"Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called the disciples to him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.'" Mark 12:41-44 NLT

Tax time has me thinking about money. I'm humbled by how God has provided for me over and over again. Everything I have proves his mercy. Yet, I wonder if he's pleased with my money management. I've tried to be frugal with my spending. I've set money aside in Savings. But... Have I given enough?

I sigh as I confess that there's nothing like the thrill of shopping. If I gave more, there would be less to spend.

But do I need all the stuff I buy? How much money do I need in Savings? Really? Hard questions... But I wonder if what we want is to have Enough, or to have More Than Enough. It goes back to the security issue, as well as the excess of our culture. Because it really doesn't take much money to keep a modest shelter over our heads, reasonable quantities of healthy food on our plates, and a simple wardrobe in our closets. The rest is surplus.

We can all make excuses for not giving more. I mean, I'm a single mother struggling to get by on a very small income. But when I think of the poor widow who gave all she had (not 10 percent), my excuses sound lame.

I feel led to do something new: I'm praying for opportunities to give to meet genuine needs (above my tithe). I'm wary of wolves in sheep's clothing, but I'm confident God will guide me where to invest in his kingdom.

"And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world--from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven." Matthew 24:30-31

Jesus is coming back. There's no question about that. The big question is when?

The first time Jesus came, the only ones who read the scriptures and understood that the time had come were the most unlikely: the magi from the East. The religious leaders who taught the prophecies were sure that a mere carpenter's son, born in a stable, couldn't possibly be the Messiah. And who can blame them?

There are those who feel that the second coming is in the not so distant future. But then people have believed this for centuries. Every generation believes they will see it, but only one will be right. Could it be us?

Jesus goes on to explain in Matthew 24 that only the Father knows when this event will occur, and that there is a very good reason for this nondisclosure: "So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."

What if Jesus' return was imminent? How would that inform how you lived today? If you knew that he was coming soon, how would it change your perspective on your life, your work, and your wealth? Let's live like Jesus is coming soon. The clock is counting down.

"Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 6:18-20 NLT

As we celebrate the atoning death of Jesus and his miraculous resurrection, the emphasis is often on the long-term benefit of our salvation with little thought to the implications for the present. With Jesus' sacrifice, he purchased our eternity with God. We are no longer condemned as sinners! This is something to celebrate!

But there were changes that went into effect immediately upon Christ's death. It was established in Leviticus 16 that once a year the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies and make atonement for the people through the sacrificing of bulls and goats. When Jesus died, he achieved this once and for all, and the curtain in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies was torn in two, from top to bottom. As if the hand of God had reached down and opened the door for us to enter into his presence.

We often take it for granted that we have immediate access to the throne of God through prayer. Wherever we are--whoever we are--we can communicate directly with the Creator of the Universe. We do not need to rely on a priest to annually make us right with God. Jesus hears both our confessions and our cries for help.

When we feel adrift in the chaos of life, we have this hope as "a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls." We are never alone. Jesus hears our prayers.

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

God's been working overtime in my life the last few years, and it dawned on me that the three key principles he's trying to drill in to my head are: be obedient, be patient, and just trust him with everything! Wow! Imagine the peace that would follow if I could live this way daily!

And if it wasn't for the many situations that have been beyond my control and left me at God's mercy, I wouldn't have learned to reply on him and anticipate his work in my life. It took me an embarrassingly long time to stop reacting to crises by panicking and to instead approach them as "opportunities to trust God." Once I began to view uncertainty, conflict, and stress in this light, I began to experience the peace that this verse promises.

"Practice makes perfect," so God knew that it would take me many lessons to reduce my panic-time to zero and go straight to trust. I haven't fully achieved this goal, but I can say that my panic-time has been drastically reduced and I find myself anticipating God's provision or revelation, depending on the situation.

He doesn't always come through the way we think he should. Sometimes he leaves us in the mess for a while because he wants us to understand his nature or our own issues better. But whatever the circumstance, God is in it with us, working for our good. Let's claim this verse and experience a mind-blowing peace!

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1 NLT

"Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3:6 NLT

If the earth was too close to the sun, we would fry. If the earth was too far away, we would freeze. But the earth is at the exact distance necessary to to sustain life. Our atmosphere is divided into five layers, all of which serve a different purpose in maintaining the conditions essential for life to exist on the planet. When God created the heavens and the earth, he set into place meticulous scientific laws to preserve a life-nourishing environment.

The same God who created the universe with such precise order created you and me--"knit" us together, as the psalmist says. The incredible detail that is evidenced in every aspect of scientific discovery testifies to the infinite wisdom of our Creator. Doesn't it stand to reason that if he is capable of setting the planets in orbit around the sun and placing the cytoplasm within the cell, he can order the lives of his children?

Although you and I may have no idea of how today fits into the journey of our lives, or what we will be doing in five years, God knows. He gives us the freedom to make choices, to make mistakes even, but when we submit to his loving will we can rest in confidence that our lives are being directed by the Creator of the Universe. When we align ourselves with God, he will order our lives which such wisdom and love that it will take our breath away!

"But she said, 'I swear by the Lord your God that I don't have a single piece of bread in the house. And I only have a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.'

"But Elijah said to her, 'Don't be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you've said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what's left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Isreal says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!'" I Kings 17: 12-14 NLT

Imagine you are the widow at Zaraphath. You have only enough flour and oil to make one last meal for yourself and your child. Then you will succumb to starvation. Now a man shows up and asks you to share it with him--but he promises God will provide all you need until times improve. What would you do?

Perhaps she knew he was a prophet of God and could be trusted. It still took a great act of faith on her part to share that precious meal with him. She didn't have the benefit of hearing the Sermon on the Mount, but she demonstrated what it means to "seek first the kingdom of God and all [that you need] will be given to you as well."

When we step out in faith and earnestly seek to obey God, we never know how God is going to bless us. Sometimes it's above and beyond our wildests imaginings. God could have provided for Elijah without the widow's help, as he did at the Kerith Brook when ravens brought him bread and meat. But in his love for this woman and her son, God brought Elijah to her, not only to multiply her flour and oil, but to multiply her faith.

When we respond in obedience to God and see his fingerprints upon our lives, our faith is reinforced and strengthened in amazing ways! God chose this widow to be the recipient of a miracle. But she had to be willing to say "Yes."

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:26-27, 33-34 NIV

Most of us are familiar with this passage. But we probably need to hear it again. Worry is such a natural part of our existence, especially in these unsettled times when unemployment continues to rise and we're counting every penny. I mean, how can we realistically live this out?

The birds don't prepare for future hard times, yet God provides for them. But let's face it: we're humans, and Americans at that. We are driven to accumulate money and stuff and to spend most of our time in this pursuit. Not necessarily becauses the pursuit itself brings pleasure, but because we are rewarded with a sense of accomplishment and security.

But material security is mere illusion. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. True security rests in the awareness that God is our provider. He will take care of us... though not necessarily in the style we are accustomed to or prefer.

While God does expect us to be responsible and to plan ahead as best we can, our focus should be on God's kingdom, not on building a "castle in the sand." The waves of misfortune can easily wipe it out.

Difficult times may be God's way of blessing us. Instead of viewing our uncertainty about the future as a worry, we should see it as an opportunity to trust in our Provider. Absolute trust in God's provision may appear irresponsible, but it's much wiser than trusting in our own abilities, bank accounts or employers.