2 passages

Luke 12

22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, "

        That is why I tell you don't worry about everyday life;

     whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.
23 For life is more than food,

        and your body more than clothing.
24 Look at the ravens.

They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns,

     for God feeds them.

And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!
25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

        26 And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?

27 "Look at the lilies and how they grow.

They don't work or make their clothing,

     yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow,

        he will certainly care for you.

Why do you have so little faith? (dan note: because we don't trust Him!)
 

29 "And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink.

Don't worry about such things.
30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world,

        but your Father already knows your needs.
31 Seek first the Kingdom of God above all else,

        and He will give you everything else.

(dan note: Verse 31 is a TOWERING verse - read it again - I know it's true, because I'm living it right now!)

  32 "So don't be afraid, little flock.

For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.


  33 "Sell your possessions and give to those in need.

This will store up treasure for you in heaven!

And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes.

Your treasure will be safe;

     no thief can steal it

     and no moth can destroy it.

34 Wherever your treasure is,

     there the desires of your heart will also be.


I think Jesus could have stopped at "don't worry about everyday life".

He said it all when He said that.


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And I wanted to share these verses too, but they say a lot about where I am personally these day.

The words that stuck out for me today were "never give up".

I need to hear that these days.


2 Corinthians 4

1 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new ministry, we never give up.


7 We now have this light shining in our hearts,

        but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.

This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.


8 We are pressed on every side by troubles,

     but we are not crushed.

We are perplexed,

     but we don't give up & quit.

9 We are hunted down,

     but never abandoned by God.

We get knocked down,

     but we get up again & keep going.

10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.


16 That is why we never give up.

Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

17 For our present troubles are small and won't last very long.

        Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see now;

        rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.

For the things we see now will soon be gone,

     but the things we cannot see will last forever.