What Can We Give to God?

How can I repay the LORD for all the good He has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
Psalm 116:12-14

What does God desire in return for his love? He wants us to accept his plan of salvation from the evil in this world. He wants us to call on his name every day. He wants us to be true to our vows. Vows should be few and not broken. He will forgive though, if we break a vow to him.

Song, Two Hands, One Heart.  by Don Moen,

What can I give?
What can I bring?
That would be pleasing to my King
I'll give my heart, not just a part
I'm lifting up my everything
Well it's all I have to offer
And it's all I have to give

Two hands, one heart
One life to offer You
Two hands, one heart
That's what I give to You

Use me today I know You can
Lord I surrender to Your plan
You made this heart
And you made these hands
Take me and use me as I am
Well it's all I have to offer
And it's all I have to give

Little becomes a lot
When it's in Your hands
Take me and make me more like You
Well it may not seem like much
But with the Master's touch
I know that I'll be more like You

Two hands one heart
One life to offer You
Two hands one heart
That's what I give to You

More lyrics http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/don_moen/two_hands_one_heart-lyrics-1021542.html#ixzz3l5PO55Dd

Christians and Sinning.

I was just reading an article where the author said that if we have trouble with sins we should just "reckon ourselves dead to sin" like the Bible says and that would help us stop sinning.

I'm sorry, but I don't believe it. I've never been able to stop doing something wrong without days, and sometimes years, of praying. The Lord has shown me lately that I am losing my temper. I wrote about that earlier. Since then, I've been asking God (before I get mad) to not let me get angry and lose my temper. I've noticed a vast improvement.

God is the only one who can keep us from sinning, and I sometimes think he lets us fall and sin so we will go to him more and more for help. Also, when we sin, we are humbled. We realize we are sinners and need God every moment of every day.

There is a fine line to walk with sinning. We must not become discouraged after sinning because that doesn't help. We must not think we are unworthy of Jesus' love because that is not true. We must not think of giving up because that would be the worst thing to do. Where else can we go but to Jesus? I gave up worrying about my sins long ago. I pray and leave them in Jesus' hands.

Then there is the other side of the problem. We must not think our sins are small sins and they are no big deal. We must not think that because Jesus forgives us every time that we can just go on doing the same things til we die. No, sin is serious, especially if we hurt people in some way.

So, it takes a little mental gymnastics to deal with sin in our lives - yet the remedy is simple. Pray about that sin every day, leave it with God, knowing He will deal with it in his own time and in his own way. I was a heavy drinker for 6 to 8 years (can't remember how long), but I kept on praying for God to take the drinking away. He did. It took a long time, which says more about me than Him: I only know when God took the desire away it was gone for good. The point is: Don't give up! Don't look at yourself and be in despair. God loves you just the way you are.

Another sin I had for years was gambling. I spent way too much money going to bingo halls and casinos. This was money we needed, or money that could have helped people. I wanted to stop but the temptation was so strong.

One day, I was praying and the thought came to me to make a sacred vow to God to stop gambling. I was surprised at the thought, which meant it was probably from God. I studied the Bible on vows and then prayed about it. A few days later I did make the vow and I can't tell you how freeing it is to know I can't go to the casino and bingo because I made a sacred vow. I know it is extreme but for me it was the answer.

When I made the vow, I said to God, "I vow not to gamble in my city or the cities around it and I vow not to gamble online. But I want to be able to gamble when I go on vacation." So, when I went to the U.S. awhile ago I did go in a casino. After an hour I was bored and left. Let me tell you, that has never happened before! I used to stay all day and half the night. But God took the fun of it away and I no longer enjoyed it! What a blessing.

Making Oaths and Vows.

Continuing on with the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "You have heard it said to those who lived long ago, 'You must not swear an oath falsely, but you shall perform your vows to the Lord." But I tell you, do not swear at all, not by heaven for it is God's throne, nor by the earth, for it is His footstool. nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black."

"Just say a simple, "Yes, I will," or "No I won't." Anything more than this is from the evil one."

After reading some Bible commentaries, it seems that in Jesus day it was a custom to say, "I swear by my head that what I am saying is true or "I swear by my heaven I will do it."


Neither shalt thou swear by thy head - This was a common oath. The Gentiles also used this oath. To swear by the head was the same as to swear by the life; or to say, I will forfeit my life if what I say is not true. God is the Author of the life, and to swear by that, therefore, is the same as to swear by him.

Because thou canst not make one hair white or black - You have no control or right over your own life. You cannot even change one single hair. God has all that control; and it is therefore improper and profane to pledge what is God's gift and God's property; and it is the same as swearing by God himself.

http://bible.cc/matthew/5-36.htm

Neither by heaven, etc. - It was a custom among the Scythians, when they wished to bind themselves in the most solemn manner, to swear by the king's throne; and if the king was at any time sick, they believed it was occasioned by some one's having taken the oath falsely. Herod. l. iv.

I remember as a child making oaths that I was telling the truth to my friends. Our favorite one was, "Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye!" I'm not sure why sometimes we didn't believe each other. I suppose a lot of lying was going on! Anyway, we need not use oaths to make a point.