I went shopping earlier in the week and one of the items on my list, I really needed, was deodorant. The store I buy it from, most often, was out of it, and that store was my last stop for the day. After I got home I had to start a new list with this item at the top.
Today, I had to go to CVS (inside a Target store) to pick up a medication. The young lady who works there is always lecturing me about not letting the $5 off coupons expire. She’s kind of fanatic about it, but I do see her point, it’s free money, and to be honest, the budget is tight these days and any savings helps.
So, before I left the store I thought about my next shopping list and the only thing I could remember, that was on it, was deodorant. I found my brand and noticed it was marked “Clearance”. I bought four of them. The normal price for four would have been $11.96, but since they were a clearance item and I had the $5.00 off coupon, I only paid $3.32.
When I save money like that, I always walk out smiling, because I feel as though I shopped like a woman. That’s meant as a compliment. Now I know, this may not seem like a big deal to you, but to me I was thanking God. I thanked him for the other store being out of it, and helping me not to complain about it, too much. I thanked him for helping our budget. This may be a little thing, but it shows the God of the universe cares about us, our lives, and even the little things. Either that, or he didn’t want me walking around stinking!
But seriously, think about it, if God cares about the little things in our lives, then how much more does he care about the big things in our lives that need his attention. There is a common phrase, “Don’t sweat the small things.”, but with God, we don’t have to sweat the big things either! Here is what his word promises us:
Matthew 6:31-34 (MSG) “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
Copyright © 2020 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
Every day, about 4:10 PM, I see a Southwest Airlines jet flying over my house, if I am outside at the time, and if the wind is blowing from the south. I did some research and found the plane starts in Dallas, TX. as flight #21, flies to Houston, TX. and changes its flight number to #449. It’s known as a “scheduled” flight.
God’s is speaking a lot lately, through many means, but seems to be saying the same thing. When that happens, pay attention and listen to the message, because God doesn’t want you to miss it.
Have you ever wondered why you do things and it doesn’t go like you thought it would? I mean you roll played it in your head so many times and not one of those times did it go like it did in real life. What actually went down, you never ever imagined. You’re hurt. You’re angry at God. You don’t understand how it wound up like this. Let me tell you why it did.
Yes, they’re out there. They do exist. In fact, I’ve seen them. They can be difficult to spot, because they live their life without revealing their secret, they’re Christians.
Well this isn’t going to be fun, but I feel the need to write out a self-evaluation. While reflecting on some recent events I was reminded of the following flaws in my personality:
You finally drop off to sleep, and when you wake up the next morning you have a few seconds of peace before the pain of your current life situation comes crashing back into your mind like a tsunami. You lay there and say to yourself, “Oh yeah”. You force yourself to get out of bed, but if it wasn’t for having to go to the bathroom you would more likely pull the covers over your head and try to go back to sleep.
Why are you reading this blog when you could be reading God’s words for yourself? I’m glad you read this blog, as humbling as it is, but this portion of scripture, Romans chapter 12 verses 1-2, from The Message Bible, was just too good not to share.
Many years ago, like 33 of them, I left full time ministry. I had been a youth pastor in two different churches. I left under circumstances that should have never taken place. I then entered my own desert and had my own version of Mt. Sinai to march around.
brady, mark a. 