Today, I was thinking about how God provides for (what church folk call 'provisions' - which sounds like a new eye glass supply warehouse) us in our time of need.  He even has a name that describes Him as such; 'Jehovah Jireh' = 'My God who supplies'. 

Usually, we tend to think about God in this sense as He provides as we sense a need.  In other words, we see that we need something, and God steps in and supplies it.

But how about the way God supplies for all those needs we don't 'see'?  There are so many things that come and go in our daily living; things that we need very much, and God is there all along, ushering each one into our existence for our well being. 

I think the publication of our blessings has brought some, if not many, of these provisions to our attention; if not from our own writing, we see them in the reading of other's blessings. 

What a God!  He literally does supply for our every need!

And in the words of Mr. Gump ~ That's all I have to say about that~

Peace and Blessings,

jas

Is our country is some kind of a panic or what?  It certainly is being manipulated by fear.  Last week it was TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it) when the DOW set an all-time record loss, and yet Monday it set a record for gain. 

So what's all the fear and panic about?

Frankly put - it's the ability to manipulate and and control others.  That's it.  And this type of 'motivation' is not of God.

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27). 

If we find ourselves unsettling into panic over the economy, politics, war, and justice (the lack thereof), we have not been existing in the peace of Jesus.  Rather, we have been living off the peace of this world.  How do I know?  Because when we live with the peace of the world, in troubled times, it promptly leaves us. 

I'm not chucking rocks here - I struggle with this continually. 

We must continually encourage one another through these perilous times to remember that "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear," (1 John 4:18a).

Let go of the fear and let the perfect love flow in.

Peace,

jas

Some of the folks in our congregation have been involved in listing 10 blessings each day and sharing those with one another via email (this emerged from our study in Philippians) - and I've got to tell you - it does my heart good to read them.

I knew it would be a great way to change individual attitudes, but I never anticipated the incredible avenue of encouragement it would offer.

What a simple and yet oh-so-powerful thing.

Keep em coming!

jas