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<v SPEAKER_01>Welcome back to the Live Boldly Podcast, brought to you by Celebration Baptist Church.

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<v SPEAKER_01>I'm Jessica and today I'm joined once again by our business administrator, Natalie Thomas.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Today Natalie is going to continue speaking on the subject of tithing and specifically on taking the next steps in increasing your tithe.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Natalie, you mentioned that a challenge from Pastor David in 2016 is what inspired you and your husband to increase your giving.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Walk us through your process at that time.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, I remember seeing a ladder in church and Pastor David asking us to take a step up the ladder.

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<v SPEAKER_00>For me, visually, that made sense because I could see the steps we had already taken in our financial growth.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So our next step was going beyond our tithe.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So we prayed about it and God gave us, gave me and my husband and I am out.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's awesome.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So when do you think that an in an individual or a family should start to increase the amount that they give to their church?

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<v SPEAKER_01>When's a good time to do that?

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<v SPEAKER_00>I think everyone should tithe because it's biblical.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Um we did not go beyond our tithe until we felt led by God to do so.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We felt led when we saw the ladder at church.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We prayed and God gave it us, gave me and my husband and I am out.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's awesome.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So how did increasing your tithe affect your relationship with God?

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<v SPEAKER_00>For me, the more I give to God, um, it's like telling him, I trust you not only in my words, but in my actions.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The more I trust God, the closer um we become.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So in Malachi yesterday, we talked about uh the phrase, open the floodgates.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So, how have you seen Christ open the floodgates to you and to others who have chosen to take the next step in tithing?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Um, where do I start?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Um, one of the biggest examples I would have to say for me is when I went back to school to get a second degree in um 2013.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I remember going through a 21-day of prayer and fasting, and God told me to go back to school.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What was so crazy was the timing because I had a one-year-old and a three-year-old.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Wow.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Um, God provided the money for my tuition and my books that I had to pay for this time around, and um, people to come alongside me to help me with the kids.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was definitely a journey, but God went above and beyond.

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<v SPEAKER_01>That's awesome.

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<v SPEAKER_01>That's really cool, Miss Natalie.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Thank you so much for joining me today.

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<v SPEAKER_01>I'm looking forward to everything else that we're gonna talk about tomorrow on our last day with Miss Natalie.

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<v SPEAKER_01>To all of our listeners, don't forget, follow Celebration Baptist Church on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Keep up with our current sermon series, live boldly, and explore everything else that's happening in our celebration family.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Natalie, would you pray for us today?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lord God, thank you for giving us a Bible-based church.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Thank you for giving us a pastor who stretches us in our faith.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I pray we all grow in our financial journey and that we don't hold back from you what is already yours.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lord, thank you for going above and beyond in my life and at and um at our church.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In Jesus' name I pray.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Amen.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Thank you, Natalie.

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<v SPEAKER_01>You're welcome.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Be sure to tune in again tomorrow to hear the last day of Natalie's story.

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<v SPEAKER_01>We'll see you then.