Your Prayer

"I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from the lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and every inhabited place in the land. In good pastures I will pasture them; on the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down on good grazing ground; in rich pastures they will be pastured on the mountains of Israel. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest—oracle of the Lord GOD." (Ezekiel 34: 13 - 15)

As I reflect on the reason for including the above scripture as one of the PL scriptures, I recall Psalm 23:

"The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. II 5 You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days." (Psalm 23)

In both Ezekiel and Psalm 23, we see the strong role of the Shepherd.  Who is the Shepherd if not our Lord Jesus Christ?  He gathers His sheep; He heals them; He feeds them; He leads them to the place of rest.   Do you believe that Jesus Christ is your Good Shepherd?  Then rejoice in the certain knowledge that everything  promised in Ezekiel 34: 13 – 15 and Psalm 23 is yours.

The Reason for the Journey

"The LORD said to Abram: Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.  I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will find blessing in you. Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran." (Genesis 12: 1-4)

This scripture sits on top of the Enterprise movement.  It is the reason for the journey.  Once it was heard, understood and believed, it became the launching engine and pad for the Enterprise.  The scripture has been revisited again and again at critical juncture in the Enterprise to draw inspiration and purpose and to keep the movement on purpose and strategy. 

The Enterprise is a journey of faith.  It had a clear beginning but its end is tightly shrouded in mystery.  I walk by faith and not by sight.

"So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5: 38-39)

Saul failed to keep the time

"He waited seven days, until the appointed time Samuel had set, but Samuel did not come, and the army deserted Saul. He then said, “Bring me the burnt offering and communion offerings!” Then he sacrificed the burnt offering. King Saul Reproved. As he finished sacrificing the burnt offering, there came Samuel! So Saul went out toward him in order to greet him. Samuel asked him, “What have you done?” Saul explained: “When I saw that the army was deserting me and you did not come on the appointed day, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, I said to myself, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not yet sought the LORD’s blessing.’ So I thought I should sacrifice the burnt offering.” Samuel replied to Saul: “You have acted foolishly! Had you kept the command the LORD your God gave you, the LORD would now establish your kingship in Israel forever; but now your kingship shall not endure. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart* to appoint as ruler over his people because you did not observe what the LORD commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13: 8-14)

The title of this Blog, SAUL FAILED TO KEEP THE TIME appears ironic.  If you read 1 Samuel 13: 8 – 14, you would conclude that it was Samuel who failed to keep the time.  Samuel and Saul were operating in two different time frames.  Saul was looking at time as Chronos while Samuel was looking at time as Kairos.  Chronos time measures time in seconds, hours, days, years.  Kairos time is the time of grace, the fullness of time, the appointed time.  In a similar situation as Saul, David waited until word came (2 Samuel 15: 28)

A Message of Reconciliation

" And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5: 18 - 20).

This is a PL scripture that reminds me of the great work God did in me by reconciling me to Himself when I was lost.  Now that I have been reconciled to God, I have a mission to lead other people to experience the same joy of reconciliation with the Father of mercies and God of all consolations.

If the Enterprise is of human origin

“So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5: 38-39)

I heard of the above scripture for the first time in 9603.  I had gone to see SJPS to ask for his advice about the idea of the Enterprise.  He quoted the above scripture but misquoted the chapter and verse.  It took me a considerable time to discover the chapter and verse.  I was struck immediately by the truth of the scripture that it was never off my mind.  As I think of it, it gave me peace.  The Enterprise was not a matter of life and death struggle.  If God is with me in the project, it is accomplished.  If not, it will collapse.  If I live, I live; if I perish, I perish.  Now I celebrated the 15^th anniversary of the Enterprise on 1110.  What is my conclusion?  Surely this endeavor, this activity is not of human origin.  So?  No fear; No worry; No doubt.  Amen!

This land now and then

"The LORD appeared to Abram and said: To your descendants I will give this land. So Abram built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him" (Genesis 12: 7)

The land of Canaan promised to Abraham by God is a type and shadow of heaven.  Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is among you.”  It means that for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Kingdom of God is something that is already here and now.  For the Kingdom of God means the complete reign of God in a person.  When this dominion takes place in a soul, the person experiences the gifts of the Holy Spirit of which the chief is peace or shalom.  The fullness of the Kingdom of God is something that is there and then. The Kingdom of God will come in the end when the elect will enjoy the eschatological Banquet of the Lamb.  “Blessed are those who are invited in the wedding of the Lamb.” 

A good and specious land

"Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them up from that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Hivites and the Jebusites." (Exodus 3: 8)

Exodus 3:8 is one of my PL scriptures.  Why?  The Enterprise is a type and shadow of the Exodus.  God saw my plight and came and rescued me from the power of the enemy.  The name of Jesus is Yeshua, which means Savior.  The name says what it is and it does what it says.  God’s plan for my life is an excellent plan (Jeremiah 29:11).  Not only did God rescue me from the enemy, but He leads me into a land that is good and spacious, flowing with milk and honey.  This land that is good and specious, flowing with milk and honey is the image of Heaven, our permanent residence.  Here on earth, the Promised Land is also the country of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites.  All these nationalities are types and shadows of people opposed to the kingdom of God.

Dwelling in tents

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God." (Hebrews 11: 8 - 10)

Why is this scripture one of the PL scriptures?  I was attracted by the fact that Abraham showed the obedience of faith when he left his native land for a foreign country not knowing what to expect.  The Enterprise is a journey of faith.  It is a journey where I pray every day that the joys and sorrows, the delays and disappointments will make for the growth of faith, patience, wisdom, humility, courage, peace and contentment.

Waiting for the Lord 2

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits and I hope for his word. My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak. More than sentinels for daybreak," (Psalm 130: 5 - 6)

How long can we wait for the Lord to answer our prayer?  The scriptures below are very revealing.  In summary, they say that we wait until the Lord answers.

a.       Wait for the Lord (Psalm 27: 14; 37:34)

-          Wait patiently for him (Psalm 37: 7)

b.      I wait for you (Psalm 25: 21)

-          For you I wait all day (Psalm 25: 5);

c.       I wait for the Lord more than a watchman wait for the morning (Psalm 130: 5-6);

-          I wait for God my savior (Micah 7:7)

-          I wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 40: 1)

-          I wait in silence for God (Psalm 62: 1, 5)

-          We wait for you (Isaiah 26: 8, 33: 2)

d.      Those who wait for the Lord renew their strength (Isaiah 40: 31)

-          Those who wait for the Lord will inherit the land (Psalm 37: 9)

-          Blessed are those who wait for him (Isaiah 30: 18)

-          May those who wait for you not be ashamed through me (Psalm 69:6)

-          This is our God for whom we have waited (Isaiah 25:9)

-          The Lord is good to those who wait for him (Lamentation 3: 25)

e.      Be like men waiting for their Master (Luke 12: 36)

f.        Saul was told to wait 7 days for Samuel (1 Samuel 10: 8; 13:8)

g.       David will wait until word came (2 Samuel 15; 28)

(Roget’s Thesaurus of the Bible)

"But you, prepare yourself; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Do not be terrified on account of them, or I will terrify you before them; For I am the one who today makes you a fortified city, A pillar of iron, a wall of bronze, against the whole land: Against Judah’s kings and princes, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you—oracle of the LORD" (Jeremiah 1: 17 - 19).

The mission laid out for Jeremiah and the manner of its accomplishment reminds me of that of Ezekiel which is reproduced below:

"The voice said to me: Son of man, stand up! I wish to speak to you. As he spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. Their children are bold of face and stubborn of heart—to them I am sending you. You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD. And whether they hear or resist—they are a rebellious house—they shall know that a prophet has been among them. But as for you, son of man, do not fear them or their words. Do not fear, even though there are briers or thorns and you sit among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or be terrified by their looks for they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they hear or resist, because they are rebellious." Ezekiel 2: 1-7)

The message in Ezekiel 2: 1 – 7 is very clear.  God is sending His envoy to a very challenging mission.  The target audience has a terrible reputation.  Not only are they very rebellious and obstinate, they are notorious for intimidating and treating badly any ambassador sent to them.  To be forewarned is to be forearmed.  The word of God reveals our true identity to us.  It also reveals our mission.  With a tough mission comes a solid assurance of protection from the Almighty.  “Do not be afraid of their words or be terrified by their looks for they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they hear or resist, because they are rebellious."  With this type of assurance, I too count myself ready to go.

There is no ambiguity in the message.  I remember now the mission of Mary as communicated to her by the Prophet Simeon.   I paraphrase it thus:  Your Son will be a sign of contradiction.  His life and mission will be the cause of the rise and fall of many in Israel.  You will be intimately involved in this titanic battle.  A sword will pierce through your heart but you will survive the mortal blow. 

Why are Ezekiel 2: 1 – 7 and Jeremiah 1: 17 – 19 part of the PL scriptures?  Each time I read or hear them, I take particular notice.  The mirror is an image of the word of God.  What do I see when I look into the mirror of Ezekiel 2: 1 – 7 and Jeremiah 1: 17 – 19?  I wonder whether there is a message for me here.

The Envoy and the Mission

"The voice said to me: Son of man, stand up! I wish to speak to you. As he spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. Their children are bold of face and stubborn of heart—to them I am sending you. You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD. And whether they hear or resist—they are a rebellious house—they shall know that a prophet has been among them. But as for you, son of man, do not fear them or their words. Do not fear, even though there are briers or thorns and you sit among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or be terrified by their looks for they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they hear or resist, because they are rebellious." Ezekiel 2: 1-7)

The message in Ezekiel 2: 1 – 7 is very clear.  God is sending His envoy to a very challenging mission.  The target audience has a terrible reputation.  Not only are they very rebellious and obstinate, they are notorious for intimidating and treating badly any ambassador sent to them.  To be forewarned is to be forearmed.  The word of God reveals our true identity to us.  It also reveals our mission.  With a tough mission comes a solid assurance of protection from the Almighty.  “Do not be afraid of their words or be terrified by their looks for they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they hear or resist, because they are rebellious."  With this type of assurance, I too count myself ready to go.

Promise of full protection

"See, I have created the smith who blows on the burning coals and forges weapons as his work; It is I also who have created the destroyer to work havoc.  Every weapon fashioned against you shall fail; every tongue that brings you to trial you shall prove false. This is the lot of the servants of the LORD, their vindication from me—oracle of the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 16 - 17)

Two of my precious images of the Word of God are light and mirror.  Light to guide my path and mirror to help me adjust my moral compass.  What does the above PL scripture say to me?  Isaiah 54: 16 throws light on God’s employment plan.  Every job, every profession is designed by God to help complete the creation of the universe.   All things serve God. (Psalm 119: 91).  In the light of this, I look up to my Creator and ask:  What is my place and purpose on earth?

Isaiah 54: 17 makes a fabulous promise:  I am guaranteed full protection in every assault of evil forces, called here the DESTROYER.  The DESTROYER could be demons, destructive forces of nature like hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wars, etc.  The length and breadth of the Bible makes it clear that the children of God are in a permanent spiritual warfare on earth.   What a joy to realize that we already know the final outcome.

A great question and a great answer

"27 Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19: 27 - 29)

Peter asked a question that many disciples of Jesus would be shy to ask today.  And Jesus did not hesitate to give a great answer.  There is no risk in answering the call to serve Jesus.  Genuine riches are assured those who answer the call in this world and eternal happiness in the life to come.  Look at how the apostles are honored today all over the world with liturgies and Churches names after them.

"God is not a human being who speaks falsely, nor a mortal, who feels regret. Is God one to speak and not act, to decree and not bring it to pass?" (Numbers 23: 19)

I have left an open door before you

I have left an open door before you

"I know your works (behold, I have left an open door before you, which no one can close). You have limited strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." (Revelation 3: 8)

Why include this scripture as part of the PL scriptures? The promise, "Behold, I have left an open door before you, which no one can close," appealed to me very much. I had seen the door of employment shut in my face in 1994. I had desperately waited in vain for another door to open. One day, I heard this elocution in the depth of my heart: "All you need is the Holy Spirit." It took probably a couple of years to realize fully the significance of this revelation. Gradually I came to realize that the Enterprise and SFJ may well be the open door.

I delight in the fact that he who opens the door is Jesus. Once He opens, nobody can close. I also like the part of Revelation 3: 8 that says, "I know your works." The thought that Jesus knows where I am and what I am doing is gratifying. Then He continues, "You have limited strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." O Lord, what can I say? It is truly difficult for me to appropriate Revelation 3:8 fully. All I can say at this point is that I desire everything you say in it. I know I have limited moral strength; I have limited physical strength; I have limited financial strength. I know I depend on you entirely for everything for everything, at every time and in every place. I want to keep your word and never  deny your name. I want you to have your eye of mercy on me every second. Thank you Jesus for the promise in Revelation 3: 8.

If God is for us

 "31 What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?" (Romans 8: 31 - 32)

This is an incredible logic.  To demonstrate his love and concern for you, God gave up his son, Jesus Christ.  Now, what can be more valuable than his son, Jesus?  In other words, God wants us to put his Son on one side of the scale and whatever desire or hope we have on the other side.  How does that tally?  The answer is clear.  In giving us his Son, Jesus, God has given us everything.

I know for certain that God is for me in the Enterprise.   I will fear nothing.  I trust his wisdom and power.  Every day, I am getting more and more ready to trust and to obey.

“Moses said to God, ‘Who am I to go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ ‘I shall be with you.”  (Exodus 3: 11 – 12)

Who am I to do the work of God?  - I shall be with you.

If God is with me, then it is accomplished.  If God is with me in the Enterprise, then it is accomplished. 

And surely God is with me.

All things work for good

"28 We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.   29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  30 And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified." (Romans 8: 28 - 30)

If you obey God’s commandments, if you delight in the Lord and His ways, then you can say, “I love God.”  The promise in Romans 8: 28 – 30 is for you.  Put simply, the promise says, “You are fully insured. Have no fear of any circumstance.  Fear is useless.  What you need is trust.”

The doctrine of God’s Providence is one of the sweetest teachings in religion.  In the Christian Bible, we observe how Divine Providence works in the lives of those who love God.  Some examples are Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and David.  God planned all circumstances to work for good for them.  Apostle Paul exclaimed in amazement:   "12 I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. 13I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me." (Philippians 4: 12 - 13)

Seekfirst

"33But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides” (Matthew 6: 33)

Matthew 6:33 is my key scripture par excellence.  This is the scripture that gave me my business name:  Seekfirstweb.  Seekfirstweb has today three domains, seekfirstweb.com, seekfirstweb.org and Seekfirstwb.net.  It has one Blog, Seekfirst Blog.  The idea went back to a journal entry in 1996.  I reproduce below this journal entry:

SeekFirst

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.”  (Matthew 6:33)

On the 1^st of November 1996, I confided the following to my journal:

[Yesterday at Mass, I made the resolution to attend daily Eucharist as from 11/01/96.  I regard this development as a big grace and I thank the Blessed Virgin Mary for it.  I see it as the first fruit of the October devotion.  My prayer to God is that since I am not capable of carrying out such a lofty resolution on my own, that he should provide me with all the physical and spiritual strength I need to carry it out.

I recall the miracle of my friend, Carrena who told me in 1992 that for over 10 years, he had attended Mass everyday without missing one day.  May God give me the same blessing not just for 10 years but for the rest of my life.

The October devotion was concluded yesterday with the Mass novena in the last 9 days and the extra Rosary during the month.  How do I feel now about my prayer request?  Very confident.  For one thing, I have come to know more about the Blessed Virgin Mary form the book of Fr. Francis Ripley, “Mary, Mother of the Church”, which I bought on October 25^th.  I came to realize as I never did before that it is God’s will that all graces come to us through Mary.  I also learned of the constant teaching of the Church articulated so well by many pontiffs that Mary is very powerful in her intercession on our behalf. 

I started the devotion this October asking for one favor and one favor only:  the total success of the Enterprise.  In the concrete, I seek for the following graces:

·         A burning zeal to see the will of God accomplished in my life with regard to the Enterprise.

·         To seek God’s will and not mine in every detail of the Enterprise.

·         Faith that is firm, unwavering and constant that God is for me and with me in this project and therefore success is guaranteed.

·         Patience to wait for God’s time, realizing that everything that happens takes place when God chooses.

·         Wisdom to know what to do and when in every step in this project. 

·         Humility to totally depend on God for everything vis-à-vis the Enterprise.

I have sought for these graces through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I believe I will get everything I asked for and more.

I feel deeply encouraged by the grace for the daily Eucharist.  To me it is like “seeking first the kingdom of God and all that he requires of me” and then challenging God to fulfill his promise to supply all my needs.

Today marks two weeks since the commencement of the Enterprise.  Looking back at everything that has happened so far, I thank God that I am benefitting from the preparation I made.  I am following my scripts closely.  Considering how things have gone so far, it appears as if the Holy Spirit is in a hurry to establish for me his priority in the Enterprise.  The thrust and emphasis of my effort have been spiritual development.  Although I have spent time thinking of money and security, these thoughts are clearly secondary.

With the blessing of the daily Eucharist, I know for certain that I am heading in the right direction.  God will fulfill his word to me at the right time.  “All other things shall be mine without the asking.  For the Father knows that I need them.  And indeed, for this reason, he has placed me here.”  This is my belief.  Praise the Lord.  Alleluia!]

It has been 10 years since I wrote the above reflection.  Reading this again today in 2006, I marvel at God’s faithfulness.

Today, September 12, 2011, I reread this journal entry with great emotion.  Matthew 6:33 is still my key scripture.  I am growing in seeing that this scripture contains everything I need in life.  If I believe what I read and teach what I believe and practice what I teach, all will be well with me.  Help me Jesus.

Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all

5 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? 27Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? 28Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. 29But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ 32All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. 34Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil." (Matthew 6: 25- 34)

The above passage contains what I call crème de la crème of the teaching of Jesus.  We see here the core of his message on Divine Providence.  Philosophers say that the universal application of divine providence in creation is one of the proofs of the existence of God.  Why then do we worry and fret about health, family concerns, money, job, tools, food and the future?  Do we not believe Jesus when He says that “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all”?  Perhaps faith is the core issue.  We can help ourselves by praying:  “Lord, strengthen my faith.”  We can also move from prayer to action by seeking first the kingdom of God and His justice in everything and then challenge God to keep His promise.   I am trying to do this in my life today.   I experience pleasant surprises every day.

God or Mammon

“No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6: 24)

God demands a full and whole-hearted service. This idea is in all the pages of scripture. Partial and divided heart in the service of God is rebuked. It is amazing how many people believe that they can serve God and money at the same time. Their policy is to get the best of both worlds. At the root of this behavior is lack of faith.

Elijah asked the Israelites: “How long will you straddle the issue? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.” This is the heart of the matter. Who do we serve? The Lord or Baal? Jesus said that it is impossible to serve God and mammon.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, That there may be food in my house. Put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, And see if I do not open the floodgates of heaven for you, and pour down upon you blessing without measure!" (Malachi 3: 10)

God owns everything. 

“Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation.  Through your goodness I have this gift to offer, the fruit of the earth and the work of my hands.  let it become for me like the bread of life.”  This is a paraphrase of the Offertory prayer.  It teaches us that the gifts we bring to the altar come from God.  God gives the inspiration and the power to act.  We can never outdo God in generosity.