REENTRY

At what point does a blessing become a curse? I would dare say that most of us don’t realize to what extent we’ve been blessed. It’s hard to in a society with is constantly telling you “you don’t have enough, you need this, you won’t be happy without that, you need more, more, more.” It will never be enough. It becomes a painful realization once you have spent some time in a third world country where the people have little to nothing materially. But they are considerably wealthier then we are. Their faith is in Christ. They rely on God for everything (their basic fundamental needs just to sustain life). They hold on to Him tightly. You’d think they would be depressed and sad. But no, they are some of the happiest, most joyful people I have ever met. Their joy comes from the Lord. It is not that there isn’t anyone in this country like that, there are, I know some. It’s just much more difficult here. Ask someone with cancer what’s really important and they tell you. We have a neighbor who has cancer. She’s married with three little ones. She stated that “the blessing that comes out of this is the fact you realize what is truly important in this life and you no longer take it for granted.” I would ask that you would pray for Brenda, for her healing and for strength. Pray for her husband Troy, for strength and protection (physically, spiritually) as a husband and dad. You can imagine what he’s going through and as men we often go through things quietly and alone. Pray for the three kids as this can be a very scary time for them with Mommy “sick.”

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into the barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than them? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his gory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry, then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:24-34

In this passage God spells it out about as clear as anyone can. So why is it so difficult? Because it goes against our human (sinful) nature. We are greedy, selfish people. And it is only through Christ living in us and working through us that we can do as God commands. I pray we all learn the lesson Brenda has.