"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion--do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best--dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
"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?
(The Message - MSG)
"Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright (c) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group."
This passage is the first reading in a new book, "7 Minutes with God" by Th1nk Books.
This small devotional was a gift to those that attended Dinner Rally this October at Azusa Pacific University.
It made me think and reflect. I graduated from Citrus Community College in June 1985. I had my A.S. in Natural Sciences. I had spent the next three or so years trying to save up enough money to get to Azusa Pacific. It was just out of my reach no matter how hard I tried.
The summer of 1988 I just prayed and asked God to help me. There was no way I was going to go to Azusa Pacific without Him. One afternoon, I filled out the application and mailed it in. I just had enough for the application fee.
I was accepted. I filled out paperwork for financial aid and a miriad other papers it seems. As I moved closer to actually attending, I was up against the clock in getting the down payment for my tuition. I had some $2.00 bills, Susan B. Anthony dollars, and a small collection of coins with years from my birth year to the present which was almost complete. I still came up short.
The morning of my apointment for registration, I recieved a call from a friend of my mom's friends, Joanne. I guess my mom had told her of my plans. No one knew how much I was short. I knew my mom did not have the money, so I did not burden her with that.
Joanne had heard that I was enrolling in college. She knew that this was a major goal to me and wanted to help. She said she would lend me some money, she did not have much, but she knew it was for a good cause and was important to me. The amount was just what I needed. With all that I had plus her contribution, I was able to make my first payment and start my career at Azusa.
It took me three years to complete my B.S. in Mathematics. I could not have done it with out God or a call out of the blue from my mom's friend Joanne.
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