Hear | Obey
I listen to God when He tells me to do something. Eventually. Quite often, like most Dad's, He has to tell me 2 or 3 times, but eventually I do what He says.
Sometimes it costs money to listen to God. Like the time three weeks ago when God told me to give $100 to someone at my church. Right in the middle of worship! Go figure! That can be tricky when you're the guy leading worship! Or a few years ago when He literally asked me to sell everything I had.
He had to tell me that three times. Eventually I listened.
Today He asked me to be honest. And although it really ticked me off, He only had to tell me once.
It all started when I decided to do my 2005 tax return. Punched in the numbers online and Quick Tax told me that my refund would be $1449.17! Hallelujah, praise the Lord! Not the largest tax refund I've ever received but definitely enough to venture off to a warm tropical location for 7 nights, including air, hotel and car rental!
Then God dashed my tropical hopes and dreams. He gently reminded me about a litte tour I went on last year with Kutless. And about some money I made on that tour. Contract money. Money that I did not pay taxes on. Money that, once claimed on my tax return, will reduce my tax refund to nothing and require that I pay additional taxes.
I tried to skirt the issue. Even went so far as to contact the production company that I worked for to find out how they were going to claim the money they paid me. Maybe they didn't claim it which would mean I wouldn't have to claim it either!
To think that I actually emailed them to ask.
Sometimes it costs money to listen to God. Like the time three weeks ago when God told me to give $100 to someone at my church. Right in the middle of worship! Go figure! That can be tricky when you're the guy leading worship! Or a few years ago when He literally asked me to sell everything I had.
He had to tell me that three times. Eventually I listened.
Today He asked me to be honest. And although it really ticked me off, He only had to tell me once.
It all started when I decided to do my 2005 tax return. Punched in the numbers online and Quick Tax told me that my refund would be $1449.17! Hallelujah, praise the Lord! Not the largest tax refund I've ever received but definitely enough to venture off to a warm tropical location for 7 nights, including air, hotel and car rental!
Then God dashed my tropical hopes and dreams. He gently reminded me about a litte tour I went on last year with Kutless. And about some money I made on that tour. Contract money. Money that I did not pay taxes on. Money that, once claimed on my tax return, will reduce my tax refund to nothing and require that I pay additional taxes.
I tried to skirt the issue. Even went so far as to contact the production company that I worked for to find out how they were going to claim the money they paid me. Maybe they didn't claim it which would mean I wouldn't have to claim it either!
To think that I actually emailed them to ask.
"Hey,That's when God told me what to do. I didn't even have to wait for a reply to my email. I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.
Quick question re: the contract work I did for you last year - do you guys claim the money paid out to me? If not, just let me know.
Paul"
The Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands... IF you obey the Lord your God...If you listen obediently. And do what you're told.
This entry was posted
on Saturday, February 04, 2006 at 11:03 PM.
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11:36 AMthat is an amazing story. thank you for sharing. it is encouraging and edifying to hear of others who obey god, even when it is to their "detriment" as pertains to the things of the world.
but then again, isn't that usually the way when we obey?
thanks, paul.
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