ghaynes1 Loc: Strawberry Plains, TN

No.
No.
Not sure.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

No.
Yes I do, sort of.
No.

I take responsibility for my actions and try my hardest to live my life in accordance with the teaching of Jesus. I think he might have been onto something.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Greg and Paul,
The Bible teaches us we need to do these three things if we expect God to supply our needs:

First we need to believe by faith as in Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/1/heb.11.6.kjv
Next, we need to pray/ask as in Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/1/mat.7.7.kjv

The third thing, tithing, may not be absolutely required to receive God’s blessings, but through personal experience and the experiences of countless others, it does make a huge difference, as also stated in Malachi 3:10
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/1/mal.3.10.kjv

I guess the first step is to believe the Bible is truly the inspired word of God (which I do). I believe it is the “roadmap” thru life, and to our eternal home in Heaven. Anyway, if you want your needs met, this is what the Bible says. It has worked for me throughout my life, and I’m no different than you or anyone else; just a sinner, saved by grace. 🙏🏻

Iowa Farmer Loc: Iowa City Iowa

Yeah, speed to study and the green leafy stuff to chill out before the test. Student aides. 🤪

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

My hair started falling out the day I married my first wife

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

That bit from Mathew hasn't worked out too well for me Randy. I can't speak for G, but from what I've seen of his posts, I suspect he might feel the same way. Maybe it's all about expectations? I sure don't know.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

I’m not sure what you mean. You answered “no” to do you believe.
You also answered “no” to do you pray.
Those are both prerequisites of receiving (anything) from God.
Please explain. I would really like to help you understand, if I can.

ghaynes1 Loc: Strawberry Plains, TN

Without getting too involved in a religious discussion here and what people believe or don't believe, let's just say I question the validity of many things that in the past I might have just accepted. I don't expect anything from anyone except myself. I find I am almost 100% reliable in that regard.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Expectations?
Do you really expect to receive something from someone who you don’t even believe exists?
I’m not trying to be smart, but do you see what I mean?
You first have to “believe that HE IS”. If you have accepted Christ,
He will hear your requests. If not, why should he ??

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I was not raised in any church Randy, you know that. But I was raised by a bunch of shunned Menonites. We Menonites (I consider myself to be one) believe in the principal of credobaptism. We do not force our beliefs on anyone, including our children. And no one gets baptized until they can profess their faith and belief. I was taught that God would reveal himself to me in some way and reinforce my belief. That's a very simplistic way of putting it, but it will have to do for now. For years I prayed that God would do exactly that - let me know. Answer. Give. Never happened. I haven't given up. I'm still very open. Do I believe? No. Might I? Probably not. Do I pray? Who would I pray to - to a god I don't believe in? That would be pretty hypocritical, don't you think? Do I tithe? I give, just as Jesus said I should, my right doesn't know what my left is doing.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

And Randy I gave up on expecting anything from "god" a long time ago, just so you understand where I'm coming from. I've seen god's work, up close and personal, and I don't approve. The fact (and I don't doubt you) that god has given you so many blessing throughout your life and afflicted others with boils and cancers that weren't cured with prayers says all I need to say. God works in mysterious ways - that just don't cut it with me. You got some splainin to do god.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Can you be more specific, Greg?
What did you accept in the past, that you now don’t (or question)?
God is not the same as people;
People make mistakes, fail you, treat you like crap, lie to you, and leave you. God will NEVER do any of those things. He may not give us all we WANT, but he will give us what we NEED. He may also disagree with us what our needs really are, but He knows better than we.
He also gives us so many things that are not tangible, material things; things that make our lives more enjoyable and help us to get through things that would be much more difficult without Him. All of this might sound crazy to you, but believe me, it’s true. I’ve lived both ways and don’t want to ever go back.

ghaynes1 Loc: Strawberry Plains, TN

One of your questions was "Do you believe?" I assume you meant in God, for the sake of this conversation. My response was "I'm not sure." Not no. We've had these discussions before. They don't go anywhere. I accept your beliefs and don't try and change yours or anyone's mind. Will you allow me have mine and question things that others accept because they were taught that at an early age?

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Everything I am teaching is straight out of the Bible. It is completely up to everyone what they wish to believe. I can’t make you believe anything you don’t want to. You have every right to believe whatever you want to. I will love you the same either way, and so will God.

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

As I've gotten older my spiritual maturity has caused me to stray drom the company line. I have a real hard time believing God is looking at my receipts to see how much money I give to the church. I'm thinking He measures tithe in much more than dollars and cents. Not a popular position I know but rings of truth for me.