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Month: May 2026

The Writer’s Tithe

The Writer’s Tithe

Published by Rita Klundt on May 22, 2026

What if I tithed on my story?

What if I gave 10 %?

What if I left out the hard stuff

and only told blessing He’d sent?

How many pages to cover

the wonderful things God has done?

So many times Jesus saved me.

To His credit my battles are won.

How can I tell of His wonders?

For most I was unaware.

How many times He surprised me.

I’ve stories and plenty to spare.

But who would sit still just to listen?

And how do I form the words best.

Do I write it or speak it or paint it?

Are you sure, Lord? Is this some sort of test?

My story is so complicated.

No good comes for quite a long time.

A big part of my story is ugly.

Those years had no reason or rhyme.

And if I should tithe on my story,

is it good to expose my worst pain?

I’m forgiving, forgiven and changing.

He’s wiped my sin clean—every stain.

So, how does one “tithe” on a story?

Instead, I’ll tithe work of my hands?

My story is tangled with others

who likely will misunderstand.

Jesus called me to sit and be quiet.

He carried my thoughts to a day

when hurt and betrayal consumed me.

Depleted. Hope driven away.

“Just start where you woke on that morning.

This first draft is written for Me.

The whole of the story between us.

No judgmental eyes need to see.

Let’s cover those things you remember.

Don’t sanitize facts or save face.

Name names. Be honest. Don’t edit.

Just write, and don’t yet erase.

Here’s the thing that matters ‘bout tithing.

Give all and I’ll use what is best.

!0 % is only a number.

That 90 % we’ll invest.”

So, I did as the Lord had instructed,

and I wrote with 100 %.

He was there, even wrote along with me.

Time flew, every minute well spent.

A lot was told only to Jesus.

A tell-all was never the plan.

Confessions and anger and anguish,

He listened as only He can.

An editor cleaned up some errors,

The public has had a good peek.

Now I’ve opened my life and my story

to questioning and to critique.

Not once has that tithe turned to bite me.

Not yet has there been a regret.

Whatever my heart gives to Jesus,

He will use it and never forget.

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Sins of Omission?

Sins of Omission?

Published by Rita Klundt on May 15, 2026

Have you ever been ignored? Disregarded? Overlooked? Neglected? Discounted? Or worse … snubbed? Each of these synonyms points to a different brand of insult and offence.

Can anyone make it to adulthood without experiencing all of these things?  Be honest. Has any of us made it through the fifth grade without committing each of these offences?

There’s another synonym that’s not used often these days. Flout. It means to disobey, defy, scorn, spurn, scoff, or contravene and even to violate. To flout means to refuse or reject authority. If you’ve ever lived with a two-year-old, you can picture these things. Most of us have seen it in teenagers. All of us, if we’re honest, have committed these offences.

It boggles my mind and wounds my heart to think that I would turn my back on the Lord’s promises and instruction. But how many times have I stumbled and fallen head first, heart first, into sin? Most often, it’s a sin of omission. I assume God will wait while I’m forgetting, or making a promise and then “finding” excuses.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know [acknowledge] him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, CSB).

Each phrase of that passage is worthy of study, but the word of the week is “acknowledge.” So what does it mean to acknowledge Him in all my ways?

Acknowledgement is not only an attitude and posture. It’s an action. Lip service won’t do. It means submission when we think we can do better. We might have been educated and trained to do it differently. It means to lean into the leadership of the Holy Spirit and abandon old notions. It means to set aside human logic sometimes, and to risk an earthly comfort or pleasure for a yet-to-be-seen, forever treasure.

All my ways means all my methods, emotions and relationships. All of my dreams and plans. My finances and my schedule! My accomplishments. My calling. To acknowledge Him means to give up control and leave my outcomes to His authority. All my ways means that I must be alert, but I can rest and not worry. Is that even humanly possible? Of course, I know the answer.

I like the chorus to the Casting Crowns song:

“Not because of who I am,

But because of what you’ve done.

Not because of what I’ve done,

But because of who you are.”

Yes, I do know Jesus … and trust Jesus. Still, there seems to be a great divide between ignoring or forgetting the words of the Lord and outright flouting Him. I’ve acted as though sins of omission, the sin of disregard, overlooking, neglecting or discounting what scripture teaches hurt less than what we call sins of commission, or the “thou shalt nots.”

I’ve been wrong. Sin is sin. I know I’ve avoided some awful consequences by avoiding the more public sins. Good for me? But how many blessings have I missed? How many treasures won’t I be able to appreciate because I didn’t acknowledge the Lord in “all my ways?”

How precious to know God loved me enough to go to the cross, not because of who I am, or because of what I’ve done—or haven’t done. He loves me because I am His, and He tells me that He is mine.

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