Dangerous Influences

Greece is having at startling effect on our lives - some we like and others we fear.
This astonishingly warm weather has its origins in the area of Greece & Turkey. We are enjoying this influence. But then Greek finances are appearing to drown the world's financial markets in despair, and the results are deeply dangerous to our chosen lifestyles.
Out difficulty is that we cannot pick and choose the influences to which we are subject. We can choose how to react to those influences. And in response, we can choose to build our lives on values and loyalties which have lasting significance.
Jesus illustrated this in his Sermon of the Mount. '“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?' (Matthew 6.25-26)
The winds of fashion blow all around us - influencing the way we think and behave. Watching an episode of the X factor over the weekend, again and again the contestants said - presumably set up by their interviewers - 'This is the most important day of my life. I really want this, as it will change my life for ever. If I fail, I will have to return to a terrible life.' All watching this deadly diet will find themselves believing the same drivel, and will be be increasingly driven by materialistic dream and hopes. But we can discover that our true value comes from being loved and nourished by our Father's care. What influences your life?
Thanks the Lord for his care for us.
Best wishes,
Richard