Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store PRIORITIES-TREASURES IN HEAVEN I believe that “treasures on earth” include money and material things. Back to Priorities Treasures in Heaven By: Tom Copland June 13, 2020 Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store PRIORITIES-TREASURES IN HEAVEN I believe that “treasures on earth” include money and material things. These are the things that we tend to prize during our lifetime but that will have no importance when we get to heaven. The apostle Paul made it clear: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). On the other hand, “treasures in heaven” include things that will be important to us when we get to heaven. I believe that “treasures in heaven” include salvation (as one’s salvation will last for eternity) and the rewards in heaven that God promises to his faithful stewards. The concept of rewards in heaven is difficult to grasp in concrete terms because we don’t really know what heaven will be like, and scripture does not explicitly describe heavenly rewards. However, it is important to realize that what we do here on earth does have an effect on what awaits us in heaven. 1 Timothy 4:7 tells us that “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Godliness includes the way we handle our finances. We read about treasures in heaven again in 1 Timothy 6:18, 19: “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” In the Parable of the Talents, the concept of rewards is specifically linked to faithful financial stewardship. To servants who have been faithful stewards, God has promised that he will put them “in charge of many things” and that they will enjoy happiness with their master. Jesus said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21). As human beings, it is easy to get focused on money and material things that we can enjoy while we are here on earth. However, because money and material things are temporary, it is the wise Christian who focuses on “treasures in heaven.” Colossians 3:1, 2 states, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” May I encourage you to take a few minutes right now and pray, asking God to reveal to you how you need to adjust your focus from treasures on earth to treasures in heaven. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Investing Counsel & Wisdom Stewardship Principle Read More Read More Read More

You handled yourself with sincerity, godliness, compassion, and excellence. Our listeners obviously felt very comfortable talking to you. We couldn’t take all of the calls. That’s a nice “problem” to have! Tom, I know God is using you in a big way. There is no better way to live! Looking forward to having you back with us. Back to Testimonials There is no better way to live! You handled yourself with sincerity, godliness, compassion, and excellence. Our listeners obviously felt very comfortable talking to you. We couldn’t take all of the calls. That’s a nice “problem” to have! Tom, I know God is using you in a big way. There is no better way to live! Looking forward to having you back with us. K.G. (Professional Radio Host) Previous Next

Over the past 28 years, I have met many investment advisers who have instructed their clients to use debt in order to increase their investment returns. Use Minimal Debt - Or Better, No Debt Back to Investing By: Tom Copland October 19, 2021 Over the past 28 years, I have met many investment advisers who have instructed their clients to use debt in order to increase their investment returns. When the market goes up, additional returns can be obtained through the use of debt. However, when the market goes down, the results can be disastrous. I remember one woman who borrowed against her home and invested in mutual funds only to discover four years later that the funds had decreased in value by 50 percent. Being upset with what occurred, she immediately sold her investments and paid off as much of the loan as she could. Several years later, she is still servicing the remaining debt. The deception from the world is that “smart people use other people’s money.” This is contrary to God’s Word. Every reference in scripture to borrowing is negative, and nowhere in the Bible does God ever direct anyone to borrow money in order for God to bless. Our all-powerful God is able to meet every need without the assistance of the bank. Philippians 4:19 states, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” It is not a sin to borrow money, but it is a sin to borrow and not repay. Psalms 37:21 states, “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.” The implication is that the righteous person not only repays all debts but goes “the second mile” and gives generously. Experience has shown that people who use a lot of debt when investing will generally encounter one of the following problems: 1. When the markets are down, borrowers are forced by the lender to sell at the wrong time. In Proverbs 22:7b, God warns that “the borrower is a servant to the lender.” 2. Psychologically and emotionally, it is much more difficult to survive a “bear market,” because debt increases the volatility of your portfolio. For example, if you borrow 50 percent of what you invest, and if the market decreases 20 percent in value, then the loss of your personal capital is 40 percent. 3. If the investment decreases significantly in value, you can lose more than your original capital and end up with a deficit that may take years to repay. In Deuteronomy 28, God promised the people of Israel that, if they fully obeyed him, he would bless them so much that they be would lenders and not borrowers. In other words, God can bless your investments without the use of debt. I have seen more than 100 individual cases in which God has done this. Before you borrow to invest, be sure to ask God to reveal your motives. Frequently, people use debt in order to “get rich quick” because of covetousness or greed—both of which are contrary to God’s Word. On the other hand, saving and investing carefully over a long period of time, with the objective of meeting future needs, is a very biblical attitude. Proverbs 13:11 states, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow” (emphasis added). Saving and investing to provide for future needs is biblical. However, God strongly discourages the use of debt. I recommend that you save and invest whatever funds God has provided, and trust God to meet your needs, which he has promised as you put him first. (See Matthew 6:31–33.) Previous Article Next Article More Topics Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More Priorities Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

I really needed help and I searched the internet for Tom Back to Testimonials I really needed help I really needed help and I searched the internet for Tom, I saw his segments on vision tv and thought that would help me. It did, changing my mind set from I own it to it belongs to God has helped. I had a budget before this course but I could never follow it. It was too simple and I always messed up. PB Hallifax, Canada Previous Next

Your program is very high quality and essential for today’s Canadian families. We are pleased to have posted it on our website. God bless. Back to Testimonials Very high quality and essential Your program is very high quality and essential for today’s Canadian families. We are pleased to have posted it on our website. God bless. Anonymous Previous Next

The following steps should enable you to learn and implement God’s investment principles. 1. Pray and depend on God for his wisdom (James 1:5) and his direction (Psalm 32:8) when investing, because no human can consistently predict the direction of the markets (James 4:13–15). Overview Back to Investing By: Tom Copland October 19, 2021 The following steps should enable you to learn and implement God’s investment principles. 1. Pray and depend on God for his wisdom (James 1:5) and his direction (Psalm 32:8) when investing, because no human can consistently predict the direction of the markets (James 4:13–15). Listen for God’s “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12), because only God knows the future and God is in control (1 Chronicles 29:11, 12). 2. Develop and implement a biblically-based investment strategy that reflects God’s will for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). Understanding God’s financial principles will enable you to avoid a lot of bad investments. 3. Diversify your investments in accordance with Ecclesiastes 11:1, 2. This requires allocation of your assets into different types of investments that will likely react differently to any particular market condition, which will reduce the risk and volatility of your portfolio. (Note there are two Financial Moments on this topic.) 4. Use minimal—or ideally no—debt, because God’s Word strongly discourages the use of debt. People who use leverage aggressively will likely be forced by a lender to sell at the wrong time—when their investments have decreased in value (Proverbs 22:7). 5. Ensure that you understand the investment. Generally, people lose money when they invest in something they do not understand (Proverbs 19:2). 6. Assess your tolerance for risk, and invest accordingly. It is biblical to assume some investment risk; however, if you don’t feel comfortable with the volatility of your portfolio, then reduce your equities and increase Canada bonds. 7. Avoid “get rich quick investments” and hasty decisions. If you do not have enough time to pray and evaluate a particular investment, then do not invest. Hasty decisions are usually bad decisions (Proverbs 21:5). God recommends saving and accumulating assets over a long period of time (Proverbs 13:11). 8. Obtain biblical counsel from more than one source (Proverbs 15:22). Ensure that your investment advisers understand God’s financial principles because, unfortunately, many Christians do not, and they inadvertently give unbiblical advice (Psalm 1:1–3). 9. Ensure that your motives are godly and not worldly (Proverbs 16:2). 10. Follow God’s directives (e.g., planning, patience), not human tendencies like fear and greed. 11. Give to God’s work, as it produces eternal benefits! (Matthew 19:28, 29) 12. Keep a balanced perspective on investing (1 Timothy 6:6–8). It is appropriate to invest with the objective of saving for future needs; however, don’t overdo it—don’t spend excessive amounts of time and energy on investing, as this is not God’s will (Proverbs 23:4, 5). The above is intended to provide an overview of God’s principles with respect to investing. Further details are provided in my individual Financial Moments for each step. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More Priorities Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

In my experience, I’ve seen too many cases where an individual has invested the majority of retirement funds in one company or in one sector. Diversification (1 of 2) Back to Investing By: Tom Copland October 19, 2021 In my experience, I’ve seen too many cases where an individual has invested the majority of retirement funds in one company or in one sector. For “a season” these investments may do well, but inevitably every company and sector falls on bad times. This results in significant losses because the portfolio was not diversified in a manner that was consistent with God’s Word. Because no human can consistently predict the direction of any market (see James 4:13–15), it is important to diversify your assets into different categories of investments that will likely react differently to any given market condition. The Bible recommends this type of diversification. “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1, 2) At the time this was written, “Cast your bread upon the waters” was a metaphorical expression used in the grain trade that illustrated the potential successful prospects of a business investment (per Dr. Charles Ryrie’s study bible). In short, it is biblical to take some risk within one’s portfolio, however, verse 2 recommends diversifying your investments into 7 or 8 categories, because you do not know what disaster may come upon any particular company or sector. In 1999, I met with a client who had invested most of his money in 25 technology stocks. I recommended biblical diversification of his portfolio. He believed he was diversified because he owned 25 different stocks. I explained to him that generally, all stocks in any particular sector will react the same under the same market conditions. He made no changes and as a result, during the bear market (2000-2004), his portfolio decreased 70% in value! Biblical diversification is obtained by allocating one’s assets into different types of investments that will probably react differently to any particular market condition. Here are some examples: 1. During inflationary times (e.g. the 1970s), natural resource equities, commodities and real return bonds increase in value, while medium and long-term bonds do very poorly. 2. In a period of deflation (e.g. 1991-1995), medium and long-term bonds generally increase in value, while natural resource equities, commodities and real return bonds usually do poorly. Further, diversify your assets among several sectors of the economy and to appropriate countries, as generally, this will reduce the risk and volatility of your total portfolio. Many investors try to “time the market”—that is, they buy when they believe that the market is headed higher and sell when they believe the market is going lower. God says (and history shows) that no human can consistently predict the future value of any investment (Prov 27:1). Therefore, unless God specifically directs you otherwise [John 10:3, 4, 27], there is a need for biblical diversification in one’s portfolio because, under normal market conditions, if one category of investment decreases in value, generally another category will likely be increasing, thus reducing the volatility of your total portfolio. Over the long run, a well-thought-out biblically based portfolio should provide reasonable returns. In summary, it is biblical to take on a reasonable amount of risk within one’s investment portfolio. However, God recommends diversification. This will reduce the risk and volatility of your portfolio. See my next Financial Moment for suggested asset allocations. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More Priorities Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

God has spoken to me through this workshop series by allowing me to better understand how to manage the money he’s entrusted to me. I’ve been actively consulting with Christ regarding all financial decisions. Establishing a budget has allowed me to get a sense of what I can afford. The case studies allow us to explore real life situations in which non-biblical principles can lead to financial ruin. Tom is an inspiration and great leader. I’ve taken his workshops several times and I always learn something new. Thank you! Back to Testimonials God has spoken to me God has spoken to me through this workshop series by allowing me to better understand how to manage the money he’s entrusted to me. I’ve been actively consulting with Christ regarding all financial decisions. Establishing a budget has allowed me to get a sense of what I can afford. The case studies allow us to explore real life situations in which non-biblical principles can lead to financial ruin. Tom is an inspiration and great leader. I’ve taken his workshops several times and I always learn something new. Thank you! S.G. Toronto, ON Previous Next

Explore engaging Radio Interviews with finance experts across Barrie, Calgary, and more. Discover insights from top Radio Interviews now! Radio Interviews 100.3 Barrie, Ontario Life 100.3 Calgary, Alberta AM 700 The Light AM 700 Calgary, Alberta AM 700 The Light WDCX Buffalo, NY, USA WDCX Radio Harvesters FM Halifax, Nova Scotia Harvesters FM 98.1 CKVM Lethbridge, Alberta 98.1 CKVM

We are bombarded with information on investments. Every day hundreds of individuals give their opinion as to where you should invest your money. It is easy to spend excessive amounts of time and energy on investing. This is not God’s will: “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Keep a Balanced Perspective Back to Investing By: Tom Copland October 19, 2021 We are bombarded with information on investments. Every day hundreds of individuals give their opinion as to where you should invest your money. It is easy to spend excessive amounts of time and energy on investing. This is not God’s will: “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle” (Proverbs 23:4, 5). It is appropriate for a Christian to spend time learning and applying God’s investment principles, but once this has been accomplished, we should take a long-term perspective and trust God for the results. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NKJV) I review the portfolio that God has entrusted to me about four times per year. I ignore what is happening in the markets and in the media on a daily and weekly because excessive time and energy are required in order to absorb the mammoth amount of information that is available. During these “quarterly reviews,” I spend several hours with the Lord, seeking God’s wisdom (James 1:5) and God’s direction for my life, which God has promised to provide (Psalm 32:8). Since no individual can consistently predict the direction of the markets or any investment (James 4:13–15), I purposely listen for God’s “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12), because I realize that only God knows the future and God is in control (1 Chronicles 29:11, 12). During this time with the Lord, I meditate on scripture verses that deal with investment principles to ensure that I have developed a biblically-based investment strategy. I review the portfolio and make adjustments according to God’s investment principles and God’s specific direction for me. I wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 37:7) to provide his specific direction, and when I sense I’ve heard it, I pray and ask God to confirm it. Once it is clarified, in faith, I implement God’s plan for my investments. At all times, I ensure that the plan is within God’s investment principles because I know that God would not provide any directive that is contrary to his Word. If you “connect with the Lord” (John 15) on a regular basis and follow his wisdom and his direction, then you will have fulfilled your stewardship responsibility and you can leave the results (the return on your investments) to God. God has promised that he will meet your needs (Matthew 6:31–33). God instructs us not to worry (Luke 12:22–31) and not to be fearful (Isaiah 41:10), but rather trust him and be content with his provision. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6:6–8) Be sure to give God “the first fruits” (Proverbs 3:9) of your profits, as this demonstrates your faith and commitment to him. God promises that he will bless the generous giver: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). Giving generously is the best way I know of to avoid hoarding and to deal with any potential greediness (Luke 12:15). In summary, it is appropriate to spend a reasonable amount of time learning and implementing God’s investment principles as well as seeking God’s specific direction for your life. However, it is not God’s will for you to spend excessive amounts of time and energy on investing. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More Priorities Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

I have learned how to manage my finance according Biblical Principles . It has been an eye open experience for me. Back to Testimonials Thank you Copland Financial Ministries I would like to Thank Copland Financial Ministries, Tom Copland and Randy Ziegenhagel for this amazing teaching on Financial Management God’s Way for Women. I have learned how to manage my finance according Biblical Principles . It has been an eye open experience for me. R.G. Previous Next

Growing up, my parents and grandparents never overspent on anything and neither did I (but we are not holy and righteous). However, while I thought I was “pretty good in terms of everything” especially money management, my daughter’s credit card debts surfaced in 2013 after she was baptized and moved away from home to university. For the first time, she had a lot of money to manage, from student loans, ESF education saving fund, part time jobs to monetary gifts from relatives. Back to Testimonials God answers prayer with respect to a wayward daughter Background I was born into an atheist family tree, in Communist country where people believed Karl Marx’s theory "Religion is the sign of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people”. The culture I grew up in was founded on atheistic philosophy with no room for belief in God, but each one has his or her own god. When-where - how I met Jesus In the late 30’s, I immigrated to Toronto with my family of three. My ex-husband left me and my 6-year-old daughter in a new country in a rental apartment, when I was laid-off from work, when my father was sick (that's another testimony, my father was healed and still alive today, please pray for his salvation), with no friends and family around. No one called to check in on us, but miraculously the Lord called and invited us to visit HIS family, His church through HIS children. It was then and there, I knew Jesus, my Lord and my little girl attended Sunday School for the first time, a school I never knew nor attended as a child. From then the mustard seed was planted in my daughter's heart. Looking back, I wish I would have been like Simon Peter and Andrew in Ma.4:19 “at once they left their nets and followed” without hesitation when the Lord said “Come, follow me”. It took me almost 3 years (The Lord is patient) to accept Jesus as my personal saviour and I was baptized on Easter Sunday 2003. That decision I have made is my turning point, where I was called to a new life, just like God’s call to Abraham to leave Ur and go to Canaan. God called me to leave my country, my kin, and my fathers’ house to go to the land he will show me (Gen. 12:1). I saw God’s salvation plan unfold concerning me (Who am I? 2 Samuel 7:18) that started from a geographical move to a spiritual move, from social and cultural influences of “my country, my people and self-righteousness father’s household, from and through all the brokenness of divorce, unemployment, loneliness, uncertainty, and from all kinds of fears to HIS kingdom, where I have a KING, Jesus who cares for me.” The Lord has plans for me which are stated in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” I could testify day and night of every act of mercy and grace the Lord God has shown to me, the life I have now in Christ is a living testimony and a living sacrifice I long to offer to my Savior. I no longer belong to my country where I was born, my sinful family tree and the people and culture which used to influence and shape me, instead, I bear HIS Name, Yahweh, Jesus, the Most High. My identity is not a divorced woman or a single mom (those are my temporary social status though), “You are Mine” says the Lord in Is.43:1, and God made me who I am to show the world who HE is. Our crisis, HIS opportunity Growing up, my parents and grandparents never overspent on anything and neither did I (but we are not holy and righteous). However, while I thought I was “pretty good in terms of everything” especially money management, my daughter’s credit card debts surfaced in 2013 after she was baptized and moved away from home to university. For the first time, she had a lot of money to manage, from student loans, ESF education saving fund, part time jobs to monetary gifts from relatives. Like Proverbs 21:20 described, she “spends whatever she gets” without giving any thought of saving, planning, and budgeting; the buy now pay later mentality and the minimum payment option became the norm to her - something I never taught her nor did myself, but the world. When I asked her what gifts she would like to have on her birthday or for Christmas, she expressed it would be appreciated if I could pay her credit card balance as her friends’ parents did to her friends. I paid her credit card balance a number of times and even suggested to cut-off her credit card, but she still continued to have unpaid balances and piled up interest here and there. The hardest part was watching my girl who grew up from Church (almost every Sunday), drifting away from the truth, being in debt, and experiencing depression and anxiety. They were like mountains over her (also over me), from a joyful girl she became very angry and hard to communicate with. I knew this was something beyond what I was able to handle and fight on my own (in fact we control nothing). I agree with Tom who said, “Sometimes, the root of financial problems goes beyond the financial sphere and into the spiritual” in Financial Management God's Way. Deliverance through repentance I don't remember how many times my face was covered in tears behind closed doors, inside my car, during Sunday services, and in the middle of the night. I went to the Lord in prayer as Daniel did in Daniel 9 “Lord, I confess I didn’t train her up in the way she should go, nor did I bring her up with the discipline and instruction that comes from YOU.” Rather than reading the Bible to and with her, I encouraged her to call the toll-free story lines, and I ordered senseless magazines and novels for her that had no divine spiritual wisdom. I sent her to all kinds of extracurricular activities such as art classes, karate, supplementary academic courses - all of which are not bad things, but without the realization that having a relationship with Jesus should have come first before anything else. Apart from taking her to church each Sunday, I rarely prayed for or with her throughout her life, only times when she was sick or struggling. I let television, and pop culture influence her instead of teaching her the ways of the Lord. I admitted to the Lord that I am the one described in Psalm of Asaph Ps.73:22 “senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You”. For the first time in my Christian life, over a decade after baptism, I committed myself to the Word. I was called to take my sandals off, did my spiritual inventory check, wrote down all the sins I have committed since I was little, prayed one by one with a trustworthy church sister, prayed the cleansing, deliverance and renewing prayers according to 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I was called “go and be reconciled” to my daughter, (Ma. 5: 23-24.) I asked my daughter to forgive me for all my parenting mistakes and all of the unkind things I have done and said, and for being insensitive or even heartless to the hurts I have caused to her emotionally and mentally. Transformed to a praying woman and mom and servant of God During those challenging years, I learned to praise the Lord for my daughter's life, not to accuse her as she is wonderfully and fearfully made with God's very image. I thank God for protecting her from the very beginning of her life from abortion (that's another testimony) as she is truly not my plan, but God’s. As it says in Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you”. So I prayed, “Lord, may your powerful hand reach down from on high and take hold of your daughter, draw her out of deep waters and rescue her from her powerful enemy of credit card debt, depression and anxiety and those underneath the surface I am unable to know and see, those she doesn’t want to let me know, they are too strong for her”. The Lord responded to me with 2 Chronicles 20:15 “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” During those challenging years, I asked my pastors and trusted church members to pray for my daughter, I asked my mother (that's another testimony) and her church to pray for my daughter. I was also introduced to Stormie Omartian's “The Power of a Praying Parent” book, which starts with Lamentations 2:19 “Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children”. So, I learned “Always Keep on Praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 TLB) and stayed in contact with the Most High in “all occasions, with all kinds of prayers, and all kinds of requests”. The Word of God was and is my weapon as it is written in Hebrews 4:12. My bedroom closet, my car, kitchen, bedroom, living room all became my “war rooms” and altars built to the Lord. The Truth sets us free On my daughter’s side, there were a lot of good changes that happened, which exceeded my expectations or what I could ever imagine. She started asking me and other church members to pray for her, started attending church, praying for herself, and reading the Bible. Long story short in the new year of 2019, she re-dedicated herself to the Lord, consciously prayed the sinner's prayer and made a conscious declaration to accept Jesus as her Lord and saviour again. She was re-baptized and shared her testimony before the presence of the Lord, her heavenly Father at Connect Church. Later on, when she graduated from University, God heard her prayer and granted her a very promising job as a new graduate. She was set free from the bondage of credit card debt, and she learned to plan and budget. She tithes faithfully, and amazingly, the depression and anxiety were cured with almost no medication. “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Rom. 8:31). She sponsored a 12-year-old boy in Africa with the income Father God gives her. In mid 2021, God also blessed her with a property of her own to manage. During the pandemic, God called her to partner with HIM in youth ministry at Connect Church. She studies the Word and shares the understanding that God revealed to her with me all the time. Our dining table has become our altar of thanksgiving, prayers have become our first choice, resort, and our lifeline to God. On my birthday this year, instead of going to a restaurant, my daughter took a day off, spent 7 hours preparing a party of 7 with a budget of $70 dollars, and the final cost was $67.03. Instead of buying a birthday card, she crafted a beautiful one, she wrote: “Mom, God knew you long before your birthday, He knew your life and He knew you would be called out of the land you knew into a far and foreign land. Who could have imagined that this is our life today? God has redeemed us and been faithful to us. He had not broken a single promise. I was reading 1 Samuel and Hannah's prayer spoke to me. In her sorrow she went to the temple and prayed for a child so intensely but so simple, and then she promised that her son would be dedicated back to God. When she followed through on her promise & dedicated Samuel, the Lord blessed her with 5 more children. I know you prayed without ceasing for me, a simple yet desperate prayer for God to move in my life, and HE has. Because God has been faithful to keep His promises, I will be faithful to serve. God knows the desires (needs) of our hearts, and He will bless His children because He loves us....” While I was reading the card, I saw Luke 15 replaying in slow motion. “when she (mother and daughter) was still a great way off, her FATHER saw her and had compassion, and ran and threw His arms around her neck, and kissed her”; I heard the FATHER say to his servants, “bring out the best robe and put it on her, and put a ring on her hand and sandals on her feet”; I heard David Leonard singing his song "I will wait" that says: “In the morning, I will rise up, shed the darkness, and bathe in Your light. And I recount all, every blessing. The words You've spoken, that bring me new life. I am reminded from where You have brought me. And where You have placed me for today. And I won't forget that Your hand will hold me. Your love sustains me through the wait. Oh the burdens that I've carried. They are heavy, oh too heavy to hold. There's a river, there's a sunrise, I will wait on You, Lord.” In that moment, I rose up and embraced my daughter and four hands held together I prayed “Father God, thank you for your generosity and loyalty chasing after us, thank you for making us be right with you and thank you for fighting for us in the heavenly Realms…Pray for us Lord as you have prayed for Peter, so our faith may not fail. We wait on YOU till the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we love YOU.” Ps. I am a born-again Christian and attended Financial Management God's Way for Singles hosted by TCM on Zoom during Aug- Nov 2021. S.L. New Tecumseth, ON, Canada Previous Next