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!

 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:6

 If you watch the news, you know that video cameras are everywhere, on street corners, doorbells, on the sides of homes, on police officers, even satellites circling the earth can capture activity on land to the point they can clearly read a name plate. These are used to help law enforcement identify criminals. One element of the identification process is how a person walks and his patterns of behavior. This is one way law enforcement can confirm your identity.  

 Today’s verse talks about a way to identify those people who claim to be a Christian. Their words, actions, and engagements should all resemble the One they claim to follow, that would be Jesus Christ. Ask yourself this question: if you are a child of God, can others pick up on your spirituality? Do they see fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) lived out in you? Do you love everyone, including your enemies (Matthew 5:43-48)? Are you quick to forgive others (Matthew 6:14-15)? Do others see your love for God and love for them (Matthew 22:37-40)?

 These are just a few of traits that Jesus Christ displayed for us as a narrow path to follow. The truth is, we can’t incorporate these traits into our life without God’s help. That’s why He gave us His Holy Spirit to transform our heart, mind, and soul so we can walk as Jesus did over 2,000 years ago (2 Timothy 1:7-9).

 Take time this week to evaluate your life. How you engage others by the words you say, your actions towards them, and how you live your life, even in the secret moments when alone. Let His light incinerate anything that doesn’t fit the mold of Christ, so your light can shine brightly into the dark areas of the world around you. Others will not have to question if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, they’ll know it. God bless!  

 

 The Lord has been mindful of us;

He will bless the house of Israel;

He will bless the house of Aaron.

He will bless those who fear the Lord,

Both small and great.

Psalm 115:12 

During my early childhood years, I recall seeing signs in people’s homes that read: “Bless Our Home”. A great reminder of God’s daily blessings and the hope that He will continue to pour out His blessings on the families who trust God. Even in difficult moments, I recall seeing families not waiver in their faithfulness to God.

 I believe that in today’s society, people have moved away from seeking God’s blessings over their homes; and instead seek for personal blessings. By doing so, you isolate other family members, which in turn break down the unity of the family. I know this is a deep thought, especially as I type this at 5 AM; but it’s true and I believe this is why we are seeing a new generation of children not actively engaged in spiritual worship, much less acknowledging God in any aspect of their life.

 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

 Do you want God to bless not only you, but your family? Start focusing on your family unit, to ensure they know the Creator of blessings and the importance of obediently following Jesus Christ. As Dr. Charles Stanley used to say, “God blesses obedience”. He will bless your family when you keep them spiritually engaged and trusting in God’s faithfulness for every season of life.

 

 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” John 14:21

 What is the number one thing that confirms someone’s love for you? It might be their faithfulness, commitments to you, keeping their word, or simply just being present in your life. Every person and relationship are different and confirming the bond of love comes in many ways.

 Today’s verse lets us know how Jesus confirms our love for Him.

 1.   Know His commandments. Unless we read and study the bible, we won’t have a clue about His expectations for us as believers. He came to earth over 2,000 years ago and lived the kind of life He wants us to model after. If you truly love Him, you’ll want to know every aspect of His character and develop those traits in your life.

 2.   Obedience to His commandments. Many people today believe the bible is full of “dos and don’ts”, although that might be part of the equation for obedience, it goes much deeper. Jesus gave us a set of standards to live by to help keep us  “unspotted from the world” (James 1:26-27), so we can exhibit His character to those outside the faith. We are to stand out from the general crowd. Not to be a showoff, but to show the love of Christ to empty souls around us. God’s standard of living the Christian life also steers us away from a sinful lifestyle that hinders the connection between us and His holiness.

 God loves you and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to bridge the gap between us and God through Jesus’ sacrifice of death, burial, and resurrection. If you are sincere in your faith, you’ll have the desire to know Him more and follow in obedience, as an expression of your love for Him. God bless!

 

 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

 When was the last time someone tried to scare you? Maybe they stood around the corner and screamed when you came near, or maybe you were alone in a room and someone suddenly appeared scaring the day lights out of you. It’s strange how I can forget so much about my life, but those times when I was scared are vivid in my mind.

 Today’s verse was written by the apostle Peter and he warned church members to be on guard for Satan’s attacks against them. Just the words in this verse can raise hairs when you think about having an enemy who seeks to rob you of joy, in hopes of diminishing your relationship with Jesus Christ. One of his greatest tactics towards God’s children is to tempt them to sin. He knows how guilt can impact people by making them feel unworthy of God’s acceptance. It’s a battle I face daily and I’m sure if you are true to yourself, you are always experiencing the arrows of temptation, and guilt.

 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

 As a child of God, you don’t need to be afraid of the Devil. He’s already been defeated. Jesus Christ came as a sin offering for you and me and anyone who accepts Him into their life. Repentance of sin was taken care of and Satan cannot take that gift away from you. God’s love for you is something difficult to fathom from the human perspective, but it’s real and alive through Jesus Christ.

 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will hep you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiha 41:10

 Where there is no visions, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18

 Throughout history, man has had visions for the future, to achieve what others might have thought impossible. Martin Luther King Jr. had a vision of freedom for the black race, John F Kennedy had a vision of landing a man on the moon, and the early settlers of the American west had a dream of wealth and prosperity in the newly occupied lands. These visions came with a price for many, persecution, isolation, even death, but they forged on to achieve great success.

 As a child of God, do you have a spiritual vision for your life? There are many today whose view of spiritual vision is to attend a church on a regular basis, say a few prayers, and wait to see how God blesses them. Notice the pattern of this behavior is strictly about “self” only. There is nothing challenging in their life to motivate them beyond sitting through another long sermon.

 A spiritual vision is a deeper connection to God, allowing His Holy Spirit to provide you wisdom to recognize your purpose in being here. It’s embracing His plan to use you for His glory, His purpose, and to achieve great things with His help. The churches of today have so many programs and areas to plug into that can actually distract us from seeing the vision of God’s calling for your life. I do this, I do that, I work hard at this…all for the church…but not for God.

 I’m just a guilty of missing the mark when it comes to spiritual vision. Maybe you are too. Let’s spend time this week asking God to reveal His vision for our lives, so we can experience God’s miracles doing the impossible. Your vision might not include others, and that’s ok. God is with you and will bring your vision to reality when you put your faith and trust in Him. In the end, your vision will greatly benefit the kingdom of God either in your circle of influence or across the globe! Nothing is impossible for God as He reveals your vision. Catch the vision this week!

 

 I Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord  are on the righteous, And His ears are  open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord  is against those who do evil.”

Years ago one of the major cell phone company had an advertisement stating they could be heard just about anywhere, as the actor repeated: “can you hear me now”. With all the advancement in cellular technology, there are still areas of the country that have no signal to communicate.

Do you ever feel like God can't hear your prayers? You pray about something with all your might, even asking God, “can you hear me now”, yet the prayer seems to go unanswered. Today's verse sheds light on your question about the connection you have with God. God is present everywhere, seeing everything and everybody. He always hears your prayers, but sometimes your requests might not align with His perfect will for your life. 

I John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 

The painful truth is, no response is a response. Let me explain. If your child were to ask you for something that you knew would harm them, you wouldn't get it for them….correct? The same is true with your Heavenly Father. Your prayers might be sincere and logical, but unanswered prayers should tell you that what you are praying for isn't going to always be delivered, or will come at the perfect moment. 

On a personal note, I've had prayers go unanswered because it wasn't the best thing for me, looking back now I see why God withheld my request. And times when he delivered at the right time, any earlier would have been wrong for my life. And sometimes when we aren't living right with God, our prayers are put on hold until a prayer of repentance opens back up the line of communication. 

In closing, God hears you always. Ask Him to reveal His perfect will for your life and follow in obedience as you stay connected to Him, no matter where you are on this planet. God bless. 

 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

 Today marks 10 years of blog writing since I started on July 10, 2016. During that time, I’ve written 2,130 blogs, as led by the Holy Spirit, that has been read in well over 20 countries across the world. God has been so good and faithful to provide me thoughts to share through this platform. I’m so thankful you are one of the 76,000 people who’ve read them!

 During my career I sent a draft letter to my boss for his review. His comeback was….”have you taken a course in writing?”. I guess the message was, I need to do better with my writing. Today, I still need help, but God has been my helpmate, giving me thoughts to type out to share in hopes that it might help others come closer to God and strengthen their journey of faith. I know many of the blogs have given me encouragement and wisdom, as I go back and re-read them to digest exactly what God was telling me. One interesting note, some of my best blogs came during a time when I was struggling in life with obedience, faith, and lowliness. Those valleys of life can be good times for learning, healing, and most of all encouragement.

 God created you with a purpose. Have you discovered your purpose? You might not be good at what you do, but that doesn’t bother God one bit. If He believes in you, then you should have faith in Him, knowing that He will provide all that’s necessary to get the job done. All God needs is a willing person to accept and jump in to do the Lord’s work.

 Let’s get started today! This world needs more workers for the Lord. He’s got a plan mapped out for your life to spread the gospel through words, actions, and prayer. Do your part and find God’s blessings in the busywork He’s prepared for you! God bless!

 

 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 10:26

 My wife and I watched a documentary about a politician who was running for office, when a reporter exposed his adulterous behavior, and in turn he lost the election. This man hunted down and murdered the reporter. From the time he was arrested, going through his trial, and even today, claims his innocence. The evidence didn’t lie and it was so overwhelming no lawyer would take his case to court.

 As a child of God, do you look upon yourself as innocent under the blood of Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ (God’s Son) came to earth to fulfill His Father’s purpose, to forgive mankind of their sins through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus. The great divide between a holy God and us was bridged by this historical act of love. By the grace of God, we are considered innocent if Jesus Christ is the Lord of our life.

 Hebrews 10:26 gives us a grave warning though, that willful sinning puts the guilty verdict back on us. The freedom of God’s grace and forgiveness shouldn’t be considered a free pass to live in sin. It should motivate us to do everything in our power, with the help of God’s Holy Spirit, to avoid sin, even run from it.

 Once saved, Satan does his bidding by putting lustful, greedy, and jealous thoughts in our mind to lead us back into a sinful lifestyle we were freed from, by Jesus Christ. We must not allow ourselves to entertain these thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Like a spark in the woods, it becomes a roaring fire that can’t be contained.

 If we confess out sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

 Maybe you’ve been living in purposeful sin and it’s taken root in your life. You want to change your ways, but not sure if it’s too late. 1 John 1:9 tells us that God is faithful to forgive when we completely turn from our sins and reconnect with Him through obedience and love for Jesus Christ. Seek His forgiveness today so you can be declared innocent in the eyes of God!  

 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edge sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

 After years of working outside as a Park Ranger, I have to visit the dermatologist once a year to get some new spots on my skin cut off to prevent skin cancer from developing. Over the years I’ve developed these spots and slowly, the doctor removes them so they can be tested for cancer. Thankfully I’ve been cancer free!

 Today’s scripture talks about a cancer that must be removed from our life, it’s called “sin”. Sin is any behavior, thought, motive, or character that is outside the moral standards and expectations of God. As humans, we are born into sin and even after accepting Christ, we still struggle with the flesh. As Christians, it’s our responsibility to take any action necessary to remove it from our life, otherwise it will grow deeper into our life, affecting our relationship with God and fellow believers in Christ.

 Hebrews 4:12 specifically tells us how to remove it, by reading God’s word and applying it to our life. Reading scripture sheds light on those things that God hates in our life, and the Holy Spirit prompts us to make changes to rid that cancerous sin. Some people chose to ignore the gospel because they know what it says and don’t want to admit their sin or don’t want to change. They’ve taken a liking to the pleasures of the world. Sadly, they will continue to move towards self-destruction, both physically and spiritually.

 Hebrews 4:13 tells us that nothing is hidden from God. Nothing. You might be hiding some sin from others, but God sees what’s behind closed doors, inside the privacy of your mind, and you will have to give an account for those purposeful sins one day. Trust me, that won’t be an enjoyable experience.

 Friend, if you are true to God, and yourself, walk the Christian life. Continually read God’s word to allow it to convict the sinful things in your life so you can keep a pure heart, mind, and soul ready for when Jesus calls you home! God bless!  

 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”  Revelation 21:12

 There are several places in our town where the police like to sit and monitor driver’s speed. On occasion I’ll see blue lights flashing and another driver gets a ticket. For me, I try to obey the speed limit, so I don’t have to constantly look out for police so I can keep my attention focused on driving. Good driving rewards me with cost savings and a discount on my vehicle insurance.

 Some people, who claim to be “Christians”, perform in the same manner by acting “spiritual” while in church and around other believers, but when alone or outside of their brotherhood, they act worldly. If they see another Christian, they’ll either hide or stop that behavior for the moment until they are out of sight. It’s easy to get caught up in this type behavior, especially when no one is around to hold them accountable.

 Today’s scripture tells us that one day the Lord will return and when He does, it’s His plan to reward His faithful followers. Just think about all the rewards and blessings half-hearted Christian will miss on the day of His return.  I’m reminded of Matthew 7:23, “And I declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me; you who practice lawlessness!” Sadly, there are many people today who claim to be a Christian, living a lie, and when they face the Lord, they will find a closed door to Heaven.

 If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15

 Loving the Lord is the key to living a genuine Christian life. You can’t do it by your own efforts. God gives each child of God His Holy Spirit to help them live by faith and obedience to God’s moral standards. You have the opportunity to seek His help, so you can focus on living rightly and not be on the lookout for other’s who believe you to be a true Christian. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul so living the life He’s called you will come naturally. God bless!