Faith not Fear

Luke 12: 22-28

22)Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life,

what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on.

23) For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

24) Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them.

Of how much more value are you than the birds!

25) And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life?

26) If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

27) Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you,

even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28) But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith...

Have you been anxious this week about life? Have you spent time wondering how you're going to pay the bills; pay the mortgage; about how much your taxes may go up; about the future?

I have!!! I've spent time worrying about my business - what can I do to build it? How will I pay the bills? About the future and what it will bring... About my Mom and sister and what will happen to them!

But in the midst of all I worry about, God has nudged my heart to stop worrying about today; stop worrying about my own needs, for He has that covered!!!

Instead, He is calling me to go do his work to help others who have needs and worries - be the arbiter of change in someone else's life -

• Through prayer for their needs, not mine!
• Through sharing a smile, a moment or two talking about their problem and not mine!
• Through investing in His Kingdom by investing in someone else's financial need and not mine!

I don't mean to make this sound easy - its NOT!!! Its our nature to think ME FIRST, ME FIRST - WHAT ABOUT ME???

But Jesus tells us clearly - don't worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will wear!!! That's not your job - its God's! Instead, we need to focus all or thoughts and actions on serving HIM!

If you think about your life honestly, you and I are very blessed! Sure, there are things that are uncertain - but we are very blessed!!! We often don't know how it happens, but things seem to work out...

We're very, very blessed and fortunate! Look instead at those who have not been so fortunate! Who don't have as much as we do - whatever that may be!

Think about what Jesus said to his disciples after washing their feet:

John 13: 13-17

"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord', and rightly so, for that is what I am.

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

I have been blessed - its my job to go out and share that blessing with others...

Father, help me to serve You and You alone as I go out and seek to serve others...

Right Here - Right Now!!!

Matthew 6: 25-34



As I was reading my devotions this morning and the teaching, at http://www.frcliveonline.blogspot.com/, I read on through this chapter of Scripture, and it occured to me...



How much time do we spend worrying about 'tomorrow'? I know I spend way too much time worrying about what the future will bring?



"What will happen with...?" "What will happen if...?" Do you know what I mean? I know this scripture passage so well, and yet, I still am guilty of worrying...



I guess that's the battle with my humanity and my faith - because deep down inside, I actually KNOW God will take care of tomorrow... I know this with a complete certainty that comes from experiencing it in my life time and again! He always does, always has and always will!



So why do I worry? Nothing is impossible for God - there is nothing that's too large for HIM to handle! And it hit me - right there in verse 33:

"But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness"

Lord, please help me to spend all the time and energy I would normally spend on worrying about tomorrow on living in the moment and in each moment, seeking Your kingdom and Your righteousness in what I am doing right here, right now...