whatever I wanted.

I am so thankful and grateful that He did not give up on me and He patiently worked with me and ministered to me that the 10% belongs to Him. I know the struggle of not wanting to let go of the tithe, but I so am grateful that it is not even a struggle any longer.

~Bailey RESTORED

If you have a testimony of how you struggled, then overcame this or any other hurdle PLEASE SUBMIT AN “Overcoming a Hurdle” PRAISE REPORT CLICK HERE.

Encourager: Surrender & Trust

Before you begin to panic, wondering WHY your Restoration Journey and the principles are NOT working for you—we want to remind you of one of the KEY PROMISES—tithing— that will unlock the Narrow Gate leading to life and prevent the enemy from Stealing any more from you!

Get help over ALL your Hurdles and Fears

Find a full lesson on DAY 26
Renewing Your Mind: WK4 Heavenly Husband
which includes MORE testimonies!!!

“I'm Becoming a HH Bride—Now I Sleep!”

I'd like to share HOW my HH helped me let go of my fear to move forward. Also to share a little about how the hurdle I had to overcome and the blessings He has blessed me with since I was able to let go and moved closer to being His bride. I'm not a very good writer so I'm not too good at this but I do want to share about how my HH has helped and is helping me. I feel that He is taking me step by step and these courses/lessons are confirmation on my steps that I'm taking the day or week before. It just strengthens me even more and clarifies that He is leading and guiding me! I am so amazed at His patience, love, and grace with me. I started wondering how this HH truly works. I started to invite Him at night when I was going to bed alone, to please be there with me and for Him to embrace me with His loving arms. Before ladies, I could barely sleep. I have been going through this journey almost for 2 years now and each night my EH wasn't here I would toss and turn and barely get any sleep. Now ever since I started to embrace my HH and be His Bride I have been sleeping very well! Once I truly let go of my EH and again embraced my HH I have a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Let me tell you that it has opened my eyes so much, and has given me so much strength, peace, and joy, that I just have nothing but praise and thankfulness in my heart and mind all day long. I asked Him the other day what is "our" word for me to use for my HH and came up with 3 that I am constantly speaking to Him with. When we came up with it I was just so happy and giggling, I truly felt like a teenager! 🙂 I do sometimes fall into longing me EH but automatically I start to say what Erin taught us: "Lord, You're all I want, need and live for." It took me 4 days to do this lesson because I kept getting distracted and I really wanted to fully understand this lesson. Today I asked Him to help me understand and understanding just flowed!! Thank You, My Beloved, and thank you, Erin, for your ministry.

Dear Bride, do not be afraid. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and to give you wisdom to understand and He will show you the Truth. He will heal the pain and He will fill your cup with His great love so you won't have to look for someone else to fill your cup falsely. You have nothing to lose, I promise it is so worth it. I wish I could have learned this sooner but I know that I needed it to fully understand and appreciate everything even more. Mark 5:36 Jesus said..."Do not be afraid, only believe"  Beautiful Bride only believe in Him!

Mark 5:36 NASB “But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, *said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”

After Jairus hearing that his daughter dead, Jesus so lovingkindness said to him to not be afraid and only believe. This Truth touched my heart so much it brought me to tears. He spoke to me to stop fearing the future and to only believe in Him, in His Word and in His promises.

~ Jannelle in Texas

Watch for Jannelle’s upcoming Restored Marriage Testimony “EH Confessed OW was Expecting his Child”

“Falling into His Arms!!”

I'm taking Course 2: Renewing Your Mind and am happy to have made it over Milestone #7. Becoming HH bride.

I used to struggle with letting go of my EH and making my Lord my HH but it's so wonderful now I'm so in love with my HH He fills me with joy, peace happiness, and love. Now I've let my EH go and I only want my HH I'm so in awe of Him He's all I want or need I trust him and can bring everything to him he hears me, I love him so much what joy I have!!

Dear bride, let go of your EH because you have the most amazing HH waiting for you and you will forever be his bride. He will fill you with so much joy and peace that you won't hurt or miss your EH cause He will fill every need and want. My love is so good to me let him have control and let go of your EH or FH and fall into your Heavenly Husband's arms.

Fear not for you will not be put to shame and do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; but you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.“For your Husband is your Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. 'For the Lord has called you, Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, Even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,' Says your God"–Isaiah 54:4-6

~ Meggy Ann in Colorado who just submitted her Restored Marriage Testimony that will be on this Encourager Blog, Saturday, June 17th

Do you want to PRAISE Him for how He's shown you how to fall into your HH arms? Aren't you thankful that Meggy Ann shared this with you an Encouraging Woman?

Remember, Matthew 7:13-14 tells us to “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.”

And Psalm 100:4 tells us HOW to Enter— “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.”

Be sure to submit a Praise Report today and enter through that narrow gate few ever find!

 

“Lay Down in HIS Lap”

I used to call my Beloved: my Lord/God, now i am being taught by Him that I am His Bride and He is my Husband, and my Beloved. The one I must love most and learn to enjoy His companionship ALWAYS.

Last week I was having these phenomenal days with HL. I was able to start calling Him sweet words, enjoying my normal routine with Him, then I was took to a great weekend with my EH, celebrating our 24 wedding anniversary. My Beloved was providing for it all, we were having a good time, playing around having 2 Husbands, a Perfect One, and a human one.:) I am still learning this whole new situation, I am trusting my Beloved to teach me how to keep faithful to Him.

Our first day was perfect, He prepared every single detail, weather was sun shining and beautiful moon/stars at night. I was so thankful, I thought I would explode. Suddenly I took my eyes from Him, and was hurt. I did repent, but it triggered an old, old process of blame and accusations against myself. I had my peace stolen, and my great relationship with my Beloved interrupted. Inside me there were old bad feelings, a great black cloud surrounding me, feelings of failure, not being loved, not being protected, being a disappointment, a lot bad thoughts, it was bigger than myself.

I did pray and was quiet, but i did not succeed so fast. I confessed all my sins, bad feelings and bad thoughts, but the great dark cloud still there next day. I did confess again, at this point I told Him if He would not help me and heal me, I would never be sane again, because it was like an old raw wound, infected, purulent, full of flies feeding from it. I kept asking Him to heal me, to help me. I did keep my mouth closed, I knew it would not come good from it during this trial.

Yesterday, i finally lay down in HIS lap and asked Him to sing for me, I needed to feel His love (I have a few love songs in my phone). I told Him I would start again, letting Him love me, slowly, not expecting too much of myself, asked Him to please forgive my double mind about Him and His Love for me. I must learn how to not compare my father and EH treatment for me with His, my HH.

I know that all this happen because I need to TRUST HIM no matter what, and to learn to keep my eyes on HIM. I also need to feed myself more of HIS LOVE and of HIS SECURE words. One thing is to know this with my mind, and the other is to control feelings and thoughts that come from a hidden internal wound. It is a process and HH could heal me long time ago, but He choose not to heal like an instant miracle, instead He is going with me throughout a full process, to teach me more, so I will be able to help others with the same kind of hurt, and to understand them.

When we are in the middle of it, we do not think properly, straight. After a while listening His love songs, I did read a lot, and keep on with my chores, in a while He started showing me so great care and love. And I was thanking Him PTL and HIS generous treatment. I finally had a great night of sleep, great dreams, and wake up my new me. I was so happy to wake up LIGHT again, praising Him, loving Him and His creation.

It all took 5 days, the first one with this mental fight, the others I was seeing a lot of dark things hidden inside me, I was confessing it all and asking Him to clean me up and take me back to sanity, and to Him. Nobody around me notice much. For me this is progress and I can say it today, I am not where I want to be, but I am not where I used to be. I did a few harm, mostly to myself, very few to my EH.

Reading PR, "Almost Ruined the Progress"  i felt lead to share mine. I have gone through a lot of pain, despair, and feelings of abandonment and rejection. I have been where she was, I know her pain because I did feel it, and done the same mistakes.

I did ask my EH to get out home, I did pack my things and left SG where to go and what to do, HH send me back home always.

HL is SOMETHING MORE that I do need. Finally I am learning better, learning to be cared, to be protected by HH, to be loved by Him, to wait for His rescue. I still have a way to go renewing my mind with this new revelation for me.

~ Laura Olivia in Brazil

 

“Our Project”

Yesterday I read the lesson, A Heavenly Husband. I thought I understood what that meant and felt like I was doing pretty well with seeing Jesus as my Heavenly Husband. However the lesson gave me a lot to think and pray about and I realized that I was really clinging to my EH and not to my HH. My dryer has been making some squeaking noises for some time, which I've ignored. A few days ago when I went to run the dryer a banging sound was added and I decided I better figure out what was going on. I looked online at possibilities and figured out I would need to take apart the dryer so I could look inside to figure out the problem and order the right part. However it required a tool that I knew I didn't have with me in the house. I really didn't want to ask my EH to help me with this. I thought about asking my neighbor but didn't want to get him involved either, even if it was just loaning me a tool, because he's made comments in the past about my EH or implying things about our separation. So I prayed and asked my Heavenly Husband to help me with this repair.

I went out to the shed where my husband had kept his tools to see what was left, praying that my Heavenly Husband would help me find a 5/16 nut driver. As I looked around I started crying because none of the tools I was finding were right, and honestly I felt a moment of panic that my Heavenly Husband wasn't going to provide this for me. Silly, I know, but I had that split second of doubt and fear and I need to confess it. Almost immediately I felt I just needed to keep looking. I looked down on the ground and saw a small tool box I didn't recall seeing lying there before. I opened it and found exactly what I needed! I went inside, praising my God and His Son, *my* Heavenly Husband, who love and care for me enough to provide me with a silly, very specific tool when I need it. Now I'm just waiting on the parts to arrive so that we can finish this project together 🙂 I can't even begin to express the love I have for Him, and the love and delight I feel He has for me. As things become more bleak looking around me, I feel Him drawing me ever closer to Him, holding me safe, secure, and loved, as the spiritual storm rages around me.

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV)

Our God, as our Savior and our Heavenly Husband, celebrates us! What an amazing thing to imagine, to know, that we bring Him such joy, and He's filled with such love for us that He exults (other translations say He delights, rejoices, celebrates) over us with loud singing! HE is delighted by, rejoices over, is passionate about US!

“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine..." (Song of Songs 6:3)

I belong to Him completely; spirit, soul and body, heart, mind and will. And He gives Himself to me completely. In Ephesians it says that the husband should love his wife giving his life for her AS Christ gave His for the church. My beloved has already given His life for me, and gives it to me, daily, along with all power and authority He has from His Father. How can I not be in love with Him? I picture myself like His bride, the queen 🙂

~ Luana in South Carolina

 

“He Looked Deeply into my Eyes”

I heard my HH say, "Come walk with me." Immediately I saw myself as a little girl and I was holding His hand. I was happy with Him. Then I heard Him say to me, "I want you to stop seeing yourself as a little girl when I am with you. I want you to start seeing yourself as the woman you are now, with your hair turning grey, and with how you look right now." Immediately the picture changed and there I was looking as I look right now. This time as we walked together, He had His arm around me. Our embrace was warm, my head resting on His shoulder and part of His chest, and we walked and talked together. For the first time ever, I was able to look up and into His eyes (although I could not decipher shape or colour) and He looked deeply into my eyes with a love I have never experienced before. ~ Challice in South Africa

 

“Glow of a Bride”

I was having difficulty becoming the Lord's bride. From the beginning of my RJ I thought that having God as my HH was strange. I knew him as my Father only. But I could see that my marriage restoration was at a stand still and then began to go backwards. I was speaking with a friend & she was telling me her current troubles. I began telling her that God can do anything and He can be whatever we need Him to be. He can be a healer if we are sick, provider if we need a financial blessing, whatever we need. As I was talking the Lord said to me then why won't you let me be your Husband. I was stunned and I said ok 🙂

So I began seeking God and asked Him to help me become His Son’s bride, remove the feeling I have for my earthly husband and replace it with His love. I began to tell Him that I wanted to be in love with Him, and that I wanted to feel joy, peace, and compassion. I wanted a glow of a bride. I want Him to show me what it feels like to be so in love with Him that I no longer seek restoration to my EH.

I became His bride and He became my Heavenly Husband. I would keep saying all I want is You, You are my Husband. Take Your place in my heart. I want to be Your bride. One night at work my EH called and asked what I was doing. I told him I was reading about becoming the Lord's bride. He didn't say a word. He quickly changed the subject.

My EH and I shared some really good intimate moments during that week. I had asked God to let my husband tell me he loved me something he had not said first in years. And within 1 day of me asking, my husband called me and told me he loved me. What I did not realize at the time was the enemy was setting me up for a trap. I opened my mouth to my EH and the very next day he was with the OW. I was devastated, because I took my focus from my HH and put it on my EH. Big mistake, the pain that I have suffered these last few days has been difficult. I was ashamed, guilty, and embarrassed to come back and ask God for forgiveness and take me a His bride again. But I did it.

I was shopping and needed to buy water, etc. This is something that my EH and I do together because I am not suppose to lift (due to a back injury). My first thought was I will wait until my EH comes home from work and ask him to go to the store with me. But while shopping I found myself down the water aisle and picked up 2 cases. I kept going with tears in my eyes because I felt alone. Then in an instant my HH said, I am here with you.

I don't need my EH I need my HH. He will be my focus from this day forward. The joy that filled my heart. He loves me. I am not worthy but He loves me anyway. I could not wait to get home and share my experience with other women that are struggling in this area. The tears of joy keep coming.

Dear Sister,

I beg you to ask God to be His Son’s bride and Him your Husband. This may seem strange if you grew up like I did knowing God as your father, provider, healer, etc.  a Heavenly Husband was never taught but should be. Focus on Him only. When I praise Him now I say thank you Husband. That is my term of endearment for Him. He can and will be whatever you need Him to be. He is awesome and loves each and everyone of us.

"But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]." (Revelation 2:4 AMP)

Dear Sisters this is a charge that is heavy to bear. Return to your First. He will wrap His arms around you and the love that you will feel will never compare to any other.

~ Kendra in New Jersey

 

“We Will Win!”

So it appears that my marriage is getting restored, I really am not sure because my EH gave conditions (ungodly conditions to say the least) which I did try to fulfill but I don’t think I did them to his satisfaction, but anyway.

So, now because I don’t know whether he'll be dropping the divorce or not since I'm not sure whether he was satisfied with my attempt at obeying him I have been really worried. Worried that he will go through with the divorce, but also worried that he might drop the divorce and yet he hasn’t changed...he still speaks like the same man I left 10 months ago and that scares me too.

These worries made me realize that I have again moved my focus from my HH to my EH and that’s why I've been feeling miserable the last couple of days.

But I didn’t know how to get back to my HH because I felt guilt when I realized that restoration still means so much to me. I thought I was at a point where it didn’t matter to me but alas! Here I was pining away at the fact that restoration was not happening fast enough even though my EH doesn’t want a divorce anymore.

Though I didn’t know how to now go back to my HH, I just prayed simple prayers to Him last night asking Him to please show Himself to me again as my Husband. I told Him that I don’t really know how to be loved by a husband in a healthy manner since I've always subjected myself to relationships with men who would emotionally abuse me even when I dated before marriage.

I told Him I don’t know how to be loved and I dont know how to experience Him as my Husband and that He should show me because I thought I got it but I had again moved my eyes from Him to my EH.

I then slept with some praise and worship music on. During my sleep, the Lord kept speaking into my heart, it wasn’t even dreams, He was speaking different things into my heart and it seemed so real. I kept telling Him I don’t want an imaginary relationship with Him and He made sure it felt very real. My heart was so assured of His realness and His love so much so I begged Him never to take that away from me. Even when I'd wake up to go to the loo, I knew He was speaking to me and I continued to ask Him never to take that away from me, that realness of Him.

My biggest fear is to ever lose Him. That's the one thing I fear; to ever lose the kind of intimacy I have felt with Him. I don’t like any moment or day that I don’t feel His presence and love; it terrifies me and I pray that He will keep assuring me that He will never leave me nor forsake me.

“...because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5)

May this sink into all of us that He is with us every moment of every day. I know it's tough to hold on to this truth when circumstances seem to swallow us and we wonder why He doesn’t intervene in a way we can see. But faith is the evidence of what we don’t see, and what we currently don’t see is how He is working to change us and our situations but He gives us faith daily to keep believing and holding on to Him. So, let's not lose heart, we are running a good race and we will win!

~ Kopano in Namibia

Like so many whose marriages are restored, soon after Kopano let go and the Lord was truly her HH, her marriage was RESTORED!! “ANY Marriage can be Saved!!”

 

“Discovering My Heavenly Husband”

I admittedly was having a hard time reconciling God the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Omnipotent Power, with God my Heavenly Husband. My upbringing made it seem sacrilegious to consider the Lord as my Husband, because of the worldly connotations.

However, I have prayed that He would give me the wisdom to understand and He is faithful. He revealed to me what that meant. He showed me that He could be whatever or whoever I felt I needed. I believe that I was lonely without my EH, and He showed me that He is always with me. I was fearful that I had no one to call when leaving late to make sure I made it to my car safely (as I often did with my EH), but He showed me that He is the ultimate protector. I could go on. Anything I thought I got only from my EH, He did even better. I praise God for that revelation.

This week, my HH lavished me with such surprises .., things I would have in the past wanted to do with my husband. For example, He took me out to the ballet, something that my EH probably would not have wanted to see, even though it was something I was interested in. He not only provided me with great seats, and wonderful company. He also treated me to a wonderful dinner under the stars with love music. I had not been going out because of fears of eating alone, etc. My God showed me that He is better than my EH could ever be. The more I trusted Him, the more I saw Him in my life. For example, I sowed into my girlfriend's life by sharing with her nuggets about keeping the peace in her marriage and not arguing with her husband, my HH rewarded with me a designer purse, something that I would have only expected from my EH. My HH is so good. Sometimes, I have to be careful as I talk to Him, so others won't think that I am crazy.

"Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough?" (Psalms 106:1-2)

"For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven's Armies is His Name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. For the Lord has called you back from your grief - as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband." (Isaiah 54:5-6)

Even the midst of trials, if you trust God and look at things through lens of faith, you will see the abundance of God's love for his brides. We would spend all our days listing the blessings that He has lovingly given us. Instead of focusing on the things that are currently absent (like our husbands), if we focus on what He has given us, we will be overjoyed.

~ Kesha in Arizona

 

“Becoming HIS Bride”

I am moving closer to becoming the Lord's Bride, I can feel it. I'm not sure if I'm totally there yet, but I know I'm on my way and I WILL get there because that is where I DESIRE to be ;).

I was a basket case when I started this RJ with the Lord. Slowly He started to work in my life and little by little I began to realize that He was very real and more than able to help me. I never dreamed it would turn into what it has. He just blows my mind everyday!!

I grew up in a very legalistic church, it was all about the do’s and don’t, and this is how I perceived God…….STRICT!! I felt He was a distant and far off God like Erin explains about in the Heavenly Husband Lesson and that He could never be concerned about me and my messy life. I had never witnessed anyone around me with a TRUE relationship with the Lord. So this is the first hurdle that I had to get over, realizing that the Lord was by no means strict and He was there for me to go to and simply talk with, and that I could have a relationship with Him, the ONE who really, really LOVED me!!

It actually took a very long time for this to happen. I was also fearful of allowing myself to trust in someone fully! I had been let down by so many people from my past including my EH, that learning to trust Him as a bride trusts a new husband was difficult but something He helped me overcome. I simply started asking Him to help me trust Him as a faithful Husband and to show me that I could! When you ask Him, you can expect Him to give what you ask for :).

Now, I love spending time with Him, letting Him love me and comfort me. I no longer feel unloved and I no longer feel ANY pain from being a rejected wife. It is quite the opposite now, I go to my HH for comfort and love because I long to be with Him and not because I hurt with pain of rejection! I just want to BE with Him. When we are together, I feel so loved. When we I sense we are apart, I long to be with Him and near Him.

RMI has always encouraged us as ministry members to take the Lord as our Husband and to see Him that way. I guess that is what kept me seeking after it, and recently the HH Lesson has been a great help and REALLY nailed it for me, I REALLY got it!! And I know that I know, HE will do for me far above and beyond what any EH could do. Unconditionally Love, Honor, and Cherish me forever and always!!

This past week He has spoken to me about His Will for me. I always pray that His Will be done; however, I believe there is such a thing as His permissive will and His perfect will.

To be in His permissive will I could pray for a restored marriage and He would grant that. But He has placed upon my heart to be in His Perfect WILL and after I read the HH lesson over and over, this phrase did something inside me that has changed me FOREVER: "A woman's heart should be hidden so deep in God that a man will have to find HIM before he can find her."

So I am praying for His PERFECT Will and I am enjoying every minute of the day with the Lord as my HUSBAND! I know I don't need anyone else to fulfill me like He does. He not only makes my heart LEAP, He takes the BEST care of me and provides for me when I am helpless to do so. He LOVES ME perfectly!!!! Just a little over a week ago, my HH gave me a white gold wedding band with 11 diamonds that I know wear as a symbol of being HIS BRIDE, HIS AND HIS ALONE!!

I will submit to His PERFECT Will for my life, but I am not willing to settle for anything less. Why? Because He wants HIS BEST FOR HIS BRIDE and so do I.

HIS BEST and HIS PERFECT WILL is for your EH to come back to you as a changed man and also in love with the LORD!! Are you willing to settle for anything less?

~ Cindy

 

“Encouraging a Friend”

For a few days my longtime family friend, then when I wrote sensing she needed a few of Erin’s Weekly Messages that I copied and emailed to her. A day later her reply was filled with desperation. Here is my reply to her that I believe is meant for many of you who are feeling desperate too.

Dear Mona,

Thanks so much for sharing where you are and for confirming that He led me to suggest you apply to Restoration Fellowship after sending you you a couple of Weekly Messages that I felt could help.

First let me encourage you by saying that though you can't quite get there seeing the Lord as your Heavenly Husband, I believe it's pretty difficult to do when you are living with an earthly husband. But what I want to encourage you to do is to think of Him as your Lover—nothing that is wrong or sinful—but instead your first love, whom you should be faithful to.

My daughter reminded me of how much trouble she had with the same concept, but it was due to her never being married or even close to a man (never dating or having a boyfriend). So I SG and one day I was able to encourage her by encouraging her to think of the Lord as her Betrothed, like a woman who has an arranged marriage (much like the princess she is) and that is all she needed for it to click.

Dearest Mona, I know the Lord is longing for you to come to Him with each and every difficulty and heartbreak you are experiencing, and talking with Him about every detail when you said you are “up hiding away in the corner of your roof upstairs.” And there you let Him know how much you want everyone gone [the family who has moved in with you and your husband]. Then once you really are able to feel His love for you, you will soon be able to relinquish what He does or doesn't do—instead you’ll be fully trusting His perfect plan for you.

Mona I really sense something is about to happen, something AMAZING. And we know this is true when we read...

Psalm 92:6-7—

“A senseless man has no knowledge, Nor does a stupid man understand this: That when the wicked sprouted up like grass And all who did iniquity flourished, It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.”

Here are some more verses I couldn't stop thinking about that I want you to read at least ONCE each and every time you go to your special place with your Lover.

Isaiah 64:4—“For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who WAITS for Him.”

Isaiah 64:4 Voice—“No eye had ever seen, and no ear had ever heard such wonders, but You did them then for the sake of Your people, for those who trusted in You.”

Ephesians 3:20—“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us...”

Ephesians 3:20 TLB—“Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.”

Ephesians 3:20 The Message—“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!”

Isaiah 30:18—“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He WAITS on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him.”

Lastly. Even if you're sitting downstairs and some sort of chaos begins, you don't even need to slip away to call your Lover on your cell phone. You can sit right there, surrounded by it all, while your head and heart begin to speak and interact with Him and soon you will feel His love surrounding you, while peace settles over your heart. 🙂

Psalm 23: 1-3—“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He MAKES ME lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul.”

Mona, my family and I love you so much, so I can't even fathom how much the Lord loves you!! And though not being able to work would worry many people, to me I'm grateful that He has made you lie down...

Psalm 23: 1-3—“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He MAKES ME lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul.”

Mona, you are home for Him to heal your past by restoring your soul, and being forced to hide away with Him is all part of His perfect plan!

Isaiah 55:8–9: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Jeremiah 29:11—“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’”

Much love,

~ Michele in California came to RMI when she was facing divorce. After reading the RYM book, A Wise Woman and she began helping Erin with her books, very soon her marriage was RESTORED.

 

“I am His and He is Mine”

The moment when my heart skipped a beat, and I knew that no matter what I am loved by my Creator and that He will always be my Husband, I felt like dancing in the streets!!! The freedom that came over me was like nothing I had ever felt before. The knowing I have never been and never will be forsaken, that He will NEVER leave me, that He has always loved me; There are no words that can give that feeling justice!!!

Isaiah 54:5 ESV “For your Maker is your Husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth He is called.

Hebrews 13:5b ESV “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

As I would wake in the morning and thank Him for another day, then sit and do my lessons, I found myself crying out to HIm constantly. This was all in the beginning. I would say “ I want to give it all back. I don’t want to worry about the house, the bills, the yard work, the cars, the oil to heat the home, the gas to cook…” the list went on and on. These are the areas I tried controlling in my marriage and then He began showing me how wrong I was. As I would cry out to Him, I felt warmth and peace that I could not explain.

Then there was that day, that eye opening day!! I had read so many times about my creator being my Husband BUT on this day, this beautiful eye opening day, I grasped it. My God, My Lord, My Savior is my HUSBAND!!! HE CHOSE ME!!

There I was talking away to Him about my day or what just happened. Asking Him about purchases that needed to be made, thanking Him for allowing the finances to be taken care of by Him. I cannot explain how He took the household bills and reduced them down to just about nothing. How He supplied oil and gas for my home when it seemed impossible. How He has opened doors for us (He and I) to be able to bless others.

Philippians 4:19 ESV “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

His Joy, His Love, His Peace is like nothing anyone or anything could ever give. Keep your eyes on Him. We are rich! Ladies WE ARE RICH!! Our Husband owns everything. We are RICH!! Because Our Husband loves us unconditionally. HE LOVES US…….HE LOVES ME! There is nothing like His love, it never changes. It is always there. You do not have to work for it, He gives it freely.

There is so much He has done and continues daily to do. Embrace Him. Read His word. Write your 3x5 cards and ENJOY this Journey!!

Be Encouraged!!

~ Hana who has a Restore Your Marriage

 

“He’s Curious about Me”

Since I can remember, I always wanted to be somewhere else, but not where I was. I was never satisfied with the present moment. Either I was running to my past or dreaming and imagining my future.

My diary was always full.  I was trying to fill my life with busyness. When I was alone, oh, it was unbearable!

When I met the Lord and began to know Him personally as a Friend (5 years ago), He slowly began changing me without me realizing it. I was able to quiet my spirit. I began appreciating the beauty of God’s natural creation, and fell into His presence.  As I walked through the fields on my way to or from work, I started to talking to Him or thanking Him for all this beauty which surrounded me.

Although I considered my new disposition as a miracle, I was still rushing through life and depending on people. I honestly did not want to change anything in my life that time because I was happy. I had bit of Him and a bit of idols of the world.

But the Lord had a better plan for me!!! He removed me completely from the world, from people and started changing me on so many levels.

I remember when I first read the book How God Can and Will Restore Your Marriage, Erin stated that the Lord will first change other areas of your life before He changes or heals the marriage. However, I was so blind!  I did not see that there was something in me that has to be destroyed. Big fool!

Now everyday I sit in amazement of how much He has moved in my life. In every area! What was impossible just to imagine for me, was not impossible for Him.

I now love to be alone. I love to talk only to Him. I love imagining my new Husband by my side all day long.

I do not care about the past, and more importantly about the future. I put my future in His hands. He has control about everything so I do not have to worry.

I enjoy the present moment like never before. I became more patient since there is nowhere I can rush. I have learned to enjoy everything in the moment. Why is this? Because I found the Company of my life who is never leaving me. He is curious about my thoughts, about my duties, about the things which are making me happy.

So with Him by my side, I enjoy each day. I do not expect a bigger miracle than this. I wish this present moment would last forever. How could there be something even better than this?

One day when I was praying, I started to laugh because I realized what I was saying. I not only wanted to do His will, but I also wanted to be the woman He wanted me to be. I wanted to dress how He wanted me to dress; I wanted to say, what He wanted me to say. I wanted to dance (in my room for Him) the way He wanted me to dance. I wanted to wake up when He wanted me to wake up, and I wanted to eat what He wanted me to eat. I devoted my life completely to Him. I gave Him everything,  and I want to live like this. It is not me anymore, but Christ through me. And this is the biggest happiness in my life.

He is my happiness.

~ Sandy

 

“Gooey Eyed for Him”

So much good has been happening to me - too much to share in just one praise report. I will share the very best thing that has happened. The Lord has truly become my Heavenly Husband. This was the hardest part of this journey for me. No matter what I did I just could not feel gooey eyed for Him like I saw in other women. I just felt weird calling him Husband or truly feeling that deep closeness with Him as a husband is. Especially without being physically able to touch Him or hold His Hand or see His face.

I have never been a very emotional person. I built up walls due to many things in my life like my parents’ divorce and the adultery in my marriage. My parents always pushed my sisters and I to talk about feelings because they are both counselors. It always made me feel uncomfortable sharing feelings so I built up a wall. I did this mainly because they would want us to share, but then subtly judge us or tell others. Also, I didn't want to feel because it was safer. If I didn't feel I couldn't get hurt which also led me to drink and experiment with drugs starting as a teenager.

With that being said, I am so grateful that I have this new found deeper love for the Lord than I have ever had or ever thought was possible. This was nothing I did to earn it though I tried to no avail. I tried to force the feelings but just couldn’t feel that husband type of love for Him. God always felt distant to me. This was something that I kept crying out to Him to make me feel these feelings for Him and He has. One day it just happened. There was a change in me.

He changed me and it was all in His timing and for a reason. So much had to be broken out of me. I am truly in love. When I got to this point nothing else mattered. It was only Him. This is so much better than having a restored marriage. Now I find myself praying that my husband won’t come home while I’m awake so I will be able to just have more time with Him.

It brings me to tears how good He is and how He is so faithful to answer prayers. Once He is your Husband, you can’t be hurt anymore. Though I stumble every now and then, He brings me right back to Him and it’s wonderful! I feel so blessed and loved. I have so much more faith in who my Husband truly is.

~ Mona in Massachusettes

 

“Not Scary Anymore”

I lift up the name of my Lord Jesus and say He is worthy of all the praise, honor and glory!

He is what I have been searching for all my life. In Him I’ve experienced love like I have never experienced before. He's given me peace in the midst of the storm. He is greater than the greatest! He is greater than all men. He is awesome and He completes me. My life is complete.

Things don’t mean anything to me anymore. Even if my marriage is not restored or my EH gets full custody of our children, the Lord will still be my number one. I’ve cast all my burdens upon Him and taken up my cross to follow him. It is not scary anymore. I have found what I have been looking for. He is enough for me.

Psalm 40: 7 – 8 “Then I said, “Here I am, I have come – it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God, your law is within my heart.”

I thought my EH, children, wealth and friends would fill the void but I know nothing except my Lord. He cannot break your heart or mine. He is the Man of all men. He has crowned me with His beauty and covered me with His love. He will never break His covenant. He will never stop loving you and me. He says nothing can separate us from His love. He is faithful.

Is 54: 10 “Though mountains be shaken and the hills be removed yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed.”

What more can I ask for? But say come Lord Jesus, come and take your rightful place in my heart and abide there forever. Nothing in this world can give me such joy.

Jeremiah 33: “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.”

Halleluiah! Halleluiah!

~ A Beginner Student in Kenya

 

"I am His Bride"

My Husband has taken me from nothing, literally nothing, to His Bride working for Him. He has brought me to the lowest of lows to the tallest mountain ever. He has stripped me of everything only to overfill me. He has allowed me to be abandoned beyond lonely only to find Him even greater!!

“Your sins were like a big cloud, but I wiped them all away. Your sins are gone, like a cloud that disappeared into thin air. I rescued and protected you, so come back to Me.” (Is. 42:22 ERV)

So no matter how crazy messed up my life is or how much I “feel,” I am far better off now than I have ever been in my whole 24, almost 25, years of living!!! I am the happiest I could ever imagine. I have a Husband who choose me, He picked me when no one literally wanted me. He was there when everyone left me to figure it out. He picked me up when no one was around to give me a hand. He was the only One I could count on to not give up on me. He was the one who did not judge me but caught my tears in His bottle. He has been One of the most amazing things that has ever happened in my life!!!

“Though the Lord gives you the bread of distress and the water of oppression, your teacher will no longer hide, but you will see your teacher. If you stray to the right or the left, you will hear a word that comes from behind you: “This is the way; walk in it.” (Is. 30:20-12 CEB)

He has taught me more about myself than I have ever known and has broken me of ways I never knew were in me. He has filled me with love I never thought I would feel or show to others. He has taken a lowly servant to His amazing Bride!! He choose me out of all the people in this world and in my family He wanted me!!!

I may not always know or understand my purpose here, but I do know I trust Him with my now and my future. No one knows me better than Him and no one has shown me sooo much. He is the GREATEST Husband ever and I am where He wants me! My purpose now and for the rest of my life is His purpose, I am no longer my own but His!!!

I can’t explain it and I can’t tell you how I got here but I can tell you I would NEVER go back and I certainly would never change it. The love He feels for me daily is always there but never less than the day before, always greater. The Husband I have in Him is one that has been in my dreams! Never did I think it could be real, dreams do come true ;).

I love that I am here and I love that I am His. Like I said I’m not sure how I got to this point of finding Him as my Husband, I just know it continues to be Him, not me!! He keeps making me the person He desires and will never give up on me when I get it wrong. He knows what I am going to do before I even think of it ;).

There has never been a better Husband out there and there never will be, He is all I need and then some!! Yes, the enemy has a field day with me sometimes, but that is when my Husband protects me, and yes I literally see Him as my Husband!! Crazy I know, but I even imagine sitting next to Him, holding His hand, running with Him, eating meals with Him and everything I do I picture Him doing it with me.

I used to despise being alone and disliked it even more doing it alone, I always wanted someone to be and do it with me. But here I am and want no other but Him to do it with and to be there for me. He blesses me in ways I just cannot begin to tell you, but it is what He wants to do as my Husband. I will continue to praise Him in the midst of the enemy attacks and know everything is in His hands!!! I even picture Him holding His hand out with my whole life in His palm looking at it and moving this and that around for His glory!!

“Look! I see a man in a chariot with a team of horses.” The messenger said, “Babylon has been defeated! It has fallen to the ground! All the statues of her false gods were thrown to the ground and broken to pieces.” (Is. 21:9 ERV)

I am not longer my own but I am His Bride now and forever, it just simply happened ;).

~ Mandy in Tennessee

 

“He Holds My Hand”

Praise The Lord for all He is doing in my life. It is so hard to see with our eyes sometimes all that God is doing in our lives. It is easy to focus on the troubles, trials and tribulations. I just desire more than anything that I become more and more in love with my HH.

I am having so many difficulties as I am being attacked by Satan to give up and believe that God is not doing what He promises to me in His word. I know satan is a liar and I refuse to believe Him. Instead no matter how difficult things have become I am holding on to my Heavenly Husband and Father even stronger. He has brought me through trials before, He will do it again in His time. He will never forsake me, He is with me even in the midst of it all. I just trust He will pull me out of the muddy pit. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not fear because He is with me. I count it all joy, through all the trials as I know this is His will for me.

I was crying to the Lord this morning, begging as I have been recently over and over; please Jesus help me, I don't know what to do. PTL, about an hour later I found a check in my mail for about $350 addressed to me, one that I did not expect from an old job I worked years ago. My Lord shall provide according to His riches and glory.

No matter how hard it becomes my dear HH will see me through, He will hold my hand and guide me.

~ Jen in Maryland

 

“Love & Forgiveness”

“Love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

God requires us to love, it is not a choice. I thank God for this trial in my life, and as a result I am growing more intimate with my HH. Love is a word that I have come to LOVE.

This week my HH placed several verses on my heart about love and forgiveness. I used to take so much for granted prior to this storm in my marriage, like how my EH used to always say to me “I love you”. As time passed the words went away. I used to ponder over that and I would struggle with forgiveness. Honestly at times through this journey I have struggled to forgive my EH for this situation with the OW. I realized that I must forgive in order to love. For the same reason that he stopped saying those words to me, I have learned to say them more and more and more to my HH. What I am trying to say is that out of what seems like a terrible situation, I have learned to love and it’s all because of God!! Now I do not even hesitate to use the word LOVE nor do I hesitate to forgive. I was selfish and self contained as I was so excited about hearing that from my EH.

Praise the Lord, I love this ministry and I so thank Erin for sharing with us and giving us all the love that she does. I am in a fellowship group and I love the ladies that are in the group. I volunteer and I love the ladies that I work with. I thank God for all of you. Praise God for all He has blessed me with through this journey. I thought that I understood and knew what real love was, yet today I know that love is not a choice, God expects us to forgive and commands us to love.

My HH talked to me about the fruits of the Spirit. I have kept them near and dear to my heart all week: Love, patience, joy, peace, kindness, and faithfulness. I always want to walk in the Spirit so that I produce the fruits of the Spirit. I asked my God to cleanse my heart and work on me.

My HH loves me so much and takes care of me and my family. My journey has been painful yet if it were not for the love of God, I would have never made it this far. There are things that I will be able to share later on in my journey that I know will help other ladies get through this journey. Do not give up, and even when it seems like it’s at it’s worst, God is always with us. He will never fail us!

~ Dedrie in Delaware

 

Burden Lifted!

It was December and my plan was to complete the first Rebuilder’s course. I was in a good place and excited about the next step in my journey. Man plans and GOD laughs.

Proverbs 19:21 “There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.”

By mid December I confess that I found myself struggling with my thoughts. I was at a loss. Then my praise report was returned and all I could do was talk to my Heavenly FATHER whom I realized I had not allowed to take His place as my HEAVENLY HUSBAND. Praise the LORD for those Aha moments! I gave it all to GOD. All of my shortcomings, my faults, my flaws, my sins, my desires, my mistakes, my FH, my failed marriage, my good, and my bad. “Didn't you do this before and nothing changed,” said the enemy.

Luke 22:31 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.”

I did and I praise the LORD for the Encouragers because I know others have traveled on the same path and their lives are forever changed. This is a process that doesn't happen overnight. So I prayed and I fasted. I got into HIS word like never before. I was and am determined not to give up. GOD is a great and awesome GOD. I am so thankful that HIS ways are not my ways.

Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.”

After the first day of my fast I felt different. My trust in HIM grew. By the end of my fast my desire for HIM increased. I had to die to self and I am ready to live in HIM. The burden I carried of my failure as a wife and all of the mistakes I have made in my lifetime were gone. I felt lighter. I felt HIS peace.

Matthew 11:30 “For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Revelation 21:5 “And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

Praise GOD for His loving kindness and forgiveness. Whenever my mind gets off track I take that thought captive. I decided to go through the Renewing Your Mind Course again because I want to be sure I am ready for the next level.

I want to praise GOD for you ladies also. GOD gives us subtle reminders through the Encourager and the praise reports. Thank you Erin and RMI Sisters for keeping my spirit lifted. Praise the LORD for being in His rightful place as my Heavenly HUSBAND. I am experiencing that side of the list that Erin wanted us to write (life if restoration didn't happen). Honestly, I am enjoying it. From time to time I think of my FH, but I quickly get rid of that thought because the past is behind me. I have finally found peace being single in the natural and married in the spirit with MY LORD. PTL!

~ Sabrina in Texas, Restored Marriage

 

“Peace in the Midst of the Storm”

This is the first praise report I've written in months, mainly because my storm has been raging on and some days I've felt hopeless and questioning my belief in marriage restoration.

Around October I wrote a praise report that was not accepted and I was disappointed in the explanation of why it was, at that time. I thought then my relationship with God was closer than ever and reading that the ministers could see my focus was still my EH was disappointing to me. I had to search inside my heart and see whether I was getting anxious or peaceful in my restoration journey with Him? Was it getting worse or better? I stopped praying so much and started to let go more, out of a place of hopelessness rather than of a place of obedience I might say. I started focusing on the blessings I already have in my life - my beautiful family, my supportive friends, and the prayer groups I've been involved in. I now see my aspect to be better than ever, my health, now a job, and a trip with my friends, and all of these blessings I know can only come from my Lord. I started a habit of thanking Him every morning while I get ready for work and every night while I get ready for bed, and this always puts me in an elevated mood because I can see His blessings in my life in every little detail of the day.

Also, He has lead me to deep prayer meditation which I do with the help of an audio everyday as well. It has helped me quiet my thoughts so I can be more receptive to hear His voice. I've been doing this for a few weeks now and it has done wonders for my emotional state. Being able to let go is hard, and sometimes even when we think we have done everything right, a part of our hearts is still heavy with the burden of thoughts or feelings of "what if’s". In my case, "what if I hadn't left my husband? what if I had fought for our marriage? what if I had called him, instead of cutting my communication? what if wanting restoration is wrong?" I realized the only answer for me was to let go and let God. I could have done a thousand things differently but maybe they would have taken me away from knowing my Lord and Savior.

Today I received some words of wisdom from my ministers, and I have been prompted to write a praise report for a while now, and had not been obedient in that sense, but today I couldn't escape that feeling of praising God in public for all He has done for me.

Blessings for all. Your praise reports encourage me every morning. 🙂

~Dorely in Mexico

 

“Filled a Void”

Today I wanted to just go over the lesson about the Lord becoming my Heavenly Husband. I had begun to repeat the phrase "Lord, You are all I want, all I need and all I live for."  I know that this is becoming so true in my heart.

I remember that there was a time long ago that I could not wait to get home from work and get on my knees beside my bed and just talk to the Lord. Back then I had no idea that He was my HH. I just knew He was all I wanted and needed. Through sin and disobedience I grew apart from the person I needed more than anyone. Yes, I yearned for years to get back to that relationship and when I met people who had that type of relationship with Him I would be so envious. See, I thought I could make a relationship instead of just allowing Him to draw me. I was always caught up in works because I grew up a Baptist and we were taught to work for salvation. This caused me a lot of frustration. My relationship with my HH is not something I can make happen. It will come as I read His loving word, take walks with Him and talk to Him. He will become the deepest desire I need.

This morning He showed me it was happening. Over the summer I used to watch my niece’s little boy and he was everything to me. I mean he filled a void that only my HH should fill. Well I am back to watching him again and this time it is different because there is no void for him to fill because it is filled with my HH. This place in me belongs to Him and Him alone. Yes, I love the little boy but I no longer have that void that needs to be filled.

Dear Brides,

Do not try to work at the relationship or try to make it happen, just allow it to grow. Read His loving word, spend time with Him, talk to Him, let Him change and mold you. The relationship will happen if you allow Him to be the one in control. Remember the enemy always wants us to be in works because this causes us to be frustrated and wore out. Remember light and easy.

~ Bonita in Georgia, RESTORED Marriage

If you’ve struggled with the Lord being your Husband and He’s helped YOU overcome the fear, become an Encouraging Woman by SUBMITTING your praise in the “Overcoming a Hurdle” PRAISE REPORT CLICK HERE.

STAY Encouraged-Subscribe

SIGN UP to receive post notifications on Mondays and Thursdays.

!!Please remember to check your inbox or spam to confirm your subscription!!

We don’t spam!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *