savor the little things in life, because in all honesty, they're important.
what do I mean by the little things?
well for starters, your friendships, they're the single most important thing you will have with you for the rest of your life. and for me, my friendships have probably saved my life more often then not on occasion, just because I had those friends there who I could turn to, who'd listen and be there for me.
stop and listen to nature once in a while; we may be here a short while, but nature will always be. the frogs, the scenery, the forests (okay, those might be gone before we are), but to say the least, nature is very much a part of who we should be.
relationships....now I'm sure you're wondering, didn't he just say friendships? yes. I did. however, relationships are important.....for starters, your relationship with God. that's important, overriding the two other things I mentioned. God is important, not only that, but He's real, and He loves us and desires us.
pets. pets are very important and needed, they provide much, much, much sources of fun and hours away from boredom.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
everything in it's time.
Everything in it's place and everything to it's season.
Ecclesiasties 3:11:
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
--------------------
This verse has been in my head since yesterday when a friend of mine texted me it, as a reminder about how wonderful God is when we let Him be in control. It also brought to mind the movie "Click" by Adam Sandler. the synopis looks something like this:
"A workaholic architect finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices."
---------------------
We cannot be in control, God is the one that is in control at all times, we are only given access to the day to day in how we manage it, but ultimately God is the driving force behind everything; as long as we allow Him to be. That's the important part. We can't be like Adam Sandler in Click and try to control events that happen. It doesn't work like that. Just because we don't like where we are at a certain point in our life, doesn't mean we can either ignore it or try and go around it. If we're at this point, its because God is trying to get our attention or help us with something, and while it may seem painful it's for our betterment, since we can look back when we've moved on and realized just how awesome God is.
the rest of Ecclesiasties 3 looks like this:
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.
And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
I said to myself,
“God will bring into judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”
I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?"
--------------------------------
underlying message: GOD. IS. IN. CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that's how it's meant to be. We've subverted it, we've tried to say this is why, and so forth, we take things out of context and forget who is in control.
Psalm 136 reiterates the same thing, I believe that the author of Ecclesiasties may have been drawing from Psalm 136 when he wrote chapter 3:
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever."
--------------------------------------
God is in control. He created Heaven and Earth. He does everything in His due time. He gives to us when He believes we're ready for it, not when we think we're ready for it. God does what He does because He loves us. He made each and every one of us, He died for each and every one of our sins. HALLEJUAH and AMEN! to that. That's the God I not only serve, and fear, but that's the God I love who'll take me hand in hand and walk with me in the easy and the hard times.
As I end tonight, Michael W. Smith's song "Forever" comes to mind, a wonderful reminder that God has us all in His plans, and nothing will go amiss:
"Give thanks to the Lord, Our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that's been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
CHORUS:
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever and ever, forever (2X)
From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
And by the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
(CHORUS)
His love endures forever (8X)
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise"
------------
Not only will His Love Endure, but He will endure with us forever as well. That's something to sing about, that's something to worship about. That's something to praise about. So as I end tonight, I'd like to ask one thing, if any of you are holding back from God some portion that you don't think is significant enough for Him to have control over, just bow your head where you are, and say this simple prayer, "Abba, father God, I know that you have control over everything, and that you make things happen in your due time, not ours, I've sinned in holding this piece of myself or this event, or this situation back from you; take it Lord and do with it as you will. Heal me of my frustrations with it, heal me of my hurt with it, heal me of everything that is with it, it's in your hands Father....amen." Just pray that prayer, and I can assure you, miraculous things will happen. God says so.
Good night and God bless.
Ecclesiasties 3:11:
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
--------------------
This verse has been in my head since yesterday when a friend of mine texted me it, as a reminder about how wonderful God is when we let Him be in control. It also brought to mind the movie "Click" by Adam Sandler. the synopis looks something like this:
"A workaholic architect finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices."
---------------------
We cannot be in control, God is the one that is in control at all times, we are only given access to the day to day in how we manage it, but ultimately God is the driving force behind everything; as long as we allow Him to be. That's the important part. We can't be like Adam Sandler in Click and try to control events that happen. It doesn't work like that. Just because we don't like where we are at a certain point in our life, doesn't mean we can either ignore it or try and go around it. If we're at this point, its because God is trying to get our attention or help us with something, and while it may seem painful it's for our betterment, since we can look back when we've moved on and realized just how awesome God is.
the rest of Ecclesiasties 3 looks like this:
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.
And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
I said to myself,
“God will bring into judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”
I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?"
--------------------------------
underlying message: GOD. IS. IN. CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that's how it's meant to be. We've subverted it, we've tried to say this is why, and so forth, we take things out of context and forget who is in control.
Psalm 136 reiterates the same thing, I believe that the author of Ecclesiasties may have been drawing from Psalm 136 when he wrote chapter 3:
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever."
--------------------------------------
God is in control. He created Heaven and Earth. He does everything in His due time. He gives to us when He believes we're ready for it, not when we think we're ready for it. God does what He does because He loves us. He made each and every one of us, He died for each and every one of our sins. HALLEJUAH and AMEN! to that. That's the God I not only serve, and fear, but that's the God I love who'll take me hand in hand and walk with me in the easy and the hard times.
As I end tonight, Michael W. Smith's song "Forever" comes to mind, a wonderful reminder that God has us all in His plans, and nothing will go amiss:
"Give thanks to the Lord, Our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that's been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
CHORUS:
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever and ever, forever (2X)
From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
And by the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
(CHORUS)
His love endures forever (8X)
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise"
------------
Not only will His Love Endure, but He will endure with us forever as well. That's something to sing about, that's something to worship about. That's something to praise about. So as I end tonight, I'd like to ask one thing, if any of you are holding back from God some portion that you don't think is significant enough for Him to have control over, just bow your head where you are, and say this simple prayer, "Abba, father God, I know that you have control over everything, and that you make things happen in your due time, not ours, I've sinned in holding this piece of myself or this event, or this situation back from you; take it Lord and do with it as you will. Heal me of my frustrations with it, heal me of my hurt with it, heal me of everything that is with it, it's in your hands Father....amen." Just pray that prayer, and I can assure you, miraculous things will happen. God says so.
Good night and God bless.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
when all is said and done
Matt Redman "Blessed be your name."
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
----------------------------------------
Between all the things happening in the world this past week, or for that matter, this past month, we need to step back and be reminded that God is still here. Just because there is sorrow in the world because of what is happening, is no excuse for us to forget God in all of this.
"Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name"
I think we sometimes, (because I am guilty of this and have been humbled by it this week,) that we sometimes to forget to praise God and thank Him at all times regardless if we are in plenty or in want. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 with Redman's song, because it's a perfect reminder of the fact that we are in a season at all times in our lives.
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."
-------------------------------------------------------
We need to (I'd say remember, but that's not the word I'm looking for) be proactive in our praise of God. If we just praise Him when it's going well for us, then what happens when disaster strikes and we complain about the fact that we have nothing.
My Uncle lived by this principle, praising God in both the good and the bad. and because of that my uncle was given much unto him, not unlike the faithful servant of Matthew 25: 14-30
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
--------------------------------------------------------
My uncle was like the man who was given 5 bags, not only did he double what God gave him, but he went out and helped and taught others how to double their gifts of what God gave to them. and for that, my uncle was rewarded with much; a family, friends who loved him, many many more who admired him because of his faithfulness to God and his attitude of loving and caring towards anyone and everyone who came across his path.
I had a dream the night that my uncle was called to Heaven, based off Matthew 25:21 where the master says "
Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’"
I saw my uncle being awarded the gift of eternal life, and then I heard him say to me, "Arise, for it is now your turn to inspire others, and bring many more, your gifts and your journey are just beginning, but you will have rewards waiting for you, just because of your gifts and caring and loving and listening to others. Go, and be blessed, for now you are a man after God's heart." I then felt God's love and comfort as it spread not only over me, but my entire family as a reminder that He is still there; always.
When all is said and done, when everything that you know is gone, when there is nothing, and all that is left as you. What will you do? Will you praise God, or will you complain because you have nothing? I ask you to think about this, because this is something that is eternally important, for us all. I've had this running through my head all this week, and finally God said to me tonight, "It is time, let the world be reminded once again that I am here and that I love them, and that I am the ultimate lover and I long for them."
SO I say thank you tonight to two people; Jesus for His love and death and for my uncle who taught me many things, who weathered many seasons in his life to be an example that others could see and be inspired from.
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
----------------------------------------
Between all the things happening in the world this past week, or for that matter, this past month, we need to step back and be reminded that God is still here. Just because there is sorrow in the world because of what is happening, is no excuse for us to forget God in all of this.
"Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name"
I think we sometimes, (because I am guilty of this and have been humbled by it this week,) that we sometimes to forget to praise God and thank Him at all times regardless if we are in plenty or in want. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 with Redman's song, because it's a perfect reminder of the fact that we are in a season at all times in our lives.
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."
-------------------------------------------------------
We need to (I'd say remember, but that's not the word I'm looking for) be proactive in our praise of God. If we just praise Him when it's going well for us, then what happens when disaster strikes and we complain about the fact that we have nothing.
My Uncle lived by this principle, praising God in both the good and the bad. and because of that my uncle was given much unto him, not unlike the faithful servant of Matthew 25: 14-30
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
--------------------------------------------------------
My uncle was like the man who was given 5 bags, not only did he double what God gave him, but he went out and helped and taught others how to double their gifts of what God gave to them. and for that, my uncle was rewarded with much; a family, friends who loved him, many many more who admired him because of his faithfulness to God and his attitude of loving and caring towards anyone and everyone who came across his path.
I had a dream the night that my uncle was called to Heaven, based off Matthew 25:21 where the master says "
Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’"
I saw my uncle being awarded the gift of eternal life, and then I heard him say to me, "Arise, for it is now your turn to inspire others, and bring many more, your gifts and your journey are just beginning, but you will have rewards waiting for you, just because of your gifts and caring and loving and listening to others. Go, and be blessed, for now you are a man after God's heart." I then felt God's love and comfort as it spread not only over me, but my entire family as a reminder that He is still there; always.
When all is said and done, when everything that you know is gone, when there is nothing, and all that is left as you. What will you do? Will you praise God, or will you complain because you have nothing? I ask you to think about this, because this is something that is eternally important, for us all. I've had this running through my head all this week, and finally God said to me tonight, "It is time, let the world be reminded once again that I am here and that I love them, and that I am the ultimate lover and I long for them."
SO I say thank you tonight to two people; Jesus for His love and death and for my uncle who taught me many things, who weathered many seasons in his life to be an example that others could see and be inspired from.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Lilies of the field
I think at this point, a good portion, if not all of you know I lost my job at Costco. I'm taking it pretty well, as I know that God has other plans for me, and another job. However, as I was at Bible Study tonight, I was hit in the gut (metaphorically) by God, and this verse came to mind.
Matthew 6:25-34:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 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."
It dawned on me as I heard God speaking this verse to me, that this was how I had been this past summer, that I had been way too worried about money and not having a job, when I should have been concentrating on praising God for what I did have. It fully dawned on me tonight, that God loves us, but He would prefer us to give over everything to us. Sunday, the sermon was about awakening to what God wants from us in life, and how that is reflected to serve him. Between those two things, the nutshell of it is that I need to learn to be content. YES, I will have down times in my life, YES, I will have non-employment in my life, YES I will worry about things, but like the lilies of the field, or the birds of the air, or the fish in the sea, God will take care and provide. He will provide, and He will also take away, because He wants us to remember who ultimately is in charge.
Paul, in Philippians 4 writes:
"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
It also dawned on me that I only became content this past semester when I finally had a job, like the job became my "god" and my "contentment," because it was real and physical. I let it get to me that I had replaced it and let it become why I was happy and content. I'm not saying that it was overt and out there, but it was a subtly that I didn't pick up on myself until tonight. God uses everything as a teaching lesson, and sometimes it takes that lesson as a reminder to why we should just wherever we are when a lesson arises kneel down, raise our hands and just worship him. God is in ultimate control.
Further proof that I was on to something, was a song that came on the radio tonight as I was driving, related to the lilies of the field, and a worshipful example of why just raising my voice in song while driving is a perfect example of praising and thanking God.
Newsboys: Blessed be Your Name.
"Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
And blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your name
I will bless Your name, Lord
Oh, You give and take away
You give and take away
But my heart will choose to say (oh Lord!)
Blessed be Your name
You give and take away
You give and take away
But my heart will choose to say (oh Lord!)
Blessed be Your name"
So bless God regardless whether you are in plenty or in want, bless him whether you are sick or healthy. Bless Him regardless, He is God. He loves you, and He wants you to know that tonight.
I pray blessings on all of you. I hope that many of you who need answers find them, and those that have, remember God loves you always and unconditionally. His love is the Truth.
Amen.
Matthew 6:25-34:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 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."
It dawned on me as I heard God speaking this verse to me, that this was how I had been this past summer, that I had been way too worried about money and not having a job, when I should have been concentrating on praising God for what I did have. It fully dawned on me tonight, that God loves us, but He would prefer us to give over everything to us. Sunday, the sermon was about awakening to what God wants from us in life, and how that is reflected to serve him. Between those two things, the nutshell of it is that I need to learn to be content. YES, I will have down times in my life, YES, I will have non-employment in my life, YES I will worry about things, but like the lilies of the field, or the birds of the air, or the fish in the sea, God will take care and provide. He will provide, and He will also take away, because He wants us to remember who ultimately is in charge.
Paul, in Philippians 4 writes:
"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
It also dawned on me that I only became content this past semester when I finally had a job, like the job became my "god" and my "contentment," because it was real and physical. I let it get to me that I had replaced it and let it become why I was happy and content. I'm not saying that it was overt and out there, but it was a subtly that I didn't pick up on myself until tonight. God uses everything as a teaching lesson, and sometimes it takes that lesson as a reminder to why we should just wherever we are when a lesson arises kneel down, raise our hands and just worship him. God is in ultimate control.
Further proof that I was on to something, was a song that came on the radio tonight as I was driving, related to the lilies of the field, and a worshipful example of why just raising my voice in song while driving is a perfect example of praising and thanking God.
Newsboys: Blessed be Your Name.
"Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
And blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your name
I will bless Your name, Lord
Oh, You give and take away
You give and take away
But my heart will choose to say (oh Lord!)
Blessed be Your name
You give and take away
You give and take away
But my heart will choose to say (oh Lord!)
Blessed be Your name"
So bless God regardless whether you are in plenty or in want, bless him whether you are sick or healthy. Bless Him regardless, He is God. He loves you, and He wants you to know that tonight.
I pray blessings on all of you. I hope that many of you who need answers find them, and those that have, remember God loves you always and unconditionally. His love is the Truth.
Amen.
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