Perspective

As a nation, we have not ever gotten over Hurricane Katrina, and now we have a category 4 bearing down on the Texas coastline. Wow! Rita. 18 named storms this year! I don't ever remember getting to "K"s before.

I feel badly saying what I'm getting ready to in light of the true devastation that has taken place in the lives of many people. And I confess that I struggle with self-centeredness too much. But I find myself worrying far too often about how this stuff affects me financially. Gas will go back up to $3 as oil companies take advantage of the storm. And with Beverly and me commuting as much as we do right now -- it is really whupping us. Also, my retirement planning has been disappointing. I was not able to really begin to save for retirement until after the great stock market days of the 90's. In fact, I reallly begin in earnest in 2000. Then there was 911, and a sluggish, bear market has now carried on for 5 years. Now Katrina. What little advances have been made in the last year are now retreating.

And you know the worst part about it? There's not a thing I can do. I can't stand to be in situations in which I can't do anything.

So, I really need to hear Jesus' words today from Matthew 6. Because we are so familiar with these words from our major translations, let me share with you from THE MESSSAGE:

"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer apppearance than the clothes you hang on your body . . .

Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion -- do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alohngside them.

If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers -- most of which are never even seen -- don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep you life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."

Thank you, Jesus! I really needed that. Get my eyes off of me and onto You!