2cor 12:1-10 Paul's visions and revelations
i have to boast, even though it doesn't do any good. but i will now talk about visions and revelations given me by the Lord. I know a certain christian man who fourteen years ago was snatched up to the highest heaven (i do not know whether this actually happened or whether he had a vision - only God knows). I repeat, i know tht htis man was snatched to paradise (again, i do not know whether this actually happened or whether ut was a vision- only God knowa), and there he heard things which cannot be put into words, things that himan lips mau not speak. so i will boast about this man - but i will not boast about myself, except the things that show how weak i am.if i wanted to boast, i would not be a fool, because i would be telling the truth. but i will not boast, because i do not want anyone to have a high opinion of me than he has a reslult of what he has seen me do and heard me say. but to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things i saw, i was given a painful physical ailment which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. three times i prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. but his answer was "my grace is all you need,for my power is greatest when you are weak." i am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. i am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships and difficulties for Christ sake. for when i am weak, then i am strong.
Ps 34:8-13 in praise of God's goodness
Find out for yourself how good the Lord is
Happy are those who find safety with him. honor the Lord, all his people; those who obey him have all they need. Even lions go hungry for lack of food, but those who obey the Lord lack nothing good.
come, my young friends, and listen to me, and i will teach you to honor the Lord. would you like to enjoy life? do you want long life and happiness? then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies.
Mt. 6:24-34 God and possesions
"no one can be a slave of two masters, he will hate one and love the other, he will be loyal to one and despise the other. you cannot serve both God and money.
this is why i tell you: do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body. after all, isn't life worth more than food? and isn't the body worth more than clothes? look at the birds: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in barns; yet your father in heaven takes care of them! aren;t you worth much more than birds? can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it?
and why worry about clothes? look how wild flowers grow: they do not work or make clothes for themselves. but i tell you that even king solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers. it is God who clothes the wild grass - grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. won't he be all the more sure to clothe you? what little faith you have.
so do not start worrying:where will my food come from? or my drink? or my clothes? (these are the things the pagans are always concerned about). your father in heaven knows that you need all these things. instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. so have enough worries of its own. there is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.
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