Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
December 5, 2024
Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, what you’ll wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? 27 Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. 29 But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these. 30 If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it’s alive today and tomorrow it’s thrown into the furnace, won’t God do much more for you, you people of weak faith? 31 Therefore, don’t worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32 Gentiles long for all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Good Morning! Breathe in God’s glory as you start a new day!
I suppose Advent is a time when we tend to worry about things. Many of us fill our plates with expectations and tasks. Because of these endless tasks, it is easy to dread this joyous season. We ask ourselves, “How will I possibly get everything done?”
I love to decorate for Christmas. Decorating leads me to my happy place. The lights, the smells, and the sounds provide a sense of nostalgia but also an inspiration for things yet unseen. I am filled with emotions as I unpack and adorn my tree with ornaments.
Most would call my decorating flair eclectic, but all pieces represent a part of me, my family, and my experiences. The decorations include gifts from students and friends, family treasures, and keepsakes from my travels.
I have found that there are two distinct decorating philosophies. The first sets a deadline to complete their tasks in a blitzkrieg fashion. Everything has a specific place, and the goal is to get it done. This same group can’t wait to put it all away and restore their house order.
I am not being judgmental, but I belong to a very different group. I enjoy the process and revel in the experience. Each year is a new creation waiting to happen. Some things might get moved several times before I’m happy with the “look.” As Christmas comes and goes, I phase out the packing away of the decorations because I want to hold onto the precious moment just a bit longer.
I said a lot to say a simple thing: Don’t worry! Take joy in the things that make you happy!
Dear Lord, We are your children! May we give ourselves the grace to appreciate the blessings you share during this season of love. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Advent is a time for hope, peace, joy, and love!
Enjoy the joy of this special season! Pastor Liz
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