Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Matthew 6:31-32
Free from the love of money
And free from the fear of loss
Free from the fear of all others may say
Is peace found at the foot of the cross
For He calls us with all of our hearts to believe
And trust from the depths of our soul
In His promise to always be right where we are
The greatest story that’s ever been told!
Where sinners like me find acceptance
In God’s family of orphans and tramps
And the love of a Savior who shed blood for me
Says’ “I love you no matter the cost!”
And the morning shines bright with His presence
And His promise is better than gold
For He calls us with all of our hearts to believe
The greatest story that’s ever been told!
The Greatest Story That's Ever Been Told
by Peter Caligiuri copyright 2021 all rights reserved
Lord you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. Psalm 10:17
Here in the United States our national motto is “In God We Trust” and it is interesting that it appears, not on our flag, nor directly in our constitution but on our money. But it was not at the height of our prosperity that we adopted this phrase, but during the dark days of the Civil War. Despite the ultimate victory of the Northern States, the reality was that both sides suffered devastation, death and tragedy on a scale never seen before or since in our history. When our hopes were at their lowest it was introduced on the 2 cent piece in 1864. Maybe that is instructive for our day of social upheaval, violence and division. We must remember that our trust in God is not a bold boast but a cry to Him for help. Today’s verse reminds us that hope is not in victory or success, but in the promise that God will hear our cry. He is our hope this morning and forever. So what is your disappointment? What is your despair? Where are you feeling the weakest? Remember that He has promised to hear, to come and to comfort. If we put our trust in God, we are saying not that things are great but that whatever comes we will fully and only belong to Him!
And He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; Mark 9:36-37a ESV
Several years ago, my wife sometimes babysat for two children at our church. David was seven and his little sister Leticia five. On Sundays, I would wave and say, “Hey guys! Good to see you!” David would wave back and smile, but Leticia always hid her face. Every week, I would smile and wave, and every week the results were the same. “I’m sorry.” her mom said, Leticia is just so shy.” “No problem. She’ll smile when she’s ready.” I always answered. But I wondered if that day would ever come. Then one Sunday, just as I was about to sit down, Leticia slipped out of her pew, looked right at me and came running full speed and jumped up in my lap! That scene reminded me of today’s verse. As Jesus walked down the road and his disciples argued about who was the most important, He interrupted their conversation, reached out, and took a child by the hand. Just as I had learned, small children do not stay near to people they do not trust. You can lecture them all day about being polite to guests, but you cannot force friendship. Jesus had children around because they knew he was a friend. He had raised a little girl from the dead and healed a boy with seizures. Children showed up because they liked being around Him. They knew they mattered to Him. He noticed them, talked to them and on occasion even took them in His arms and blessed them. So, if you need healing or even just someone to talk to, Jesus is close by. We do not need to convince Him how important you are. All children are matter to Him. We can all run and jump up into his lap if we are ready, because Jesus is waiting for us to come!
Our son and granddaughter
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15
Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. – Ed Cunningham
If we want to experience friendship with God then we must do the same!
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends leave footprints in your heart. – Eleanor Roosevelt
If you have decided to make God your best friend then the footprints of His love will be seen in us every time we pray!
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