This morning as I was running around the Heartland lake, I was coming down the backside of the dam when a red blur flashed right in front of me and into the bushes next to the trail.  It was a male cardinal.  Brilliant red feathers flashing almost as if to say, “This is my bush, buddy!”  My mind immediately raced back to Sunday morning’s passage from God’s word:

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”  Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

He was dressed and fed, yet he had done neither one for himself.  The heavenly Father had done both of those things for my little friend in the bush.  I stopped my trek around the lake for a moment to confess that I often do worry about the essentials of life even though Jesus taught us that our heavenly Father will provide:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.”  Matthew 6:25 (NIV)

I also stopped to give thanks that I don’t have to worry about the essentials because I am much more valuable to my heavenly Father than that cardinal.  And so are you, so stop worrying.  He will provide if we will live the kingdom life.