Matthew 6:30-34 God cares for us!

 Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 

Our faith is in our Father, in His gift of salvation through the person of Jesus, to do for us what mankind cannot! We allow the peace of God to reign in our hearts. In prayer and supplication ask for the Father’s will to be done in our lives and the lives of those we love. We trust God, in the power of Holy Spirit, to guide and direct us into His perfect plan for us. Our faith in our triune Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,  allows  God’s  will to work in our lives.

BUT God…but for His intervention in the lives of humanity we all would be without hope! He chose the Israelites to bring knowledge of Him to the world. We owe them a debt of gratitude. In them the Good News would be shared with all of God’s creation. As believers in Jesus we are adopted as heirs to the promises given to Abraham and we can rest in those promises.

Matthew 6:30-34 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

There is the Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of God. The whole of creation is in the Kingdom of God and is under His control. The Kingdom of heaven is inside it and we Gentiles reside in that circle of love as the Body of Christ. 

Acts 1:3-6 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 

That  earthly Kingdom will be established with the descendants of Abraham under the rule of their returning Redeemer King, Jesus the Christ. 

Daniel 2:34-35 34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

The great power and might of the remaining Gentile nations will be brought down.  But it will be broken not by human means but by the very hand of God in the stone, Jesus the Christ.

Daniel 7:13-14 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

The Kingdom of God and the rule of Jesus will be everlasting and His Kingdom will never be destroyed! Carla

Grass and weeds were used as fuel for fires. Jesus uses this phrase when the disciples doubt God’s ability to take care of them (Matthew 8:26; 14:31; 16:8). Jesus presents two further reasons to avoid worrying about food and clothing: Such concerns are the prerogative of the Gentiles  and God in His omniscience already knows the needs of His people. Members of the kingdom should not be concerned with these things since their heavenly Father is already aware of them.

When people make God’s kingdom their primary object of desire, they find the ability to trust Him to meet their needs. Jesus is not telling people to postpone their worrying for a day; He is instructing them to stop worrying altogether and to rely on God’s gracious provision. There is no sense in adding additional worry. Trusting in the Father’s provision serves as an antidote to anxiety. Faithlife Study Bible

Gentiles refers to non-Jews or to the heathen—those who do not know God (John 7). The Jewish people, because of God’s revelation to them, were supposed to think differently than the Gentiles. To seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness means to desire God’s righteous rule on this earth. The NKJV Study Bible

Take no thought for your life. Not about the length of it; but refer it to God to lengthen or shorten it as he pleases; our times are in his hand, and they are in a good hand. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Matthew 8:26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 

Matthew 14:31 and immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 

Matthew 16:8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you

“May I live this day compassionate of heart, clear in word, gracious in awareness, courageous in thought, generous in love.” (John O’Donohue)

Yes. This day. This life. Yes, where news can overwhelm, and the world tilts. Where we forget (or cannot see) that human connection and healing power is alive and well. Spontaneous gestures of kindness are alive and well.
Empathy and compassion are alive and well.
Sanctuary is alive and well.
Ministry is alive and well.
Beauty and gladness are alive and well.
And music from the heart is alive and well.

So, this is my prayer: I want to be awake and fully alive, in this life, in this moment, the very one I am living today.
Precarious? Indeed. Which is why this life is so much more precious.
In other words, instead of struggling with helplessness or anger, where do we park our well-being. From where do we choose? And what do we honor?
What enables us to engage, or even care, to work for change or healing, and not simply turn our eyes away?

St. John of the Cross’ reminder was straightforward, “When you find no love, put love, and you will find love.” Sabbath Moments

God's promise to Abram that "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3) was directly pointing to the Messiah. Jesus, as a direct descendant of Abram (Matthew 1:1), fulfilled this promise in His life, death and resurrection, through which all people have the opportunity to experience salvation.

God's ultimate plan for redemption began long before Abram. Like God chose and called Abram, He "chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him" (Ephesians 1:4, emphasis added). Ponder for a moment that over 2,000 years before Jesus was born, God was not only thinking of all humankind, but He was also thinking of us personally.

"God so loved the world," rebellious sinners like you and me, that He called Abram ... so that through Abram's lineage, Jesus would come to earth and give His life for us ... so that "whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

We are the beneficiaries of God's promise to Abram. The blessings the world offers are nothing compared to the blessings of God. Actually, the true blessing of God is God Himself: knowing Christ and experiencing His presence as we follow His plan. And we have been chosen to bless others by helping them know Him too! First5

Matthew 16:15-17 We grow, precept by precept, by faith.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

The just shall live by faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 

Behold the proud, 

His soul is not upright in him; 

But the just shall live by his faith.

We live by faith in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus the anointed of God. We live because Jesus died in our place. Throughout the Old and the New Testament faith allowed God to act in the lives of humanity. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Romans 4:1-8 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. David Celebrates the Same Truth 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

When we turn form the beggarly things offered by the idols  of this world to the one true God we are saved by our faith in Him. 

Matthew 13:54-58 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Our unbelief in Him stops His character from developing in us through the teachings and guidance of Holy Spirit within us.

Matthew 16:15-17 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

The Father opens our eyes to the truth of our salvation in Jesus the Christ. 

John 11:25-27  Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

The family of Lazarus recognized Jesus as the Christ the Son of God and their faith in Him allowed Lazarus to be raised from the dead.

Acts 8:36-37 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

In order to be saved we must believe in the Son, sent by the Father, the anointed of Holy Spirit. In the manner that we receive the Good News of salvation, is the manner that we can receive from the very hand of God in our lives. Carla

Peter reaffirms Jesus’ identity as Messiah. In response, Jesus promises to establish His church in an enduring way through Peter.

The Greek word used here, christos, meaning “Christ,” “Messiah,” or “anointed one,” is equivalent to the Hebrew, mashiach, which primarily describes kings in the Old Testament. This is the second such confession by Jesus’ disciples. Jesus’ Declaration at Caesarea Philippi is In contrast to the pagan gods associated with their surroundings at Caesarea Philipp.Faithlife Study Bible

The Spirit of grace revealed to Peter the true identity of the Lord Jesus. 

Son of the living God refers to Jesus’ deity. Several factors point to this conclusion: (1) He was born of a virgin (1:18–20); (2) He was called Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (1:23); (3) the title in Greek is emphatic: “the Son of the God, the living One”; and (4) later passages describe Christ as God (John 20:27–29). 

People do not come to faith in Jesus Christ by scrutiny or searching, but by the Father’s revelation of the Son to them  (John 6:65).The NKJV Study Bible

Galatians 1:15–16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 

Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 

John 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus.Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

“As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you." In this quote, Christian author C. S. Lewis gives us some profound words to meditate on concerning pride. 

Despite human defiance, God ensured His command for humanity to fill the earth would be fulfilled. And to ultimately redeem humanity, God was already putting His plan into motion through Shem's descendants, who would lead to Abraham (Genesis 11:10-26; Genesis 12:1-3) and eventually to Jesus Christ as the Messiah (Matthew 1:1)! 

In gratitude for His endless mercy, may all God's people say, "To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!" (Psalm 123:1). First5

“May I live this day compassionate of heart, clear in word, gracious in awareness, courageous in thought, generous in love.” (Thank you John O’Donohue)
Amen. And yet, there are times when our kindness "immunity system" feels compromised and overwhelmed—from exhaustion, or division, or pettifoggery.
And we give way to choices that break us down (weaken us), rather than build us up. So. It is no surprise that we miss seeing, and we miss giving, and we miss receiving, kindness.
A compromised immune system has been on my mind these recent days, and I’ve been doing my best to take heart in (and practice) all the ways that immunity, and well-being, can be restored. Yes, ways to stay hydrated—physically, emotionally and spiritually.

"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members, a heart of grace, and a soul generated by love." Coretta Scott King wrote. And this is a perfect reminder about what keeps us restored. Yes, spiritual hydration. Sabbath Moments

Jonah 3:5-10 BUT for Gods’ intervention we would be without hope!

 BUT God! We are lost in ourselves but God intervenes in our plans when we turn  our control over to Him. His plans are always for our good and in Holy Spirit we change  . Our hearts are turned to His in the mercy and truth of Jesus that He gives to all who accept Him. We become His living testimony  to others in our sharing of the Good News of Jesus.

Ruth 1:1-5 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.

Moab was forbidden to the Israelites. Naomi found herself there without her husband or her sons.  She decided to return to Bethlehem her place of origin.

Ruth 1:11-16 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.

Ruth chose to stay with Naomi and to choose the God of the Israelites. In her loyalty to Naomi the lineage of Jesus was established in her marriage with a close relative the man Boaz. The Moabite gentile united with the Israelite Jew to form the salvation that would be offered to the world in Jesus the Christ.

God directs our life. In Him we are placed exactly where we are supposed to be. We are prepared for the good works that He has prepared beforehand for us. 

Jonah 3:5-10 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? 10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

Jonah did not want to go to the Gentiles and he ask for death rather than obedience to God. BUT God saw their repentance and extends His mercy and lovingkindness to them.  in Jonahs’ disheartened obedience to go to Nineveh he became the voice of God to those without hope. Our obedience to the guidance of Holy Spirit directs us to the mercy and grace of God for all of His creation.

Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Jesus came to His own covenant  people in fulfillment of His promises to Abraham BUT through Him mercy extends to all of His creation. When we repent and change our minds  He is there to save us  in the sacrifice of the Cross of Jesus for the sins of the world. Carla

In the region of Nineveh, it easily could have been more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the sun. This is the third time Jonah longs for death. 

Population estimates for the ancient city vary and depend on whether the surrounding countryside is included in addition to the city proper. The estimated population for Nineveh and its surrounding areas is around 300,000 for the seventh century bc, a century after Jonah. Much of the population of Nineveh lived in the countryside outside the city walls as farmers, herdsmen, and fishermen. The mention of a great number of animals indicates the reference is to more than those inside the city walls. The figure of 120,000 is reasonable for the city’s population. Not knowing their right from left  may be a figure of speech for those who have no knowledge of God, indicating spiritual and moral ignorance. Faithlife Study Bible

The Book of Jonah depicts the Lord as both sovereign and free to act in creation. God placed the worm in the plant to serve as His agent in Jonah’s life. The scorching sirocco wind that blows in from the desert draws moisture from plants, causing them to wither. The word translated is it right comes from the verb meaning “to be good,” “to do well,” or “to be pleasing.” Here, as in Genesis 4:4, the expression has to do with ethical behavior. Jonah’s anger did not arise from a desire for justice but from his own selfishness. He continued to justify his rebellious attitude. And again, God was merciful. 

Pity describes an expression of deeply felt compassion (Psalm 72:13; Ezekiel 20:17; Joel 2:13, 14). However, Jonah pitied himself more than the plant. Pity is the same word used to describe Jonah’s feeling toward the plant in verse 10 and is used of God’s feeling toward the people of Nineveh. 

People are of more value than animals, and animals of more value than plants, but the Lord has a concern that extends to all of His creation. The Lord’s pity comes from His character. If Jonah could take pity on a plant, which is even less important than an animal, it only made sense that God would take pity on human beings, who are made in God’s image. The Book of Jonah ends on this note of contrast between Jonah’s ungracious heart and the kind heart of the Lord.  The NKJV Study Bible

Deuteronomy 1:39 ‘Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. 

Jonah 3:10–4:1 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 

Jonah 4:3–4 Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”Then the LORD said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

Genesis 8:21 (ESV) "And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, 'I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. '"

Thankfully, the story does not end there. Among all the disobedience and sin, God showed His faithfulness by preserving one man and his family: "Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:8). By God's grace and through Noah's obedience to build an ark, God saved a remnant of both humanity and all the animals that otherwise would have been wiped out in the flood (Genesis 7:7-9).

When the flood was over and he was finally able to leave the ark, after releasing the animals, Noah's very first actions were to build an altar and offer sacrifices to God (Genesis 8:20). This moment represents a beautiful turning point in the story: Genesis 6:18 tells us of the Lord's plan to establish a covenant with Noah, and the full details of the promise became clear when Noah made his sacrifice. God mercifully turned toward His creation and promised never to repeat the same destruction as He had brought about through the flood (Genesis 8:21-22).

God's promise was in spite of humanity's sinful nature.

Does this sound familiar? Consider Romans 5:8: "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Through Noah, God restored life on earth. Through Jesus, God restores His children to eternal life in heaven. Today, let's praise God for being the covenant-making, promise-keeping God of restoration. First5

In an interview today with José Andrés (World Central Kitchen), “In the worst moments of humanity, the best of humanity always shows up.”

So. Let us begin here: gratefully, we are—everyone one of us in our DNA—the helpers. "This little light of mine..."
We can make choices that matter,
choices fueled by the power of care,
choices that make a difference.
To this day. This encounter. This conversation. 

Here’s the deal: the love of God transcends and transforms what the world imposes upon us in fear, and our own sense of helplessness. That love is carried by kindness.
It’s not my desire to convert anyone. Just to remind everyone that, “Transformed people transform people.” (Richard Rohr)

“We are made for goodness and love and compassion.” Thank you, Desmond Tutu.

Sabbath Moments