There once was a young girl in her early teens that had an aunt whom she looked up to very much. In this young girl's eyes, her aunt was very successful because she owned her own business, drove a nice car, was well dressed at all times, and carried herself in such a way that was very intriguing. They both attended the same church and on one Sunday morning, the girl's aunt stood up to testify to the congregation about how awesome God had been to her. Well, the young girl, of course, was very attentive in hopes that she would find out how and why God had blessed her so. Indeed, while she was testifying she said, "Young people, listen to me closely..." and the young girl did just that. She went on to say, "Always, always, pay your tithes if you are currently working or when you start working." The young girl thought, Uh huh...THAT is the key to her success.

Years later, that young girl has grown up to be a young woman and that young woman is me. I truly believe that the small piece of advice that my aunt gave on that Sunday morning has kept me. I just couldn't wait to get my first job so that I could give my tithes and see how God was going to bless me. As I have gotten older and learned the principles behind tithing, I recognize that it is not all about what I can get from God. I realize that it is about what and how I give to God because Scripture tells us that He loves a cheerful giver (II Corinthians 9:7).

As a giver, your heart is to be humble, to know you owe your very existence to the One who holds the entire Universe in the palm of His hand. He then promises to meet not just our daily needs, but also to give us a life of abundance and prosperity in ALL things. That means favor on our jobs, joy in our marriages and relationships, happiness in our homes and with our families, healing in our bodies, and no lack in our finances.  Complete wealth is ours for the taking! All in all, I have realized that we must take care of God's house in order for Him to take care of ours.  He tells us that in His Word. He says, "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" (Malachi 3:10).

Tithing is one way in which I worship and honor God as my provider and remind myself that all of my resources belong to Him and are provided through His grace. Never let an opportunity go by for you to give back to God. It is giving back to God a portion of what is already His to begin with. Psalms 24:1 says, "The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." Everything on this Earth is His; He just wants to see how obedient we will be in giving back; such a simple concept, yet so many people neglect tithing for various reasons. One reason being that they may think they can't afford to give tithes. However, it is the contrary that is true. I know that I can't afford NOT to give tithes.

According to Malachi 3:8, if I do not give my tithes, it means that I am robbing God. "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." I do not want to rob the God that has been so awesome and faithful to me, the once young teenage girl that had a desire to be successful.  That same girl that had admiration for her aunt because she exemplified success is now at a point in her adult life where she is a role model for her nieces and other young women in her life, and the message that she gives to them today is, "Always, always, pay your tithes."

Tareshia Bio:

Tareshia Jacobs is a native of Oxford, Mississippi, and has lived in the Northwest Arkansas area for the past nine years. She is a Senior Manager in the Global Sourcing Department at the Walmart Home office. She is a member of Valley Harvest Ministries Church located in Rogers, Arkansas where she serves on the Praise Team and as a youth group leader. Tareshia is also a member of the Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir. Her passion includes singing and giving praises to The Almighty. Tareshia has been married to Matthew Jacobs for seven years. 

 

A Woman of Wealth? The WOW Factor? What does that mean? What does that look like? For me, it encompasses a myriad of things. I could say my WOW Factor moment happened 25 years ago when God delivered me from a crack pipe and alcohol. Or...I could say my WOW Factor moment happened when, after being delivered from drugs 16 years earlier, God blessed me to graduate with my bachelor's degree. Or...I could say after obtaining my bachelors degree four years later, God blessed me again to obtain my master's degree in Psychology. I could say my WOW Factor moment was when, after 17 years of marriage, it crashed and burned. The truth is my WOW Factor moment was the day God allowed me to see that there were four rules I needed to live by in order to be this Woman of Wealth and experience The WOW Factor.

God showed me these rules through Joshua 1:1-9:

1. "Be strong" - If we are going to be successful and not operate out of our fears, we first of all have to be strong. The word "strong" in this context means to fasten upon or attach to something that can help you remain anchored. Not just anchored in anything, but anchored in what will help you stand firm in what you know to be true.

2. "Be Courageous" - Not only does God refer to strength, but He also tells us that we must have "courage." The Hebrew word literally means to "be alert to what's going on around us." I also like the quote that says, "Courage is doing what you're afraid to do." Being scared should not have the power to stop us from doing what we have to do, but it should propel us into relying on the power of God to do it no matter what we feel...That's courage!

3. "Be Obedient to His Word" - When we are told to be careful to obey, God is telling us that we can't pick and choose when we apply His Word to our lives. We must be careful, as we come to understand God's Word, to consistently look for ways to apply it, and not violate it. So, the third rule is to be alert to how the word of God applies to your life. Look for ways to apply it. Like Joshua, we can only claim victory through obedience. Obedience takes strength and courage.  Obedience takes a specific strength and courage that only comes through faith in God.

4. "Be Dependent on God" - Joshua 1:9 states, "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. In other words, God is saying, when the major difficulties of life hit you; when challenges are put on your path that is beyond what you believe are way pass your ability to endure; when you look at the major issues of your life-not just the little irritants-and you don't know what to do...

- DON'T FALL APART!

- DON'T BE AFRAID!

- REMEMBER WHO LOVES YOU AND CARES FOR YOU THROUGH ALL THESE SITUATIONS...God will always be our refuge in the time of trouble.

Therefore, once I realized these four rules, I then became a Woman of Wealth, and my life became a real WOW Factor! So please take it from me, the WOW Factor can be yours if you apply these four rules!!!

Esther Bio:

Esther Renee' Daniels is native of Beaumont, Texas and now resides in Houston, Texas. She is an Associate Minister at The Fountain of Praise, under the leadership of Senior Pastor Remus Wright and Co-Pastor Mia Wright.

She is the author of her alpha book, What's Under Your Rug?, and the founder of Titus Works Ministries. Titus, based on the Word of God in Titus chapter 2, teaches us that the old shall be there to guide the young into a better life with Christ. This ministry strives to do this in a unique way, through empowerment telephone conferences with powerful speakers and topics that are keeping it real with people and God.

Most importantly, Esther loves God with all of her heart and wants nothing more than for God to be pleased with everything she does. 

 

Our characteristics are defined by knowing our IDENTITY: 

Psalm 139: 13-16: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained from me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

DON'T ALLOW IDENTITY THEFT TO HAPPEN TO YOU.

WE HAVE BEEN DRAPPED WITH THE FINE ARMOUR OF GOD, SO WEAR IT WELL.

 One of God's greatest gifts to a 'Woman of Wealth' is PURPOSE:

The RIB cage has 3 major functions: Protection, Support, and Respiratory. It encloses the heart and protects the lungs.  The human RIB cage surrounds the chest and heart cavity and is a core element of the human body.  The human RIB cage is a component of the human respiratory system.  Breathing is made possible as the lungs expand and the diaphragm has elastic recoil of the RIB cage, and lungs expel the air.  The heart would not be able to supply blood to the body without the support of the RIBS.

Support:  to hold in position so as to keep from falling, sinking, or slipping; to be capable of bearing; to withstand

 Respiratory:  breathing illustrates our human vulnerability and complete dependence upon God

(Ezekiel 37:5 - Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. KJV)

(John 20:22 - And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." NIV)

I look far and wide, but still I walk.

It's hot and dry, but still I walk.

I'm hungry and can't find food, but still I walk.

I look around for a friend and no one is there, but still I walk.

I try to contact family but they all have turned their backs, but still I walk.

I don't have money to pay my bills, but still I walk.

I don't have many clothes, but still I walk.

I come near the end and I want to give up.

I see an image so bright that I drop to my knees.

...Then I hear a gentle voice say, "I come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. You have the heart to Protect and Love, and the strength to Sacrifice so I call you:  WOMAN!!!!!!"

Mattie Bio:

Mattie Williams is a native of Robbins, Illinois, a wife married to a wonderful man for over eight years, and mother of three. Mattie's passion is to go deeper in learning the Word of God and to face all circumstances and situations head on, truly knowing where her HELP comes from. She enjoys spending time with family and traveling.

 Fall Recipe: Squash Gratin