Some section hands on a British railroad found a thrush’s nest under a rail. Peacefully sitting on her eggs, the hen was undisturbed by the roar of the fast trains above and around her. Someone has written a little verse which goes:
“Said the robin to the sparrow,
‘I should really like to know,
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.’
Said the sparrow to the robin,
‘Friend, I think that it must be,
That they have no heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me.'”
Jesus used the carefree attitude of the birds to underscore the fact that worrying is unnatural. I am learning in my own life, day by day, to keep my mind centered on Christ, and the worries and anxieties and concerns of the world pass, and nothing but “perfect peace” is left in the human heart. God has taken the responsibility for our care and worry.

“Grace,” according to the dictionary, is the unmerited favor of God toward mankind. The word “grace” is used over 170 times in the New Testament alone. Grace is not bought. It is a free gift of almighty God to needy mankind. When I picture Jesus Christ dying on the cross, I see the free gift of God’s grace in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. I sing with the songwriter, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.” Your human mind, with its philosophy of an equal return for favors done, can hardly comprehend the full meaning of this grace of God. But when you catch, by the inspiration of God, its full meaning, you will leave the limits of human reasoning and revel in the spiritual riches of divine truth and privilege.
Yes, the grace of God is a reality. Thousands have tried, tested, and proved that it is more than a cold creed, a docile doctrine, or a tedious theory. The grace of God has been tested in the crucible of human experience, and has been found to be more than an equal for the problems and sins of humanity.

Man condemns himself by his refusal of God’s way of salvation. In love and mercy, God is offering to men and women a way of escape, a way of salvation, a hope and anticipation of better things. Man in his blindness, stupidity, stubbornness, egotism, and love of sinful pleasure, refuses God’s simple method of escaping the pangs of eternal banishment. Suppose you were sick and called a doctor who came and gave you a prescription. But after thinking it over you decided to ignore his advice and to refuse the medicine. When he returned a few days later, he might have found your condition much worse. Could you blame the doctor? Could you hold him responsible? He gave you the prescription, he prescribed the remedy. But you refused it!
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Just so, God prescribes the remedy for the ills of the human race. That remedy is personal faith in, and commitment to, Jesus Christ. The remedy is to be “born again.” If we deliberately refuse it, then we must suffer the consequence; and we cannot blame God. Is it God’s fault that we refuse the remedy?

Often when Moses and Aaron approached God in the Tent of Meeting at the Tabernacle, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, the Bible explains that they fell down on their faces or fell "facedown." It was during these times the Lord showed his greatest acts of mercy and compassion toward the Israelites; when they were willing to submit and humble themselves to Him. Many of us pray standing up, sitting, while lying in bed, or just hanging out on the front porch, but when was the last time you prayed face down? There is an important message to be received in this action. First, it helps remind us that God is our ruler and we must humble ourselves at his feet. It helps us to understand that his greatness and power surrounds us and shroud us in his protection. Will you do God, the Father, the honor of praying face down on your knees with gratitude, honor, and praise today? May a blessing be poured out on you today, friends, as you create a moment of intimacy with your Creator.

In the marriage ceremony, after the vows are said, the minister solemnly and reverently remarks, “What God hath joined together let no man put asunder.” Is not God the third part in a marriage? Should He not be taken into account in the marriage, and in the home that emerges from that marriage? If God joins the couple together at the outset, should not His presence be recognized in the home continually? Many homes are on the rocks today because God has been left out of the domestic picture.
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With the clash of personalities in a domestic pattern, there must be an integrating force, and the living God is that Force! Many couples think that if they have a better home, get a better job, or live in a different neighborhood, their domestic life will be happier. No! The secret of domestic happiness is to let God, the party of the third part in the marriage contract, have His rightful place in the home. Make peace with Him, and then you can be a real peacemaker in the home.

After the Israelites escaped out of Egypt and the tabernacle was built, God gave Moses specific instructions, written above, regarding how the priests were to bless the Israelites. He wanted each and every one of them to know that God was there for them and would bless them. This wasn't something just relevant to the Israelites. This phrase still rings true and is still said by priests all over the world when blessing their congregations. We ought to remember this when we focus on prayer that God, indeed, does hear our earnest desires and seeks to bless us, keep us, and give us peace.

On the mornings when the Israelites would move from one location to another, Moses would wake up in the morning and say this aloud. I can't help but notice the exclamation point when Moses says, "Rise up, Lord!" We all know what an exclamation point means, but in this context, Moses states this phrase with exuberance, motivation, anticipation, and maybe even a bit joyfully? He knows God is with him, because God visits with him face to face, but he is taking on an air of authority and expectation with God. This gives us hope in our own challenges, that when we rise up in the morning, we should make our intentions known to God expectantly that he will do the same for us and he will! Let them be known excitedly, joyfully, and abundantly!

Prayer
Dear Lord, Rise up! Go before me and remove all challenges that separate me from executing your will! Lay to waste and ruin all plans Satan has for me and fill me up with your Holy Spirit.

After the crucifixion the beleaguered disciples despaired and said, “We had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21, RSV). There was anguish, despair, and tragedy in their midst. Life had lost its meaning and purpose. But when the resurrection became apparent, life took on a new meaning. It had purpose and reason.
David Livingstone once addressed a group of students at Glasgow University. When he rose to speak, he bore on his body the marks of his African struggles. Several illnesses on nearly 30 occasions had left him gaunt and haggard. His left arm, crushed by a lion, hung limp by his side. After describing his trials and tribulations, he said, “Would you like to have me tell you what supported me through all the years of exile among people whose language I could not understand, and whose attitude toward me was always uncertain and often hostile? It was this, ‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ On these words I staked everything, and they never failed.”