Today, I think we should take a walk; therefore, let us go to the shelf in our closet, the one where our “older outside clothing” sits, awaiting the opportunity to be worn.
Next, we place on our old rain boots (for crossing the creeks, of course).
Step with me outside, and walk with me toward the fields. Over the roadway to the pasture gate.  It is there, we pause to unlatch the gate.  A walk across the farm;  that may be the very best gift we can give ourself today.

One field.
One gate into and another gate leading out.
Up slight grades of hillsides.
Across the creek, where we try our best to not dampen our feet.
A pasture field.
A peaceful place.
A tranquil place.

Let us go there on this Monday morning, the first day of the work-week.
As we stroll, let us be mindfully aware of God’s provision—-for the fields.
Yes, as we look down where we walk (and we should because we ARE IN A FIELD, A PASTURELAND where cattle call their home), let us carefully place our feet as we walk.
As we do, we go slower than say IF we walked upon the roadway.  Across the field requires more time because there are gates to open and close,  &  There are beautiful flowers to see.
“Consider the lilies” or “Observe the lilies.”  Jesus tells us to do this, to walk and observe them (lilies—plural).  Jesus also says, the lilies are more beautiful than all of King Solomon’s clothing.

Opulent. 
Magnificent. 
Regal.
Gorgeous Color.
Quality.
Returning. 
Plentiful. 

Jesus is Coming.  He told us so when He ascended back to heaven after His crucifixion and resurrection.   Yes, that’s right. We cannot celebrate the birth of the babe in the manger, the bright star in the sky that led the Wise Men to baby Jesus—Without Also Seeing the Truth of WHY Jesus Came To Earth—to die, to be buried, to resurrect to new life, to ascend back to Heaven, as He promised to—COME AGAIN.

Jesus knows what we need.  He knows our frame, for He fashioned us from the dust of the earth and breathed the breath of life into our nostrils.   Jesus speaks to us through a series of questions he posed that are recorded in the Bible, God’s Holy Word.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink;  nor for your body, as to what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing. . . .
And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life.
And why are you worried about clothing?
Observe how the lilies of the field grow;  [consider the lilies of the field]  they do not toil nor do they spin,
Yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?  You of little faith!”

(Matthew 6: 25 & 27-30)

Being a believer; Being a Christian is far more than just going to church.
Being a Christian is Being a walker with and a follower of Christ.

Jesus expects us to include Him in EVERYTHING we do, even our strolls across the pastureland.
When we accepted Christ as our Savior, His Holy Spirit filled us.  Jesus is the only One who can fill the void we feel as we realize that there is something missing within us.

It is an innate desire to know God, one that each of us has been born with and one we cannot fill with anything other than Jesus.

Accepting, Believing, and Confession of our Sins—That’s our part.

Filling us with His Holy Spirit—That’s God’s part.

The SAME power that raised Jesus back to life IS the SAME power we have living inside us—If We Believe that God Is Who He Says He Is!!!
The power that returned Jesus back to heaven is the SAME power that provides us citizenship in heaven forevermore.

The God—Who will carry us to heaven once our life on earth is complete—If We Believe that God Is Who He Says He Is!!!

The psalmist David reminds us of the brevity of life.

Our lifespan is brief, a vapor, as God ordains.
Our days while here can be filled with worry, with anxiety, OR with thanksgiving, praise, and celebration that one day soon we will go to be with the LORD.

We who believe, will be met (by Jesus) at the end of our earthly life and walked home into eternity within His presence—forevermore.
Let us live.
Let us “consider the lilies” and fully trust Jesus.
Let us walk with Jesus across the fields, through the valleys, up to the mountaintops, and through the tall grass.
Let us trust Him & Let us walk with boldness and with courage.
Let us place our “everyday clothing” and our “working outside” boots on our feet, & Let us get to walking!
Yes, starting today, Let us closely walk with Jesus as He holds our hand and leads us.

The Apostle Paul penned these words to encourage us on our walk—“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.
To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen.”

(Ephesians 3: 20-21)

May we today, “consider the lilies,” and may we choose to walk with God, and may we faithfully follow where Jesus leads as we go with Him throughout this—our breath of one lifeday. May we walk within His power, given to us more abundantly than what we could ever imagine!!!!