How Much More Are We

Scripture
Luke 12:22-34 (only 22-24 here)

He said to [his] disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds!"

Observation
Luke 12 in general is pretty amazing, it was hard to pick out which verse to reflect upon.  I ultimately choose this one because it is the one that I remember most and it is so comforting. Isn't it great knowing that God loves us so much!? We go about our lives, worrying about so many things. Sometimes we barely have time to breath.  From our home, our work, the volunteer stuff we do, family activities, sports, school, friends and on an on.  Sometimes we can get bogged down and feel like we can't do enough, there's not enough time, we don't have enough money, etc.

Application
Sometimes we need to take a step back, take a little breather.  Reflect on our life and what we've been doing.  Prayer is so important with this and is one reason why we should do this every day, multiple times a day!  From this passage, we know that God loves us and will take care of us.  We just need to trust in Him and follow His guidance.  Sometimes we push Him out because of our busy life and that's when things can go wrong.

Prayer
Lord, help me to realize how much you love me.  Help me to realize that you will take care of me.  I thank you so much for your love and blessings.  I give up to you all of my worries, all of my fears, all of my shortcomings.  Help me to understand how much more there is to life than what I've been worrying about. Feed me Lord!  Amen.

On Being Blessed

I've spent way too much time today on this and was going to simply not write anything, but I feel I should write something.  I obviously failed at reflecting on a more consistent basis.  But again, I think I may have solved this and hopefully I can get to this at least a few times each week.  This time I've set aside time each day at work.

Scripture 
Luke 11:27-28

While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Observation
I picked this verse because this struck me as, wow, is this down-playing Jesus' mother and her role?  And I started doing research and this is where I spent a lot of time on this.  I was then going to avoid this verse as it is controversial but decided what the heck.  Mary is a very important figure to Catholics as well as Orthodox and some Protestant churches.  I found out that this is the verse that many non-Catholics use to down play Mary, mother of God.  Depending on the translation, some Bibles will show some affirmative in Jesus' reply in the form of something like "Yea, rather..." or similar (KJV).  Jesus affirms that his mother is blessed, but he goes deeper to say that hearing the word of God and observing the word is being blessed and that's what's important to us. The Greek word used there is an affirmative word to what the woman is saying.  Also, just a few chapters back you have the passage that states that all generations will call her blessed.  So Jesus is not contradicting scripture or saying that Mary is not important here.  But he is explaining how we can be blessed which is deeper and more important to us than simply stating the fact that Mary is blessed.  Which is kind of a "duh, of course she is, but if you want to know how you can be blessed, here's the formula."

Application
Sometimes we worry too much about other people when we need to first look at how we are.  How we are observing God's word and how we are obeying Jesus.  It's easy to point fingers at others and to see greatness in others without realizing that those who are wicked and those are blessed won't help my salvation at all so I should be focused on what's important first, my soul. I struggle with this as I can easily say that I care more for my children's souls than my own, or my wife's soul.  I want to put them first even before myself.  But I can't really help them, until I have helped myself.

Prayer
Lord, help me listen to you and to do your will always.  Help me understand you so I can then help my family understand you.  Help me to do your will so I can help my family do your will.  I pray that you guide me and protect me from those who would wish to do me evil. Be my guard, for no evil can surpass you.  Amen.

The Harvest

Well, it's been quite awhile since my last blog. I think I figured things out and should hopefully be back on track!

Scripture

Then I looked and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.  Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the time to reap has come, because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.”  So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. 

Revelation 14:14-16

Observation
Well, there you have it. I'm pretty sure we want to be part of that harvest, and not the one that comes after. Armageddon.

Application
Hmmm... don't worship the beast. Accept Jesus Christ as your personal saviour. Love God. Love your neighbor. Be good and do good. There's my simple formula for helping to ensure you are part of the good harvest. Oh, and try and help others be part of that harvest too.

Prayer
My God, I love you and all you do. Forgive my wicked ways and I humbly beg my Lord Jesus to come to me and save me. I know I'm not worthy and nothing I can do would change that, only by your grace and love can I be saved. I am the camel and you will guide me into the eye of the needle. Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy. Amen!