Hope

The past year, as in no other time of my life, I continue to learn to be dependent on God as He provides. As I watch news clips and hear reports of a multi billion dollar bailout by the US Government for our banking industry I am reminded of so much scripture where Jesus warns us not to store up earthly treasure, but reminding us that our hope is eternal.

I am not saying we should be irresponsible or encouraging people to not plan ahead, but just want to remind us all, myself included, that Jesus never fails. His world interest and love for mankind is here to stay. Period.

All of this coupled with a great sermon yesterday reminding us that the "I AM" who sent Moses to Pharaoh so that the Israelites would be freed is the same today that He was then. He is our redeemer, our sustenance, our life, our love, our salvation, our stronghold, our breath... the list goes on and on.

Matthew 6:25-34 "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about you body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Gather feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labot or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

What are you afraid of?

This summer my family spent a week together in a cabin on Strawberry Lake. It was right after my niece and nephew got out of school, so the weather was a bit tenuous. Most mornings provided a cool, flat lake for peaceful kayaking and canoeing. A few of the days proved to be a little cool for actual swimming, but we filled our time with playing on the swing set and evening walks around the lake looking for deer, fox and wild turkeys.

My nephews favorite few minutes of the stay was when I dumped into the lake in a kayak. Most days we could coax him to the dock by announcing that Aunt Amy was getting in a boat. He would demand 'do it again Aunt Amy, do it again' and giggle while he waited and I was unwilling to oblige.

Our enticement to bring him down to the dock became more difficult on a particularly warm, sunny day. We pleaded for him to come join us in and by the water, but he wanted to stay in the loft and look on at the water. For whatever reason he was convinced that it was going to rain, which bothers him GREATLY. For most of the warmest day, he was inside looking out. We wanted him to experience the joy of the day, but were unable to allay his fears of 'pending rain' and he missed out.

What am I afraid of? When is God pleading me to enjoy the day while I am obsessed with something so ridiculous that all standing by realize that the chances of my fear becoming reality is slim to none? When do I need to experience the joy of the day instead of watching out the window? God promises us 'more than we can ask or imagine'!