4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,  though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’[a]

11″This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Luke 8:4-8:15 (NIV)

1.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3.He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Amen!

Psalms 23 (KJV)

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

 
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-6:34 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul declared in his letter to the Phillipians in a matter of fact way that indeed he could do anything through Christ’s strength. I had heard that said many times and over the years, I have even quoted it myself in a misguided effort to gain assurance in my desire to complete a task.

It is interesting how perception changes when it is realized that what Paul was talking about wasn’t his ability to actually do anything, or everything for that matter, if it were, surely Paul would have exited the Roman prison where he was being held, or would have called upon His name to relieve him of his lot. No, this was about so much more. It was about being able to live daily, to gain spiritually and to rise above the demands of daily life and all of the pitfalls we endure. It was about being at peace with the task at hand and through the strength of Christ, accomplishing what is required of you.

Too often I hear people quote Phillipians 4:13 as a prelude to embarking upon a mission to accomplish something, maybe flying for the first time or running a marathon. While it may be comforting to quote, I think the real message is missed. By backing up a bit, we can see what Paul was actually saying. In verse 4:11, he wrote, “I am content” … and further commented that regardless of whether he was full or hungry, whether he had riches or poverty, that it was through His strength and His comfort that he could be satisfied.

Paul was seeking out a deeper relationship with God, to learn to trust Him with all of his needs, and he was trying to impart that to the Phillipian church. How much better could our lives be if we would but trust Him to provide for us and be content with the strength given to us by Him. Paul endured many hardships, yet he maintained faith in the God that delivered him and provided for him time and time again.

Jesus once said “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow nor reap nor gather away into barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” I don’t think this was meant to say that we should just sit around and wait for someone to bring us sustainence, but rather to elicit the trust we should all have in the power and strength of the Lord to supply all of our needs.

I am slowly and steadily learning to allow His will to be done in my life, instead of trying to direct my own desires above what He has in store for my life. This has produced some remarkable results and without His guidance, I could have suffered considerable hardship during the recent economic crisis. While it may seem amazing to many, even with a significant reduction in pay and a layoff, all of my needs have been met and my obligations are being fulfilled. I have been blessed to be able to give to others at a level I would have never dreamed. God is at work in my life and fulfilling my needs and I am trusting in Him to continue. It is through His strength that I can do anything, but that “anything” must be within His will for my life. I am learning to be content with His sustenance, just as Paul was … and God wants the rest of the world to learn to do the same.

In a fast paced society, we often view holidays as a time to rest from the grind of work and the demands of people. We find ourselves looking to capitalize on a day off from work to relax. Often times without thought we move through these days without a care of why or how these days became the symbolic remembrance days they are currently.

Today is Friday, April 10, 2009. Most people in the workplace look forward to this day as another day off, an early beginning to a long weekend or the day when they can get something done that isn’t already bogged down with other responsibilities. But Good Friday is so much more than that.

For the better part of the last 2000 years, the Christian religion has observed the Friday before Easter as Good Friday. The origins of Good Friday are mostly unclear, but it is apparent that early Christians brought together in remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus began observing Good Friday annually on the day of His death on the cross. This tradition became entrenched in the Christian religion and today we observe it annually 3 days before Easter. The reasons being the same as the early Church, but without the same knowledge of the why behind the day.

I’ve often heard people say, “Have a Happy Good Friday”, and while I appreciate the genuine nature of their salutation, I also cringe when I consider the reason for the day. Certainly this day holds more meaning than another day off from work, it is the day set aside so many years ago, by people we have no remembrance of, to observe the somber occasion of the crucifixion. Certainly this day is not a day to be happy about, unless perhaps you don’t hold Jesus in the high esteem that the Christian faith does. Even then, when we have other days of the year where we commemorate the sacrifice of people for the good of the world, seldom do we observe those days as a happy occasion.

Now that we know why we have Good Friday, you don’t have to go about with a somber face throughout the day, Instead you should take the appropriate time to reflect on the sacrifice made so many years ago, in order to save a Godless world.

Remember, even though the occasion isn’t celebratory in nature, on the third day Easter comes, and that is indeed a day of celebration, a time for commemoration and a time to rejoice the resurrection following the tragic events on this day in 33AD. So while I dare not bid you “Happy Good Friday”, I do heartily wish you a Blessed day on this holiest of days.

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.

8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,

12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father [b] the son he delights in.

13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,

14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.

16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.

17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;

20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.

21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;

22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.

23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;

24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

26 for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.

27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.

28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”-
when you now have it with you.

29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.

30 Do not accuse a man for no reason-
when he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways,

32 for the LORD detests a perverse man
but takes the upright into his confidence.

33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.

34 He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble.

35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools he holds up to shame.

Proverbs 3 (KJV)