November 23 is finally here!  Today is the final power passage as we’ve been fasting, praying and seeking God during The Power of Everyone Series.    I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in our services today and with the Thanksgiving Family Festival.  Today’s Power Passage is one of my favorites; I hope you read it carefully and enjoy!      Bless you – Pastor BJ

Nov. 23                 Proverbs 3:5-10

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart  and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

8 This will bring health to your body  and nourishment to your bones.

9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

This past deer season my oldest son Jeremy downed a nice 13 point buck right at dark.  The area where he shot the deer was covered with trees and heavy brush, and it was a pitch black night with no moon.  We didn’t have the four wheeler with us and there was no way to get a truck near the area where he shot this deer.  We spent nearly an hour looking for the buck and several times noticed we were going in circles.  We finally placed some flashlights in the areas we had covered to help and after a lengthy time found the buck.   Man it would have been cool to have had a straight path right to that deer.

Many times we wander around in life and never find what we are really looking for because we do things with our “own understanding” and we don’t really trust in the Lord with all our heart.  If we’d just learn to change this habit, God promises to make our paths straight.  

 I think one of the biggest areas where we wander is in the area of our finances.  We’ve done things our own way so long that we’re not really sure how to do things God’s way.  It’s amazing to me how many families (including believers) struggle with their finances.  I know this is true because over 50% of the divorces among believers come from financial pressure.  Maybe it’s time to consider God’s way of dealing with things!

This passage contains some simple instructions and three incredible promises.  If you and I will do what God says the results are fantastic:  a) He will make our paths straight, b) we will be more healthy physically, emotionally and spiritually, and c) we will be blessed with an abundance of material and spiritual blessings.

Today is the day we are to give our Celebration Offerings and commitments to give over the next 1-3 years.  Would you trust the Lord in this and not just lean on your own understanding?  Would you honor the Lord from whatever wealth you have?  Would you make the choice to do things differently in your life and family; would you choose to start giving God the first parts of all you earn and not just the leftovers?   I don’t need to promise you good things will happen if you do; God’s already made that promise!