God's goodness.

You are trying your best to pay attention, but the advice is not what you want to hear. Come to God first and let Him direct your paths. 

Ecclesiastes chapter 4 verses 7 and 8.

I also observed another place of foolishness around the earth. This is the case of a man who is quiet alone, without a son or brother, yet he works hard to keep gaining more riches and to whom will he leave it all? And why is he giving up so much now? It is all pointless and depressing.

In Matthew chapter 21, Jesus is walking along with the disciples. He felt hungry and noticed a fig tree full of leaves, but no fruit. Fig trees usually have figs under their leaves, but this one only had leaves. He used this as an example of what it is like to be in life without God. We may be able to work and provide for our needs, we may be able to find a happy marriage and have it flourish. We may even be able to be constructive and successful, but when it comes to being thankful for what you have, who are you thankful too? 

   It would be nice if all the building blocks of life would line up perfectly and fit the way they are supposed to. But that is not the case, for we need others to make those pieces fit. So the question is, have you got the right people in your life, that are making it all fit together just the way you think it should be? As you see the outcome. 

   Even our picture of what we think it should look like has to adjust and change. And that can create a mess, a redesign and a new approach. It can cause us to start all over again. 

   2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 18-21 say, "All these new things are from God who brought us back to Himself through what Christ Jesus did. And God has given us the privilege of urging everyone to come into His favor and be reconciled to Him. For God was in Christ, restoring the world to Himself, no longer counting men's sins against them but blotting them out. This is the wonderful message He has given us to tell others. We are Christ's ambassadors, God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ Himself were here pleading with you, receive the love He offers you---be reconciled to God. For God took the sinless Christ and poured into Him our sins. Then, in exchange, He poured God's goodness into us." 

   Feeling sad about how things are turning out for you is depressing and can have long term affects, not just on you but on others also. Everyday we face trials, temptations and our own desires. Think about this for a moment. You are not the only one with emotions and attitude. Everyone you see is exactly like you, except they are dealing with their issues the best way the know how. 

   Some of us are happy people and some say things that may rub others the wrong way. It is not easy being happy all the time, it's not easy being happy just some of the time. Being involved in community is good, finding hobbies that spark our interest is good, but there will be trials and troubles. Our own desires will lead to worries and multi-media will lead to anxieties.

   I like John chapter 16 verses 32 and 33. Jesus told them, "The time is coming---in fact, it is here---when you will be scattered, each one returning to his own home, leaving Me alone. Yet I will not be alone, for the Father is with Me. I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world."

   There is only one way to have true peace and that is by trusting in God, knowing that He is with you all the time in everything you are going through or about to face. And the only way you will know that is to talk to Him about the things you are dealing with. Seek after Him. 

   Our minds wander, our thoughts fill our time, they jump from one thing to another. They play out every scenario, they try so hard to come up with the right solutions. Is God in those thoughts? Is all that is going on with you occupying all you think, and say? 

   Most of the time our solutions will involve others, their help or information on how they got through the same situation. So, why have you not sought after God or listened to what Jesus teaches? The answer is simple, He has not been one of the areas in which you have thought about seeking help before. 

   Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6 says, "You can never please God without faith, without depending on Him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that He rewards those who sincerely look for Him." 

   In the midst of your confusion, in the midst of your troubles, in the midst of your worries or anxieties, try stopping for a moment and speaking to God. After-all He is the creator of everything. He is all powerful and He has promised to care for those who seek after Him. God's goodness is real and by focusing on Him, you will have peace of heart and mind. 

   Thank You Father for Jesus. Thank You for amazing us with Your wisdom and for providing for us just what we need at the right time. 😊     

       

Matthew chapter 7 verses 16-20.

You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by it's fruit. You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes or figs with thistles. Different kinds of fruit trees can quickly be identified by examining their fruit. A variety that produces delicious fruit never produces an inedible kind. And a tree producing an inedible kind can't produce what is good. So the trees having the inedible fruit are chopped down and thrown on the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit produced. 

1 Corinthians chapter 12 verses 12 and 13.

Our bodies have many parts, but the many parts make only one body when they are all put together. So it is with the 'body' of Christ. Each of us is a part of the one body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves and some are free. But the Holy Spirit has fitted us all together into one body. We have been baptized into Christ's body by the one Spirit, and have all been given the same Holy Spirit.  

Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 and 6.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all you do acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.