WORRY, CONCERN, ANXIETY

Around and around we go. There is so much to worry about, isn’t there? We worry about our health, our kids (young or grown), our finances, our leaky roof, our vehicle, our job, our parents, the bank down the street, the national economy . . . the world . . . .

Yes, there is enough to worry about until we reach old age which, if we keep worrying, will come earlier than we want - so we worry about that, too.

So, what’s the solution? Does God want us to live in a constant state of anxiety and near panic? NO, He does not! Let’s listen to what He wants us to know as we live our lives here in this crazy world:

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you . . . . Jesus says in John 14:27

Then, if I have His peace left to me, why do I worry about so many things?

Jesus goes on to say: Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. . . .

Oh, if I’m not to LET my heart be troubled, that must mean I am to DO something when I feel worry even begin to creep in.

What am I, specifically and practically, to do?

Casting all your anxieties on Him, for He cares about (is fond of) you. I Peter 5:7

That’s something that I can picture doing. If I cast all my garbage curbside - it is gone. If I go to the cross and leave my worries, burdens, anxieties, concerns…. there, then they are gone! In fact, when scripture tells us to cast our cares on HIM, that’s an even better solution than just taking them curbside. When cast upon God, He means to carry them away - far away from us because then He will take care of every one of them. Just watch!

Now what? Return to the house after setting the garbage curbside (or laying them at the foot of the cross) to worry about the same old - same old - or even new issues? NO - we are to continuously do what:

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer, supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 & 7

Heavenly Father, please show me the practical steps I need to take to keep my heart and mind in Christ Jesus - and at peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

THE POTTER - GOD!

God is still busily creating. Not only is He busy creating each new person who is born, He is busy creating YOU even now. He is continuing to create who He wants you to be.

Yes, He once upon a time created who you are genetically, including what you look like, but He also wants to continue the process on your inner person.

He wants us to be conformed into the image of Jesus:

Yet, O Lord, Thou art our Father; we are the clay and Thou art our potter; we are all the works of Thy hand. Isaiah 64:8
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After God has created the outer person, how does He create the inner person? Good question. Have you ever watched a potter at his wheel? He takes a wet, formless glob and ‘throws’ it on his wheel. He begins to turn that wheel around, envisioning what it will become. Once completed, the piece stands - whole and complete but not quite finished.

Now comes the fire. Some pieces are fired again and again, emerging more beautiful with each firing than could be imagined.

Behold, I will refine them and test them. Jeremiah 9:7

Have you noticed that we are going through the fires of life, daily? Little things happens to make it so. Big and bigger things sometimes happen, too. But the Master Potter knows exactly what it will take to make us into who He envisioned from the beginning of time. Are you willing?

Heavenly Father, I surrender myself into Your Potter’s hands. I submit to the firings I need to be beautiful in Your sight, like Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

THE EXCHANGED LIFE

Do you like your life and what it includes right now? Do you like who you have become at this point in your life?

Think about it.

There is Someone who is willing to exchange your life for His, if you so choose. No matter how good or bad your life seems right now, would it be a relief to pour it all out - every bit of it - to the God who created you and knows you better than you know yourself?

Then - since that leaves you empty of yourself, wouldn’t it be wise to ask God to fill you up with Himself - all of His holiness, loving attributes, kindness - all that He is, now becoming a part of you?

Wouldn’t we be better off to live an exchanged life - daily? God has so much more envisioned for us than we can even imagine. But it is only by living an exchanged life that we can even touch upon it and capture His vision of His life within and lived out through us.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Heavenly Father, I come to you to exchange this life for Your life. I empty myself of the life I have now and surrender it to You. Please fill me with Your life to overflowing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

FLEXIBLE OR INFLEXIBLE?

I always . . . . I never . . . . Maybe it’s time to explore some of these ‘always’ and ‘never’ things in our lives.

Do we just do some things because we’ve always done them that way? Or are we participating in life under the direction and leadership of the Holy Spirit?

Doing things the same way and acting the same way can be symptoms of inflexibility. Doing and being the same can rule out the Holy Spirit’s ability to bring God’s life to your life.

Do you see it? Are there areas of inflexibility in your life which do not allow for the freedom of the Life of God to flow in and through you?

Let’s look at ourselves sto see where we could be more flexible, williing ot have ourselves and our lives arranged and re-arranged by God Himself

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:14

Heavenly Father, we human-sheep tend to get in ruts of inflexibility in what we do and who we are. It seems safer there. Please help me to be open to new ways, new attitudes and fresh paths from You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

SERVING CHOICES

Who are you going to serve today? Are you going to serve God . . . Or yourself? Are you going to serve healthy food for your body’s nourishment or are you going to serve food which can cause damage? Are you going to serve 80 hours on your job, or stay within healthier time boundaries? Are you going to serve your family and friends in kindness or in abrupt unkindness? Are you going to serve your boss or supervisor wholeheartedly or only as your duty and obligation.

Who we serve and how we serve tells a great deal about us.

What does your serving tell about you?

Choose this day whom you will serve. Joshua 24:15

Therefore are they before the throne of God and serve Him day and night within His temple; and He who sits upon the throne will shelter them with His Presence. Revelation 7:15

Heavenly Father, please help me put on a servant’s apron and do those things You give me to do. Please help me to do those things wholeheartedly and cheerfully, as I know that by doing so, I am serving You in that way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

GREENHOUSE FINERY

In the spring when the greenhouse opened, it was ablaze with color. Everything was healthy looking and blooming to prove it. Geraniums, petunias, galardias, begonias, allysum, pansies. They were all there having a riot of color amongst themselves.

Carefully considering the plants that were known for loving full sun, I chose those for the east side of my home and for those that loved the the shade during the day, I chose for the west side of my home. I loaded my new friends into my vehicle, transporting them safely, unloading them carefully, hoping they would enjoy their new home.

When the danger of frost was past, I planted them in their new containers and waited. To my surprise, it was like they had run out of steam. It was like they had finished blooming and just sat there in all their green leaf finery. There were no more blossoms, no more color, just green leaf finery from July until frost.

How disappointing, I thought. I began to wonder how God looks at my life - did my life blaze in color for one brief season and then quit? Am I only so much green leaf finery now? Or does my life continue to exhibit life, color, blossoming into new life as He gives it?

And on the morrow Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod . . . had sprouts and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.
Numbers 17:8

Heavenly Father, I don't want my life to be just nice leafy show - I want it to count in Life-giving color and blessing to others. But most of all, to be a pleasure Your eyes. In Jesus' name. Amen.

BLOOM LOW

Usually daisies grow about knee high and gently sway in the breeze. These, however, were blooming quite low to the ground. Why? Apparently this species of daily adapted to what it had to do to survive and multiply.

How does this apply to our lives? Let's think . . . .

Do we find ourselves in situations in which we must bloom low? Are we taking care of a child or elderly parent who requires constant care - so constant that we must bloom low just to survive it? Or perhaps it is a job which requires long hours and much energy and we find that we must bloom low to get through the busy times. Or it may be just life in general right now which brings us 'low' - we find we are no beauty swaying gently in the breeze but a little wildflower with a tenacious hold, close to the ground - but still in bloom.

Yes, we have been told for years to - Bloom where you are planted. Good advice, and sometimes we must bloom low.

How are you doing with this blooming thing - do you only bloom when the sun shines nicely on your face or can you bloom when you feel that you have been mowed down again and again, unable to change the place where you dwell at present?

Can you say:

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord. For His sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8

We can be confident and also say:

And I am sure that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

May we take stock of where we are at this season of our lives - are we popped up with blooms ablaze to the glory of God or are we, at this particular time, to bloom low.

Heavenly Father, please help me bring glory to Your name no matter what the circumstances. In Jesus' name. Amen.