Biography:
Talbot was born into a Methodist family with a musical background in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started learning to play the guitar at an early age. At age 15 he dropped out of school and was performing as a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band formed with his older brother Terry.
Talbot embarked on a spiritual journey that led him through Native American religion and Buddhism to Christianity. At this point he and his brother, Terry, joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as The Talbot Brothers on the Warner Brothers label).
Two solo albums followed for Talbot: John Michael Talbot (1976) and The New Earth (1977). Both of these were produced by Billy Ray Hearn.
Reading the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, he was inspired to begin studying at a Franciscan center in Indianapolis. He became a Roman Catholic and joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. He started a house of prayer, The Little Portion.
Talbot moved The Little Portion to Eureka Springs, Arkansas on land he had purchased during his Mason Proffit days. He founded his own community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, at Little Portion Hermitage as an "integrated monastic community" with celibate brothers and sisters, singles, and families. By 1989, Talbot had married Viola Pratka (with the permission of the Catholic Church). Pratka was a former Incarnate Word Sister who had come to the community in 1986.
Per the community's General Constitutions, Talbot's title is "General Minister and Spiritual Father". For many years, he has promoted the work of Mercy Corps.
The hermitage suffered a fire in April 2008 in which the chapel, library and many common areas were destroyed.
On April 10, 2010 the Bishop of Little Rock, Anthony Taylor, dedicated the new buildings. On October 2, 2010 the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage celebrated the opening of the new monastery church and common center.
The Lilies Of The Field
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They do not sow and they do not reap
Yet God the Father provides for them
Yet upon the earth
These are among the smallest things
Consider how the lilies grow
They do not spin and they do not weave
But I tell you now not even Solomon
In all of his splendor was arrayed
Like any one of these
So seek ye first the kingdom of God
And the wealth of His righteousness
For wherever your treasure lies
There will you find your heart
Be not concerned for your life
Or your body
What to eat, what to wear
Or what you will do for tomorrow
Seek out instead His heavenly kingdom
And the rest upon the earth
In its own time will follow
So seek ye first the kingdom of god
And the wealth of His righteousness
For wherever your treasure lies
There will you find your heart
So seek ye first the kingdom of god
And the wealth of His righteousness
For wherever your treasure lies
There will you find your heart
The lyrics of John Michael Talbot's "The Lilies of the Field" are a powerful message about faith and trust in God's provision. The song begins by urging us to "Consider the ravens", who are fed by God despite not working for their food. It then moves on to describe the beauty of the lilies, which are clothed in more splendor than even King Solomon. The message of the song is clear: if God takes care of the birds and flowers, He will surely take care of us.
The refrain encourages us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, for our heart and treasure will be found where we devote our attention. Rather than being anxious about physical needs like food and clothing, we are to trust in God's provision and focus on building up our spiritual lives. The last line of the refrain is a reminder that earthly desires and possessions will not bring lasting fulfillment.
Overall, "The Lilies of the Field" is a beautiful and simple reminder to trust in God's provision and prioritize our spiritual lives above our physical wants and needs.
Line by Line Meaning
Consider the ravens
Think about the ravens
They do not sow and they do not reap
The ravens do not plant crops or harvest them
Yet God the Father provides for them
However, God takes care of them
Yet upon the earth
Even though they are small and insignificant creatures
These are among the smallest things
These creatures are considered to be unimportant
Consider how the lilies grow
Think about how the flowers grow
They do not spin and they do not weave
Unlike humans, flowers do not make their own clothing or fabric
But I tell you now not even Solomon
Even King Solomon, who had great riches and power,
In all of his splendor was arrayed
Didn't have clothing as beautiful as the flowers
Like any one of these
That we see around us
So seek ye first the kingdom of God
Look for God's rule and reign
And the wealth of His righteousness
Alongside the value of being morally right
For wherever your treasure lies
For wherever your riches or things that matter to you are
There will you find your heart
That's the place where your heart or loyalty resides
Be not concerned for your life
Don't be worried about your life and wellbeing
Or your body
Or your physical self
What to eat, what to wear
About food and clothing
Or what you will do for tomorrow
Or what you will be doing tomorrow
Seek out instead His heavenly kingdom
Instead search for God's rule and reign in heaven
And the rest upon the earth
Everything else that you might be concerned about on earth,
In its own time will follow
Will come to you when the time is right
So seek ye first the kingdom of god
Look for God's rule and reign
And the wealth of His righteousness
Alongside the value of being morally right
For wherever your treasure lies
For wherever your riches or things that matter to you are
There will you find your heart
That's the place where your heart or loyalty resides
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
seand curtis
Giving to the Poor and Prayer
6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Fasting; The True Treasure; Wealth (Mammon)
16 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
The Cure for Anxiety
25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Fred Voto
Since I was a child I loved Jesus. Then life happened. This is the first time I have heard your gentle and re-assuring voice. Truly the Spirit is present when you sing, I am comforted - thank you for your "yes" to this ninistry. I will be 69 come February 2013. God bless and keep you in all your ways.....In Christ, Fred
GraftedOliveBranch.
God bless you too Fred.
Mary Flatman
I would personally like to thank John Michael Talbot for being such a willing vessel of love and light and truth for Jesus.. it shines like the King Himself! When I was in high school and very sick, my parents would play his music and it helped me sleep at night because of the calming spirit of it and the reassurance of the scriptural truth in it..
mark castillo
true Christian inspiration
Carol Morris
I’ve been following JMT and his music for years. He is the best interpreter of the psalms and scripture turned to music of anyone out there. Sweet man of God and a gentle soul. Thank you John Michael for hours of meditative music. You have brought Heaven to Earth. God bless you.
Elaine Kelly
These songs were part of my life for so many years...early on the charismatic renewal...I ate in a rectory with JMT..another time his wife & he prayed over me ...My eyes well up remembering so many beautiful prayer groups and hours of praising the lord to these songs..It makes me cry as I hunger for the dedication and immense love that I exchanged with the Lord back then..
Bless JMT and his Little Portion..
birdlynn
Always my favorite Christian artist. His music is part of my life and heart. Thank you, John. May you be in good health.
thesenters1
I have always loved this song, this musical interpretation of the words of our Lord. Thank you John Michael Talbot for introducing me to Francis of Assisi many years ago. I may not be Roman Catholic, but I have learned a great deal about what it means to be a Christian from the great Saint and he remains one of my heroes of the faith. Blessings.
David Greg Taylor
Your lyricist is top notch, John Michael. Praise His Holy Name!
Threetails
This song and these verses have been the focus of my meditation for some months. I am happy to say that it seems to be bearing fruit.