Matthew 6: 25-33
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 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? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We will all have some kind of trouble, suffering, hardship. I am needing this reminder. Right now, there are things that are out of my control. There are things that I "usually" worry about. I am a worrier by nature, and yet I have a perfect peace. A peace that I know can only come from my Father above. He seems to be reminding me that He is sovereign and in control each and every moment of my life.
These reminders come in the form of messages at church. I am so very thankful that God has given me a Pastor who's sermon notes are so what I need when I need them.
When suffering happens, I should follow Christ's example.
* I don't have to win anymore. I don't have to keep pressing my point.
* I don't have to look good anymore. I can stop the "Me" campaign.
* I don't have to be perfectly understood anymore. I don't have to tell my side of the story over and over.
* I don't have to retaliate when I have been hurt. I don't need to allow bitterness to overtake my heart. I can let go of grudges.
These reminders come in the form of books that I am reading, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Jo Anna Weaver.
In Chapter 8 Lessons for Lazarus, she reminds me that "Life rarely works in happily ever afters."
*What Satan intends for evil, God still turns for good.
*God has a lot he wants to teach us as the "Story" unfolds. For tucked between the twists and turns of the everyday plot are the valuable lessons about who God is and how he words and how we fit into the tale.
* God always has a plan.
* We overcome life.
Romans 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
*Sometimes, bad things happen. People suffer so that God can be glorified.
John 9:3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
These reminders come in the form of scriptures read at Mass.
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
God's message to me can not be any more clear. So, in the mean time. I am enjoying my family and family time. I am enjoying watching God's plan for my family unfold. I am relishing in prayers that God is answering. I am enjoying worshiping and attending Church as a family. And, in all these things I have a perfect peace that God is in control.
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