Vengeance Is Mine

We all watched the news in disbelief as George Floyd was pinned to the pavement by a police officer, unable to breathe. We also watched as people looted stores in anger over Floyd's senseless death. But did you hear THIS story?

Korboi Balla is a former firefighter in the Minneapolis area. He had sunk his life savings into a sports bar that was all set to open June 1. He was so excited. It was his dream!

Then the death of George Floyd took place and the ensuing riots. Apparently some idiots, and I am being rather generous in that description, thought it would be a good idea to start burning things up. Flames get attention, right? And it doesn't matter what gets burned either - cars, television sets . . . sports bars.

Korboi Balla's sports bar got torched. Mr. Balla is black. He lost everything because someone thought destroying things would solve all of their problems. What a shame.

Let's zoom out and take a look at what's really happening here. People see injustice and they get angry and frustrated. I get that. They should. We ALL should. We are supposed to feel that way towards injustice. But we are not supposed to burn and loot and destroy. God said that vengeance is His.

"Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.” - Deuteronomy 32:35

The looters and burners and destroyers are usurping God's power. They're going to end up burning in hell just like the murdering cop will. They are no better than he is.

So, what SHOULD have happened? We, the people, should have allowed the system to work. Instead they are assuming that the system will not work and are therefore taking matters into their own hands. That said, our "system" is a human system run by humans.

And now we arrive at the REAL problem. Bad cops are a problem, yes. So are looters and arsonists. But they are not the REAL problem.

SIN is the problem.

And all sinners are deserving of death according to God's judgement system. Every one of us is guilty of SOME sin. A price must be paid. That's for sure. And we all must pay that price . . . unless . . . someone paid that price for us. Enter Jesus.

Jesus already paid that price but we have to accept what He has done for us to receive the benefits. We have to place our faith and trust in Him. Is that too much to ask for for a commuted death sentence?

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23

My Wife Is Moana

Yesterday I realized that I am married to a movie star - Moana. Well, sort of.

You see, my wife and I went for a walk yesterday next to a river. As we walked down the path we came upon a painted turtle trying to cross the busy trail.

My wife quickly let go of my hand and walked over to the baby turtle. She watched over it until it made it's way to the other side and safety.

My wife's act of kindness reminded me of the scene in Moana where the young island princess does the same thing. She left behind her pursuit of a seashell to save the innocent little turtle who was on a journey of his own.

"What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it?" - Luke 15:4

Jesus speaks a lot about things that are, or are about to become, lost. The whole of Luke's chapter 15 addresses the subject. Why? Why so much attention about lost things?

That's easy. Jesus spoke these words for our benefit. We ARE the lost sheep. We ARE the lost coin. We ARE the lost son.

What happens when lost things are found in Luke 15?

The Lost Sheep - "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!" (v6)
The Lost Coin - "Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!" (v9)
The Lost Son - "But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry." - (v22-24)

Jesus LOVES finding lost people. And whenever He finds one there is much celebrating in heaven.

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." - Luke 15:7

Who is the baby turtle in YOUR life? Is there someone we should be praying about today that is in need of rescuing by Jesus? Let us pray for the lost that they too might be found. Then let the rejoicing begin!

Moana Saves A Baby Turtle

A Memorial Offering

It's been an interesting couple of months - worshipping from home. Interesting. Not necessarily enjoyable. But this week we received news that churches and worship were "essential" - a "memorial" before God.

Yesterday was the first day back in our church for Sunday worship. I wasn't sure what to expect. As I approached to front door, it was standing open. That was good. No touching. And when I walked inside no one was in the entryway, all per instruction from our pastor.

Then I saw some friends, elders of the church. Each one greeted me warmly by name. I did the same with them. No hugs, although the desire was there. Then I walked into the sanctuary. My brothers and sisters!!

It was so good to see everyone again - gathered together to worship our God. I sat down in my socially-distant chair and we began to worship. That's when it hit me. This is what it's going to be like when I die and go to heaven.

I figure I'll arrive in some state of floatiness. No one will be there at first but then a couple of familiar faces will greet me. Friends or family perhaps. People I haven't seen in a while in either case. They will greet me by name. And there will be hugs. Lots of hugs.

And then we'll go into the throne room. And we will worship! We will sing songs we all somehow know. No big screens to follow. The words and tune will be in our hearts.

And, as I look around the room on this future day of worship, I start to cry tears of joy. The children!! Look at all of the children! And the soldiers, both men and women, who sacrificed everything so I could worship back on earth! They're all here!

After I get done looking around at everybody worshipping I will look up towards the throne and . . . there He will be!!! Jesus!!!!

I don't mind telling you I just got chills typing that. I got chills today too at church when we sang our worship songs. This one song in particular caught my attention. The chorus of this song! What a special meaning it will have on that glorious day.

Here I Am To Worship - Sonic Flood

The lives we live today, each one is a memorial to God. Do we live in such a way as to get God's attention?

Cornelius was a soldier. He got God's attention by the way he lived his life and he was blessed for it.

"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." - Acts 10:4

Let us be like Cornelius - living is such a way as to be a memorial offering to God.

Define Essential

Defining what is "essential" these days is a hard thing to do. It really depends on one's point of view and individual situation. What are YOUR essentials?

Some essential things have to do with our physical condition. I have a friends with COPD. For him, an oxygen tank is essential. What about a taxi driver? One might think that a vehicle would be essential. It's not. He COULD just get a different job.

"Essential" is something we can't live without.

Politicians will tell you that they are essential. We'd better look up the definition of the word essential because I'm not so sure that politicians qualify.

Essential - "fundamentally important or necessary."

I rest my case.

I see people selling "essential oils" on the Internet. Are they really essential? No. So why do they call them essential?

Yesterday, President Trump said that places of worship are essential. I'm not so sure. I mean, I'm glad he said what he did and I am glad to be able to go to church tomorrow. But PLACES of worship are not essential. WORSHIP is what is essential for the believer, wherever it is. It is essential to our spiritual self and who we are.

What IS essential in YOUR life?

Here's MY list.

1. God

One could easily ask, "Gee Bob, what about oxygen? Food? Shelter? Clothing? What would happen if you didn't have those? You'd die!"

So?

People spend so much time focusing on what is essential in THIS life. What is essential for eternity? The list is a very short one indeed.

Here's an essential verse. It contains everything we need to know about life. ETERNAL life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

Now THAT is essential!

The Choice

Everyone wants to love and to be loved. So why do we find it so hard to do? Why do so many feel unloved? The answer is simple. It's all about the choices we make.

Life is a series of choices. What shall we watch on television? What shall we have for dinner? What color paint shall we use? What outfit shall we wear today? What's for breakfast? SO many choices, so little time.

But when it comes to love there is really only one choice. And it has nothing to do with ourselves.

Our pastor had a really interesting sermon on Sunday. We are going through The Book of Genesis right now - the creation story. God created the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve sinned by eating fruit from The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. That raises a few questions but the biggest question is this.

If God already knew we were going to sin, why did He plant the tree in the first place? I mean, if there was no choice to be made, we wouldn't have made it.

If you take a step back and look at things from a distance, Adam and Eve really did have a choice. It was between being obedient to God and satisfying their desire for the fruit. They chose the fruit. We chose OUR desires over our obedience to God's commands every day. Just like Adam and Eve.

Have you ever read this verse?

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." - John 14:15

Or this one:

Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." - John 14:23

During our pastor's sermon he offered this statement:

"True love always offers a choice."

Is that true? Are we ALWAYS given a choice? What is our choice if we really love someone?

What IS "true love?" What is God looking for from us?

Why do we go to church? Is it obedience to some Old Testament command? Is it out of obligation to a God who could kill us at any moment if He chose to? Or is it out of TRUE love? Do we worship because we love God?

When Jesus prayed shortly before His death, he prayed that God might "take this cup from me." But then Jesus amended His prayer saying, "Not mine, but Your will be done."

Jesus made a choice. Out of His love for God the Father, Jesus relinquished His personal desires for those of God. Jesus made a choice. He chose to be obedient. He chose obedience because of His love for The Father.

What choices will WE make today? Will we choose our desires over our spouses? Will we chose to obey God's commandments? Or will we choose our own selfish desires? The choice is ours. What will we choose?

The Telltale Mask

How afraid are you during this Covid-19 "pandemic?" People's opinions and fear levels vary as widely as our trust in the government these days. What do you think? Should we wear a mask or not?

I volunteered at a local food pantry on Saturday. It was interesting, the variety in the level of personal protective wear.

There were probably 200+ people there for food. The vast majority wore no masks. Some had them in their cars but weren't wearing them. Others not only had their masks on but sunglasses on, windows rolled up and the windshield wipers on . . . just in case.

It is my opinion that the face mask is an indicator of our personal level of fear. No fear = no mask. Mask? You are afraid of something.

People say they are afraid of catching the virus. For some, that fear is based on existing health conditions. My friend Larry is in his 60's, has COPD and a heart condition. He wears a mask. I can understand his fear. But what about the 20-somethings who wear a mask but then take it off so they can smoke?

I don't wear a mask. Unless, of course, I'm going to Menards where you need to have one on to get inside. That's not fear, that's temporary submission to accomplish an end.

Here's a thought. Would Jesus wear a mask? No. Why not? Well, He is God. Jesus has conquered death. What does He have to fear? Nothing.

Here's another question. What should our level of fear be for us Christian?s Well, from what I read in the Bible, our fear level should be zero as well.

"I have spoken these things to you so that you shall have peace in me. You shall have suffering in the world, but take heart, I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Our days are numbered, virus or not. We can not add to them or take away from them without God already ordaining it. Live life, not according to the government's will but to God's. Trust Him. Whether we get sick or not, we should trust in God who gave us that life in the first place. It is His to do with as He sees fit.

Me smart, be safe, but trust in God. He loves you!

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. b 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." - Matthew 10:28-31

The Parable of the Lost Disc

There comes a point, when we have lost something, that we either find it or give up looking. This is a story of the latter.

I have organized a disc golf league in our community. It's the perfect sport for this Covid-19 time we are living in. People are looking for something to do. It's outside, in small groups and people are rarely within six feet of each other.

Out local group has a Facebook page - WaupacaDiscGolf. Just a way to communicate with players and organize events. It also has a Lost and Found area where people can report discs they have found or lost.

This past Thursday I received a message. Someone had lost a disc on Hole #7. Hole #7 is a blind dog-leg to the left. You can't see where your disc lands after you throw it. That's not always a good thing. Such was the case of a young Waupaca man. He couldn't find his disc. He had given up.

However this young man did something after he had given up all hope. He contacted the Facebook page, hoping that someone else might find it. Because of this young man's seeking help, his disc was found. Why? Because others knew to look for it? Yes. But it was really because this young man asked for help.

How many of our friends or family members are lost - living their lives without seeking God's forgiveness for our sins? Without that repentance and forgiveness from God, we are all doomed to spend eternity in hell.

The brush pile the disc was lost in was scheduled to be burned. There is not much hope for a piece of plastic in a fiery inferno. The same goes for us. Unless we know Jesus.

I should tell you that I was the one who found this guy's disc. Before I began my search I prayed. Not that I would find the disc but, that is I did, it might lead to a conversation about Christ with its owner. I found the disc six feet from where I prayed.

Pray for future conversations about Jesus - with friends, family and people you don't even know. Jesus has commanded us to reach out to the lost. They are all around us in this world. We have to seek them out. God will provide the opportunities but we also must be prepared to deliver the words when the time comes. Are we ready?

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," - 1 Peter 3:15

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" - Luke 15:4

Need Encouragement?

We all need encouragement from time to time. It's what keeps us going. When we begin to doubt ourselves and what we're doing, encouragement is the glue that holds our dreams together. God is the master encourager. It seems He always encourages us just when we need it the most.

I was supposed to be teaching disc golf classes this summer. In a few weeks actually. It was to be part of the summer school program in our area. But then everything got put on hold with the Covid-19 disruption.

When stuff like that happens I often will stop and ask God if I am on the right path. I really want to be doing the things that He wants me to do. But then I doubt. Should I go on? Or should I put all of my plans on hold.

I was thinking all those things recently. I was told by those in charge that "we'd talk again in the fall" but you know how that goes. "What was your name again?" So I was kind of sad. I thought I had everything figured out. And then it stopped.

Well, yesterday I was doing some volunteer work at the disc golf course - emptying trash, raking leaves - when I came upon a mom and her daughter. "That's cool," I thought.

The mom said she was teaching her daughter how to throw. Funny. That's what I wanted to do.

"I was going to teach kids how to play disc golf too," I said. "But the classes got postponed due to the virus."

We talked a little more about the postponed classes, about kids in general, the virus, etc. And then the mom said something that got my attention.

"I run the rec classes for the middle school in Wautoma. You should come teach a class!"

Do you see God working yet?

Names and numbers were exchanged, hopes were raised and I was encouraged. As I thought about the "chance" meeting later, I smiled. What are the chances of two people meeting like that with such unique yet similar interests? One who teaches disc golf and one who was looking for someone to teach a class.

But that's how God works. When we least expect it, God will send some encouragement our way IF you are doing something that HE wants you to do. Have YOU ever been encouraged like that?

We Christians talk a lot about God opening and closing doors. My encounter yesterday was more like God kicking me in the pants and encouraging me to keep going. How has God encouraged YOU lately? Have you thanked Him for it? Or just chalked it up to being an amazing coincidence?

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust God First - Dallas Theological Seminary

Who Wants To Live Forever?

I have a difficult question for you this morning. If you found out you were immortal and you would live forever but the love of your life could not, would you still want to?

That is indeed a difficult question but Conner MacLeod had to face that very situation in the 1986 movie The Highlander.

If we were faced with that situation what would we do? MacLeod loved his wife to the very end. He never left her side. Only till death did they part.

For those of us who believe in Jesus Christ, we might as well be named MacLeod because our lot is the same as his.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

Blessed are those who are equally yoked with their spouses . . . who both believe in Jesus Christ. They truly will live forever, together. But woe to those who are unequally yoked. Their unsaved spouses will perish. But the believing spouse, "though they die, yet shall they live." (John 11:25)

Are we prepared for that? Are we prepared to see loved ones perish in their unbelief? We had better be because, sadly, that's what is going to happen.

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14

But think about this: Jesus (the immortal bridegroom) died for the love of His life (His immortal Father) so that we, God's believing creation (the bridegroom) might have eternal life.

How blessed are we that Jesus would die for us so that God could be with us, forever.

Who Wants To Live Forever - Queen

The Parable of The Clorox Wipes

Why are these things so popular right now? I'll tell you why. It's because they kill germs and everyone is a germaphobe these days. And with good reason!

When the corona virus pandemic first started to show it's ugly face around here, people started hording personal hygiene products like toilet paper and . . . Clorox wipes.

My wife ran out, so did our daughter-in-law - both of them clean freaks, or so they tell me. My wife looked in every store she went to, trying to find those darned wipes and nobody had them.

Soon, the bathroom smelled of a new odor - a substitute concoction some Facebook Susie-homemaker came up with. Nasty smelling stuff. I'm not sure it killed any germs but it probably made them leave town due to the smell.

Each time my wife and I go shopping she always checks for her hard-to-find wipes. Each time she has been denied. Until last weekend that is.

We were at our local hardware / farm / hunting / garden store last week. My wife went to check for her wipes. The shelves were bare. She hung her head and slumped her shoulders in disappointment. "When are you going to get more of these wipes?" she asked a nearby clerk.

She wasn't really expecting an answer. It was more of a frustrated, rhetorical question. But the clerk replied, "Just a minute. I'll check in the back." She disappeared but soon she returned with a single container of Clorox disinfectant wipes - tucked under her work vest. She gave the wipes to my wife.

It might as well have been Christmas because my wife's face lit up like a Christmas tree! Her day was totally made. Day? Her MONTH was made! She was SO excited to finally have some or her long sought after wipes! Then she did something that caught my attention, and the attention of the Lord God Almighty I should think. She gave them away.

While our daughter still had some, our daughter-in-law was out. A meeting was arranged, the transfer was made, and it was Christmas time all over again. Only in someone else's eyes.

That single act of selflessness impressed the heck out of me. What an amazing thing to do. Despite having searched for those stupid wipes for over a month, when she finally found what she was looking for, my wife gave them away to someone who needed them more.

That's exactly what we are supposed to do with the Gospel. We are not to keep such wonderfulness to ourselves. We are commanded to share it with everyone we meet.

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, (her lack of wipes) put in everything—all she had to live on.” - Mark 12:41-44

The people who hoarded all of the personal hygiene supplies did so for their own good. They were being extremely selfish during a difficult time for everyone, leaving mothers, and those REALLY in need of these items, without.

But not my wife. She did what was right in the eyes of The Lord. And I was very proud of her for doing so.

The No-Bug Hug

Today, hugs are hard to come by. But that's okay. I have a plan. It could become a movement actually. However, it would require rebelling against society and governments and all the naysayers across the globe. Who's with me?

Here's the deal. We all have close friends and relatives. We all miss them. And we trust them to tell us the truth, right? Well, the next time you see them ask them these three questions.

1. Do you have "the bug?"
2. Have you recently been with someone who has "the bug?"

And if the answers to both those first two questions is no, ask them this third question.

3. Want a hug?

I am willing to bet that if we make it to question #3, we will ALL receive hugs and we will for sure feel a whole lot better about all this covid craziness going around.

BUT most of our governors want us locked up in our homes, afraid to go out. Shouldn't we obey them? They're the government after all.

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves. " - Romans 13:1-2

Well, that's pretty clear. Or is it? What if the "authorities" overstep their legal authority? Do we still obey them? Even if what they are doing is contrary to the written law and/or God's will?

God commands us to "love one another". What does that love look like when someone could really use a hug? Do we say, "Not today," and just walk away?

"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" - Matthew 7:9

I've had two friends commit suicide in my life. I've lost others to cancer, drunk drivers, drug overdoses. My threshold for disobedience is low when it comes to showing love and compassion for others.

I hang my hat, and this story, on one verse from Jesus. When He was speaking with His disciples about loving God and loving others, He said this about those commands - the Greatest Command. It's pivotal.

"All the law and the prophets hang on God's command" to love. If that is true, and it is, then love supersedes law. Love is the BASIS for law. See Matthew 22:40

We have to be smart. We have to use our heads. But we also have to be compassionate and loving. If someone we know and love is in trouble, mentally or emotionally, will we "give them a stone?" No.

We will give them a hug.

The Blessed Hope

This is the view I have as I write most of my stories - seated at our dining room table. Today I see a sign of hope. Can YOU see it?

There are many signs of spring we can observe. Robins returning to nest, sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds, daffodils coming up. But one sign for me is the appearance of our hummingbird feeder.

Too many times I have waited too long to put it up. Then I hear that buzzing of hummingbird wings and I know I have failed my little feathered friends.

One summer I failed so miserably that the hummingbird come to the sport where his feeder normally hung, hovered there for a bit, gave me a disgusting look, and flew off.

This year I am ready. I am hopeful. I don't want to disappoint. And I won't because the feeder is hung in anticipation of an arrival long waited for.

Oh, my precious Lord, Jesus. How we long for Your return as well. The signs are all around us that the time is near. We need to be ready because it will happen in an instant - the twinkling of an eye. And then, for those who are NOT ready, it will be too late.

When I was a child, staying with my grandpa and grandma, I remembering watching out the window towards the two-mile corner for my mom and dad's car. It was night time so I would watch the headlights of the oncoming cars, hoping they would turn into the driveway. Many didn't but I KNEW that soon one set of lights would slow and turn and I would be off running to greet them.

I wait every day. I pray every day. My thoughts and hopes turn skyward. And I am longing for His glorious light to appear. Our blessed hope.

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." - Titus 2:11-14

Waiting . . .

Workin' For A Livin'

Do you have a job? Have you been designated as "essential" by our government? During the week of April 19-25, nearly 30 million Americans filed for unemployment. So what do we do if we find ourselves without a job? How do we put food on the table?

It's interesting the types of jobs deemed "essential" in our country. Garbage collectors are "essential" while religious services are not. You can't cut peoples hair but you can perform an abortion. What do we do if we've lost our job and nobody's hiring?

The Bible is pretty clear about how things "worked" 2,000 years ago. You don't work, you don't eat.

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." - 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13

These days we have unemployment compensation, social security, disability income. But what would we, or could we, do to earn some cash if all we had was our abilities or our physical strength?

Interesting question. I look at myself and wonder what it is that I, on my own, could do to buy food and to pay my taxes? Answers are few and as hard to come by as a job.

I write stories but no one would pay money to read them. I could mow somebody's lawn I guess but I live five miles out of town. I could hunt and fish to put food in my belly but how do I get actual cash?

Think about it. How would we actually survive? The Bible tells us what to do. Or what NOT to do.

"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." - Matthew 6:31-34

We read that and say, "Yeah, that's nice but I need to eat. My baby needs diapers." No! Read those verses again. The first sentence is a command by Jesus telling us "do not worry!" He actually says it twice.

Yeah, but.

NO! God will provide!! What we are lacking is patience, not a job. We lack faith, not food. That's a hard thing to stomach right now but it's true. Yes, look for a job. And look with open eyes. Well, there is a farmer down then road. He's hiring. Maybe he needs someone to drive the tractor. Look around!

A friend of mine lost her job. What is she doing? Making masks for people. Another friend of mine was looking for some puzzles. She also was out of work - a waitress. I took her some puzzles. She gave me some strawberry jam. God will provide. "O, ye of little faith."

PRAY!!

Workin' For A Livin' - Huey Lewis and Garth Brooks