What's Next?
¿Y Ahora Qué?
by
Mary Hunt Webb
Posted Thursday, March 31, 2022
Rosemary is a useful herb in cooking, it lends a wonderful, strong scent to the garden, and it displays lovely blue flowers as well. [Photographer: Hans Braxmeier. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
1)
Although I live in North America, the climate around my home is similar to that near the Mediterranean Sea that separates Europe from Africa. In a good year, our area receives 10 inches of rain a year, but we often receive much less. For much of the 21st century, the region in which I live has been in a drought. Thankfully, there are plants, such as lavender, rosemary and oregano that prosper in our hot, dry climate with our dry, sandy soil and our low humidity. Such plants don't do well if they receive abundant moisture. Unfortunately, much of the gardening advice that I read in printed material and through the media is intended for gardens in regions with better soil than we have and with more humidity and more rainfall than we receive here.
2)
I can empathize with my plants. Movies, television, radio, books, magazines, and newspapers seem to saturate the airwaves and print media with views that conflict with biblical teaching.
If you believe everything the media sources tell you, it could put you off your feed and give you an ulcer. [Photographer: Sam Williams. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
3)
If you watch television news reports, you could chew your fingernails worrying. However, in Luke 12:25-26, Jesus advises us not to be anxious: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" (NIV)
4)
In order to survive and thrive as a Christian, I have learned to turn off the flood that is detrimental to my well-being and to that of my family. I usually read news in a newspaper or on the Internet, and I often listen to the news on the radio. However, when visual images are added, as they are on television, tension often rises
Have you ever become so anxious over the news you heard that you wanted to withdraw from the world? [Photographer: Manfred Richter. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
5)
As Christians, we don't have to drown in such messages because we can direct our attention to other sources that lift us spiritually, such as inspirational books, magazines, videos and music. There is also news on Christian media that we may listen to. We can choose media that supports the Christian values that we hold. That's because we know where our roots are; they are anchored in Christ Jesus.
BIBLE VERSE USED IN THIS POSTING
Luke 12:25-26 — 25) Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26) Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (NIV)
Lucas 12:25-26 — 25) ¿Y quién de vosotros podrá con afanarse antilde;adir a su estatura un codo? 26) Pues si no podéis ni aun lo que es menos, ¿por qué os afanáis por lo demás? (Reina-Valera 1960)
A telescope can enable us to see physical objects in the distance, but only God can see the future. [Photographer: Sia Choi Kyounghee. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
