.my favorite!.

Today = Luke 12:1-31 + Psalm 14 + Genesis 21

Well, as much as I would love to write about the awesome passages in Psalms or Genesis, I'm just way too excited about Luke. You see, it's probably one of my absolute favorites. I memorized Luke 12:22-34 a few years back - maybe 9th grade? Anyway, it always seems to bring me comfort when I need it the most, and comes to mind at the most random times.

"Then Jesus said to his disciples: 'Therefore I tell you , do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable  you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and you Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."(Luke 12:22-34)

I realize it's a little long.. but I LOVE it! I love that God provides for birds and flowers so well, so obviously he will provide for us. I always use this passage when I'm ridiculously stressed out with school or something else. I know that no matter what, God will provide for me. It might not be what I had hoped for, but it will be what I need.

I love that we look pretty ridiculous worrying about food and clothes. We buy magazines and catalogues with all the new stuff we 'just have to have,' and billions of dollars are spent on diet books and gym memberships because we worry about how our body looks. Botox, plastic surgery, hair treatments, skin whatchamacallits, and constant manicures and pedicures fill our lives because we must be beautiful. When did you last see a gorgeous rose getting surgery so it's petals can be in the right arrangement? How ridiculous is the though?! But this is what we do all the time. We can sit back and trust in the simple, gorgeous beauty God has given each of us. I like the part that says that God knows that we need these things, that we worry about all of it, and if we seek him first, all of them will fall into place - even these things will be given to us as well.

These verses always challenge me because they remind me how ridiculous it is for me to be worrying about foolish things. It also reminds me of how abundantly God loves me despite my ridiculousness. And I'm always challenged to make sure my heart is focused and filled with the things of heaven. Because it is true, that where your treasure is, your heart will be also. What you invest in, that is what will consume your thoughts and actions. And there is no greater investment than my Saviour and his ridiculous abundant love.