"Cast Your Net On the Right side.."

It is the first of the year and planning is just now beginging for the year and the future.  It is a little scary in this economy and with so much unemployment--life has become a challenge.  How do I pay my bills--do I try and keep the car I just bought--how do I make my morgage payments?  These are questions that are being asked by people who never in a million years thought they would be in this situation.  Churches are no different.  Some have eased along even in good times and have operated off of money that had been raised in many different ways.  Giving was at a minimum, but now the fund raisers are not happening like they were because those dedicated people are not there anymore and they did not replace themselves--so the funds are dewindling--so what is to be done.  Well, Jesus said, "Cast your nets on the right side..." (JN 21:6)  This means communication is a must.  People need to know the situation and the why and the wherefores, so they can respond in the right way. 

Communication is a must in these times.

Scripture : Luke 5:5 (MSG)  Simon said, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets."

Observation: Just had a Church Council meeting at one of the churches I serve. For the last 3 years or so they have not met their budget except by dipping into a savings account. But no one wants to talk about it, what I see though is the funds will run out some day--Then What?
Application: Jesus said to Peter (Jn 21:5-6) to go out again and cast his nets on the right side of the boat. Peter being experienced fisherman said, "if you say so."
I suppose what I am saying is that if people have the information they need to make informed decisions then they will will make good decisions. Rick Warren recently put some infomaton about a short fall in the church's budget and overwhelming amount of money came in to cover it. If people know they will respond.
Jesus said, "cast your net on the right side..." I think if we go about communicating in the right way--the church will respond.
I myself see a need to respond in my giving by an increase of 10% and that is my goal this year.
Prayer: I pray that God's Holy Spirit leads me and the churches I serve to cast our nets on the right side, so the harvest will be great in all areas. Love Stephen
Yieldedness: I will do my best to increase my giving in all areas, not just finances