I Cry Over Spilled Milk

This is how my day started out, via my facebook status this morning... 

"Whoever made up the phrase, "Don't cry over spilled milk" obviously never actually spilled an entire cup of milk inside their son's bag, while loading the kids in the car, already running late, and unable to go back inside to get a new bag, because of said lateness. That IS tear inducing! Or at least seriously scream worthy"

I did end up laughing at this because sometimes that's all you can do. Between the milk filled bag experience, and a conversation I had this morning, my tolerance (or lack thereof) of mess and unexpected, was made very clear to me. A fact about myself that I already knew, but became glaringly obvious. I'm grateful for that.

The laundry, dishes, cleaning crumbs, managing clutter, and the day to day routine, can send me to my max very quickly. I think every mothers' tolerance and capacity to handle the unexpected is different, but I know mine isn't very high. I'd like to say that I have myself in check all the time, but truthfully, I don't. It's one day at a time, one moment at a time even, and I definitely cry over spilled milk. 

The best way I can describe the delicacy of my balancing act, is to compare myself to a scale. On the left side is my capacity for messes, etc, and on the right side is all of the messes and craziness. Each day, I try to start it off balanced and even on both sides, but inevitably, the right side is always more packed with adventure, catapulting the left side, my tolerance, into the air. Then I feel frenzied, and it takes me awhile to come down from being shot so far off the scale.

I'm the most of aware of this uneven scale, that I've ever been, and though the awareness makes my inner anxiety, painfully visible, you can't change or tweak what you aren't willing to acknowledge... and I acknowledge, that I need to get my scale balanced. In becoming aware of my disproportionate angst and tolerance to mess, I also am realizing the obvious, that this is all about me. My kids are just that...kids. They fly out the womb, ready to tornado through your "normal." It's not malicious, it's nature, God's why of saying, "This life really isn't all about you, remember." Messes are in kids' dna. In my right mind, I know this, but in my maxed out mind, a mess is a violation to me, an offense punishable by anything I deem appropriate. Watch out! Ok, not really, I'm not that cruel, but I do have a physical reaction in seeing a mess that I cannot control, and that physical reaction often heightens my lack of tolerance. The goal is figuring what I can let go of, what can wait, and what I can do to take care of myself, so my scale can stay balanced even a little bit longer.

It seems, at the root of all of this, there is a need for control. The more my inner world feels chaotic, the more consumed I become with managing my outer world- my surroundings. There is certainly a healthy amount of energy you can put in to making sure that your home and your kids aren't infested with dirt and grime, but once again, it's all about balance.

Here's the clencher for me. There is always, always, always going to be something to clean or pick up, but my kids are only kids for this short window of time, and the more I put my unbalanced angst ahead of time with them, the more I miss out on the wonders they are. That would be the biggest tragedy in this whole thing.

I don't have the answers yet, but I do know that I am going to try and do what I can to make sure my bucket of tears over the spilled milk doesn't overflow into a massive flood- making a bigger mess. I'd like them to become just a few manageable drops, that I can wipe up quickly, and then move on right away. We'll see how that goes.

After Friday comes Sunday

Wow, what significance today holds.

Good Friday. Doesn't feel so "good" thinking about what actually happened on this day 2,011 years ago. I guess the "good" comes from what happened after today's events. And what happened on this day, was necessary if we were going to be able to live the way we were created to.

I don't think I've ever been more aware, or in tune with what Jesus' death and resurrection means to me, to humanity, and all creation, as I am today. My searching and asking, has given me much more depth into why Christ's death and resurrection matters so very deeply.

Here is a beautifully written excerpt that I think describes why the Jesus' death and resurrection is brilliant. 

"Jesus talks about death and rebirth constantly, his and ours, He calls us to let go, turn away, renounce, confess, repent, and leave behind the old ways. He talks of the life that will come from his own death, and he promises that life will flow to us in thousands of small ways as we die to our egos, our pride, our need to be right, our self-sufficiency, our rebellion, and our stubborn insistence that we deserve to get our way. When we cling with white knuckles to our sins and our hostility, we're like a tree that won't let its leaves go. There can't be spring if we're still stuck in fall.

Lose your life and find it, he says. That's how the world works. That's how the soul works. That's how life works when you're dying to live."

What a solid explanation of what was/is happening through the Cross.

So, I had this revelation today. I was really trying to wrap my head around what today, Good Friday, means, not wanting to breeze through this day without acknowledging its significance. Separate from the Easter holiday, in general, I've been trying to figure out what can I do in my life in that matters. How do I repay Jesus for what he so graciously offered me? Then it hit me. Jesus doesn't want me to do anything, but live. He wants me to actually use the gift of grace he gave me, and not just stare at it. That to me, means he wants me to live in the awareness that I am indescribably loved, that I am cared for in the biggest areas in my life and in the smallest fibers of my being, that I am desired to be whole, and that everything God has is mine. To know that I have access to the very source of life itself. Just simply living to discover the things my soul was made for is enough. Out of that understanding and quest comes my service, and gratitude. But, then it's not about doing anything after all, for the sake of doing... it becomes obvious and natural to extend ourselves when I/you/we are living a life in exactly the way it was intended to be.

In the ways I am learning and choosing to "die to myself," and set aside what I want, getting my way, controlling all parts of my life, I have found that I am actually gaining energy, sustenance, and life. That is exactly what Jesus modeled. Through his death, came the ability for there to be new life. Without his death, there couldn't be life. Without me giving up the "dying" parts of myself, I can't be new and refreshed. Jesus restarted everything. He shed what was old, so new could bloom. He rewrote our story. When you tap into that, boy does it change why you share the story of the cross with others. It's not simply about a destination; we're missing the good news' fullness if that's all we're living to tell people about. Christ's death and then resurrection, is an invitation to be new, and live eternally, now. That's beautiful to me. That's the story of the Gospel. Death to life. Old to new. Eternity now.

"That is why the Cross continues to endure. It's a reminder, a sign, a glimpse, an icon that allows us to tap into our deepest longings to be part of a new creation.

Because that's how the universe works. That's what Jesus does. Death and resurrection. Old life for new life; one passes away, the other comes. Friday, then Sunday. You die, and you're reborn. It's like that."

Those Three Hours

There is so much to say about this week in the Christian faith. The life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, marked a change in the DNA of everything that has ever existed. I have to believe that Jesus, and what he did has larger implications than we are even able wrap our heads around. I find myself thinking about those implications a lot this week. What great mystery there is in the death and resurrection, and I am fascinated with it.

Beyond the things that we know happened through Christ's death, I also believe there is a massive amount that we don't know. Something larger, greater, and inconceivable happened on that day. These passages presented in the Gospel's of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, have had me pondering for the last few years.

"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” That is to say, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, “This man calleth for Elias” And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, “Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.” (Mt. 27:45-49)

"And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” Which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he calleth Elias.” And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, “Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.” (Mk. 15:33-36)

"And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst." (Lk. 23:44-45)

 Matthew then goes on to say, "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 

How crazy, how supernatural! What happened in the three hours of darkness? What cosmic and universal shifts were taking place during that time? Darkness at noon, is not normal. Earthquakes of that magnitude are not normal. Curtains ripping out of nowhere aren't normal, and people being raised back to life is not normal.

Was the entire cosmos reconfiguring itself? Shifting from the new order that came about because of what Jesus had done? Jesus was not only redeeming humanity, he was also redeeming this earth, and all creation. Is it possible that everything, everything, everything, was being rewritten, restarted, and redone in those three hours? Obviously, the bible is pretty vague about what specifically happened during that time, but for some reason I've latched onto those three hours with curiosity, knowing deep in my bones, that something of unexplainable magnitude happened during that time...and that it matters. Hello, our entire measurement of time is marked by Christ's death! We keep track of history according his sacrifice. I'm taking that seriously.

In wonder and awe of what this week, particularly this weekend, is a reminder of, I am also reminded that the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus is a mysterious, crazy, radical, and insane story. A story, that even in it's mystery, is believable to me. Why? I'm still trying to find the perfect words, but I just know that my soul is at peace, and feels most whole and alive when I am sitting in the middle of that mystery.

Freedom and a New Story

With Easter fast approaching, we are once again taking time to acknowledge the indescribable sacrifice that was made for every single person and for all of creation. The power, mystery, and beauty of the Cross still stands after 2000 years, which tells me it's more significant than we could ever begin to fully grasp.

Jesus' death and resurrection, for me, can be pretty well summed into one word.

Freedom

Free from the laws before Jesus, free from hell we put ourselves in, free from our brokenness, free from fear, free from anxiety, free from the vices that keep us from living in abundance, free from the negativity we harbor about ourselves and others, free from ourselves, free from death. The list could go on.

Free Free Free

The power of the cross is that it rewrites our story. It paints us in a new light. It gives us the option to have heaven now. It gives us a glimpse of the fullness we will experience for all eternity, in the age to come. It redefines who we are. It says we don't have to be separated from God now, or ever. THAT is what compels my heart. THAT is worth living for.

See, pre-Jesus' death and resurrection we were undeserving, unworthy, and not able to have perfect union with God, but Jesus changes everything. Jesus says we are deserving, we are worthy, we are able to be unified with God. When we choose to embrace that our story has been changed, that our life is made new, and that we are viewed and thought of as whole, we live differently. We are driven to share that.

The journey of faith and knowing Jesus, is the journey of discovering the exact thing our souls were made for. Wholeness, love, and newness. Jesus makes all things new. His mercies and grace are new each morning. We long to be new and recreated. Jesus' death and resurrection does just that.

Freedom from the old, a new story, a life lived in fullness, and the hope that outlasts this time. THAT is worth living for/in. THAT is the Cross.

A "Love Wins" Review

It will come as no surprise that I loved Rob Bell's new book, "Love Wins." I've spent a lot of energy thinking, discussing, and writing about what I am learning through this book, but I wanted to share beyond any specific story, phrase, or idea written about in the book, why this book moved me so much.

Before we go any further, let me tell you what I believe Rob Bell isn't saying, in "Love Wins" ....

He is not a universalist- He says he fully believes in our free will and that that is the essence of love, therefore, to swoop people into heaven no matter what, even if they don't want to be there, would be against the nature of love. 

He is not a heretic- Yes, he is asking provocative questions, but by no means is here tearing down any doctrine or idea that changes the entire meaning of Christianity. He is simply opening up dialogue, and asking questions that people have been asking since Christ's death and resurrection.

He is not claiming absolute truth in anything he has said- He is throwing ideas out there, provoking thought, in hopes of a conversation, to discover for ourselves, what Jesus brings in our own lives. He gives no answers, he leaves everything open ended. They're just ideas.

Now that we've covered that, here is what I believe Rob Bell is saying...

God can handle any question or idea thrown out there- God is not threatened by anything that we could ask Him. God is big enough and wide enough, to take on any one of our questions, doubts, or thoughts. It does not scare Him. So why not ask?

Eternity is now- We don't have to wait to live in the fullness and wholeness until "the age to come" is here. We can live in His peace, joy, and abundance in the present, and that has deep significance. What we do now matters immensely. How we view Jesus and God, shapes us. We can live in the beauty of eternity, today, or choose to live life selfishly, but what we are doing and believing now matters, because eternity is now. There is urgency to know the fullness that Jesus offers now, because it saves us from the torment and anguish that will be felt in "the age to come" if Jesus' love is rejected now. It's not punishment either, it's respect. Our choices are honored by an all-loving God and if we want nothing to do with Him now, he will respect that decision in the future. Believing in Christ's joy and peace now, saves us from the reality of our choices made apart from God. Rob Bell would say that Jesus matters NOW.

He loves Jesus and believes He IS the way, the truth, and the life, he just says that are many ways that Jesus can be experienced. He would say Jesus is exclusively the only way to God, but is inclusive in the way He reveals Himself to people. We can't limit or put parameters and how He chooses to show Himself. 

God's love is bigger than we know- Whether we believe in a literal hell or not, whether we believe another opportunity will be given after our death upon feeling God's absence, whether we believe that heaven will be this earth fully redeemed, there's room for our thoughts, because God won't be contained and neither will His love. It is more, greater, stronger, deeper, and wider than we could ever begin to know, and  it's ours to experience if we want it.... and not matter where you are in life, what you think about yourself or others, love is always the answer, love always wins.

With all of that being said, here is why this book was so moving to me....

Beyond the words, ideas, and controversy, there is an authenticity, there is a seeker, there is someone who isn't afraid to ask really hard questions with humility and grace. Secretly, but not so secretly now that I'm writing it, that's the kind of person I want to be. Rob Bell's fearless faith inspires me to think more deeply, search more widely, and not be afraid to challenge...and do it ways that are respectful and kind. "Love Wins" compelled me ask tough questions, expand my sometimes simple mind, and embrace that there is so much more than we can even begin to imagine, and that is part of the beauty of this journey of faith.

No matter where you fall on any of the ideas and thoughts that Rob Bell brought up, that's fine. The point is to think, ask, and never stop learning. If on the journey, you feel like you gain pieces of truth, pieces of the this puzzle we are trying to put together, and pieces of yourself, then that's more than any author could have asked for, and that's what this book did for me. It gave me articulation, perspective, and inspiration.

God is moving, He is restoring and redeeming, He is putting us and this world back together one step at a time, so we can be whole again. And the best part is that we can do that with Him. Now. We can care about what He does, and we can experience that joy, peace, and abundance that comes from living a life in belief that what "God has, has always been yours." Nothing we could do would ever make God stop loving us. He just does. His love just is. His love extends beyond what we even know exists. You can't change that. But, you can experience that now, today, in the present, and it will for eternity.

See the good news isn't about a location, it's not about a "ticket" to a destination... "The good news is better than that." When pastors, leaders, or people with strong opinions say infatically and confidently, that if you don't believe in Jesus, you are going to burn in hell, as the selling point or way to get people to know Jesus, it infuriates me. Why? It's because the "good news" should never be rooted in fear or anxiety, which I believe that route produces. The "good news" is an invitation to live! It's an invitation to discover the things that our soul was created for, an invitation to believe that we are redeemed or restored, and an invitation to receive the only kind of love that will never let us down and will always sustain, the kind of love the rewrites our story. THAT is "good news." THAT compels you to share. Who wants to share about a God they are unsure of? We can be sure that Jesus is the way to a God who waits to embrace, who seeks us relentlessly, who offers us everything He has, and who loves us more deeply than the expanse of the universe. 

So, what did I take from the book? I discovered a wider and deeper understanding of my love for Christ. I gained perspective that will help me articulate why I believe what I do, and I was inspired to to keep challenging, keep asking, and keep seeking. Does what he threw out there resonate with me? Yes. And it's liberating. 

If you are going to read this book, please be open. You will be forever changed in the most beautiful ways if you are willing to embrace what is actually said. If you can't be open, you will not take away anything meaningful from Rob Bell's words. To quote Rob Bell, "And I also believe it's best to only discuss books you've actually read." Don't talk about it, rip it apart, or discuss it deeply, if you haven't read it. I think the material is too good to be misrepresented.

Here is a beautiful quote from the end of the book, that I love...

 "May you experience this vast, expansive, infinite, indestructible love that has been yours all along. May you discover that this love is as wide as the sky and as small as the cracks in your heart no one else knows about. And may you know, deep in your bones, that love wins."

Keep searching, keep talking, keep wondering.

Water From Rocks

Another post inspired by the book that is challenging my thinking. Yes, "Love Wins."

Jesus is wildly mysterious and undefinable. Our concrete minds, don't know what do with the "abstract." But, that is exactly what Jesus is. Abstract. He takes our ideas, and crushes them to show that He is bigger than that, He uses paradoxes to reveal His character, and uses the "impossible" to prove He is God. It's absolutely unfathomable to me, and I think I'm ok with that. The less I find that I know, the more I feel like I know God. See, a paradox. 

This post is in direct response to stories that were told in Rob Bell's book, from the bible. I say some of the same things that he does, but they resonated with me, and I think they are worth sharing...with my take on it as well :).

How's this for abstract? ...

In Exodus 17, the Israelites are complaining of thirst after being taken out of Egypt, and are mad at Moses, for taking them somewhere where they, seemingly, are not provided for. God tells Moses to take his staff, strike a rock, and water will appear. Moses did just that and there was water. 

Water From Rocks

Later in the bible, in 1 Corinthians 10, Paul says the rock that water sprung from was, in fact, Christ himself. Not that God used Christ to supply the water, but that the rock was Christ. 

I would have never put that together from reading, so I'm glad   Rob Bell brought that to my attention through this book. 

The point that he makes in 'Love Wins," that I believe is worth sharing is that, if Jesus was literally that rock, what else, and where else, could He be? Where else does He show up that we are not expecting or unaware of? Who's to say that the crazy spiritual experiences that you hear some people having, aren't actually Jesus himself, or that He doesn't do insane things to reveal Himself?

Jesus Feeds the 5000

Why is that story important, you ask? Well, this is why it is important to me. It says to me, that Jesus is not exclusive, that He is for everyone, everywhere. It says that He is available and real no matter what. It says to me that there are likely people that have had Christ revealed to them, in ways we don't understand from just looking at it (and I would add, who cares if we don't understand? We don't have to get everyone else's "Jesus" experiences for them to be legit). It says to me that the mystery of Jesus is found in the abstract, and that we cannot limit Him. It's says to me that He is the source of life. He doesn't give life, He IS life. It says to me that the love and grace He offers is revealed and given in ways that are personal, relevant, and a little paradoxical...

...And that's the beauty of it all. We don't have to understand the "why's" and "how's" of ours, or others' experiences with Jesus. So does that mean that Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, or Jews can experience Jesus? You bet they can. Can they respond to Him from that experience? You bet they can. Is it possible that people from different religions will be in Heaven? Absolutely. Why? It's because Jesus is for everyone, and will not be limited by the labels and parameters we put on Him, or His ability to show Himself to someone. Even the label "Christianity."- The underlined is a direct quote from the book, and I think it's fantastic.  Jesus will be whoever and whatever He wants to be and will engage with us in ways that are relevant to our situation at the time, and possibly a little crazy. No religion or group is exempt. Jesus' revelation is not just for a select few. It's for all, and he's not bound by our ideas and structures in how He chooses to show Himself.

Jesus Heals the Blind Man with Dirt

When we limit His ability to creatively and relationally meet anyone, anywhere, we are trying putting definition to the undefinable. Jesus is for anyone who wants Him. He is bold, provocative, and full of surprises. I love the Narnia movie series, and always swear I'll read the books. My favorite line in the "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,"  is when Lucy and Mr. Tumnus are having a conversation about Aslan, as he is walking away on the sand. Mr. Tumnus, in response to something Lucy had asked says, "He's not a tame Lion," And Lucy replied, "But he's good." I don't think there is more powerful, or accurate picture of who God is. He is not tame, but He is good. Here are some definitions of the word tame...

-Tractable, docile, or submissive, as a person or the disposition.

 

-Lacking in excitement; dull; insipid: a very tame party.

 

-Spiritless or pusillanimous.

 

-Not to be taken very seriously; without real power or importance; serviceable but harmless

 

None of those sound like God and Jesus to me. In fact, I would say they are the exact opposite. They are water in rocks.  

 

Water Into Wine

When we are open and willing to accept that Jesus is a little crazy, a little non-traditional, and little mysterious, we find that that openness invites us into a world of thinking and experiencing with more depth, wonder, and love than we could ever imagine. Sure it's a bit risky, because thinking outside the box can be unfamiliar and feel unsafe, but some risks are worth taking, and I think believing that water can come from rocks, is one of them.

A Little Worry Goes a Long Way

I am certain that worrying and comparing can go hand in hand. At least in my life they do. The more I worry about my circumstances- whatever it may be at that time- the more I start to stack myself against someone else and their life. Awful huh? Well, in the spirit of self discovery, which for me, comes from being honest, here's the truth: I worry and compare, worry and compare, until my mind is overloaded (which doesn't take much, since it's almost to full capacity all the time, from my mind never shutting off), and that then turns to the "worst game ever" to quote my last post. I'm trying rid myself of the toxicity I believe it brings into my life, so I thought, what better way to do that, than to be transparent?

I, Jessica, worry and compare, and am a "worrying-compare-aholic."

That felt good.

I was asked the other day, "What does worrying do to you?" I responded, "It zaps the joy out of my day." Then I was asked, "What would you think about if you didn't worry?" Brilliant question, to which I responded, "I don't even know."

What a concept for me to take seriously... That I'm so consumed with worry I can't even imagine my thought life without it. Yikes! I firmly believe that your thoughts ultimately shape your choices, and I certainly don't want to be incapable of making healthy choices, which worrying the way I do, can lead me to.

Here's another very true concept that I've been thinking about after last week's sermon at church. "What you resist, will persist. You must completely turn your back." You can insert that idea into anything that you struggle with. If you're trying to stop biting your nails, and all you're doing is standing with your hand in front of your face, saying "I won't bite them, I won't bite them, I won't bite them," the desire to bite your nails is just persisting. Instead, you have to cut your entire hand off. Just kidding....You do have to turn your back, though, and completely think about something else. For me, that is no different when I worry. If I am worried about something to the point that it's consuming, I need to completely redirect my thoughts to something else. It's a tough process, and I'm no where near having that conquered, but I'm on the road. As the wise Dr. Phil (and any good counselor) would say, "You can't change what you don't acknowledge." Agreed. I've had to acknowledge to myself, that I worry too often, which turns into nasty comparison. At least the first step is done.

Here's the other thing I realized about myself. If I'm not worried about one thing, I'm worried about something else. Could it be that worrying is comforting to me, because it's become so familiar? That my mind is so used to worrying, that it has to be retrained to not worry to the point of "all consumption?" Is it possibly masking something else that I really need to be focusing on in my life? Like my pride and insecurities, maybe? That was brought up to me this week too. Also a brilliant thought.

What does worrying mask for you?

I am trying to be more self-aware when I do worry, and not let it get out of hand. It's a combination of my anxious personality, having real things to care about, and not having a brain that shuts off. But it's a lethal combination if left unattended. For me, just putting words to how I am, helps me figure out what's next and/or how to take care of myself. I also have to remind myself, that there hasn't been a time where I haven't been taken care of, and continue to reflect on/think of past provision in my life. How easily and often I forget the amazing and creative ways my life has come together. When I hold onto those things, my worry dissipates. Why don't I do that first?!

Really, I just want to care about what matters. I want to have eternal thinking, I want to be more generous, I want to love people better, and I want to discover myself more, I want to live in the present. Those are the things that matter and last. Of course there are things we have to plan and care about, but I'm talking about serious worry. See, we're only guaranteed today anyway, so worrying about tomorrow, the next day, or the next week to the point of "all consumption," robs you of the beauty of today. I want to see the beauty in the day and turn my back from the all consuming worry that snowballs into all sorts of other destructive thoughts.

I want to think about what matters.

Matthew 6: 25-34 holds me together, and gives me comfort. I'll end with it.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

    

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."