Category: God

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday February 15TH 2026, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

It’s Anniversary Week. I selected my current dream home in my dream neighborhood in my dream part of Florida exactly 3 years ago. It was the 5TH of 5 identical condos I looked at, and the nicest one of them all – fully furnished. I made a purchase offer on it, and it was immediately accepted. I moved in a month later, and my life began anew here in Sebring Florida. Thanks be to God for leading me here.

I was recently asked about tithes and offerings. I’ve been tithing for 19 years now – ever since the beginning of my 8-year stay at my first home church. I learned early on how important it is to tithe if you indeed call a church your home church, and you trust what they are doing financially.

At my first church the giving of tithes and offerings was an important part of every service. Its importance was specifically explained for a few minutes from the stage (often by myself), and then we passed around popcorn buckets (at the movie theatre) to place our tithes and offerings in.

At my second church we passed around more traditional baskets towards the end of the service as our worship band performed “Thrive” (by Casting Crowns). I then prayed over the financial resources that were received. After a couple of years I was given the liberty by the Senior Pastor to change it to a different process. We placed a large copper bowl at the base of the altar, and the church members placed their tithes and offerings – either in an envelope or loose – into the bowl at their convenience. We never talked about it during the service. (I believe that the process has changed back since my departure.)

At my current church we also don’t talk about tithes and offerings, but every so often we mention that there are wooden boxes hanging on the wall where you can place them. We are also transparent in that we reveal the total amount of tithes and offerings in our bulletin each week.

I’ve never preached a sermon on tithes and offerings – or fundraising – or prosperity. Back in October 2022 I preached a sermon titled “Give & Take”. It was about the balancing act between giving out (blessing) and taking in (receiving). I preached this:

You know it is quite the balancing act to “Give & Take” appropriately. I like these red letters in the Gospel of Luke (6:38):

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full – pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

That verse right there is used at a lot of churches to encourage you to give financially in tithes and offerings. I myself used that verse at my previous place of worship – because I was told to. I think it’s taken out of context in that manner. I don’t believe that this verse – straight from Christ Himself (in red letters) – is about money at all. It’s about behavior.

The verse before that verse says a lot about what Christ is really talking about:

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. (6:37)

We must be gracious in how we view our neighbor. Don’t judge them. Don’t condemn them. Do forgive them. You don’t want to be judged. You don’t want to be condemned. You want to be forgiven.

Luke 6:38 continues Christ’s message on action and reaction via human interaction. When you give – you will receive. If you give kind words – you will receive kind words. If you give compassion – you will receive compassion. If you give a helping hand – you will receive a helping hand. Gladly accept what is given to you. Take it. Use it. And give back even more. That’s a “Give & Take” behavior that our God will find good and pleasing and perfect.

My testimony is featured each week here on #SundayScripture – whether it’s part of a sermon, a testimony, or just me writing about the events of the past week. Hopefully it encourages you and inspires you to seek the Lord – and get closer to Him with each new day.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know – then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2026 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday February 08TH 2026, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

I do my best praying to God when I’m alone – whether at home – or in my car (especially driving around Sebring) – or in any public place. When it comes to praying out loud with others – I often feel like it didn’t sound right, or I stumbled with words, or the right words weren’t there when I needed them, or I left something out that I wanted to say.

I pray often for everyone I know – people I see every day, people I see every so often, and people I haven’t seen in years. I pray for my closest brothers and sisters of my first two church families in Homestead, and I pray for my current church family here in Sebring. I pray for my Sebring Historical Society family. I pray for my neighbors here in my dream neighborhood that God placed me in 3 years ago. Even if I don’t yet know their name, or I’ve forgotten their name – I still pray for them. God knows who I’m talking to Him about.

I say the words “Thank You Lord” often in my prayers. It’s how I start every prayer. I thank God for all that He has done for me – and all that He is currently doing for me – and all that He will do for me. I thank God for blessing all of my friends abundantly.

If you’re a believer and follower of our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ then I encourage you to pray often. You are qualified to pray – privately and publicly – no matter the time and place. When asked – I pray aloud in front of others even though I don’t think I’m good at it. But God. He just wants to hear from us – often. He doesn’t care how smooth talking we are. He wants to hear us in our own words and in our own voice.

Some believers don’t / won’t pray, but they will ask a Pastor / Preacher / Evangelist / Priest / Minister / Deacon / Elder to pray for them. God commands all of us to 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)

It’s as simple as that. Ask yourself – aside from yourself – how many of your family members, friends, neighbors, and complete strangers will receive miracles from God because of what you prayed to Him ?

My testimony is featured each week here on #SundayScripture – whether it’s part of a sermon, a testimony, or just me writing about the events of the past week. Hopefully it encourages you and inspires you to seek the Lord – and get closer to Him with each new day.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know – then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2026 Christopher M. Day, CountUp