“all these things” referred to in this verse are all the things we need to live, as stated in the previous verses: food, clothing, shelter, etc. Jesus tells us that they will “be added to us” as we “seek first the kingdom of God”.
Be Still
When you find yourself in a situation that’s over your head, don’t give in to fear, but trust that God is able to sustain you in the midst of trouble
King James Version
A Different Map
Living a life according to the Word of God means taking a different path than the rest of the world.
Bouncer revised
revised version of “Bouncer”
We should be discriminating about which words we allow through the door of our lips.
‘Bouncer’ is a cartoon I have long thought needed a revision. I like the idea of the guard keeping “watch over the door of my lips” being like a bouncer at an exclusive night club. He has to be very discriminating: desirable guests are allowed in, undesirables are banned. I thought it depicted how we should be with words. My original cartoon showed a well dressed lady being admitted to the “Club Lips”, and a vagrant being denied. The idea was that these people represented words, but I’m not sure that idea was conveyed very well. At least one person wrote to complain that I was making fun of homeless people, which was not my intent. Also, I thought it might be inferred that the vagrant represented specifically profanity, which was also not my intent.
The revised cartoon replaces the lady and the vagrant, who were to represent words, with actual words, or drawings of words, complete with faces. This is much sillier, which I like. But also, I hope, does a better job of conveying the message.
original version of “Bouncer”
Revisiting this cartoon also made me wonder who, exactly, is the bouncer? In the verse, the person asks the Lord to set a guard over his lips. Who is the guard? In James 3:8 it is stated that no one can tame the tongue. We can’t do it on our own. We need someone to help us. That someone, I believe, is the Holy Spirit. He is there, with us, and in us. He can help us choose our words more carefully.
Mike Waters
Wait for Wings
If we put our hope and trust in the Lord, and wait for His timing, we will exchange our poor strength for His great strength, which is able to overcome any obstacle.
Prayer Booster Rockets
Praise and thanksgiving are the entrance into the courts of God, and the booster rockets to our prayers.
Made To Fly
God has a purpose and a plan for each of us, and in Christ, He has already given us all that we need to fulfill that plan.
Guard Your Heart
We need to be careful about the things we allow into heart. We can’t allow Satan to dump his garbage of fear, doubt, and sin in the well of our heart.
Wages or Gift
The choice is clear: continue in sin and receive the wages due to sin; or turn to Jesus and receive God’s gift of eternal life.
Incidentally, this is the 200th Joyful ‘toon to be published to the site.
Cry Out
You may feel as small and weak as a cub in the face of your troubles, but when you cry out to God, He will hear and come to your rescue.
