I love Christian Fiction.

The best part about reading Christian Fiction, in my mind, is the impact it has on my daily reflection in the Word. Currently I am reading the latest Kingsbury book in the Bailey Flannigan series, Leaving. I love getting lost in this made up world. The people in these books are truly amazing individuals who seem to know what life is all about. Whenever I read these books, I tend to look up a lot of the scripture in the book that she incorporates in the story. A lot of it I am familiar with, but I love looking it up and reading what is before and after the verse(s). In this book, Matthew 6:34 comes up frequently. I remind myself of this scripture on a daily basis, who doesn't? After seeing it several times in the book, I decided to look it up and read more of the surrounding text. I love Matthew 6:34, but the verses leading up to that really left me thinking:


"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
"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? 


Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?


 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? "So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 


But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 


Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 25-34

As I read this, I asked myself how many times a day do I sit there and fret about something I cannot control? I get upset because I can't afford the things I wish to afford, or I don't look exactly how I ideally want to look, or I can't eat at all the fancy restaurants. What does that really matter? Wearing fancy name brand clothing is not going to matter at the moment I meet Jesus. He's not going to ask me if I drove the coolest car in town. Why worry about what people will think of you by bringing up His name or telling them the good news? I will be rewarded in Heaven for doing His will, not mine.

I felt the need to share what was on my heart; these verses really hit home for me. I have a stressful year ahead of me, but I know these words will always be here to comfort my soul and get me through it.

Here is a parting picture of my princess who is turning 1 in 2 days!

I love her wide-eyed look! She has such a beautiful personality!