Sunflower Faith » Devotionals

Why Worry-An “In Other Words Tuesday”

Sunflower Faith — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:05:32 +0000

This Week’s “In Other Words”

“ When you have no helpers, see your helpers in God.
When you have many helpers, see God in all your helpers.
When you have nothing but God, see all in God.
When you have everything, see God in everything.
Under all conditions, stay thy heart only on the Lord. ”

~ Charles Spurgeon

Hosted this week at: Jennifer on her blog, Scraps & Snippets

Mark Twain once said,”I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” How much does this remind me of,”

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ 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?
³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² 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. (Matthew 6:25-34, New King James Version)”

If you haven’t read Charles Spurgeon, I highly recommend his “Morning and Evening”, because he is one of those people who so eloquently reminded us of the more important things in life….in the case of his quote for,”In Other Words Tuesday”, that no matter what in life…..God is there, so why worry.

“Because I can’t help it….” is a great excuse that is often used, but reality, where does worry really get us but destroying the joy we have in the life we are given and the lives of those who are around us.

What do we have to gain, when we are on our deathbeds, do we really relish thinking, “Why yes….I embrace the times I spent worrying, or will we go, “Why did I worry so much when things eventually did work out or the things I worry about, never came to pass”.

As a follower of Christ, our hope, our trust, our faith, is all on God, not on an imperfect world where people will fail us, jobs will disappoint us, expectations will fall short, but the truth and reality that no matter what, in all that is done and said, God is the one in control and if we are with and for God, who and what can really be against us.

Sure, we can spend the evenings, mulling over the bank accounts, the bad day at work, maybe the people who broke our hearts, but what does that gain us in the long run? Nothing…except the time and joy we could have spent with the people that do matter to us and who care about us.

From the MHC (Matthew Henry Commentary), the believer is told,

“There is scarcely any sin against which our Lord Jesus more warns his disciples, than disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life. This often insnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich. But there is a carefulness about temporal things which is a duty, though we must not carry these lawful cares too far. 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 arein his hand, and they are in a good hand. Not about the comforts of this life; but leave it to God to make it bitter or sweet as he pleases.

Food and raiment God has promised, therefore we may expect them. Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come.

Be not anxious for the future, how you shall live next year, or when you are old, or what you shall leave behind you. As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for to-morrow, or the events of it. God has given us life, and has given us the body. “

Contentment.

Gratefulness.

Charles Spurgeon capture it all when he tells us,

“ When you have no helpers, see your helpers in God.
When you have many helpers, see God in all your helpers.
When you have nothing but God, see all in God.
When you have everything, see God in everything.
Under all conditions, stay thy heart only on the Lord. ””

God is in everything. If you truly believe that, is it so far fetched that in everything, be it if you have everything or you have nothing, you are not as bad off as you may think you are, God is in everything and yes, there are days we will have our doubts and those worries overwhelm us, but is it so easy to ask ourselves,” What are we gaining in all that”?

Are we really adding anything to our lives or just taking away from our lives?

Yes, business matters, money matters, having a job matters and friends and everything, but we can be our own worse enemies sometimes, that we do more of a job, running ourselves down, than anyone else.

As the MHC advises (emphasis in some places, mine)

“Thoughtfulness for our souls is the best cure of thoughtfulness for the world. Seek first the kingdom of God, and make religion your business: say not that this is the way to starve; no, it is the way to be well provided for, even in this world.

The conclusion of the whole matter is, that it is the will and command of the Lord Jesus, that by daily prayers we may get strength to bear us up under our daily troubles, and to arm us against the temptations that attend them, and then let none of these things move us.

Happy are those who take the Lord for their God, and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to his wise disposal.

Let thy Spirit convince us of sin in the want of this disposition, and take away the worldliness of our hearts.”

I can’t help but notice that those who care and love the world and materials more, tend to be worry more and are unhappy more. Instead of seeing the blessings that they do have or what has been given, they are caught up in the, “If I have this then….”,”If I do that, then…” and try to justify why, with more excuses, “Well because if I don’t,”, “I just worry….”.

Notice a lot of “if’s” that often in the end, don’t come to pass?

Or the, “I trust God, but….”

We all dream of life on a tropical island, walking barefeet in the sand, but if we can’t find our tropical island, where we are right now, and embrace what God has given us and instead of facing it with worries and a scowl, change our attitudes, and show that hope and see Him in everything, because He is in everything, look at how much differently life can and will be.

Truth is, if we’re not happy and content with where we are now, even if we get what we want, what is to stop us, to fall back into that “worry mode” and long for something always bigger and better than what we have?

If we see Him in everything, no matter what the circumstances are, we will find that peace and contentment and find our lives maybe improving a little bit rather than less.

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Step into Simplicity-A Laced with Grace post

Sunflower Faith — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:05:55 +0000

Eyes closed.
Warmth of the sun.
Sounds of laughter.
Listening to the music of the birds.
Simplicity of life.

Reading the words of Proverbs 1:4 (NKJV), I pondered these verses “To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—”, there are some things in life that aren’t complicated, we can make it complicated….but it doesn’t have to be.

To read the rest of this devotional and enjoy the encouragement of others, drop by Laced With Grace!

Recharge Your Life with Him

Sunflower Faith — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 06:00:31 +0000

Have you ever just stopped and watched people in a busy area? Have you noticed the stress and the weariness? How about a day care center at the end of its day. Have you seen the parents already wearied by their day at work picking up wearied children?

Matt. 11: 28 – 30
” Come to me, all 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.”

How often have you felt so weighed down and wearied by life? How often do we forget to take our weariness and heaviness to the One who promised His burden would be light; to the One who promised us rest?

Take just a few minutes right now to breathe in deeply, close your eyes, slow down the racing mind and the pounding pulse. Just think about Him: the lover of your soul, the One who knows you and loves you, who has good plans for you and not evil.

wearied by life? How often do we forget to take our weariness and heaviness to the One who promised His burden would be light; to the One who promised us rest?

Rest in those saving arms and breathe deeply His scent of love. Find the renewal and refreshing that only He can give.

And do one more thing:

“Cast all your anxiety on him for he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7

I can think of many a morning when I woke up and felt like I was running from one end of the house to the other, that the kids seem to have gone from one to six, the dog suddenly forgot how to be housebroken and the trash can kept being overfloweth but never emptieth.

Or think of a morning when you barely had coffee and EVERYTHING seemed to go wrong. By the time night rolled around, you said a quick thank you to God as you crawled into bed, curled up around a pillow and fell asleep BEFORE your head hit the pillow.

Translate that to the work world where the desk seems piled high with paper, the boss just doesn’t seem to be happy no matter what and the deadline went from next month to the end of the day. In the midst of it all, it’s easy to suddenly feel like you’ve lost control and the clock is out to get you.

The same goes for the day to day grind of daily living. Yet, rather than making it a day to day grind, God is there in the midst of the storm. His hands are outstretched, calming the turbulent sea that we are are, whether it is man-made or natural.

………….Read the rest of this devotioal at, “The Internet Cafe“;I’m serving at the Internet Cafe today. I hope you’ll come by and chat with me:

Embracing the Joy…..

Sunflower Faith — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:31:22 +0000

Follow me to the Internet Cafe Devotion

Summer is almost over many of us we are spending time preparing for a new school year and enjoying those last “lazy, hazy days of summer” with family. I was doing those very things and in the midst of it all, some things came to mind. I begin to realize just how easy it is to let something or someone to steal my joy?

Read the rest of this devotion at, “The Internet Cafe“……Don’t worry, there’s always room for you there.

Taking that Step into Faith

Sunflower Faith — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:45:09 +0000

Follow me to the Internet Cafe Devotion

I normally don’t use the NLT translation, but this is one instance that I love how this translation reads.

It is a reminder of how we unconsciously slip into unbelief in our daily lives.

Does any of this sound familiar?

“Anything is possible with Him, but what about the groceries?”

“I know I should trust in Him, but the bills have to be paid.”

“I can’t let go; it just hurts too bad.”

Read the rest of this devotion at, “The Internet Cafe“……Don’t worry, there’s always room for you there.

Sunday Praise and Worship

Sunflower Faith — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:10:48 +0000

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
         A very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear,
         Even though the earth be removed,
         And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
³ Though its waters roar and be troubled,
         Though the mountains shake with its swelling.  Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
         The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
         God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
⁶ The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
         He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us;
         The God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah

⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD,
         Who has made desolations in the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
         He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
         He burns the chariot in the fire.

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God;
         I will be exalted among the nations,
         I will be exalted in the earth!

¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us;
         The God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah   (Psalm 46, New King James Version)

Sunday Praise and Worship

Sunflower Faith — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 06:10:56 +0000

⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:8-10, New King James Version)

Today is Valentine’s Day.

A day that is set aside,once a year, to “celebrate” love, but how about celebrating a bigger, greater Love, that happens not just once a day or has to be placed on a calendar, but can be and is and should be celebrated 24/7.

It is the love of our Heavenly Father who loved us before we knew of that Love; It is a Love that many try to fight against acknowledging; It is a Love that is not conditionaly but offer freely to any and all who is humble and willingly to just open their hearts to Him.

How so?

Let’s take a look at what the MHC (Matthew Henry Commentary) interprets this passage to say:

Christ died for sinners; not only such as were useless, but such as were guilty and hateful; such that their everlasting destruction would be to the glory of God’s justice. Christ died to save us, not in our sins, but from our sins; and we were yet sinners when he died for us.

Nay, the carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but enmity itself, chap. 8:7; Col 1:21. But God designed to deliver from sin, and to work a great change.

While the sinful state continues, God loathes the sinner, and the sinner loathes God, Zec 11:8. And that for such as these Christ should die, is a mystery; no other such an instance of love is known, so that it may well be the employment of eternity to adore and wonder at it. Again; what idea had the apostle when he supposed the case of some one dying for a righteous man? And yet he only put it as a thing that might be.

Was it not the undergoing this suffering, that the person intended to be benefitted might be released therefrom? But from what are believers in Christ released by his death?

Not from bodily death; for that they all do and must endure. The evil, from which the deliverance could be effected only in this astonishing manner, must be more dreadful than natural death. There is no evil, to which the argument can be applied, except that which the apostle actually affirms, sin, and wrath, the punishment of sin,determined by the unerring justice of God.

And if, by Divine grace, they were thus brought to repent, and to believe in Christ, and thus were justified by the price of his bloodshedding, and by faith in that atonement, much more through Him who died for them and rose again, would they be kept from falling under the power of sin and Satan, or departing finally from him. The living Lord of all, will complete the purpose of his dying love, by saving all true believers to the uttermost.

Having such a pledge of salvation in the love of God through Christ, the apostle declared that believers not only rejoiced in the hope of heaven, and even in their tribulations for Christ’s sake, but they gloried in God also, as their unchangeable Friend and all-sufficient Portion, through Christ only. (Ro 5:12-14)

Alone? Think you are not worthy to be loved? To broken? In pain?

Let our Heavenly Father be your friend, your Father; He doesn’t say that things will change and stop existing, but He does give you the strength, the hope, the encouragement and the true tested way, to help you through this journey. He won’t leave you alone; He doesen’t think your unworthy….He does love you and it’s a love that is not so conditional that it’s ever to late.

But why wait when you can come to know Him now. So for this and everyday, come know our Heavenly Father’s greatest Love for you, for everyone.

God bless you.

Sunday Praise and Worship-Philippians 2:14-16

Sunflower Faith — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:10:39 +0000

.

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Philippians 2:14-16 (NKJV)

Sunday Praise and Worship

Sunflower Faith — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:10:19 +0000

: To find out more on how to participate in Sunday Praise and Worship, come here.

I finally was able to sit down and go through a cookbook I purchased.

I found something that I would like to share with everyone.

The person who put it there said He tried this 6 years ago and hasn’t gotten over it. I tried it 2 years ago and its the best I’ve ever had!!

Salvation Saturation

This is a recipe that almost all ingredients won’t cost you a dime.

However, someone has paid the price for you to receive it.

In order to make Salvation Saturation you must find a person who is lost in their sin.

Once that is located, the ingredients are as follows:
1 Lost Sinner
1 large Dose of Conviction
1 Gracious God (Provided free of charge)
1 Large Glass of Repentance
1 large Heaping of Godly Sorrow

The photo is not my creation but was shared through a Yahoo group.

1 Willing Savior (Provided)
1 Huge Portion of Grace
1 Bloody Cross (Provided by the Savior)
1 New Creature
1 Holy Spirit

Once you have all the ingredients the 1 large dose of conviction will be sent by the Holy Spirit.

It will begin to stir in the heart of the lost sinner.

1 large heaping of Godly sorrow will make him see himself the way God sees him.

The 1 gracious God has already provided the 1 willing Savior and together the 2 have made the way for large portion of grace and 1 heaping of mercy that was shed on the 1 bloody cross.

Once these ingredients have settled in the heart of the 1 lost sinner then the 1 large glass of repentance will be poured into the 1 lost sinner which will produce a beautiful new creature.

After new creation is produced- praise God!

Sunday Praise and Worship

Sunflower Faith — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:10:35 +0000

: This is a weekly meme of mine to share scripture that just stood out in reading from the week or our Father just laid on my heart to share.

²³ Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. ²⁵ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26, New King James Version)

Please feel free to share what scripture our Father may have shared or laid on your heart or share what this weeks “Praise and Worship” scripture means to you.

All I ask is that if you do participate, just “right click” and “save as” the linkback button on the side and link back here to Sunflower Faith and leave your name and link to your blog in the “Mr.Linky” below.

God bless you, Gentle Readers.

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