Category Archives: The Gospel

The problem with, “God is warm and fuzzy.”

Matthew 7:7-8
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

We often live by sight and point out to where we see God at work in our lives.  These recognitions are often positive, warm, and fuzzy.

The problem with “God is warm and fuzzy” is that we tend to give up after halfhearted efforts to find God when things don’t go our way.  We conclude that God cannot be found and we miss out on experiencing the Lord.

Knowing God takes faith, focus, and follow-through.  Continue to ask God for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love, and understanding.  He will give them to you.

Question: What is a struggle in your life where God may be at work? Click here to reply.

The difference between worry and concern…

…is this:

Worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action.

Planning for tomorrow is time well spent.  Worrying about tomorrow is time wasted!

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference.

When you carefully plan you’re thinking ahead about goals, steps, schedules, and trusting in God’s guidance.  When this is done well, it can actually alleviate worry!

On the other hand, worry is consumed by fear and can make it difficult to trust God.  Plans can become a barrier to a relationship with God when worry is present.

Do not let your worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today.

Question: What are you worried about?  Click here to reply.

Seven Reasons Not to Worry

Matthew 6:25-34
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Seeking God means to turn to him first for help.

That’s tough because anything can bump God out of first place.  People, objects, goals, and desires all compete for loyalties in my life.

Still, we’re called to live for God and not worry about anything else.  From Matthew 6:25-34, here are seven reasons to not worry:

1.  The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life [verse 25]

2.  Worrying about the future hampers your efforts today [verse 26]

3.  Worrying is more harmful than helpful [verse 27]

4.  God does not ignore those who depend on him [verses 28-30]

5.  Worry shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God [verses 31, 32]

6.  There are real challenges God wants us to pursue, and worrying keeps us from them [verse 33]

7.  Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry [verse 34]

Question:  What competes with God for first place in your life?  Click here to reply.

Five Effects of Worry

Matthew 6:25
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

It is not uncommon for one of my daughters to ask first thing in the morning, “Dad, what are we having for supper?”

My response is often limited to five words, “Do not worry about it.”

Worry detracts from experiencing life to the fullest.  Jesus also tells us not to worry about the things that God promises to supply.

Here are five things that worry can accomplish:

Damages health – Worry is not beneficial for your body

Consumes thoughts -  Whatever object or scenario you worry about has the tendency to take over your mind

Drains productivity -  Because you’re paralyzed by worry, your actions will slip to stagnation

Negatively affects the way you treat others – Worry can lead to a short temper which has a spill over affect to your daily interactions

Reduces trust in God – Because worry is the fear that you may not be able to cope with a situation, when in reality, God is the one in control

Worry reveals itself in my life through the way I treat others.  I may not even realize that I’m worried about something until I become short or brash in my replies to my kids, wife, or even friends.  Those moments are a trigger to me that I’m worried about something that needs tending to.

Thing is, most of the time I’m worried about something that I can’t control or that is silly when I see it through.

Question: How many ill effects of worry are you experiencing?  Click here to reply.

Wheaties Box Treasures

Michael Jordan on the Wheaties box, I remember, was the coolest thing.  So cool, that I would eat Wheaties for months on end to save as many of the empty boxes as I could!  We had garbage bags full of empty Wheaties boxes stored in our basement, not broken down, but set aside to be preserved in splendor and glory.

Those boxes were my treasure.

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