Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3.

 Over the course of my life, I’ve heard successful business men/women and athletes thank God for what He did in their lives. Many of them have made a huge impact on Americans and it would be easy to take credit for their achievements, but they acknowledge God’s hand in their success. As I reflect over my life, I can tell you it was God working through friends, family, and circumstances that has brought me to this wonderful place I’m in retirement after a successful career. I give God all the credit and glory!

 Whether you are a Christian or not, you must understand that it was God who created you. He permitted your existence and has a plan for your life. Some chose not to believe a higher power had anything to do with personal success, and one day they will find themselves standing before a Holy God, convicted of prideful living. I don’t want to be around when that happens.

 As we see worldly events unfold, they are perfectly aligning with prophecies that are documented in the bible’s book of Revelations. These events occur prior to the great Rapture of Christians, the Tribulation, and the second coming of Christ. No one knows the date and time, but you can be assured that time is coming. Are you ready?

 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

 God created you to be you. As 1 Peter 2:9 says, you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Receive Jesus Christ into your life, asking forgiveness of your sins, and do everything for His glory. He deserves it…and one day you’ll hear the words of God say….Well done my good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Matthew 25:21

 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10

 One summer I came home from college and was hanging out with one of my friends. He asked me if I truly believed there was a God. I had accepted Christ at age 12, yet hadn’t really been questioned about my belief in God. I came home and asked mom, and her reply was to search out for God’s existence, and He will reveal Himself. Following that conversation, I also met with my youth pastor and even a counselor, in search of God’s existence. All of them said, God will reveal Himself to you.

 A few months later, I attended a youth event at our church. We had been running around outside the church playing games. At the conclusion, our newly married youth pastor realized he had lost his wedding ring. Immediately we all started searching the church grounds for his ring. I said out loud the following, “God if you are real, let me find that ring”.

 I went around to the back of the church parking lot; a large area covered in newly poured white gravel. It was getting dark and I had difficulty seeing. At one point, something physically stopped my body from moving and I heard a voice inside my head say, “David, I give you the power to see in the dark”. I looked ahead and saw something in the rocks. I had a flash light in my hand and I heard the voice say “turn on the light”. In the middle of that light’s circle was his wedding ring!

 Still today when I share this story, I get emotional. I had a personal encounter with God. Since then, I’ve never questioned His existence and it actually increased my faith and belief that God is with us continually. He is always looking out for us, even at times when we stray off the path of righteousness, He is there, encouraging us to step back into His light.

 Maybe you question God’s existence. I encourage you to search out the truth. Read your bible (God’s word), ask God to reveal Himself to you. He wants you to know He’s with you and will reveal Himself at just the right moment.

 James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are  done in the meekness of wisdom. 

Have you ever heard someone say “they are wise beyond their years”? I have only known a few people who fall into this category. And the reality is they have embraced the word of God, and from all appearances live it out in their daily lives. Whether by word of mouth or by their actions, they've encouraged me to walk inside the narrow path of righteousness. 

Godly wisdom makes no sense in a worldly mind, and it can't be achieved by one's own doing. It's a partnership between you and God, through His Holy Spirit living inside you. It's a sacrificial life, completely surrendered to God, willing to follow in strict obedience, regardless of how others around you act, and believe. Very few people in this world mature to a level of wisdom beyond their age. 

James 3:17 NKJV

[17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 

The Christian life is a process of maturing in Godly wisdom. It won't happen without reading God's word daily and accepting it as the truth of God. As you age spiritually, you become more Christ-like, and others take notice and hopefully they too will be encouraged by the One you live for. 

 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4 

“Man, if only I could win the lottery I’d build a nice big house, help my family with their finances, and give to those in need”. Maybe you’ve said those exact words before, I know I have and even today as I see the crime in my small-town grow, I want so badly to locate to a more peaceful area.

 God understands and knows our wants and our needs and has the benefit of seeing beyond those things we pray for, even beg God to give us in hopes of a better tomorrow. He also knows that giving us the perfect conditions will distance our need for His help, thus communicating less and less with Him.

 Think about it for a minute, if you gave your own child everything they wanted, what would they expect? More toys, more trips to Disneyland, and eventually their selfish wants would soon turn to sour grapes. Studies have revealed that 70% of lottery winners end up going bankrupt. Let that sink in for a minute.  

 The reality is God created you with a limit of resources He knows you can properly manage. The extras you receive are His blessings, and it’s those blessings that you lovingly embrace, thanking God for His thoughtfulness. He loves receiving praise and when you do, it opens the door to more of what He knows you can handle. Simple blessings such as a lower utility bill, your child gets accepted to a special college, a promotion at work, the car repair bill ends up being small…the list of His blessings are endless!

 As a child of God, you might never become rich by worldly standards, but your riches come in the form of God’s blessings. By living a humble life, honoring God for His provisions, and living rightly aligns you to receive blessings that have more value than a million dollars. Thank God for His provisions and trust Him to sustain you, no matter your bank account, or address. He’s got your winning ticket to paradise.

 

 I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Psalm 85:8

 Have you ever heard God speak to you? I can say without a doubt that God has spoken to me on numerous occasions throughout my life. It wasn’t an audible voice, but something deep within my soul. When He speaks, He brings a powerful message of wisdom, guidance, and sometimes judgment. It’s up to me to decide what to do when He speaks, and the majority of the time I take heed to His words, so I don’t fall back into folly.

 How can you get a conversation started with God? It begins with prayer. I’ve found praying on my knees exhibits a spirit of humbleness, preparing myself to receive His words of wisdom. Sometimes it’s necessary to stop praying and simply listen for His soft voice of reason. I can usually confirm His words as they align with scripture. It’s a masterpiece of a conversation that only God can orchestrate. And what’s wonderful, it’s free to His children.

 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne room of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

 No fortune teller can give you advice like God, who knows every thread of your being. He wants to communicate His will for your life, as you enter each new day. When you get off track, He will question your motives and strongly advise you to return to the narrow path He’s guaranteed for spiritual success. Staying ingrained in God’s word is critical in the process of confirming God’s words. Sometimes Satan will try to mimic God and send you down a path of destruction. So, it’s important to always back up what you hear with biblical truth. Trust me, it's enlightening to hear from God and He is ready to speak to you today.

 Luke 21:1-4 NKJV

[1] And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, [2] and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. [3] So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;  [4] for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

Tomorrow is Sunday and many people will attend church services across America. One opportunity to express gratitude to God for His blessings is to tithe to the church. A standard is typically 10 percent of your gross income. That might seem like a lot for you to give 10 percent of your gross pay, considering all the expenses you have, but it's not to put you in a financial bind, but to show your trust in God’s promise to take care of you. 

In today's verses, Jesus witnessed two kinds of people giving to the church, the wealthy and one poor widow. The wealthy had no problem giving their fair share as they were blessed with an abundance of wealth. It was noted the other was a poor woman, a widow who lost her husband, her helpmate, who probably brought home a nice paycheck. She was struggling to survive, but knew in her heart the two mites she gave would be representative of her commitment to God. 

Philippians 4:19 NKJV

[19] And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

God isn't counting the dollars, your time, or resources to the church, He's looking at your heart. How much faith you have in Him to supply for all your needs. You might be struggling financially, but that's not a reason to stop trusting God when you give (money, time, resources) out of a faithful heart. God sees your willingness to step out in faith and will bless you in the process.  

You can never out give God. Why not put your faith on the line this Sunday and show God how much you appreciate Him by giving back a portion of His blessings. 

 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:12-17

 In the busyness of life, some families today are getting back to the basics; spending more time together, distancing themselves from things and people who exhaust them, cutting out social media and its negative influences, and thankfully some are finding their way back into churches to worship God. If this is your family, good job and keep it up!

 Today’s verses shed light on the environment Christians lived in over 2,000 years ago and still continue today. A world full of misinformation, deviations from God’s word, and more freedom from religion vs. freedom of religion. There are many platforms these deceivers use to corrupt the morality of society, through social media, news media, public protest, radical propaganda, and one on one contact. Sadly, many are falling prey to their tactics as we see social norms of godlessness change the views of “what’s acceptable” in our country. Our founding fathers are probably rolling over in their graves.

 If you are a child of God, you are just as vulnerable, maybe even more, because the enemy (Satan) wants to deceive you. He finds ways to infiltrate your mind to cause confusion, frustration, hate, and a whole list of emotions and behaviors that do not represent the heart of God. You must stand strong and continue in your faith by getting back to the grassroots of your faith. If that means cutting out things, people and places, so be it. Don’t let the fallacies of this world destroy the foundation of your Christian faith!