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Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:25, 26, 29-32 NIV)
Isn’t that beautiful? Not just someone’s father. YOUR Father. Your Father, Mother, God is not waiting around for you to come around. God is not tapping His toes till you say the right prayer, or looking sadly down on you, wishing you’d really believe.
What IS God doing? God is loving His children; cherishing Her little flock, who depend entirely (if sometimes unknowingly) on God.
Does all the trying really hard, or all the worrying, or all the opinionated debating, or all the religiously motivated conflict, make God love us any more, or any less? If all our thought, all our worry, can’t add even one hour to this earthly experience, then how could our struggles and conflicts make a difference for actually acquiring success? Will worrying increase our ability to rest peacefully, or help us know that we are secure?
In a posting like this, filled with questions, you might think I’d have an answer to close off with. I don’t. Instead, I have an invitation for you to open the rest of your day with. Consider what it would be like, if your life was actually the effect of the existence of divine Life itself. Don’t try to ‘manifest what you want’ or live some kind of prosperity gospel. Instead, just see what it’s like to live as the effect of a Truth that is already complete. Cease your worries, even just for five minutes, and see what it is like to LISTEN for who you are, instead of trying to create yourself.
Try living out what Jesus was talking about, in the excerpt of the Sermon on the Mount that introduced this post. See what it is like, to live secure in the knowledge that you are deeply loved.
You might enjoy this musical offering about the depth of living this secure, restful confidence.
Today, I’m very grateful for all the opportunities we have, where we can enjoy the good that others have shared and realize more clearly that we have that same good to share.
This is certainly sort of a continuation of the theme from my last post!
I love seeing the good that others share! It reminds me of the good that I can share, as well. Why? Because “their” good is sourced in the same Cause as “my” good: God. God did not divide up goodness for some, success for others, attractiveness for others, and slick business skills for others. God IS, and therefore, God is expressed – in good, love, joy, for all. So every time I see good in someone else, or get to appreciate the good that another person is sharing, I get to revel with them in OUR good.
The great thing is, this rejoicing is not conditional on being able to go hang out in some thriving downtown, or being savvy with using social media, or being in some (supposedly) “model” family or relationship. God never separates you from all His good, from any of Her substance, and along with that good comes the perfect opportunity to witness and express.
Today, will you join me in loving to see good, to share good, and to trust the presence of good?
You might enjoy this fun, inspirational and illuminating video that a friend shared with me today.
Enjoy this great day!
Today, I’m feeling very grateful for the thoughtfulness of others.
Last Friday, we had dinner with some good friends, and then hung out at their house. It was of course really great to see these friends again, but I really appreciated some specific aspects of our time together.
Our friends told us they had been holding off on going to this restaurant because they know we really like it, and they were looking forward to going with my wife and I. I was so touched by this simple, thoughtful act of kindness. Was it a necessary thing? Well, I suppose that’s not really the point! Often, I realized, I let ‘necessary’ or other justifications get in the way of just simply being kind and letting my light shine. But light just shines! It doesn’t worry about how many clouds there are, or how many people will see it, or if it’s shining in a ‘useful’ place. Light’s simple nature is just to shine – to be the effect of the sun. I see more clearly now that it is my natural right and purpose to simply shine, as the expression of God, good – as we all are – and nothing can truly prevent us from that shining.
I love that, when we are more clear on the nature of our Source, God, then it is just so natural to know ourselves as well. And from there, we get to realize that nothing can stop us from being who we are: the whole, loved, loving, expressions of God. God, good, informs everything about us – our health, happiness, and security does not depend on changing circumstances, but on the simple fact of our identity as the effect of God.
I’m so grateful that these important, healing messages became clearer to me through this fun evening with friends! Every moment is an opportunity to learn more of God and God’s love.
