Matthew 6:26-29 (ESV) 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
A Thought From Your Pastor!
One thing Carolyn and I enjoy doing is to pack a small lunch for supper and go down under the Illinois river bridge and eat our picnic lunch in the car. Sometimes our friend Judy comes down and we talk from window to window (8 feet apart). One day we were sitting there waiting for a barge to go by and I started watching this robin. He would hop a few feet, sit for a second and then peck at the ground. He only came up with a dirty beak. He would hop a little farther and try again. It took him many tries before he had success. No matter what, he didn’t seem to get excited or upset he just kept hopping along and pecking the ground. He kept doing what robins are meant to do and waited for the rewards. With that patience he was finally rewarded. His countenance didn’t seem to change and he didn’t seem to get worried when he came up “empty–handed.”
Our scripture says: 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? We had a shortage of toilet paper and now they are worried about meat. What’s next?
Scripture tells us: Psalm 50:10 (NIV): for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. My God fed the thousands on the hills, He took care of the prophets needs, He created everything around us and we’re worried about toilet paper? We need to get into His word and just see what a wonderful and powerful God we serve.
Romans 10:17 (ESV) faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Since we have some extra time let’s make it productive and get into the Word of God. Let the Word build that faith in you that we can smile through this pandemic knowing our God is in control. James 1:2-4 (ESV) 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Pray that you will come through this with joy knowing Jesus is walking through it with us.
Hold on tight—not to a tree but to Jesus! He will bring us through!
Of course as always: Keep praying but also keep rejoicing in Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Hopefully we will be meeting together again in the near future.
God’s Blessing, Pastor Gerry and Carolyn
Don’t let that evil scary bug bother you. Call the exterminator; Jesus never fails!
St. Petrie Lutheran Church AFLC 