WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.600 Such a wonderful presence of the Lord here this morning. 00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:05.320 It's a real privilege to be here. 00:00:05.820 --> 00:00:08.900 I was sharing with Mandy when I came in about two years ago. 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:10.259 I actually attended this event. 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:13.080 And I sat right in the back there. 00:00:13.099 --> 00:00:14.919 And I was actually going through a really bad time. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:17.640 It was probably one of the worst times I've ever been through in my life. 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:18.920 But I was sat right at the back. 00:00:19.160 --> 00:00:20.000 And you know what? 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:23.199 It was just amazing when I stood here and just this beautiful church 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:25.080 and the sweet worship that was coming. 00:00:25.699 --> 00:00:28.920 And just being here was just enough to begin just this refreshing 00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:31.260 and this healing to start in my life. 00:00:31.940 --> 00:00:35.280 And so when I got the invitation to come, I was like, wow. 00:00:35.859 --> 00:00:36.780 Lord, you know what? 00:00:36.820 --> 00:00:39.000 God really works in amazing ways, doesn't he? 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:44.140 So I'm truly, truly grateful and quite humbled actually to be here this morning 00:00:44.140 --> 00:00:46.760 to come and to share the word of God with you. 00:00:47.500 --> 00:00:50.760 Yeah, I am South African, as you can all hear. 00:00:51.380 --> 00:00:55.980 Make apologies for that now already in case I offend anybody with my blunt speaking. 00:00:56.660 --> 00:00:57.719 So please forgive me. 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:03.620 However, if it is truth, just receive it and ask the Holy Spirit to help you get over it, okay? 00:01:05.460 --> 00:01:08.700 But I know South Africans can be like a bully in a china shop. 00:01:09.019 --> 00:01:11.019 And well, I've lived here in the UK. 00:01:11.340 --> 00:01:14.760 God called my husband and I to come here in the year 2000. 00:01:15.099 --> 00:01:18.200 And we've been serving in, well, before then I was already serving in church. 00:01:18.320 --> 00:01:20.219 We were doing all sorts of things in church. 00:01:20.299 --> 00:01:21.599 I've been in church all my life, literally. 00:01:21.700 --> 00:01:24.579 I think I was born into church, hey-ho, in more ways than one. 00:01:24.579 --> 00:01:28.920 And so we came to this country in 2000. 00:01:29.060 --> 00:01:30.980 We really believe that God called us here. 00:01:31.819 --> 00:01:34.439 I believe we are here under God's direct instruction. 00:01:34.759 --> 00:01:36.219 And we've been serving in a church. 00:01:36.659 --> 00:01:38.560 One in Bristol and now we're in Swindon. 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:41.079 And we've been involved on every postural level. 00:01:42.219 --> 00:01:43.099 A connect group. 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:44.819 We run a fantastic connect group. 00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:46.280 We have the most amazing discussions. 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:50.040 I'm married to the most handsome man in the whole world. 00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:50.859 Sorry, ladies. 00:01:51.540 --> 00:01:51.939 He is. 00:01:51.980 --> 00:01:52.939 He's six foot four. 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:54.299 He's as hulk of a man. 00:01:54.780 --> 00:01:56.240 He's as gentle as a giant, though. 00:01:56.299 --> 00:01:57.719 He's got the most incredible heart. 00:01:57.799 --> 00:01:59.320 He's an incredible gifted teacher. 00:01:59.740 --> 00:02:00.859 So he's always correcting me. 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:02.040 Thank you, Lord. 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:04.560 I need to be corrected many times. 00:02:06.020 --> 00:02:08.139 And I have two daughters, beautiful daughters. 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:08.920 One is Jessica. 00:02:09.139 --> 00:02:09.819 She's 25. 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:12.000 She's in the most gifted worship leader. 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:15.740 And I'm not being, not because of my daughter, but it's the real honest truth. 00:02:16.300 --> 00:02:17.340 She studied university. 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:19.000 She did a degree in music. 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:22.500 And when she sings, it's like warm chocolate just flows in the room. 00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:24.159 I love chocolate, by the way. 00:02:24.620 --> 00:02:27.700 But no, it's just really the presence of God is just really doing something in her. 00:02:27.760 --> 00:02:28.580 I have another daughter. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:29.860 She's just like my husband. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:31.379 She's constantly correcting me. 00:02:31.820 --> 00:02:32.860 Her name is Dominique. 00:02:32.939 --> 00:02:37.480 She's busy studying theology, of all things, at Moorland's Bible College. 00:02:37.920 --> 00:02:40.660 She's so bad that she actually tells me what to wear in the morning. 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:44.680 So if my outfit doesn't suit you today, because I know she would have said to me, 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:46.860 Mom, you look like the mayor with that necklace on. 00:02:47.939 --> 00:02:50.560 So she's my little correction. 00:02:50.740 --> 00:02:52.159 So she's always telling me what to do. 00:02:52.260 --> 00:02:53.560 I miss her like crazy. 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:55.719 This is my first one sort of out the house. 00:02:55.760 --> 00:02:56.920 The other one still lives with us. 00:02:57.360 --> 00:02:58.180 So that's me. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:02:59.700 What's more personal? 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:01.420 My birthday is on Friday next week. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:02.120 So hey-ho. 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:03.659 I'm almost 50. 00:03:03.780 --> 00:03:04.340 Not there. 00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:04.980 Almost. 00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:06.819 Literally, I'm scraping up there. 00:03:07.379 --> 00:03:08.740 I'm excited to turn 50. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:09.260 Come on. 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:12.060 You know, they say life begins at 40, and that's true. 00:03:12.179 --> 00:03:14.780 I don't know what's going to happen after 50, but anyway, bring it on. 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:17.159 So yeah, that's me in a nutshell. 00:03:17.340 --> 00:03:18.620 But what am I passionate about? 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:20.099 I am passionate about women. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:22.139 I know that sounds really weird. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:27.000 I promise you there's nothing other than women's growth and women's spiritual maturity. 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:31.780 And I've run mentoring groups for many years, one-on-one working with women. 00:03:32.359 --> 00:03:33.359 And I just love it. 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:37.380 And I believe that's what God's called me to do, and such a privilege, once again, just 00:03:37.380 --> 00:03:40.000 to be here this morning and to share it with you. 00:03:40.200 --> 00:03:46.440 So I'm going to just read you a little story that I found, just to kind of make me feel less 00:03:46.440 --> 00:03:49.500 nervous, and you're a little bit more at ease. 00:03:50.020 --> 00:03:52.760 And I found this little story, and I read it to my husband this morning. 00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:54.760 Do you mind if I put this down another level? 00:03:55.300 --> 00:03:55.720 That's okay. 00:03:55.780 --> 00:03:59.340 I like to be amongst the people and bring this down just a tad. 00:04:00.640 --> 00:04:01.080 If I can. 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:01.380 Oh, no. 00:04:01.480 --> 00:04:01.820 Let me roll. 00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:02.420 Don't mess with it. 00:04:02.420 --> 00:04:02.780 Okay. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:07.360 And so I found this story, and it says, a doctor, a lawyer, and a little boy, and a 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:11.500 priest were out for a Sunday afternoon flight on a small private airplane. 00:04:11.660 --> 00:04:13.800 I mean, I don't know who does that, but these people did, okay? 00:04:14.500 --> 00:04:19.340 Suddenly, the plane developed some engine trouble, and in spite of all the best efforts of the 00:04:19.340 --> 00:04:21.360 pilot, the plane started to go down. 00:04:22.080 --> 00:04:26.500 Finally, the pilot grabbed the parachute, and he yelled to the passengers that they'd better 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:28.699 jump out, and then he bailed. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:29.819 Great pilot, yeah? 00:04:30.540 --> 00:04:32.840 Unfortunately, there were only three parachutes left. 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:38.799 So the doctor grabbed one, and he said, I'm a doctor, and I save lives, so I have to live, 00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:40.259 and he jumped out the airplane. 00:04:40.979 --> 00:04:45.560 The next thing, the lawyer said, well, I'm a lawyer, and I'm very clever, and I need to 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:48.060 help, and I'm the smartest person, and I have to live. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:49.799 So he jumped out the airplane. 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:55.240 Anyway, and the priest was sitting there, and he looked at the little boy, and he said, look, 00:04:55.319 --> 00:04:56.740 my son, you're young. 00:04:56.819 --> 00:04:58.360 You've got your whole life ahead of you. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:02.860 You take the last parachute, and you just jump out and live, and I'll be okay. 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:08.080 And the little boy looked at the priest, and he took the parachute, and he gave it back 00:05:08.080 --> 00:05:10.500 to the priest, and he said, don't worry, father. 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:14.879 No, the smartest man in the whole world just jumped out of the airplane with my backpack. 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:20.680 So I thought, yeah, that's a good one. 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:26.740 Okay, so this morning, I love teaching the Word of God, and so I'm going to teach this 00:05:26.740 --> 00:05:27.000 morning. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:29.959 I love the scripture, 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 7. 00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:36.560 What a great scripture, and it says, and I'm going to use, you've used the New Living Translation 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:40.419 Testament, and it's give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 00:05:40.699 --> 00:05:45.159 But I'm going to use it from the New King James Version, and it says, casting all your 00:05:45.159 --> 00:05:48.479 care upon Him, for He cares for you. 00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:52.179 Now, I want to say to you, one thing we're all going to have in common, other than the 00:05:52.179 --> 00:05:55.639 fact that we're human and we're woman, is we're all going to have worries and cares. 00:05:56.359 --> 00:05:58.539 Anybody in this room never have a worry in their life? 00:05:58.540 --> 00:06:00.819 Guys, please, please tell me, please tell me. 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:03.800 Anybody, somebody, no one, you see? 00:06:03.900 --> 00:06:08.780 So we all have, at some point of our lives, we would have had worries or care, or perhaps 00:06:08.780 --> 00:06:11.680 some of you might have even had anxiety issues. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:15.140 I don't know where you've been, but that is something we all have. 00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:20.120 And you know, when Peter wrote this, he had this in mind, because they were going through 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:22.860 some church issues in that book, and I want to get into the whole context. 00:06:23.280 --> 00:06:27.180 But he was trying to encourage them by saying, don't worry about what's going on, but give 00:06:27.180 --> 00:06:27.920 it to the Lord. 00:06:28.540 --> 00:06:32.780 And so, what is this feeling of care and worry actually mean? 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:33.379 Anxiety. 00:06:33.980 --> 00:06:39.260 And it's kind of this feeling of worry, of nervousness, or unease about something with 00:06:39.260 --> 00:06:41.200 an uncertain outcome. 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:42.820 You're not sure of yourself. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:44.860 You know, you're not sure what's going to happen. 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:47.220 You're not sure what's going to happen with your kids. 00:06:47.520 --> 00:06:49.460 Things are not going so well with your finances. 00:06:49.660 --> 00:06:54.420 Maybe a job you worried about something that's going wrong at work. 00:06:54.420 --> 00:06:56.780 Maybe one of your children aren't going through a good time. 00:06:57.100 --> 00:07:03.020 Whatever it is, it's this feeling of unease, or this sense of worry that you have. 00:07:03.640 --> 00:07:06.180 Now, can most of us identify with some feelings like that? 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:07.540 Yeah, well, I certainly can. 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:10.939 I'll just put up both my hands and my feet and my hair, everything. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:11.740 Because you know what? 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:12.400 I've been there. 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:13.540 We've all been there. 00:07:13.540 --> 00:07:15.200 And you know, I'll probably be there tomorrow. 00:07:15.819 --> 00:07:16.860 Because I'm human. 00:07:19.080 --> 00:07:22.520 And something will happen tomorrow that'll cause me to think, oh, what's going to happen 00:07:22.520 --> 00:07:23.480 if that goes wrong? 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:25.580 You know, that's how we are. 00:07:26.020 --> 00:07:29.660 And yet, I feel in the Word of God, there's so many things that we can use to encourage 00:07:29.660 --> 00:07:30.160 ourselves. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:36.400 You see, another definition I've found of anxiety is anxiety at a base level implies 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:42.500 not only some distrust of God's providence, but also some kind of belief that we may be 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:44.399 able to manage better for ourselves. 00:07:45.219 --> 00:07:47.000 Now, that's quite an indictment, actually. 00:07:47.799 --> 00:07:51.939 You know, when I begin to worry and carry cares, it's actually what I'm saying is, I can 00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:53.079 do a better job than God. 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:57.539 And so when I read that, I was really just before the Lord, you know, and I said, God, 00:07:57.579 --> 00:07:58.739 is that what I'm really doing? 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:04.479 So when I come before you, am I really saying that actually I'm better at dealing with my problem 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:05.300 than what you are? 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:08.300 And actually, that just boils down to pride. 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:14.040 And so I really had a good time with the Lord on this issue, and I'm hoping that as 00:08:14.040 --> 00:08:18.580 I speak today, that God is going to minister to your hearts about how our attitude and what 00:08:18.580 --> 00:08:21.480 you're dealing with at the moment, and is it because you're trying to deal with it in 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:22.259 your own strength? 00:08:22.540 --> 00:08:25.040 Is it some element of unbelief that you have? 00:08:25.280 --> 00:08:27.780 Do you not believe that God can take care of you? 00:08:28.460 --> 00:08:32.700 Because these are the sort of things that cause anxiety and worry and concerns to come, 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:35.940 you know, and sometimes bad experiences happen. 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:42.460 And from that bad experience, we begin to build fears into our lives, you know? 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:45.660 I hope my friend doesn't mind, but I'm going to share with you this morning. 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:49.800 We were driving here, and this lovely, beautiful woman that I know, her name's Vicky. 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:51.000 She's come with me today. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.020 And she sometimes has a bit of anxiety. 00:08:54.180 --> 00:08:55.860 Is that okay for me to share just a little bit? 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:57.759 And I'm sure she won't mind. 00:08:57.820 --> 00:08:59.120 She can beat me up on the way home. 00:08:59.160 --> 00:08:59.600 It's okay. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:01.520 I'll take her from you. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:05.500 And we were driving in the car, and I think I'm a good driver. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:09.159 I tend to stick to the speed limits, and I always maintain a good distance. 00:09:09.579 --> 00:09:12.639 And as we were driving, straight away, I could just tell. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:13.079 She was, oh! 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:15.620 And I said, hang on a minute. 00:09:15.699 --> 00:09:20.819 I said, hey, in my South African way that I do, I said, Vicky, don't be a nervous passenger, 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:21.240 please. 00:09:21.819 --> 00:09:24.439 She says, oh, but it's not because I don't believe in you. 00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:25.720 Listen to this. 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:29.720 She says, it's because every time I've been in a car accident, it's been because someone 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:30.560 else was driving. 00:09:32.980 --> 00:09:37.540 So I'm like, you don't believe I'm a bad driver, but you're nervous because I'm driving. 00:09:37.920 --> 00:09:38.720 So I couldn't go to. 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:41.620 And that's kind of like what I see, how we are with the Lord. 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:43.860 Lord, I really do believe in you. 00:09:44.860 --> 00:09:47.680 But suddenly I need 500 pounds to pay my tax bill. 00:09:49.680 --> 00:09:51.620 How much do then we do we believe in God? 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:56.519 And how much then do we pick up the anxiety of trying to figure out, well, I'm going to 00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:59.060 phone the bank, and I can get a loan, I can send my overdraft. 00:09:59.300 --> 00:10:04.419 Maybe I'll pick up the phone, I'll phone my mom or my dad, or, you know, I'll work extra 00:10:04.419 --> 00:10:04.960 shifts. 00:10:05.800 --> 00:10:06.800 Do you understand what I'm saying? 00:10:06.800 --> 00:10:12.379 And so this is where we can be with the Lord, this place of lack of faith and mistrust. 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:16.299 Now, it's not an indictment against any of us, because I believe sometimes we go through 00:10:16.299 --> 00:10:20.620 these things so that God can increase our faith, and that God can grow us. 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:24.120 And so these cares that we have are really real, you know? 00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:28.580 They're real issues that we face every single day. 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:32.500 You know, we worry about our children, we worry about the husbands, the money, the food, whatever 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:32.980 that comes. 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:39.100 Every day we are confronted with potential issues that we can carry that God never intended 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:40.340 us to carry. 00:10:40.340 --> 00:10:46.740 So these weights, these cares are weights, they can pull us down, they can make you feel 00:10:46.740 --> 00:10:51.639 low, they can make you feel depressed, they can cause us to lose objectivity. 00:10:52.180 --> 00:10:55.180 That sounds really morose, but don't worry, I'm getting to the good stuff, okay? 00:10:55.780 --> 00:10:56.180 All right? 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:57.780 There are distractions. 00:10:58.800 --> 00:11:03.580 You know, I was sharing with Mandy beforehand, I have, my youngest daughter has what we call, 00:11:03.580 --> 00:11:09.960 well, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and so she's had it since she was very young, and 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:13.040 she often struggles, her joints swell up, she struggles to walk. 00:11:13.400 --> 00:11:15.840 At one point she was really bad, she couldn't use her arms. 00:11:16.180 --> 00:11:20.080 At one point she couldn't walk properly because her ankles were so stiff and tight that she 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:21.600 used to shuffle like an old woman. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:27.300 When they look at her bone density, they actually say it's a bone density of a woman of 50 years 00:11:27.300 --> 00:11:27.620 old. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.200 That's just what she struggles with. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:32.340 I mean, looking at her, you'd never say, because she's a strapping girl, she's amazing 00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:32.580 me. 00:11:32.920 --> 00:11:37.120 And we thank God for the miracle that he's actually kept her, and she could be a lot worse. 00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:42.779 But the reality is every time my husband and I would get into a place of trusting God for 00:11:42.779 --> 00:11:45.680 something, or into a place of ministry, guess what would happen? 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:47.279 Dominique could get sick. 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:52.600 And then Dominique can't walk, or she's got to go for joint injections, or this was happening, 00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:53.299 and that was happening. 00:11:53.439 --> 00:11:59.100 And so there was this constant distraction all the time that was kind of making us lose 00:11:59.100 --> 00:11:59.600 focus. 00:12:00.579 --> 00:12:04.240 You know, when God has told us one thing, and yet there's this thing that keeps pulling 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:07.839 us away, well, that's kind of what our cares and anxieties do to us. 00:12:08.079 --> 00:12:13.000 They keep distracting us and pulling us away from what God wants, or even what God says 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:13.639 about us. 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:18.620 And so this morning, what I always like to do when I'm in this, I always like to find 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.980 a Bible story that's relevant. 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:22.159 So I want to read to you this morning. 00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.559 It's a very common Bible story. 00:12:23.659 --> 00:12:25.639 It's somebody that you're all very familiar with. 00:12:25.699 --> 00:12:30.840 But from that, I'm going to draw some parallels, and we're going to see how she handles some 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:31.699 things in her life. 00:12:31.779 --> 00:12:37.240 So I want us to turn together to 1 Samuel, and it's chapter 1, and we're going to talk 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:38.759 about Hannah this morning. 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:40.720 You all know the story about Hannah. 00:12:42.899 --> 00:12:44.019 That's Samuel's mom. 00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:45.299 We cannot find Samuel. 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:48.360 And I'm going to just read the passage, because I like to read the word. 00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:50.720 Hopefully I can change this translation. 00:12:50.939 --> 00:12:52.659 I'll read it in the New King James translation. 00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:53.879 All right. 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:54.679 So this is how it starts. 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:55.539 From verse 1, it says, 00:12:55.539 --> 00:13:11.519 Can you imagine if we still introduced ourselves like that? 00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:17.240 This is Michelle, the daughter of Elaine, the daughter of Roland, the daughter of Esther, 00:13:17.459 --> 00:13:18.620 the daughter, I mean, can you imagine? 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:19.360 We've gone forever. 00:13:19.939 --> 00:13:20.159 Anyway. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:23.699 Anyway, so, and he had two wives. 00:13:23.799 --> 00:13:26.600 The one name was Hannah, and the other name was Penaniah. 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:29.419 Penaniah had children, but Hannah had no children. 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:34.980 This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. 00:13:35.459 --> 00:13:40.579 Also, the two sons, Eli and Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:45.959 And whenever that time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Penaniah, 00:13:45.959 --> 00:13:47.939 his wife, and to all her sons and daughters. 00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:49.839 But to Hannah, he would give a double portion. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:53.419 For he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. 00:13:53.799 --> 00:14:00.579 And her rival also provoked her severely to make her miserable because the Lord had closed her womb. 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:05.279 So it was year by year that when she went up to the house of the Lord that she provoked her. 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:08.159 Therefore she wept and did not eat. 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:10.219 Then Elkanah, her husband, said to her, 00:14:10.219 --> 00:14:11.519 Hannah, why do you weep? 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:12.959 Why do you not eat? 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:14.720 Why is your heart grieved? 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:17.159 Am I not better to you than ten sons? 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:21.319 So Hannah arose after she had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. 00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:25.620 Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle. 00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:29.719 And she was in bitterness of soul and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 00:14:30.199 --> 00:14:32.179 Then she made a vow to the Lord and said, 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:54.759 And as it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord and Eli watched her mouth. 00:14:54.759 --> 00:15:01.980 Now Hannah only spoke in her heart, but only her lips moved and her voice was not heard. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:04.200 Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:05.700 So Eli said to her, 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:07.000 How long will you be drunk? 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:08.759 Put your wine away from you. 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:10.319 But Hannah answered and said, 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:13.759 No, my Lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:20.019 I have neither drunk wine or intoxicating drink, but I have poured my soul before the Lord. 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:27.960 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaints and grief I have spoken until now. 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:30.439 Then Eli answered and said, 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:31.500 Go in peace. 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:35.779 The God of Israel will grant your petition which you have asked of him. 00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:36.819 And she said, 00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:39.539 Let your maidservant find favor in your sight. 00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:41.679 So the woman went her way. 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:45.179 She ate and her face was no longer sad. 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:47.000 What an incredible story. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:49.139 You know, when you begin to really unpick this. 00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:51.779 But I'm really just going to focus on Hannah for now. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:53.659 And she was a childless woman. 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:55.700 And in those times it was a great shame. 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:57.659 It was a great shame. 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:01.919 You know, and I also know what it's like not to have four pregnant. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:05.340 It took me seven years between one child and another not to have a child. 00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:06.340 I cannot tell you the reason. 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:08.720 I don't know why, but we waited seven years. 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.320 There's a seven year gap between my girls. 00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:13.659 So to have that feeling of not being able to have a baby. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.120 This woman was a shame for her. 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:18.240 She was mocked. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.899 She was persecuted. 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:21.779 Even the priest had a go at her. 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.940 So she wasn't in a great place. 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:25.659 She had crowded in a marriage. 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:27.759 She had this other woman in the marriage. 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:28.700 There was two of them. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:31.700 The one was bearing all these babies and she had nothing. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:33.779 She was desperate. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.440 She stopped eating. 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:38.139 She was distressed. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.240 She was worried. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:40.460 She was anxious. 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.960 And she was unfulfilled. 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:49.620 Now at some point in that story and some of the things I've listed, I'm sure some of you will have found yourself somewhere there in life. 00:16:51.660 --> 00:16:56.900 But you know what I love about this is the place you find Hannah is at the altar praying. 00:16:56.899 --> 00:17:02.379 And so this scripture that we have here, it says 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 7. 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:13.180 There was two things that I saw out of the scripture that I want to share with you in context of Hannah's life and in what we do today that hopefully will encourage you just a little bit this morning. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:16.139 So the first thing I saw in 1 Peter, it says, 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:23.740 So the first thing is there is an action that is required. 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:26.400 God requires an action of us. 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:33.080 You see, like Hannah, who was so desperate and so miserable and so depressed and so full of anxiety, 00:17:33.620 --> 00:17:41.860 she had to do something to move out of that place and into the place where, when she walked away, her face was no longer sad. 00:17:42.780 --> 00:17:44.500 Because that's a profound part of the story. 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:47.700 She walked away and her face was no longer sad. 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:51.319 And so the action required here is we need to cast. 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:56.079 And I believe prayer is the place where we cast. 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:59.420 Casting means throwing away, giving away. 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:02.240 But not just a case of giving, it means throwing. 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.059 Oopsie, sorry. 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:06.140 Am I losing my medals here today? 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:11.680 So now I want to share with you, and I told him I was going to do this. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.160 My husband is a very keen fisherman. 00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:15.380 And I mean keen. 00:18:15.540 --> 00:18:17.620 You go into the garage and he's built racks. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:20.120 And he's got things for the flies. 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.960 I mean, this man loves fishing. 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:23.220 Always going fishing. 00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:25.360 I mean, he's got specialized bait. 00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:29.140 I mean, did you know that some fish like strawberry essence? 00:18:30.300 --> 00:18:34.100 I mean, I asked the question, how does the fish even know what a strawberry is? 00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:36.480 Anyway, let's not go there. 00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:38.240 We've had endless debates about this. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:43.059 And so my husband owns, and I'm not kidding, 42 fishing rods. 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.140 42. 00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:47.480 Now this morning, I just wanted to check my facts. 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:53.339 So we were sat in the lounge and I said, I said, babe, can I just ask you, how many fishing rods? 00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:55.559 Sorry, I'm going to laugh because this was hysterical. 00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:58.120 How many fishing rods do you own? 00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:59.639 And he went, I'm not kidding. 00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:01.279 He went, wow. 00:19:02.879 --> 00:19:08.979 And he literally began to use his fingers and tell me he's got a rod for this and a rod for this and a rod. 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:10.879 Do you know, it was so, you had to be there. 00:19:10.939 --> 00:19:11.859 But I wasn't hysterical. 00:19:11.939 --> 00:19:13.039 He said to me, why are you laughing? 00:19:13.179 --> 00:19:14.919 I said, because you are such good material. 00:19:15.419 --> 00:19:17.699 I said, I'm going to laugh about you today. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:18.759 You know? 00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:20.799 And yeah, he's got 42 fishing rods. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:23.299 I mean, really, how many fishing rods does a person need? 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:26.579 I mean, you're only going to catch two maybe at a time. 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:27.319 Anyway. 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:31.680 So, and the other side of the joke is I go fishing with him very rarely. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:34.180 But when I do go, I always end up catching the bigger fish. 00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:35.639 So I tend not to go. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:38.460 It's better for his self-image that I don't do that. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:39.440 Anyway. 00:19:39.919 --> 00:19:44.599 And so now what he does, and I saw this analogy, is one afternoon I came home from work. 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:47.579 And this man was standing in the garden. 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:51.339 And I just, I actually couldn't believe what I was seeing. 00:19:51.439 --> 00:19:54.099 But anyway, he got this new fly rod, which I think I bought him. 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:55.939 And he was standing in the garden. 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:57.539 And he was just practicing. 00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:59.679 Just on the cross. 00:20:00.159 --> 00:20:00.559 Wachoo! 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:01.480 Wachoo! 00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:04.059 Just doing this whole fly fishing thing. 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:06.579 And I was like, Lord, is this man deluded? 00:20:07.199 --> 00:20:08.539 What is happening to him? 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.639 Has he just gone mad? 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.079 And I says, what are you doing? 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:13.839 He says, no, I'm practicing my cast. 00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:15.679 I said, really? 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:17.600 I said, but you're not going to know what you hit. 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:19.640 He says, no, there's a technique. 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:21.799 I've got to know how to cast. 00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:25.120 Because if I'm casting, then I will get the right place. 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:27.560 And I'll be able to release the bait in the right way. 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:30.980 And I said, wow, that's actually quite profound. 00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:34.039 Regardless of the fact that you look a bit silly on the front grass. 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:35.820 But actually, it's really good. 00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:40.539 And I think the analogy that I see here is this is what Hannah was doing. 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:44.639 She goes, because she went year by year. 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.740 She went where? 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.460 To the temple. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:49.500 So year after year, she was going. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:51.759 And every time she went, what was she doing? 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.379 She was casting. 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:55.259 She was throwing. 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:57.399 She was getting onto the altar. 00:20:57.619 --> 00:21:01.039 And she was practicing until she got it right. 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:04.599 Until she got to that place where she heard from the Lord. 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:06.740 Where she received the word from the Lord. 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:08.819 And she no longer had to be anxious. 00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:12.500 And so God requires that of us. 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:14.759 You see, when we're casting, what are we doing? 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:18.500 We are moving from self-reliance into God-reliance. 00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.940 That is so important. 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:24.400 Because as human beings, especially women, because we just make things happen. 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:26.339 We've got kids, we're happy, we do, we do, we do. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:29.740 We've got to move from that place of trying to work it out in our own strength 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:33.440 to allowing God to do it for us in His way. 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:38.279 The second thing I see is that there is an action from the Lord. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.700 You know what? 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:41.279 God always comes through for us. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.299 There's an action. 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:44.420 And He says, what does it say? 00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:49.140 Casting all our cares upon the Lord, for He cares for us. 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:53.759 So the action from the Lord is He cares about you. 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:56.140 That's why I loved that little video clip today. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.900 I was like, oh, that's just so spot on. 00:21:58.620 --> 00:21:59.920 You are not insignificant. 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:01.880 You are not unheard. 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.580 And you are not beige. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.180 Okay? 00:22:04.340 --> 00:22:05.580 Beige is my least favorite color. 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:06.480 Beige. 00:22:06.560 --> 00:22:07.320 You're not boring. 00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:10.620 You are who God made you to be. 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:16.400 That means whatever you are going through, whatever you are facing, whatever you have faced, 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:20.880 God is right there in the midst of that situation with you. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:26.520 A few years back, we went through a really, really tough time as a family. 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:33.180 And there was mornings I used to get up off my bed and crawl into a little ball and just cry out to the Lord. 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.980 Just cry out to God. 00:22:36.300 --> 00:22:37.800 God, where are you? 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.580 Why did this happen? 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:42.460 I don't understand what this is all about. 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:43.720 Just like Hannah. 00:22:44.060 --> 00:22:46.060 I was distressed in my soul. 00:22:46.399 --> 00:22:48.700 Unfortunately, like her, I didn't stop eating. 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.519 I did not eat. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.039 I ate. 00:22:50.399 --> 00:22:51.599 Because I'm a comfort eater. 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:53.119 So bring it on. 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:54.079 More cake, you know. 00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.419 But you know what? 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:58.759 That's because I was trying to understand it in my way. 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:03.159 And one day the Lord said to me, Michelle, I am Emmanuel. 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.839 God with you. 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:08.139 That was my word. 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.819 Just like Hannah. 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:11.179 She had a word from the Lord. 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:15.119 That day the priest came and he said, I will bless you with the sun. 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.759 And that was my word from God. 00:23:18.139 --> 00:23:22.859 And I stood up and I was like, okay, Lord, you are with me. 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.299 And you know what? 00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:28.619 I have seen God's hand in my life in the most amazing ways over the last few years. 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:33.259 Hebrews chapter 4 verse 14 to 16 says, 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:41.220 Seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:49.640 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 00:23:49.640 --> 00:24:00.660 Therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:06.980 You see, when Hannah went to that altar, she knew that that was a place of need. 00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:09.420 That was her place of need. 00:24:09.560 --> 00:24:12.200 But she also knew that was the place of grace. 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:17.700 You see, I believe that God's grace is sufficient for every care that we carry. 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:22.640 I believe that God's grace is sufficient to help us with our anxieties. 00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:29.259 It is sufficient to help us come through whatever situation that we may be facing this morning. 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.720 And why do I say that? 00:24:30.840 --> 00:24:34.319 Because the Bible tells us this morning he cares about us. 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:36.679 Now that's a very simple message. 00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:38.220 And that's okay. 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:44.119 Somebody here today needs to know that God really cares about you. 00:24:45.439 --> 00:24:51.220 He really, really cares about where you are, who you are, and where you're going. 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.159 God cares. 00:24:55.079 --> 00:25:00.399 And so, we see that as she cries out to the Lord, God comes through. 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:04.740 And so, how are some of the ways that we can know that God cares about us? 00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:06.620 Well, we have the Word of God. 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:15.460 The Word of God is full of promises that He cares about you, that He has thoughts towards you, that He's thinking about you. 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:24.940 Matthew chapter 6 talks about if God cares for the wildflowers, how much more will He care for you? 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:31.740 We have people in our lives, just like Hannah, her husband came and said, you know what, I love you. 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.620 It doesn't matter whether you have that child. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.539 Am I not enough for you? 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:39.480 Unfortunately, men don't understand that desire for a woman to have a child. 00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:41.200 It's a very difficult one for them to understand. 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:45.759 But yet, in that way, He was still trying to comfort her, trying to help her. 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:47.600 We have one another. 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:49.120 That's how we know God cares. 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:56.279 And the fact that I'm standing here today, speaking and saying to you that God cares, is because God cares. 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:02.479 And so, this morning, I really just want you to think about what I've been saying. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:05.259 Firstly, the action is, you need to cast. 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:07.959 You need to cast this care. 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:09.500 You need to take that care. 00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:10.979 You know, that care is like a bait. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.279 It's like a bait. 00:26:12.379 --> 00:26:13.219 It's like a trap. 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:17.140 So, something happens and you fall into this trap. 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:21.740 And it's like your mind is going around and around and around and around and around. 00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:26.559 And you just can't seem to find a way out of getting out of this care or concern. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:30.680 You know, you wake up with a sense of panic sometimes in the morning. 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.000 I don't know where you're at. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:37.000 But it's a bait that the devil wants you to take, like a fish, and just go. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:42.380 And then you hook, line, and sinker, and you're stuck in a place of depression and defeat. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:44.960 And that's not what God is saying to us today. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:47.299 He says, you don't have to take the bait. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:49.880 You don't have to carry the care. 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:51.700 It is not yours to carry. 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:53.460 It is not your weight. 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:58.359 He is more than able to do and to carry that weight for you. 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:02.720 Ephesians says, now unto him who is able. 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:07.920 God is able this morning to turn the situations around. 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:11.839 God is able this morning to bring healing to your body. 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:15.779 God is able this morning to bring provision into your life. 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:21.360 God is able this morning to bring that unsaved family member back into your life. 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:23.819 He's able this morning. 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:26.440 And that's our place of faith. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:30.039 That's our promise that we have to stand on. 00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:34.940 So when we leave here this morning or this afternoon, you can say, you know what? 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:41.500 I don't magically feel, magically like it's a magic wand, but I do have one thing, and I have a word from the Lord. 00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:44.339 And the Lord cares about me. 00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:46.500 That's the word. 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:49.859 You see, I'm a real woman of the word. 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:51.859 I've been a Bible teacher for many, many years. 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:54.139 And I just love the word of God. 00:27:54.140 --> 00:28:10.880 I was reading, in fact, my husband was showing me a video this morning, and they were talking to a Christian counselor, and they said, a person that spends one day in the word, reading the Bible, not much difference on the radar. 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:12.200 I think they were testing the heart rate. 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:14.220 I didn't catch the whole thing because I was trying to get ready to come. 00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:20.740 And then he was saying, and if you spend two days in the word with this heart monitor or something, there was a slight difference. 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:31.839 By the time the person is spending four days reading the word of God and confessing it over their life, there was a distinct difference in their lives. 00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:37.259 There was an improvement in their health, in their relationships, in their well-being. 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:42.579 Now, this morning, I've come and I've delivered the word of the Lord to you. 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.079 What have I said? 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:49.660 That you can cast your cares upon him, for he cares for you. 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:52.259 He cares for you. 00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:54.940 And he is able to carry that weight. 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:57.819 You know, in due course, Hannah did have that son. 00:28:58.579 --> 00:29:00.579 And she did exactly what God promised. 00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:01.839 She gave him back to the Lord. 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:05.859 Samuel became one of the most profound prophets in Israel in that time. 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:13.640 So that's my encouragement to you this morning as I come to the close of this first session. 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:16.559 Where are you with the Lord this morning? 00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:20.160 I want you to sit down and just where you are and just close your eyes. 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:22.700 And I'm going to just read a passage of scripture. 00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:29.339 And then we're just going to see as the Holy Spirit leads us this morning. 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:44.740 If you decide to live, if you decide for God, living a life of God worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on your table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are fashionable. 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:49.459 There is far more to your life than the food you put in your mouth, in your stomach. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:53.220 More to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. 00:29:53.220 --> 00:30:00.140 Look at the birds, free and unfettered and not tied down to a job description. 00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:03.500 Careless in the care of God. 00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:08.200 And you count far more to Him than the birds.