I was thinking over the weekend about Jesus’ teaching about faith.

I love that when you consider the thrust of Jesus’ teaching in the gospels, it’s so different than we we imagine it. He talked about money so much! He talked about the kingdom an awful lot. And he talked lots and lots about faith.

On the one hand, he seemed to have an almost carefree approach to life, because he was so sure the Father would take care of his every need, and he exhorted his disciples to think the same way. On the other hand, he never seemed attached to earthly *stuff* at all. He expected persecution and homelessness (Luke 9:57-58) for instance.

I can’t speak for all of you, but I don’t strike that balance well.

If I focus on expecting God to meet my needs here on earth, I become attached to what I’ve got and how comfortable life can be, and get too self-indulgent. If I focus on heavenly instead of earthly blessings, I tend to get *serious* and *responsible* and, eventually, worried.

Jesus’ way of living is very attractive to me. He seemed so free. He traveled so lightly through life, unburdened by either worry or luxury. (Matthew 11:28-30, 13:22b).

What does this kind of faith look like? For me, it is somehow connected to being simply happy.

Anyway, that’s one of my goals this week: to grow in this kind of everyday trust in the Father.