Feeding Five Thousand

I am officially excited. This afternoon I paid the final installment of the bill for my trip to Italy and Greece.

Throughout the past weeks, I have been reminded of the miracle Jesus worked feeding a crowd of five thousand with five meager loaves of bread. Those people did not go away hungry; there were plenty of leftovers (Matthew 16:9-10). Similarly, God miraculously provided enough funds for me to go on this trip, complete with leftovers [souvenirs, anyone?].

"In God We Trust" reads every dollar and cent that I paid, echoing my thoughts. He truly is trustworthy and faithful.

Blessed be the LORD,
Because He has heard the voice
of my supplications!
The LORD is my strength
and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him,
and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly
rejoices,
And with my song I will praise
Him.
- Psalm 28:6-7

Rake Balancing

The two large trees that obscure our house from the street produce many, many leaves. In the fall, these leaves invariably fall to the ground [maybe that's why it's called fall?]. Every few days throughout this season, these leaves must be raked into piles before being 'vacuumed' by the lawnmower to compost.
Personally, I don't particularly enjoy raking. It's all right, but I'd rather walk around balancing the rake upside-down on my hand.
Whenever I do this, I'm reminded of Colossians 3:2, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."
When I stare at the handle of the rake, resting in my palm, I can keep it balanced for about three seconds. When, however, I watch the tongs of the rake wobbling slightly in the air, I can dance around adjusting the position of my hand to keep the rake upright much longer. With comparative ease, I make it hop from hand to hand or finger to finger.
As long as I keep my eyes heavenward, the rake stays balanced, but when my eyes drop to myself, the rake crashes to the ground.

The House of the Proud

Pride goes before before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before a fall.
- Proverbs 16:18

The LORD will destroy the house of the proud . . .
- Proverbs 15:25

Need anything else be said?

photo courtesy my brother.