Retirement savings, leisure street, vacation to warm settings and rest.  Planning for the welfare of my grand kids, such that every waking day is spent in performance, limiting prayer.  What have I become that all the priorities, plans and initiatives of my home, church and personal time surround the bullet points, time lines and plateaus organized in my own strategic focus?  What then of God’s Will, can I orchestrate service to the Lord into my list of priorities, when these must get done now in order to achieve our economic and social goals?  How do I juggle the increasingly diminished moments I am given as the world becomes more complex and picks up speed?  Can I slow it down or do I simply step back and forgo those plans of personal prosperity derived from my own toil?  What would the result be if I gave it all to God and let the chips fall where they may, even forsaking the fear of growing old and having no fall back position?  Do I believe.

Today I spent money on welfare for the homeless and it felt right, given from a joyous heart, yet it was money we did not have to give.  Everyone around is pressuring to pull back on tithe and pennies freely given for the bills they must come first.  Really?  That isn’t the Gospel as I remember it.  I have always been a bit envious of the widow and her two last mites.  Do I believe this day that the Lord is Faithful, True, Reliable and Honest?  Did He say that He would provide for “all” my needs according to His riches and Glory in Christ Jesus?  What then should happen to me if I gave all my money for the Kingdom and my fears were proved out, leaving me destitute, my family disenfranchised, my security shattered?  How should I then change my view of God, having walked in faith, counting sight unworthy?  See folks, I have been there, homeless, worried, harried and alone.  God never failed to show up, providing me exactly what I needed when I needed it, whether, food or friend or Shelter in His Word.

How then can I convince those around me that it is never solely upon me which they depend, for if that were so, they should certainly be left dissatisfied?  I can provide a reasonable living but God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  I can love, comfort and encourage, but God knows every hair upon your head and knew your name in the womb.  What then of my pride at failing those around me?  I am sorry, but I am insufficient to your expectations.  I will love you and do my darndest to assist, provide, prepare and follow through, but it is God who invariably brings the blessing.  Even if it is by my hand that the work is done, providing coin, it is God who gave me breath, hand, talent and endurance.  Without His provision we would certainly be lost and our collectives fear realized.  But that is not the case, for even this day, I am surrounded by God’s Blessings of hope, heart and safety.  I am thankful and happy to depend upon the Lord, for me, He is enough.  If He does not provide for my needs then there certainly is a reason and an eventual blessing following that lesson.

Even this day, I will love Him for that is all that I have to give you is the love He first gave me.  Jesus be praised.