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Reflections on Bible verses

Read Luke 12:16-21

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying:  "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 
And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' 
So he said, 'I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'  But God said to him, 'Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
parables

This parable really helps us bring life into the right perspective.
The rich man in this story failed to do three things.

- He failed to realize that he was only a steward and not the owner of his goods.
- He failed to have an eternal perspective.
- He failed to consider how brief this earthly life can be.

How did he fail in these three areas? 
By not understanding just how short life is and where to place his focus.

He talked about building barns but instead he had a burial.

He said he had many years but God said "this night."

He thought he was wise, but God said he was a fool.

Let's learn from his mistakes and bring our life into proper focus.
Bayless Conley



Take a look at the few words that this man spoke. 
In his short declaration, he uses the word I six times and the word my five times!

His perspective was a very selfish one.

Here are a few questions to ponder:

       · Who gave the rain that made his crops grow?
       · Who made the soil out of which his crops grew?
       · Who made the seed he planted?
       · Who caused the sun to shine?
       · Who gave him the physical strength to work the field?
       · Who gave him his soul? 

The answer to all of those is God.
Yet he makes no acknowledgement of God in his speech, planning, or giving.
He should have been thanking God for all His blessings and asking the Lord what He wanted
done with His things.

Be faithful to acknowledge God and to ask Him what to do with His resources
over which you are a steward.
Bayless Conley



Use everything as if it belongs to God. 
It does. 
You are His steward.
Unknown





Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you:
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. 

It's a promise that is made over and over again in the Bible:
What ever "IT" is, God can handle it. Life isn't always easy. Far from it! Sometimes, life can seem
like a long, tiring, character-building, fear-provoking journey. But even when the storm clouds form overhead, even during our darkest moments, we're protected by a loving, Heavenly Father.

When we're worried, God can reassure us; when we're sad, God can comfort us. When our hearts are broken, God is not just near, He is here. So we must lift our thoughts and prayers to Him.
When we do, He will answer our prayers. Why? Because He is our shepherd, and He has promised to protect us now and forever.

God's hand uplifts those who turn their hearts and prayers to Him. Will you count yourself among that number? Will you accept God's peace and wear God's armor against the temptations and distractions of our dangerous world? If you do, you can live courageously and optimistically,
knowing that even on the darkest days, you and your Heavenly Father can handle every
challenge you face, today and forever.

The next time you're disappointed, don't panic. Don't give up.
Just be patient and let God remind you He's still in control.
Max Lucado




Psalm 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
    
THOUGHT:
In nearly every disciple's life, there comes a time of loneliness and doubt. It seems as if our prayer requests just bounce off the ceiling and fall in broken pieces at our feet. God seems distant, hiding, asleep, or unsympathetic to our cries for mercy and help. Thankfully God gives us the Psalms. In the Psalms we can find words for almost all of life's ups and downs. When we are down, it is nice to know that others have been there before us and have recovered their faith and vitality. But, there are just some moments in life when we need to have God's reminders of his love and guidance. This psalm and these words are made for such a time. If the request in today's Scripture is not relevant to your need, then please, pray these words for someone else. If, on the other hand, they speak to you then please, pray them for yourself!

PRAYER:
Dear Father, please make your presence undeniably known in my life and help me clearly see your presence and mercy. I want to honor you, dear God, but please make your guidance clear so that I can follow you boldly and faithfully in your will. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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