great reflection! i agree. christians should be known for being worry-free, not because of what we have or what we can do but simply because we believe that the Almighty God is our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. i think that's the essence of the Lord's discussion in Matt 6 re the sparrows and the lilies. yet, in my personal experience, this is easier said than done. or rather, it is easier for me to try to do something and worry than just simply be still and believe that the Lord is God.

thank you again

YOU HAVE MET PEOPLE WHO LITERALLY WANDER THROUGH LIFE.THEY SIMPLY ACCEPT WHATEVER FATE BRINGS THEM.A FEW MANY SUCCEED BY AN ACCIDENT ,BUT MOST SUFFER THROUGH A LIFETIME OF FRUSTATION AND UNHAPPINESS.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE OVERCOME OBASTACLES ARE MORE SECURE THAN THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER FACED THEM .WE ALL HAVE PROBLEMS AND SOMETIMES FEEL DISCOURAGED ,EVERYONES FACES DISAPPOINTED .

LORD JESUS SHOW ME EVERYTHING WHATEVER HAPPEND TO MY MOTHER+BROTHER+GRANDPA+GRANDMOM ,& HE IS PROTECTING ME AND MY FATHER FROM HARM ,SOME OF EVIL ARE TRYING TO KILL ME , BUT I AM NOT AFRAID TILL JESUS CHRIST WITH ME , I LOVE YOU JESUS AND I NEED YOU MOST , PLEASE TAKE A GOODCARE OF MY FATHER ,ALWAYS MAKE HIM SRONG N NEVER LET HIM DOWN AS I PRAY AMEN ....
JASMINE SHRESTHA , TAHACHAL MARG-KATMANDU
NEPAL

Hakuna Matata...what a wonderful phrase. OK, enough Lion King for this post. I agree that a Christless life is a worry-filled life. And, in a large portion, no, I don't think Christians live out Jesus' Hakuna Matata teaching (OK, seriously, no more). Jesus has done so much to ensure that we don't need to worry about eternity by giving himself for our sins. And we know that believing on him gives us eternal life (seriously, he gave us his word - John 3:16). But what about all the day to day stuff? Jobs, food, money to pay rent (esp. in this economy) - can we really live with no worries?
Yes, we can! Jesus addressed it in the Sermon on the Mount (6:25-34). Here are some of his promises concerning worry and the daily things of life:
- life is about more than the temporal physical things
- if God feeds the sparrows (who have no job or savings), he'll feed you because you have more value
- God clothes the grass (which also doesn't shop in the latest fashion stores); he'll definitely clothe us
- when we seek God, he will provide the things we need
Do you know how I combat worry and anxiety? These promises. The more we look at and trust in the promises of God, the easier it will be to not be anxious about anything, even when all we have is a prayer. Trust God - he's got your back.

Read Matthew 6: 25 to 34, it talks about not worrying and living a life full of Christ Jesus. My little brother asked if I was worried about my book coming out in April. I said no, but then I do have hope, which comes with the grace of God. If the book brings one more to the heart of God, then it served it's purpose. If I had to depend on the money from the book, I most likely would not of sent it in to be published. In God's Grace John

Since I cannot accomplish my own salvation, I don't worry about salvation. That is up to God, because, only God can save my soul. I can't do it by my own merit, nor can I manipulate God by reciting ritual prayers or statements of belief. My job, then, is to live my life as close as possible to what I hope God would want me to accomplish while I'm here, and let God worry about the rest. I do have a sense that my life is going much better than I have any reason to expect based on material probabilities. We do live in a cold, cruel, indifferent universe, not to mention a cold, cruel, indifferent economy. In a subtle way, life is being woven for my own good, not with massive prosperity, but well. I guess I an serving some purpose being here.

My current situation with unemployment is giving me a practical opportunity to "walk the talk"... The biblical principle is not to pretend there are no problems (e.g. I am still looking for work), but to rest in the fact that God is in control and will provide. As God helps me with this, I hope others might see it and be encouraged to do the same...

I don’t have to tell any of you that worrying is sinful. So I will not. Just read the bible if you don’t believe me. I dare you to read the bible.

I have been Laid off since November of 2008 still today March 11, 2009 “no work for you back to, end of the line you go.” Modified version of the soup Nazi form Sinfiled.

On unemployment I get 487 a week. The same week I got laid off my wife suffered a reduction in weekly hours from 40+ to 10. She only gets paid 10 an hour. Our, monthly reoccurring bills total 2750.00 that’s not food gas or Starbuck’s. Some one skilled in math could see 487*4=1948 10*10=100*4=400 then 1948+400=2348 humm we don’t quite make it.

Since I have been out of work I have only been worried about the bills one time and that was when my wife was in a car accident that totaled the car. She was not able to work for a whole week. After that week her boss was sick for a week, no work. Then her boss was hospitalized for a week, again no work for 3 weeks. Oh this Tuesday her boss came out of the hospital.
Now back to my point, when I was worried I got on the computer a sent a email to my closest friends and told them to pray for me in the email I wrote…
“As some of you may have heard already, Shannon was involved in a rather serious car accident last night. The good news is that Shannon and the other party involved did not have any serious injuries. Both Shannon and the other person did see doctors.

Some of you may have seen photos of the car and if you haven't just know that I am very blessed to not be making finale preparations for her to leave Earth.

The driver side door is the point of impact. It is almost in the middle of the drivers door which now is nearly a thin piece of metal that came dangerously close to trapping and stabbing Shannon's leg inside the car. She had to crawl out across the passenger side to get out of the car. The drivers seat, and the dash around the drivers legs also came close to trapping Shannon in the car. Thank God she walked out not hurt.

I am sure that I do not need to say this however, we need your prayers. The car has been deemed total loss as you some of you know I have been laid off for almost 4 months now. Shannon was leaving one job to go to her next. This week she will not be able to work she is in some pain in the neck and back area and is on pain killers and muscle relaxers. I do not know at this point how we will make some ends meet. With Shannon not working for the rest of the week and me not able to find work it will be a great opportunity to see Jesus work in our lives.

We really need your prayers and support.

At the end of last year I asked God to remind me of his grace, and power, last night at the scene of the accident I seen his grace. I am very blessed to have her alive today. I could really use a reminder of his power.

As a church body our pastor had challenged us for this year to look for God's hand in our day to day lives. I would like to pass that on to all of you because I know how complacent we can become in the Christian Faith. I know as faithful follower's of Jesus Christ their may be a tendency to forget who Jesus really is. Let me take a moment, if not for you then for me, to remember who Jesus is.
Jesus is the faithful one that died on the Cross to set us Free. He is the same one that said he will not forsake nor leave us. He is the same one to call on in the hard times and often the one that I get mad at when things don't go my way. Yet he still loves me. Even more he still forgives me. He is the same God that loves you today. I Thank the Lord my God.


Very truly yours




Saul to Paul AKA Jason”

I was asking for prayer I tried very hard to not ask for money as you can see. After that email God meet us and we were given 500 dollars in one weekend. Our income tax came in after just sending it out one week before the accident. And our bills since November have been paid on time.

My worries were taking away as I wrote that email. Now we are in week 4 since the accident/ and that email. I’m still sitting at home collecting dust as I’m hunched over reading the word of God and my wife starts a new job Sunday night.
I am worry free in Christ.

Hi Jerod.

I'm a New Zealander, and I find it really interesting to see my people being brought up here.
I agree, we can be seen to be a really relaxed people, and yeah I suppose we're friendly. I do find myself using the phrase "no worries", so that made me chuckle.

However, I think that those census numbers are kinda inaccurate in the way that really matters to be honest. The number of nominal "believe in something" Christians in New Zealand are ASTOUNDING. Not that I want to pass judgement at all, but generally religion isn't nearly as public in our societal life as it seems to be in the States. So really the option in the census shouldn't REALLY have that much stock put in it.

We're really just like a lot of the rest of the world, there are groups of people interested in all manner of things, and worried about all manner of things as well. I'm glad you had a great time traveling - i remember doing the same trip as a young teenager with my family. Lots of fun.

How do I feel about all of this as a Christian?
Not really sure. I think perhaps we're a nation of know-it-alls. So I guess people aren't worried as long as you don't ruffle their feathers about their convictions. Makes for an interesting place to live sometimes.

When I became a Christian, I worried less than I did before. However, I've noticed that God does want us to be "concerned" for our neighbors. The way I see it, Christ wants us to worry less about us and focus more on our neighbor. He will provide the comfort that we need when we need it. But we must be openly aware of the hardships of our brethren and our neighbors and "laugh with them" and recently due to hard economic times, "cry with them" as well. I hurt a little when I hear of someone losing their job, especially if they have a spouse and children. But I take comfort in knowing that Chris put the Church on earth for a reason, to pray, hope and give a hand to those in need.

I wonder how my life would be different if I really followed Paul's words in Philippians 4.6-7 about not being anxious. Maybe I'd worry less about things.