November 21, 2009

• Another winner

  I try to start each day with an Upper Room e-devotional to help me keep on track. This morning’s was just too good to keep to myself:

  Today’s Worries

  Suggested Bible Reading

  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you–you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

  -Matthew 6:25-34 (NRSV)

  Today’s Scripture

  Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

  -Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

  IN my backyard are several bird feeders that I try to keep full of seeds. Sometimes when I return from traveling or run out of feed, I notice that no birds come to check the feeders. Sometimes I worry and feel guilty that I have let the food run out. But as soon as I fill the feeders, within hours the usual assortment of birds finds its way back. I wonder who takes care of the birds when I cannot.

  In a similar way, when my son’s Boy Scout troop collects canned food for the hungry, I worry that as much as we give, it never seems to be enough. When I think about how many people go hungry or need to hear God’s word each day, the challenge seems overwhelming. There will always be more than we alone can do. What is the answer?

  Christ tells us to put our faith in God. To be concerned is a call to action, but that does not mean a call to worry. Instead, we do what we can with what God puts at our disposal, and we trust God to take care of the rest. (See 1 Cor. 3:6-8.) We do our best and trust God for the rest.

  Mark H. Anderson (Pennsylvania, USA)

  Prayer

  Dear God, remind us to share what you give us with those in need and then to be still, waiting for your will to be done. Amen.

  Thought for the Day

  Long after we’ve done all we can, God will still be working.

  Prayer Focus

  Community food programs

  • 11:15 am
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