Tomorrow will worry about itself.

Matthew 6:30-34

Replacing fear with faith seems like the best way to respond to worry. Worry seems to develop from our fear of the unknown. With worry, we conjure up a script of our own making, but we really have no idea what God has planned. We seem to be hard wired to fill in the unknown with something we can wrap our minds around, and it’s usually pretty scary.

Once we have an idea of all possible scenarios, we work hard to prevent them from occurring. We struggle instead of inviting acceptance based on the power of Christ in us. God’s desire is for us to rest in what Christ has already done. He knows that by seeking the Kingdom of God, our mental energy will be consumed by the right stuff instead of our unnecessary negative thinking.

There is confidence in knowing God is in charge. When we draw close to Him, the more we realize the grace He provides is always enough for today. "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matthew 6:34)

In what area of your life do you find yourself worrying? Can you imagine God working in that place? Remember God is faithful. Tomorrow will bring His mercy and His grace.

Good Shepherd

December 15                                                                                             

Scripture Reading
Read John 10:1-5 and reflect on the passage.

Sometimes the holidays are full of worry. Travel plans must be made. Food must be prepared. We want to give our friends and family the perfect presents. And, my goodness, what will we ever do with the junk they think is perfect for us!

We have so many parties and events to attend, we’re busy the whole month long – "But that’s not the reason for the season!" we think. "We must make time for Christ!" And pretty soon we’re worried we’re not being good Christians, we’re not celebrating Christmas the way God intends.

I’ve spent much of the year reflecting upon my worries, and God has answered me time and again with the instruction of Matthew 6:33, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Why? Because that kingdom and righteousness we seek is that of the Good Shepherd who cares for His flock. He makes us to lie down in green pastures, He leads us beside quiet waters, He refreshes our souls (Psalm 23).

I hear His voice. And in His presence I have rest from all worries of this season and this world.

Questions

         What worries do you have this holiday season?

      If you traded your worries for rest would the Good Shepherd meet your needs?

Prayer

Lord, fill my heart with trust in You that I may know Your perfect peace.

                                                                                                                                    Star Bradley

My One Word

I spend a lot of time worrying about tomorrow.  Will I have enough money? Will there be enough time to do the things I dream of doing? This sermon series has me thinking a little different. I am starting to feel the only thing I need is to get over myself. I am working toward that end.

The word, discipline, has been in my face a lot lately. Each year around this same time, I begin praying about or for, the word God wants to use to speak to me. The words God has used in the past always seemed to coincide with something I need to learn. A behavior I needed to improve or eliminate. He even uses words as an acknowledgement of a season of life I am stepping out of or into.

For example, one year, faith was my word. God wrapped it in scripture verses for an appointed day in my devotional; or plopped it right in the devotion for that day. That year I began to intentionally build my faith, spending an twelve months seeking God's direction and blessing the area of faith.

The year following my husband's death, my word of perseverance. That year I felt God's hand on my life and my hart as I practiced perseverance in spite of the difficulties and obstacles. Today, I find myself praying for my word for 2018. God keeps bringing me to the word discipline. Oh, oh. What is this about?

I recognize that God has been preparing me for this. I know how much I need discipline in many areas of my life. He is preparing me for tomorrow. He is showing me where I need to improve. He is revealing how my focus needs to be pulled away from all those things I want...and they need to be on all those things I have.

I love these words from Proverbs 3:11-12 (MSG)

But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; 

don’t sulk under his loving correction.

It’s the child he loves that God corrects;

a father’s delight is behind all this.

I am still in the process of discerning what discipline will mean for me moving forward, but I am sure it will be just what I need.

1 Corinthians 9:24-26

Don't Worry About It

Today’s passage comes at the perfect time.  Since yesterday’s election, the internet has been bombarded with differing opinions.  One side of the aisle claims that everything will now be fixed while the other says we are all doomed.   We are such a polarized nation, but both parties had one thing in common on Tuesday.  Before the results were reported both sides were consumed with worry.  

Both parties were worried that if the “wrong” candidate won, we were fated for disaster.  Matthew 6:25-34 has something to say about that. I’m sure you have been told, “No matter who wins, remember God is still on the thrown and Jesus is still King.”  Yes, that is true.  Very true.  Matthew’s message is even more personal than that. 

Verse 25 says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…”  Verse 26 reads, “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?”

Don’t miss that, “ARE YOU NOT MUCH MORE VALUABLE THAN THEY?”  God loves you.  He has a plan for you.  He has numbered the hairs on your head.   So, what do we do when we are consumed with worry?  Verse 33 answers that question, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  To seek his kingdom, we must take our attention away from what is causing us to worry.

Maybe you’re not concerned with politics but your family is going through a tragedy.  Perhaps your job is consuming your thoughts day and night.  So many things take us down a path of worry.  Take some time and seek God’s kingdom.  Write down a memory verse and focus on that when the worry creeps in.  Pray that God will show you how to focus on his will for you and not your worry. 

Heavenly Father,

Please help me in my time of worry.  I can’t control everything that is going on around me and so I give it to you.  I know you love me and you have a plan for me.  Show me how to seek your kingdom and not my worry.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Read today's passage here Matthew 6: 25-34

Twenty-six years ago Bobby McFerrin wrote and performed a catchy song called Don’t Worry, Be Happy. Essentially, Bobby says no matter what your circumstances, it is best not to worry.

Good advice, but easier said than done!

 

Most of us have a list of things that cause us to worry. I worry about the economy and whether my kids will have the same opportunities I had. I hope my three daughters will have loving, God-fearing husbands. (My two married daughters do!) And I sometimes worry about my mother who lives a couple hundred miles away.

 

Today’s reading is Luke 12:22-34. A large crowd gathered to hear Jesus speak. In this parable, he tells the people to not worry. Yes, Jesus acknowledges they have needs, but he reassures them that, as God’s children, God will ensure they have what they need. Their (and our) priorities should be on spiritual things.

 

God will see to it that our physical needs are met on Earth. But there is more to it. In Acts 14:17 St. Paul tells us that God, “fills our hearts with joy.”

 

Joy and happiness are a bit different. Webster describes happiness as enjoying something, or having pleasure. Happiness, therefore, is associated with our circumstances in this world. Joy, on the other hand, is contentment, regardless of circumstances, that gives us inner peace.

 

Only God can give us joy. He did this by sending his Son to die on the cross to take away our sins. What joy it is to know that my eternal life has been taken care of! There is nothing I need to do!

 

With a heart filled with joy, there is not a lot of room left for worry (although there will always be some room for it because I still am stained with sin).

 

No wonder Jesus tells us to set our hearts on spiritual things! That will reduce our worries.

 

Now, back to Bobby.

 

There is nothing wrong with being happy. Bobby’s tune is pleasant and worth remembering. But, we might want to alter it just a bit.

 

Don’t Worry, Be Joyful!

Matthew 6: 19-21, 24-34

Stewardship and the Kingdom of God

What is really going to matter 100 years from now? I used to teach with an amazing man who has gone to be with the Lord, but while here, Jim was always a calming force in my life. My father lived in another state, and though he loved me and shared his wisdom with me from time to time, Jim was my dad away from dad. As a young teacher, I would sometimes get upset about things and go to him. Jim would remind me of the importance of staying calm. “The only two things worth getting worked up about are birth and death,” he would say. Though he never referenced the bible, probably because we worked in the public school setting, I discovered at his funeral how his life was driven by God’s word. No wonder he had such peace about him, even though he was often dealing with very significant issues as an administrator.

Matthew 6 reminds us of what is truly important as well, and that worry is futile. If we value that which is eternal rather than the things of this earth, we will be at peace, awaiting our heavenly home. Our birth offers us the opportunity to live for the Lord, and our fate upon death is determined by what we do in between birth and death.

 Jim was so right.

Verse 19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven….. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Verse 24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hateone and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Verse 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…”

Verse 27 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

Verse 33 “But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

In Philippians 4:4-7 Paul includes these verses, as he ends his letter to the Philippians; “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Amen.

Read/Listen to Matthew 6:19-34 

Prayer is Shouting-Confident He hears

 Psalm 5:1-3 (NIV) Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.
 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.    

David, the Psalmist, is talking to God. He is telling Him how much he values the time spent with him in the morning.  David knows, as do we, our problems don't vanish while we are sleeping.  David also knows the best way to begin the new day, to get started right, is with time in prayer. 

His enemies are still chasing him, they still want to harm.  His situation hasn't changed overnight. But he knows it can. He knows that he serves a God who can do anything.  Do we know that, do we believe that?  Do we believe in prayer?

Prayer is much more than my laying my wants before God.  It is more than a shopping list of the needs I have, that I expect God to fulfill.  While He might do that, He might give us everything we ask Him for just because He can, that is not all that prayer is meant to be. 

I am hurting LORD - heal my heart
I am suffering GOD - remove the pain
I am afraid dear JESUS -give me courage
I am hungry FATHER - provide for grain

How many times have we gone to sleep at night with our hearts and our minds filled with worry? How to do we wake up in the morning -- with our hearts and minds filled with worry. I find when I lay my head down at bedtime and pray, talk it over with God, shout even in my heart, I drift off to sleep with thoughts of Jesus.  I wake up the same way, not filled with worry but with my first thoughts of Jesus.

It is as if I didn't finish my prayer the night before and am just now saying the final words.  My heart is lighter even though the problems still exist.  This gives a fresh start to the day and a sense that God was with me through the night and He will be there throughout the day.

Psalm 5:11 (NIV) But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Read and listen to Psalm 4, 5, 6