Dear Bros in Christ,

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Brothers in Christ, this monthly devotional is sent and meant to be an encouragement to all and to build up and edify in
the Lord Jesus Christ. Oikodome means "Builder". The Lord has put this on my heart to send out a monthly Iron Man
Oikodome {oy-kod-om-ay'} to build up and encourage the men who love and follow Jesus Christ in their walk with Him.

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by
sin's deceitfulness."

APRIL 2008

“WHAT ME WORRY”
Matthew 6:31-34 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we
wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But
seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry
about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I think when we worry it’s almost as foolish as the look on Alfred E. Newman’s face is, you know that goofy “What
Me Worry” look, I think the gap in his teeth accentuates this look even more, not that gaps are bad … But in reality it is
foolish to worry- why do we doubt what Gods word says. We really ought to have that “What Me Worry” “attitude look”
though, especially when we are fully trusting Jesus Christ. I once heard that worry is like paying interest on a loan you do
not have, that is crazy, why pay interest if you don’t have a loan, the same should go with this then why worry about
tomorrow if we don’t know and really haven’t been promised tomorrow, but He says all these things shall be added to you
meaning our needs will be met if we do get tomorrow, if He does tarry.

It is so easy to be consumed with the cares of this world and our personal lives and finances. We all are so involved
and have such tremendous needs and responsibilities taking care of our families and all that goes with that ministry of
love. At the same time most all of us are spoiled living right here in the good ol’ USA, some know this, but others haven’t
realized how good we have it here, but we still all worry everyday about our families, jobs, food- where are we eating out
tonight… or clothing, which shoes look good with these jeans… or what kind of drink do you want this time with your
lunch…, then realizing you could have had a V-8… The world chases after all of these things trying to stay in style…

But, seriously it does cost a lot of money just to live and get by, so this can be a big worry for anyone of us and
usually is I am sure of that even with or without the cost of rising gas prices. But the Lord says not to worry, why we don’t
listen to Him on this very important issue is a mystery, maybe not a mystery so much as a trust issue. I think we try in all
earnestness to not worry and trust the Lord but when we are in the lack of any of these things or the thick of really fully
trusting God when these items or needs to survive become a real issue in our lives, then and only then do we really look to
Jesus and we either trust, wait and rest in Him or we worry ourselves silly or crazy which ever you prefer. He goes on to
say He knows that we need all these things. Yet, we still worry and then worry some more about future needs and material
things, Jesus goes on to say; “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added
onto you.” When we do look to God really trusting and waiting on Him in faith, He always delivers, He is never late, He
never waivers, He never lets go of us, we ask all according to His will and timing. He says in His word that His children
will never have to beg for bread. Something definitely happens when we look to His kingdom and His righteousness and
become totally dependent on Him, it is in these times of waiting on the Lord that He strengthens us and encourages us and
builds our faith stronger and teaches us to be fully dependent on Him and in Him and He adds all the things we need on
top of everything else He is doing in our lives. He never fails or leaves us… My Pastor once reminded me the Bible is full
of people just like me that keep asking the Lord “How Long Lord”… Will I wait…? Until, He answers…

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and
not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of
Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

It’s what is inside of us in our hearts, not what we possess or not what we have physically but rather what we possess
spiritually and eternally in our hearts. We don’t have to worry about what’s in front of us or what we see or don’t see-
because we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that the excellence of His power might be inside of us and nothing of
ourselves. There will always be temporary trials and afflictions- but there will also always be “Jesus Christ the same
today, yesterday and forever” and praise the Lord for our Savior! So our choice should be easy; worry before or ahead of
or during trials and afflictions or rest in Jesus. He is going to provide for us, all our needs according to His riches and
glory- He promised. Seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness, be obedient, follow Him, and abide in Him. Look at what
we have in our hearts “Treasure in earthen vessels”. So don’t worry, about what’s in front of you if we are filled with Jesus
and His word in our hearts then He is our deliverer. If we are yielded to the Lord Jesus and led by His Holy Spirit then He
can and will shine brightly from us. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are
eternal in Christ. Make a choice to let Jesus reign in your heart every second of the day instead of worry and the things of
this world and let His light shine out of your heart that His Treasure might be seen in this dark world and let the worry’s of
this day and this world fall away as you put your trust, faith and hope in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. May it be
obvious to all those around us who our trust and hope and faith is in, may they see that manifested in our lives and how
we respond to each and every trial and affliction and oh those so many daily worries that are all around us in every
situation and every opportunity seeking and waiting for us to take hold of us to bring us to that place of despair and
hopelessness, but may we though always take hold of Christ Jesus that One and sure trust, His word this Treasure we have
in earthen vessels that will deliver us and meet all of our needs in the most intimate of ways because He already knows we
have need of all these things to live on this earth, why because He is in us and we are in Him. He is not worried and says
we should not worry either; let’s trust Him at His word.
Agape,
Daniel Wright
Iron Man Oikodome
Proverbs 27:17

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