Behold the Birds of the Air

Original Photo by Cecilia Marie Pulliam

"Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they?" Matthew 6:26

This quote came up today in my devotionals. Interesting considering our new geothermal unit is wiping out our savings, plus some. And then, I saw this when I stepped outside with Cooper this morning.

God is certainly reinforcing His admonishment not to put my trust in earthly things like savings accounts. Of course one of my favorite scriptures follows this verse.

"And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature by one cubit? And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. And if the grass of the field, which is to day, and to morrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith? Be not solicitous therefore, saying, What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things. Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore solicitous for to morrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6:27-24  

It too has come up when I was faced with a financial struggle, coincidently followed by instances of lilies popping up in amazing ways. I suppose I've gotten accustomed to the lilies, and now God has switched to the birds. I've lived here for four years and have never seen a robin perched on that stump. Never. Until this morning. 

Thank you, Lord, for Your kindness and compassion, for all the ways You lift me up and encourage me. Amen. 

Money, Money, Money

For the first time in my life, I feel wealthy. I know the few thousand we garnered after selling our home is not real wealth, but it sure feels like it. For the first time in my adult life I need not count every penny, or wonder if I can buy toothpaste before payday.

However, it’s a fleeting security. I am only one disaster away from losing it all.

But, I am not worried, nor am I fretting. God has rescued me from financial catastrophes, health crises, and other troubles when there didn’t seem to be a way. Why should He stop now? It is Him I need to trust, not a savings account. Yet, it could be easy to fixate on that number, coveting it above all other things.

People often misquote St. Paul. He did not say money is the root of all evil. In 1 Timothy 6:10 he states, “For the desire of money is the root of all evils; which some coveting have erred from the faith and have entangled themselves in many sorrows.”

Psalm 48:7,8,11-12 continues with this: “They that trust in their own strength and glory in the multitude of their riches, no -brother can redeem... And they shall leave their riches to strangers...”

I want to be a good steward of the abundance God has blessed me with, but I will not become attached to it, at least I am praying I don’t. I need to trust The Provider and not that which He provided. It is an object no one should worship, hoard, or covet. Those are the sins of wealth St. Paul warns against. 

Diamonds are not a girl’s best friend. God is.