Matthew 6:30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you men of little faith?
Now I am fully aware that many do not care for the Message translation but I must use it here because it says it......
Matthew 6:30-33 (The Message)
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
The first word... "if" is a key word. You must resolve the if before the rest has any signifigance. Of course that's my opinion. I must become convinced that the "If" is a for sure or I can't do the rest. This is why we have spent 22 days looking at birds and plants. It's why I carried my plant and why you carry your plants. It is to learn thoroughly... thus resolving the "If."
Then the words, "most of which are never seen" caught my attention. I drive 20 miles a day to Onething and 20 mile back home. This morning was the first time I noticed a bird flying overhead with this huge branch in its mouth. The branch was at least twice the length of the bird and it had many off shoots as well amking it larger than the bird in all ways. I found myself captivated by what I was seeing. It appeared that he was struggling to stay aloft but since I don't read bird minds I can't say that for sure and actually he did not seem very willing to let his prize branch go. If that bird was me I'd have let the branch go and gone to look for a more managable find. That then made me think of how many things I let go. I did not like the first thoughts because they were all God things that I have abandoned. Some because they were bigger than what I thought I could manage. Some because I was..... well you can finish that line with way to many scenerios. I still have some distance to go in resolving the if and I want to thank all of you for walking that road with me.
APPLICATION - Just SELAH (pause and think on this). The benefit.... You may choose anything you want. Just give me a verse for your request.
Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you will walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as unwise and witless, but as wise, sensible, inteligent people; Making the very most of the time - buying up each opportunity - because the days are evil.
(Hebrews 11:1-2)
ReplyDelete1Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. 2It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.
(Hebrews 10:35-36)
35Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards. 36Learn to be patient, so that you will please God and be given what he has promised.
These are two verses he is teaching me right now.
(May I have food for my plant?)
Today in my counseling session these verses really hit me and it's one I have read before, but a new meaning came to me today.
ReplyDelete2 Corinthians 12:1-10
This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God know. Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.
That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong
Can I get a pruning for my Bella?
1st corinthians 3:10-15
ReplyDelete10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
For the past year now, I've been guided in Ministry by this word. Its a challenge to all whom may consider doing things in the name of God all willy nilly. Again showing that God will have Grace on you but it may come with consequences brought upon by ones selfish desires or misguided thoughts.
I'd like some miracle grow
Yes, yes, and yes! Let it be written, let it be so as you have requested.
ReplyDelete19 "Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.
ReplyDeleteBecause of sin we were commanded to toil the earth. I think that's all we've known as humans. To toil, to get more, and to build a reputation built upon what we've gotten. God is still the God of Adam. He wants to give freely to us just as He did to Adam. It's a process of relearning not to toil, but to walk with Him again in the still of the morning. To trust that He has good to give, and wants to give.