Like many people, I have financial needs. If I listed everything, this would be a really long email. But basically we've been assisting our son who's gone through financial trouble this year. We figured we had no right to ask for God's grace without setting a good example and extend it to our son ourselves. My income is being cut back now. We have way more bills than money and bankruptcy is not an option. I've had to explain to our kids that we're going to have to "explore other options" for Christmas. My wife is depressed very much. I'm not sure if my job is going to last the year. Having said that, I get word from some people (not our pastor) that if I don't have, it's because I am lacking in my tithing.. Whaaaa? I'm sorry, I guess that just rubs me the wrong way. I thought I wasn't under the law anymore? I give offerings at church (not every week) and I do support a mission in Haiti. But now I have a double shot of guilt because supposedly if I tithed more I'd be blessed more, and I just feel guilty for allowing our finances to get out of hand (I have made bad choices earlier this year) and I just worry. I couldn't pray much this morning, all I could spit out was to ask God to forgive me for worrying so much. There's got to be an answer! I'm tired of having a knot in my stomach.