Tag: DontWorry

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Are We There Yet?

No, but we’re getting closer!

We’re almost at the end of the road, that road that led to the cross.

Jesus had made His historic entry into Jerusalem. People were cheering and shouting, excited to have the Miracle Worker in their town. The first place Jesus went was to the Temple.

Because it was the time of Passover the town was filled with people and so was the Temple. Merchandisers had set up booths in the Temple, they were selling things. Jesus chased them out and said this:

“He told them, ‘The Scriptures say, “My house should be a place of worship.” But you have made it a place where robbers hide!’” Luke 19:46 CEV

The animosity toward Jesus began to rapidly increase.

“Each day, Jesus kept on teaching in the temple. So the chief priests, the teachers of the Law of Moses, and some other important people tried to have him killed. 48 But they could not find a way to do it, because everyone else was eager to listen to him.” Luke 19:47-48 CEV

These were Jesus’ final days. He spent them preaching – encouraging and instructing the people. Warning them of things to come. His heart was for the people; He wasn’t concerned about His own safety and protection.

How do we find that kind of resolve? How do we find strength in the time of adversity? Let’s see what Jesus did.

“Don’t spend all of your time thinking about eating or drinking or worrying about life. If you do, the final day will suddenly catch you 35 like a trap. This day will surprise everyone on earth. 36 Watch out and keep praying that you can escape all that is going to happen and that the Son of Man will be pleased with you.

37  Jesus taught in the temple each day, and he spent each night on the Mount of Olives. 38 Everyone got up early and came to the temple to hear him teach.” Luke 21:34-38 CEV

He didn’t spend His time worrying about the concerns of life. Remember, He was 100% human. He knew what it was like to be hungry, to have taxes to pay, to have family concerns. He had people who depended on Him. He had responsibilities and if anyone had cause to worry, He did.

His instruction to the people in the Temple and to us is simple. Don’t spend all your time worrying about things. “Watch and pray”. That’s what He did; each day he taught in the Temple and each night He went to the Mount of Olives, this was His place of prayer.

Did He ask the Father, “are we there yet”? This week, these last few days were what He had been preparing for. Thousands of years of prophesy had been speaking of this time, this week, this Passover.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:2-3 ERV

I’d like to encourage you with this. Watch and pray. Don’t worry. We’re almost there!

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More About Contentment

Do you remember being little and “wishing” for everything? Another word for wishing is wanting. If those desires are not guided properly they can lead to disillusionment and discontentment, not only in children but in adults as well.

So, this morning we’re going to learn one more lesson from our wooly, four-legged friends.

There was a time when my conversation was filled with the things I wanted – a new house, a new job, to lose weight, more friends, more money, less bills. But that’s not the mindset of a sheep. They are content to follow the shepherd, they are content in the pasture.

Sheep are known for lacking in intelligence, some would call them dumb. Not to be insulting but isn’t that the way it is with us. We think we know what’s best for us but left by ourselves we will get in trouble. We will be lost and in need of rescuing.

“Then Jesus told them this story: 4 “Suppose one of you has 100 sheep, but one of them gets lost. What will you do? You will leave the other 99 sheep there in the field and go out and look for the lost sheep. You will continue to search for it until you find it. 5 And when you find it, you will be very happy. You will carry it 6 home, go to your friends and neighbors and say to them, ‘Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep!’” Luke 15:3-6 ERV

And when we are lost, our Good Shepherd will come searching for us, bringing us to a place of safety and provision.

When we are with the Shepherd, we can be safe and content.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 KJV

“You, LORD, are my shepherd. I will never be in need.” Psalm 23:1 CEV

The Apostle Paul put it this way in his writing to the Christians in Philippi.

“… for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13 NLT

How could Paul be content in every situation? The answer is clear. Contentment comes from Christ.

The Lord doesn’t want us worried or wanting. He knows what we need, He wants us living in a place of trust.

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:21-33 NLT

Lord forgive me today for my wanting. I thank you that you bless me beyond measure because of Your great love. You supply all I need and more. You’re the Good Shepherd and I will follow you!

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Did You Repeat?

Yesterday, I encouraged us all to take breaks and repeat times of praise, thanksgiving and joy for what the Lord has done. I hope you did that.

Maybe you didn’t feel you had anything to be thankful for. Well then, consider this…

“Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful in all the earth! It brings you praise everywhere in heaven. 2 From the mouths of children and babies come songs of praise to you. They sing of your power to silence your enemies who were seeking revenge. 3 I look (consider) at the heavens you made with your hands. I see the moon and the stars you created. 4 And I wonder, “Why are people so important to you? Why do you even think about them? Why do you care so much about humans? Why do you even notice them?” 5 But you made them almost like gods and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You put them in charge of everything you made. You put everything under their control. 7 People rule over the sheep and cattle and all the wild animals. 8 They rule over the birds in the sky and the fish that swim in the sea. 9 Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth!” Psalm 8 ERV

This psalm could have been a conversation between me and the Father. Me asking why I was so important to Him; He made the stars and the universe, why does He care about me?

We should never get so busy considering other things that we forget to consider God and His promises.

“Jesus said to his followers, ‘So I tell you, don’t worry about the things you need to live—what you will eat or what you will wear. 23 Life is more important than food, and the body is more important than what you put on it. 24 Look (consider) at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in houses or barns, but God feeds them. And you are worth much more than crows. 25 None of you can add any time to your life by worrying about it. 26 And if you can’t do the little things, why worry about the big things‘?

27 ‘Think (consider) about how the wildflowers grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 28 If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? That’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small!'” Luke 12:22-28 ERV

Join me today in considering God’s greatness and His goodness. I hope you take time tonight to go out and look at the night sky. Try to count the stars. In all of eternity past they’ve been there, right on the course God designed for them.

Do you still need a reason to praise? He cares about the stars, the birds, the flowers and the grass CONSIDER how much more He cares for you!

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It’s the Little Things

Each day we have the opportunity to serve the Lord with our thoughts and actions or we can serve self. It’s that simple.

Have you ever been around a group of pre-schoolers? All seems well while they are sitting in a circle listening at story time but bring out the toys or the crayons and something changes.

“I want…” “That’s mine”

Selfishness rears its ugly head and what was to be a fun time turns into one of life’s learning experiences. We can smile at the immaturity of children and say “they’ll learn” but not always. We are confronted every day with situations where we must share.

“One of the men in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, our father just died and left some things for us. Tell my brother to share them with me.” Luke 12:13 ERV

Let’s take the simple things and see if anything strikes home. The television remote is a real issue in some homes or the last of the ice cream. When we’re out in town it can be a struggle when you’ve been waiting for a parking spot and someone whips in and takes it. Or what about that project you’ve been working on and someone takes the credit for your ideas? It’s something we all have to deal with.

Last night it was Cheeze Its. I love them and had filled a small bowl and sat down on the couch. The bowl was between Dave and me. I felt that he was eating more of them than I was. It touched a chord and I didn’t like my reaction. How silly – I realized I didn’t really want to share.

What to do? I refilled the bowl, sat it down between us, this time with an attitude of being willing to share. The Lord ministered to me – don’t let the little things get to you. Just being honest with you – we have to be aware of the small things that try and trip us up.

“What you should be thinking about is God’s kingdom. Then he will give you all these other things you need. 32 “Don’t fear, little flock. Your Father wants to share his kingdom with you.” Luke 12:31-32 ERV

Our Father isn’t selfish. He wants to share all that He has with us. We don’t have to demand things from Him, He willingly gives. He gives before we ask.

“And when you pray, don’t be like the people who don’t know God. They say the same things again and again. They think that if they say it enough, their god will hear them. 8 Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:7-8 ERV

I encourage you to keep your heart open for the Lord’s correction in the big and little things. And don’t forget to share the Cheeze-Its.

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Consider the Lilies

On our walk yesterday morning I saw that the forest floor was dotted with these wild flowers. I believe they are some sort of Iris. The detail on them is so intricate, I just had to take a picture.

When I got back to the RV, I looked at the picture more closely. I am always in awe of God’s handiwork.  Seriously, the first thing I thought of were the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 6:28-30 that say

“Consider the lilies of the field”.

Consider – think on, contemplate, mull over, study.  What does this beautiful little flower have to teach us on this Sunday morning? 

We were at this campground last summer and the summer before that. I only remember seeing a few of these flowers. So, the first thing I “considered” is they are impacting their surroundings. More are growing each year.

Question 1:  Am I impacting my surroundings? Am I adding beauty and grace to my world?

“They neither toil or spin”.

These delicate flowers aren’t worried about how they grow or where they grow. They just grow.  I found two of them that had pushed their way up through the soil right next to some elk scat. Not quite the picturesque setting you’d expect for something so delicate. All of them had to push through decaying pine needles, aspen leaves and wild grass but push they did.

That’s what flowers do they grow. They don’t stress over rainfall or worry about the climate. They grow.

Question 2:  Am I growing? Or am I spending more time toiling and spinning in circles?

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

King Solomon was the wealthiest king of his time. His garments were the finest purple, adorned with gold but Jesus said that the lilies of the field were more gloriously clothed than he was. The lilies were totally dependent on God’s provision, by themselves they were nothing. They had but one purpose – to point to the Creator.

My purpose, and your purpose, is to point those who see us to the Father. He is the One who will provide all we need. He sends the sunshine and the rain to nourish the flowers and He provides for us as well.

“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field…will He not much more cloth you, oh you of little faith”?

Final question: Am I trusting the Father to provide for me the way the flowers do? I ask you to “consider the lilies” today. Learn from these delicate beauties.

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Trust is Progressive

As with most things, trust is not a one time experience, it’s progressive.

Any adult who has tried to coax a child or grandchild into jumping into their arms in the swimming pool knows what I’m talking about. The child stands timidly on the side, while you are tell them repeatedly, “It’s ok, I’ll catch you”, knows it takes time for them to trust.

Each time it gets easier for them…trust has been built. There’s a track record that they can count on.

Do you have a track record with the Lord? Have you trusted Him in the small things of life and found Him always faithful? If so, your trust has grown and matured and you have a confidence that He will never let you down.

Perhaps you are standing on the edge for the first time and hearing the Lord say, “Trust me, I’ll catch you”.

This morning I would like to share a few of my favorite trust verses. Write them down, screen shot them, keep them handy. You’ll rely on them again and again. I know I have.

“God’s way is perfect. The Lord’s promise always proves to be true. He protects those who trust in him.” II Samuel 22:31 ERV

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in people.” Psalm 118:8 ERV

“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge.” Proverbs 3:5 ERV

Early in our marriage we were really struggling financially. Two small children to care for, Dave was working long hours but there was barely enough to cover household expenses and even less for groceries. I remember the first time I prayed over my grocery list.

My prayer went something like this. “Lord, you know I need to feed my family. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I only have $25 . I need a miracle. I trust You.” And off I went.

I was learning to trust.

I did not deviate from my list. The first item, bread, had a 2 for 1 special. Next was eggs, this week’s price 79 cents a dozen, milk, cheese, potatoes, flour, sugar…90% of the items were on special and if I remember correctly, I spent $23.74.

“Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. 33 What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” Matthew 6:31-33 ERV

I wish I could tell you that from that day forward I always trusted the Lord but that wouldn’t be true. There have been times, more than I’d like to admit, that I have done my own thing, trusted in my own knowledge and resources and have neglected to trust the Lord. The outcome was far from stellar.

But when I returned to trusting in my Father’s provision, He was always there waiting to help.

“So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16 CEV

Trust the Lord with the small things and soon you will be trusting Him with everything! It’s progressive.

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