I was lying in bed playing a slot machine game on my phone. I just play it on my phone because I’m too cheap to gamble much in real life.

Then I got a word from God. Really. No lie. While playing a game. It was about how I “play the game”. I only bet what I’m willing to lose. I bet with the thought of keeping a cushion of comfort. A place past which I will not bet or risk loss. In gambling (or the stock market) that’s probably a good plan of action. In life..in living a cross-centered life..probably not so much.

At the beginning of this year, I was convicted to tithe. It was scary. It was a matter of faith in action. Do I trust myself or do I trust God to provide my needs? I’m going to tell you God has never let me down. This has been the most financially stable year we’ve had in a really long time. Stable=Good.

But then I thought about the fact that I still keep 90%. I think about the sacrifices made by the people in the Bible. They left their homes and families. They sent away their children. They gave their lives to preach the Gospel. Then I think about the sacrifice of Christmas. I think about Jesus leaving the splendor heaven to become a defenseless baby. And I think about the sacrifice of the cross.

Ray Boltz has an awesome song. “What if I give all”. In 2016, I want to give God everything he asks, holding nothing back.