DO NOT WORRY

DO NOT WORRY

It had been raining since dawn on Sunday .Drops created a tune as they  trickle on the window glass.The fresh vegetative glow lured me from the window. Immediately, I had put my cap on, had grabbed the camera then was out the door!

I found myself on the pathway 300 meters from home.I started to take some pictures of interest. I could hear the birds chirping but I couldn't see them.A fly had taken cover under the ferns as I turned my back.The most enlightening scenario was looking at a tiny spider sheltering under a broad pinnate leaf. Its gleaming  web didn't escape my camera's lens.

I enjoyed feeling the drops of rain on my feet and seeing the street water splashed as the cars passed. But as I walked on I couldn't help but wonder about the spider depending at that leaf. I just wondered how the spider would survive if the wind was stronger and the rain heavier? Could the leaf still be intact,sturdy enough for the spider to depend its web on? 

Does the spider worry about that? Well, spiders do have protective mechanisms created for themselves that's certain.God is so wise to have created every need to meet every living thing on earth.

As I was editing the pictures for this collage, I was inspired to link the spider scenario to man's worries in life like the needs, wants, diseases, calamities etc. I recalled from the gospel of Matthew 6:25-33 from the words of Jesus our Lord an amazing example of being at rest with Him with regards to our basic needs. The 91st Psalm also offers more from our Lord with regards to troubles, pestilence etc.

DO NOT WORRY

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink;or about your body,what you will wear.Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air;they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.They do not labor or spin.Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,will he not much more clothe you. O h you of little faith? So do not worry saying,"What shall we eat?, "What shall we drink?" What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN YOU AS WELL.THEREFORE, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW,FOR TOMORROW WILL WORRY ABOUT ITSELF. EACH DAY HAS ENOUGH TROUBLE OF ITS OWN.

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."

Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your right side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe in your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the Lord, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you,no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command your angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra:you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

BECAUSE HE LOVES ME, says the Lord, "I WILL PROTECT HIM FOR HE ACKNOWLEDGES MY NAME, HE WILL CALL UPON ME AND I WILL ANSWER HIM. I WILL BE WITH HIM IN TROUBLE. I WILL DELIVER HIM AND HONOR HIM.WITH LONG LIFE WILL I SATISFY HIM AND SHOW HIM MY SALVATION."

The only condition to have it all in our life is to follow THE PATH that JESUS is leading us to. Again, "BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS"..from Matthew and "BECAUSE HE LOVES ME"- that is loving the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and soul. Loving God according to John is Obeying His Commands and Loving our neighbor as ourselves.

So, do not worry. I flung out the door that day depending to our Lord. Jesus was my raincoat of protection. :-)


W- worry not!
O- oh worry not
R- reach out to Jesus for
R- real help comes from Him and let
Y- your yoke unto Him be lain

Living my Life like Tangerine Sprouts

After a week trip in China for the Spring holiday, my boss brought some tangerines as present. I was about to throw the seeds in the bin when I noticed the back door pot with some space for growing seeds. I put about 7 seeds for trial and had prayed they would grow. The good taste and the idea of having them as bonsai moved me to take care of them. 

After a month, I was watering the potted plant at the back door when 7 sprouts about 4 to 7 cms gladly smiled at me. Joyfully, I transplanted them in separate pots to avoid competition and had added fertilizer . Worried about the lack of sunlight, I had transferred them near the window indoor.  I made a chart for growth and development and had taken some pictures for documentation. 

Looking back, memoirs have associated this joy of nurturing the tangerine seeds to my conversion as a Born Again Christian. The good taste of the tangerine is the Word I heard that directly convicted my heart to accept the ministry of reconciliation to God. Thereafter,it was followed by joy and strength in the spirit that I continued to nourish myself with the Word and grow in my faith and service to Him. One way or another I wish to share this good taste to others as the infinite goal.That would be from the seeds I am taking care of, hoping one day they will bear fruits.

In here the lives of the sprouts are dependent on me as the caretaker. They have no choice but to depend on me for water, fertilizer and the acquisition of sunlight since they don't grow in their natural environment.

Truly, recognizing that God is the source of everything and that I'm nothing without Him allow my life a total surrender  to Jesus Christ, the Only Vine I am attached as a branch where nutrients pass through. John 15:5~I am the Vine you are the branches,If a man remains in me and I in Him,he will bear much fruit,apart from me you can do nothing. Jesus has the control of everything from the source of my income, health, emotional stability etc.In case of trials and problems,I am also expected to trust in the Vine where the nutrients-solutions come from making all things easier for me to handle. Matthew 11:28~ Come to me you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart,and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

As the caretaker of the tangerine sprouts, I know somehow the basic needs for their growth,thanks for the gift of knowledge taught in my Biology class.For God, He is but all knowing and my life He knew before I was born. In Jeremiah 29:11~For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you hope and a future." What more should I ask, yes, He has created me for His glory and He wants to make sure that I am doing just that. If I remain in Him obeying His commands then everything will go well as He had planned for my life ever since I was in my mother's womb. Like taking care of the sprouts making them as bonsai as ornamental and supporting them to bear fruits which are good goals. So as the plans of our Lord to our lives.

"So, we make it our goal to please Him ~2 Corinthians 5:9 and everything will go well.