Don't Worry Be Happy

Why do we worry?  It is a common human emotion that happens very often.  It is so easy to get all wrapped up in the trappings of modern day life.  Ever since the 1900's it has gotten more and more complicated.

First, there was the invention of Electricity.  That allowed us to power our homes, so that we could cook, refrigerate our food, and listen to the good old radio shows.  Next came personal transportation.  No longer did we have to wait for a train, trolley, wagon, or bicycle.

Then came indoor plumbing.  No longer having to use the restroom in the outhouse, and we didn't have to run up the hill to fetch the pail of water, and we didn't have to fall down and break our crown.

Then came the TV.  No longer waiting in line to see movies all the time, but we could watch programs in our own home! 

Now, we don't have to even go to the library and read books if we don't want to, because we have the information on any subject that we want to research, right in our homes.

You are probably wondering where I am going with this.  Since we have so many modern conveniences in life, we have gotten very dependent on them.  There was a song from a 80's Christian Rock band  (Servant) that kinda expresses this thought.  It was called, "Gotta Break Away".  It said, "Gotta break away today, I'm not going to be tied down." Later in the song, it talks about our possessions, and how bad it is when our possessions possess us.

In this line of thought, when we get tied up in our lives, and don't watch it, our possessions can easily take the place of God.  Inside of every human is a spiritual hole.  If that hole isn't filled with God, a person will try and fill it with money, sex, drugs, power, possessions, etc.  Along with the void that is filled with things that aren't for God, we can worry about those things.  We worry about someone stealing our stuff, damaging our stuff, or it decaying.

If we don't trust in God for EVERYTHING, we will go through alot of extra grief for being disobedient to Him.  For it says in His Word, "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and Lean NOT on your own understanding.  In ALL YOUR WAYS acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."  (Proverbs 3 vs. 5-6.)  I know that it is often a harder task to talk about, than to do.  We often get caught up in the trappings of our modern day life, conveniences, and money.  We all often think about ourselves and our situations first, and then God last.  Which brings me to another verse, "But seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6: vs 33-34)  So, does this mean that if we seek Him first, he will give us all the material things that we desire?  There are some "Prosperity Churches" that preach this false doctrine.  No, what it means is that when we put God and His Son First, our needs will be taken care of, and we won't need to be in want for anything.  Also, when we trust Him, instead of our own selves and intellect, we won't be worrying, because He will help calm our minds from our worries.  Just like the old song says, "One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking from you.  Lord give me the strength, to do every day, what I have to do.  Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine, Lord give me the strength, to do every day, one day at a time."  
   

"Weird Al" Yankovic - White & Nerdy

Gotta love Weird Al!  Isn't our modern technology funny?  LOL

Family

How important is family to you?  It is the fabric that holds this world together.  However, there are times that family can often cause hurt, resentments, bitterness, etc.  I know for myself, that if I have any unresolved issues in my own family, it is difficult to totally focus on helping others.  No matter how difficult things get, family should be there for one another.

My beginning passage for today is taken from 1 Timothy 3:vs 1-7.  It reads,

"1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."  This same concept not only applies to our family lives, but in just about each and every situation we may encounter. How can we reach other families or individuals?

OBSTACLES TO FAMILY UNITY

One obstacle is a big one: Unforgiveness.  It says in the Word, "Forgive others, and God will forgive you."   God has already forgiven us through Jesus, but it minimizes all that Christ did for us on the Cross, when we don't forgive others.  For we are told in Ephesians 4 vs. 31&32 "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you."

When we choose to let unforgiveness fester in our lives like an open wound, it brings bitterness, resentment, anger and rage.  We are told in the Word to put those emotions aside.  When we have those emotions residing in our souls, it also brings about grudges. In Philippians 4 vs. 8 and 9 it states: "Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything  worthy of praise, dwell on these things.  The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

Computer Education and Maintenance e-book

I bet you all have been wondering about my coming e-book about computer education and maintenance.  I am currently working on writing it, and will let everyone know as soon as I am finished.

Stress

Some stress is good for us. That type of stress is a motivator to get us to do what we need to get done. That is positive.

However, there is a very negative stress that can make a HUGE negative impact on our everyday lives. From what I've noticed in my 45 years of life, there seems to be one underlying cause of a lot of it. That suspected cause is the ugly word called STRESS. Some stress is good for us. That type of stress is a motivator to get us to do what we need to get done. That is positive.

However, there is a very negative stress that can make a HUGE negative impact on our everyday lives. From what I've noticed in my 45 years of life, there seems to be one underlying cause of a lot of it. That suspected cause is the ugly word worry. Worry is the opposite of faith. When we least expect it, the negative thought comes into our heads.

So, what would be a positive way to handle our worry? That is through careful study in God's Word, as well as prayer. One scripture that helps me a lot, can be found in Matthew 6:25-34. It reads:

"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. "

In other words, don't worry, but be happy by trusting that God will take care of us through His Holy Spirit. For Jesus said, "When I leave you, I will send a Helper". John 14:16-18 says," 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. ".

Trust in The Lord

Today's scripture is Proverbs 3 verses 5-8. It reads," 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

8 It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.

Now what does this mean? Does it mean that we can't And shouldn't think for ourselves, and have God fIgure out everything for us? No, it doesn't mean that at all. What it means is that God wants to be more than just a convenience in our lives. He wants us to trust and rely on him in the good times, as well as the bad times. He wants us to acknowledge Him first and foremost, then we can decide what to do with the path that He has chosen for us. Notice that in the last verse, it says that it will be healing to our flesh, and healing to our bones. When we trust Him with our lives, He will help keep us healthy. He desires that we be healthy both in body,mind and spirit. In this day and age, it is so easy for our minds and spirits to get all wrapped up in our own world and understanding of life. We have the Information Superhighway that is also called the Internet. When we seek our OWN way and intellect first, instead of God's way through the Holy Spirit, we cause troubles for ourselves, as well as the ones we love. If we put ourselves and our flawed thinking first, we become our own worst enemy. Mark 7: 21-23 says" For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,  thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”. In other words, if we rely mainly on our own human intellect, it leads us down the path to a lot of troubles. God is NOT a "Fire Escape". He wants our sincere honor and devotion in all areas of our lives. John 4:24 says," God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Trust In The Lord

Today's scripture is Proverbs 3 verses 5-8. It reads," 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

8 It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.

Now what does this mean? Does it mean that we can't And shouldn't think for ourselves, and have God fIgure out everything for us? No, it doesn't mean that at all. What it means is that God wants to be more than just a convenience in our lives. He wants us to trust and rely on him in the good times, as well as the bad times. He wants us to acknowledge Him first and foremost, then we can decide what to do with the path that He has chosen for us. Notice that in the last verse, it says that it will be healing to our flesh, and healing to our bones. When we trust Him with our lives, He will help keep us healthy. He desires that we be healthy both in body,mind and spirit. In this day and age, it is so easy for our minds and spirits to get all wrapped up in our own world and understanding of life. We have the Information Superhighway that is also called the Internet. When we seek our OWN way and intellect first, instead of God's way through the Holy Spirit, we cause troubles for ourselves, as well as the ones we love. If we put ourselves and our flawed thinking first, we become our own worst enemy. Mark 7: 21-23 says" For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,  thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”. In other words, if we rely mainly on our own human intellect, it leads us down the path to a lot of troubles. God is NOT a "Fire Escape". He wants our sincere honor and devotion in all areas of our lives. John 4:24 says," God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”