February Worries

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your birthday, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what you will wear. Is not your whole life more important than your one special day and your year more important than this recognition. Consider the birds of the air, they do not even know their birthday and yet your heavenly father feeds them and they sing with joy. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour of fun to your life?

And why do you worry about gifts? See how the flowers of the field grow. They don’t make lists or worry and yet, Solomon in all his splendor was not blessed with that much beauty. If that is how God gifts the grass of the field which is here today and tomorrow fuels a fire, will he not much more bless you, oh you of little faith? 

So do not worry saying, “ what will we eat, who will we celebrate with, and will it be fun” for the pagans run after these things and your heavenly Father knows what you need and what you want. But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and He’ll provide for your needs…and probably bless you even more than that. Therefore don’t worry about your birthday, for your birthday will worry about itself. Each day has enough worry of its own…especially Valentine’s day… 

(based on Matthew 6:25-34 and my own neuroses)

Hanging with Solomon

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 1:2

Lately I’m been hanging out with Solomon. Despite the fact that I have an amazing husband and wonderful kids, despite the fact we are all in good health and live well in a warm home with plenty of food, despite the fact that I’m living the “American Dream”, I’m discontent. All of this feels meaningless.

I know I’m not supposed to say that. When so many people long for the things I have, I am not supposed to be discontent with my life. Call it a mid-life crisis if you like. All I know if that I want much more than this.

Many years ago, Paul Barnes, our pastor at the time, did a sermon series on Ecclesiastes. He mentioned that Solomon was looking at things from an “under the sun” perspective. When we look from God’s perspective there is meaning and purpose to our lives. And today it hit me that I haven’t been looking at things the right way.

You see, I’ve been concentrating on my own brokenness. While Jesus says on the Sermon on the Mount “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”, I wasn’t letting Him comfort me as I mourned over my sinful nature. I was stuck.  I might still be stuck, but I’m hoping that I am changing perspective. 

My life may look small “under the sun”. But God’s plans for me are worth doing and doing with passion and humility. Whether its sweeping the back of the church or serving Him in some more noticeable capacity, there is meaning in my being here and being used by Him for whatever He might allow me to do.

OK…not perfect but…

I’m hoping that by using Windows Live Writer, I can avoid the annoying parts of blogger. I’d prefer to move to another platform, but I don’t really want to pay for it. *sigh*  Let’s see if this dude fits!

dear blogger...I'm over you