Landscape of Castagniccia in Corsica. by azezu
Good morning, beloved of God,
So, yesterday was our catch up day after a week at Rush. Cleaning, laundry..a good day of getting things done. With all the neurological issues at our homestead (LOL), we have decided to remove all harmful chemicals out of our house. And while that sounds all well and good and admirable, getting laundry, umm, clean with three boys and a tomboy girl, can be challenging..so I have had to start pre-treating stains, soaking clothes..yet for children who think socks are another shoe for the great outdoors…
Last night we went to the Hymn Sing at Moody Bible Institute with our children. A friend told me about it and I’m so glad she did..we have made a concerted effort to begin teaching the children about hymns and their origins and to hear my boys (Ella was falling asleep)belting out the hymns last night brought me such joy in the moment. I cannot speak to the tomorrows or yesterdays but the moment was brilliant. I held my hands in worship as we sang “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name“. The right way. Just sayin’.
Well, let’s dive back into the Sermon on the Mount and we find ourselves in Matthew 6.
We are looking for all the “do not..” and “buts..” beginning in verse 19…here we go with the “do nots..”
19 Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth…
20….where thieves do not break through and steal;
25 …stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on.
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them.
31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?
34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.
Paysage by moi
Now for the “buts”…
20 But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven…
23 But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness.
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?
33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
How beautiful is this teaching? This hope…
Do not hoard. Do not worry. Do not worry. Do not worry. Do not worry. (Seems to be a bit of repetition…)
The treasures of heaven are so much more worthy. He will clothe you. Seek first His kingdom and all else will be given to you…such hope. Such promise. What does this mean to you? To me, it means as we struggle financially, working through medical issues and the seen sometimes feels scary I can never keep my hope in what is seen. Rather, my hope must always be found in God. Singing aloud. Keeping His Word in front of me . Do not worry.
The medical bills roll in. Yet, we are nowhere near done with all the tests or doctors’ visits or therapist. The fear gets a little higher. My eyes cannot look to what is seen! He will clothe us. He will take care of our needs. Seek first His kingdom, Cara! We will keep doing His way and being right…not perfectly..last night singing with the family instead of just staying home and having the kids beg to play Wii or watch a movie..So much more significant. So grateful. So thankful.
And I make my lists of what I’m thankful for..I realized last night..this past week, I had gotten out of the habit! Bugger! How quickly I get out of the habit! How about you?
Well, I need to get moving…Ella has speech today…and I have more laundry to soak. 😉
Pray on. Do not worry. Do not compare. Lift your eyes to Jesus. Do not look to what is seen but keep your eyes on Jesus.
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