Good wet morning, dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! I hated to leave the warm coziness of the bed this morning, as I woke early to the sound of thunder and just decided to snooze awhile. Guess the race that was postponed yesterday will be running again today if the weather clears up. I took my dumpster down to the curb early yesterday before the rain started and, since I had run the van through the car wash Saturday, was thankful that it did not get rained on at church. :o)
When I drove through the park yesterday, I saw a beautiful peacock, a couple of egrets, with feathers blowing in the wind, and loads of leaves, still on the road. I am hoping that all the seeds got washed off our oaks, because they make such a mess on everything. Yellow on window sills, cars and anything that is left out. But I am thankful for shade!
I watched the squirrels scampering for acorns in the rain yesterday and this morning. Nothing stops them from their busyness! I don't know if it is the same one or not, but while I am writing down peoples names for prayers, I can see him leaping from our roof to the tree in back and then to the wire that connects all the houses. He stops and wiggles his tail about every three feet. Cute! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How is my work important to the Lord?
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your won business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs.
Work is God's plan for our lives. Those who work diligently experience many benefits in their own lives and bring benefits to others. God promises two basic rewards for faithful work. (1) having a more credible witness to nonbelievers and (2) having our needs met without having to financially depend on others.
Proverbs 13:11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows.
Honest hard work is much better than get-rich-schemes. Money quickly gotten is often quickly wasted.
Romans 12:8 If your gift is to encourage others,do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.
God blesses us when we do work that is in keeping with out gifts and abilities.
What does the Lord promise to those who work hard?
Proverbs 20:29 Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than ordinary people.
Faithful work makes a way for us to do greater work. God promises to bless us as we use the gifts he has given us.
Proverbs 10:4 Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
Proverbs 21:5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
Colossians 3:23-24 Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as our reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ.
God promises a reward to those who work hard. That reward can include-but is not limited to---financial prosperity. It may be the rewards of respect and personal satisfaction or the joy of contributing to the welfare of another.
How will God help me when my work is hard?
Psalm 145:14 The Lord helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.
As with any burden we bear, we can trust God to help us on the job.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
