Category Archives: Five Minute Friday

Impulse ~ Five Minute Friday

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“All you that are righteous be glad because of what the LORD has done! Remember what the holy God has done, and give thanks to him.” Psalm 97:12 (GNT)

Look For the Joy

This picture popped up in my Timehop today and my first impulse was to quickly swipe it away. Looking, even in a glance, brought so many memories to the surface. Difficult memories, such heartache filled memories that at first I didn’t want to be reminded of, but then, just as quickly I decided to look more closely at this photo taken two years ago of my youngest grandson and me and something changed. My heartache became heartfelt gratitude.

Just two weeks prior to this picture our little one laid in a hospital bed hooked up to more tubes and wires then you can imagine fighting for his life. We were still in shock with all that had happened but as you can see, he was (and is) a miracle. In those fourteen days he’d returned to us the playful, smiling, precious boy we knew despite all he was going through. So today, that’s what I’m choosing to let this picture help me remember.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” James 1:2 (NLT)

You and I know that life IS difficult and filled with much heartache. I don’t know about you, but when I’m in the midst of it all, looking at a trial as “great joy” doesn’t come naturally. I’m learning though, that when we can go back days, months, or yes, even years and picture all that God has accomplished, the blessings received, and how far we’ve come, that despite all the suffering, joy CAN be found!

This is a hard time of year for our family as we recall the events two years ago. Our first impulse is to look away because it’s just too painful to revisit those awful days, maybe you know just how that feels too. But James, a servant of God and of Jesus reminds us to reconsider, not to turn from it, but to look more closely at what’s changed. And you know what has? We have. 

“For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:3-4 (NLT)

None of us long for troubles to come our way, but when they do there’s comfort when we look to those memories from the past that pop up, focus on how God has seen us through, and noticing all the ways He transformed our weeping to rejoicing, ashes to beauty, and our heartache into joy,…

“Therefore we do not lose heart. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
2 Corinthians 4:16a, 17 (NLT)

I’m linking up with others at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com again this week. Click over to read more.

Music ~ Five Minute Friday

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“But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.” Psalm 59:16

Name That Tune

For the first time in a long time wrens have taken up residence in the house I have just for them. How do I know they’ve moved in you ask? Wrens have no problem making themselves known. 

Do you remember the show, “Name That Tune” where contestants challenged one another with how few notes it would take for them to identify a song? As a music lover I enjoyed playing along. You too? There are songs that even today when I hear the first few notes I can immediately start singing along with, or when listening to just a couple words of the lyrics I’m able to identify the artist, sometimes those introductory beats can take me right back to another place and time and to exactly how I was feeling when I heard it. Well, that’s how it is with a wren’s song too. It doesn’t take too many shrill notes for me to recognize the song, who’s singing it, and how they are feeling about having found their place.

Thinking about it, those around us whether they are music lovers or not should be able to identify our “tune” very quickly too. As Christians, our lives should sing a song of mercy, love, and grace on repeat.

“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.”
Psalm 40:3 (NLT)

When we are standing in the looooong, sloooooow line at the Wal-Mart checkout lane what tone will the audience in front and behind us overhear and identify quickly? Sitting in an overcrowded, understaffed restaurant hungrily waiting for food, who will the patrons identify as the as the One (or not) behind our words? Tired, stressed, stretched to our limit, where will our biggest fans, those who matter the most to us be taken to, a place of harmony or dis-chord? It will depend on who our heart is beating in rhythm with.

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
Colossians 3:16-17 (NLT)

I guess what I’m saying (and learning) is that we need to be like a wren. It shouldn’t take long for others to recognize the “new song” we sing, determine whose we are as we sing it, and that we’ve thankfully found a place provided just for us.. We shouldn’t have any problem making it known who we are: brothers and sisters in Christ. How you ask? Well, I can name that tune in one note……

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35 (NIV)

A “LOVE-NOTE” of course! And that one note my friends, will be music to the world’s ears! Let’s invite them to sing along!

Want to discover more “Music”? Click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com to “sing along!”

Aspire ~ Five Minute Friday

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“And think about grassy fields-the grasses are here now, but they will be dead by winter. And yet God adorns them so radiantly. How much more will He clothe you, you of little faith, you who have not trust:” Matthew 6:30 (The Voice)

Teetering on Trust

“It is life and death.” Words I never imagined I’d ever write in my journal and yet, two years ago today I found myself doing just that. Our youngest grandson had been life-flighted to Nationwide Children’s Hospital and his future, our future, was teetering between those very things: life and death. You may know exactly how that feels, too.

At ten months old, that precious little boy of ours lost most of his intestines due to them traveling through a small, undetected hole in his diaphragm and the blood supply being cut off from them for too long. But, praise God he survived and despite his many challenges he thrives today as a true, living miracle!

As I reflect on that experience two years ago there are many emotions, thoughts, and memories churning around inside of me. I moved in and cared for my two older grandsons while their parents stayed at the hospital. For three months there were ups and downs, joys and pain, discouragement and hope, fear and oh, so much bravery. I leaned on God’s strength more than I ever have in my life and He got me through.

Those weeks of desperate prayer, worship through praise music, reading Scripture, and receiving unbelievable support from those around us brought me to a place I’d never been, an ah-ha moment when I finally was able to say to myself and to God, “I see now. Even in the worst times You are with me working things out for the best even when I don’t understand. I. Can. Trust. You.” Let me tell you, this was a place I’d wanted to be for a long time. Trust has never been easy for me and I was relieved that I’d finally made it.

Fast forward two years and here’s the rest of the story: I still have a long way to go. Even though I didn’t think it would, worry has crept back into my life. Fears overtake me in the night. Anxiety steals my breath. And trusting God with every part of my life? I think you can probably tell I’m struggling. Oh me of little faith. The good news is the fight isn’t quite as hard as before because I’ve seen God light the way through such a dark time and that helps me to remember He guides me now.

And so, I continue to aspire to be more faithful. To trust God with everything, everyone, and all of me no matter what comes. If I’m honest, it’s scary to type those words and to believe them because I’ve lived long enough to know that desiring more faith and trust often means walking through more of those “teetering” experiences for growth to happen. I’m guessing you also know that.

“Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line-mature, complete, and wanting nothing.”
James 1:2-4 (The Voice)

I’m not wishing for hardships, quite the opposite really, but I am encouraged by these words and truly hope for a blossoming faith no matter what lies ahead. And when I need an extra reminder of finding joy in my troubles I just need to look at his smile! If this boy can smile with all he has gone and goes through, then I can embrace what comes and “ultimately find joy” in the journey, too. I pray you are encouraged to do the same and together we can say for certain, come what may, “I trust You.”

“The deepest pains may linger through the night,
but joy greets the soul with the smile of morning.”
Psalm 30:5 (The Voice)

Chapter ~ Five Minute Friday

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“I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Psalm 130:5

Leaf Lesson

Despite its fall-like appearance, this is actually what my Japanese Maple tree looks like today in the height of spring. Unfortunately it got ahead of itself. Buds formed early and soon (too soon) new, frilly leaves covered the branches before the other trees even began to show signs of life. I actually pointed it out to my husband telling him that our young tree looked fuller and prettier than it ever had. But then came the frost warning. And then the deadly frost. As you can see, what should have been, could have been, a tree full of life now only displays a limited smattering of its once beautiful, red leaves. 

Springing into action rather than waiting, I’ve at times found myself in the same situation as this over eager tree. I pray for something. The answer is slow (to me) in coming. I pray again. Seemingly nothing and so, I branch out on my own (too soon), ignore any warnings I sense, and end up realizing that by not waiting for God’s perfect timing, the “should have, could have” I’d prayed for was hindered by my rushing ahead. Instead of the full, beautiful result, I instead had little to show for all MY effort.

We can get to a place where we just want God to write a new chapter in our lives and so maybe we pray for love but jump too quickly into a bad relationship, ask for guidance about a new job then out of fear accept what turns out to be the wrong position, or lift up a dream of something we long for, watch others seem to get what they want and so compromise our finances to keep up. Can you relate? The list can go on and on. Ask me how I know….

Here’s the crazy thing too, even if I don’t necessarily act, my thoughts form early and grow at a rapid rate detailing all the scenarios of how I THINK God should answer my prayer! My mind is so full of MY expectations that I know I’ve often missed God’s actual perfect answer for me. Sound familiar? Think the Pharisees! Yikes!

“Then his people believed his promises. Then they sang his praise. Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn’t wait for his counsel!”
Psalm 106:12-13 (NLT)

The reality is my maple tree didn’t have a choice about forging ahead early instead of waiting, but we do. It’s not something we’re (I’m) always good at doing, “waiting for his counsel,” but it’s the lesson those shriveled leaves I see out my kitchen window are teaching me:

Eager for a new season in life? Pray and wait.
Hoping to turn a page? For that different chapter? Pray and wait.
Want evidence of real growth? Pray and wait.
Longing to see beauty again where it once was? Pray and wait.
Prayed and still waiting? Remember “what He has done” and patiently wait some more.

“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”
Psalm 27:14 (NLT)

This is written as part of http://www.fiveminutefriday.com where I’ve joined in with others to write to the prompt “Chapter”. Click over to read more.

Persist ~ Five Minute Friday

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“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:34 (NLT)

Look at the Birds

Every single feeder is down and yet, they persist……….

At first, only a couple appeared.  I didn’t think much of it. They were entertaining and I welcomed their colorful plumage. It didn’t appear that they would bother anything. Was I ever wrong! 

For days I’ve watched the two grow into 20 plus! A flock of blue jays that just won’t go away. Oh, I’ve tried baffled feeders, wired-cage feeders, upside-down suet feeders, and they conquered them all. Not only did they consume a great deal of seed, their bullying personalities and frenetic antics within the branches of the tree discourage my “more desirable” bird friends from visiting anymore. They even scared off sparrows with their constant noise and overwhelming number who were trying to settle into the bird house .

Finally, it became clear that I had no choice but to remove every feeder that was drawing them in. It wasn’t an easy decision. If you know me at all, you are aware how much my birds mean to me. And you know what? Those overwhelming visitors have continued to come back several times a day to see if I’ve given in to their unyielding ways and put the feeders back up. 

Blue jays aren’t the only thing that move in here and take over. Worried thoughts can overrun my mind, too. Maybe you can relate. One or two casually slip in. I don’t think much of it. Anything but dull, I find myself entertaining their presence convinced it won’t hurt anything. I was wrong about the blue jays and I’ve been very wrong about worrying, too!

Over the years I’ve learned that like Lays Potato Chips you can’t stop at just a few. Once your imagination feeds worry, a few turn into many, consuming more of life than you ever wanted. Anxious thoughts bully us into thinking they are right and the more they bounce around in our brains, reasonable thoughts make their way in less and less until we are overwhelmed and give in to fear.

A bill bigger than the balance in our checkbook. A symptom that signals something is wrong. A fight that has fractured a friendship. The list goes on and on. They swoop in, we take notice. The noise in our heads and hearts grows. The scenarios and seeming challenges multiply. Everything we try to rid ourselves of those overwrought thoughts is unsuccessful and we find ourselves far from settled.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
Psalm 139 23-24 (NLT)

Here’s the thing, I can’t pick and choose which birds and how many come to my feeders and we certainly can’t always control the circumstances of life, but, we can do something about the thoughts we allow to persist, and the Good News? We don’t have to do it on our own!

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

When we nourish our worries, the longer they’re apt to stay. But when we “take down the feeders,” and instead focus on God through prayer, worship, and reading scripture, we’ll see less and less of them swooping in. Will they come back to see if we’ll give in to them? Probably, but if they don’t find the conditions favorable they won’t stay nearly as long.

That’s just what I’m hoping will happen with those pesky blue jays too. When they find nothing to feed on and are being chased off before they can settle in, I’m counting on those unwanted feathered pests to finally move on. And those fear-filled pests? The same goes for them. How? Well, by looking at the birds…..

“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? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dresses as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” Matthew 6:26-30 (NLT)

AND by putting our faith in the One who persistently cares more for us than anything else He’s ever created.

Joining in to write with others at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com Click on over to read more.

Five Minute Friday ~ Have

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“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:21 (NLT)

Have Too Much or Everything?

I have too much! Earrings in a chest that are never chosen, clothes taking up space in the closets and drawers because “I might wear them someday,” dishes stacked away in a cupboard to be used on a special occasion that doesn’t ever seem to come, pictures on every wall, shelves full of knick-knacks, not to mention the garage attic that is full of the things I don’t know what else to do with. I have too much!

There used to be a time when I wanted more, more, more, and truth be told, I sometimes spent money I shouldn’t have to get it. Now that I’m older, “stuff” doesn’t mean nearly as much to me anymore. In fact, sometimes it feels as if it gets in my way.

Remember the story of the rich young ruler? ( Mark 10:17-31) He asks Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus instructs him to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor, and then to follow Him. The disheartened man sadly walked away. His many possessions got in the way of his relationship with Jesus.

And then there’s the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:18-19) when Jesus tells His listeners that the seed that falls among the thorns is an example of those who hear God’s word but the message eventually gets crowded out by the worries of life and the desire for other things resulting in no fruit being produced. Those worries and things get in the way of being productive for God.

If we continue with the story of the young ruler, Jesus tells his followers that the more we have, the harder it is to put Him first in our lives, or as He says, harder even than for “a camel to get through the eye of the needle.” (vs.25) Having more, more, more in this life can make us poor, poor, poor if we let it get in the way of eternal life.

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)

If you’re like me and “have too much,” that means we ARE the “rich in this world.” Now, I don’t feel that God is asking me to sell all that I have (at least not now), but I do think He’s reminding me, and maybe you too, that we need to check our priorities. What are we holding on to, filling up, and saving for? Are we building up our collections of things or our relationship with the One we need most? What are we more concerned with, all that we have or what we can give to others? Are we living lives measured by an abundance of possessions that are here today and gone tomorrow or storing our treasures for life eternal?

In this world, it’s easy to believe that what we have defines who we are.  We must be careful to not let the stuff of life get in the way of our true identity in Christ because…it’s in Him that we have everything!

If you’d like to read more of what others “have” written, click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

Own ~ Five Minute Friday

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)

A Good Friday Poem:
The Cross is Ours to Own

The day is gray and gloomy, yet
Somehow it feels just right
To sit in contemplation
Of the day they killed The Light

A day darker than all the rest
But still we call it Good
Because Jesus died for us
As only a Savior would

We often want to forget that part
It is so hard to realize
Not Him but we should have hung there
For all to mock and despise

Truth is nailed there before us
The sin is ours alone
We may often try to deny it
But the cross is ours to own

Each crack of the whip
Torn flesh from the crown
Every strike of the hammer
His blood dripping down

The pain He endured
Swords thrust in His side
The anguish and despair
As His world did divide

We should be the ones
Who died on that tree
But “It is finished,” He said
Now from sin we are set free

A plan from the very beginning
His love on a cross of wood
A day where transgression passed away
And today we DO see it is Good

To read how other writers made “Own” their own, click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

Break ~ Five Minute Friday

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“And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.” 1 Corinthians 10:17 (NLT)

Breaking the Bread

I got the job by default. In other words, no one else was able or willing to do it and so, I am now the Communion Steward at our church. That means I’m responsible for preparing the table and being sure the bread and juice are ready to be offered to all who wish to partake. I’m going to be honest, I’ve whined a bit about this task. It’s not that it’s difficult or time consuming really, but it does interrupt my normal Sunday routine on those days I must get it ready. (What that really means is I can’t sit in my chair, dressed in pjs, listening to praise music, and drinking coffee for as long as I do on other Sundays….I know, poor me.)

It was while listening to that praise music one afternoon that my attitude began to shift. The words of a song made goose bumps appear as they carried me back to the moment when Jesus took bread in His hands to break it for the disciples.

“He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”
Luke 22:19 (NLT)

Those lyrics literally made me weep as I was reminded what sacred work I’ve been given each time I ready with my hands, the bread of remembrance, as Jesus did with His so long ago. Hands that He knew would soon be pierced.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
John 6:51 (NLT)

Learning from my lesson in the music, as Maundy Thursday draws near, let’s prepare the table of our hearts and open our hands to partake of what Jesus offers.

What if we allow Good Friday to carry us to the foot of the cross where blood from Jesus’ hands has fallen and recognize that He is the bread, broken for us? Goose bumps may appear. Tears may fall.

And on Easter Sunday, let’s be found rejoicing that HE IS ALIVE and celebrating that the routine of “normal life” has been interrupted! Thanking God, we can now eat of the Living Bread offered for us, be willing in the sacred work He’s gifted us with, and raise our hands in a new attitude of praise.  As He instructed His disciples back then and instructs us today, from now until eternity, let us do it all in remembrance of Him.

“In remembrance of Me eat this bread
In remembrance of Me drink this wine
In remembrance of Me pray for the time
When God’s own will is done

Take eat and be comforted
Drink and remember too
That this is My body
And precious blood shed for you
Shed for YOU”
(emphasis mine)
In Remembrance of Me by Cheri Keaggy

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Story ~ Five Minute Friday

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“When all I see is a cross, God, You see the empty tomb.”
Battle Belongs by Phil Whickham **Spectacular carving is done by Paul Weaver on display at Lehman’s Hardware. If you ever get a chance to see his display, do! It is AMAZING!

Happy Ending

I’m a happy ending kinda gal. Books and movies without one just aren’t for me. I want the underdog to prevail, problem to be resolved, dream to be realized, sickness to be cured, and love to never end. But guess what? That’s what I wish MY life were like too! But alas, as we all know, real life doesn’t always have a happy ending.  The plot of our lives often includes loss, unsurmountable challenges, failure, death, and broken relationships. Hardly the feel-good scenario I desire.

I know that like me, you can recount chapters in your life where the result was not as hoped or prayed for. They’re the ones we often don’t want to “reread.” I’ve been struggling for a while with a couple in my life that ended anything but happily. To be honest, I’ve been wondering why the Author would have written them this way. 

Then, as often happens, the plot thickens….

Sitting in church yesterday the Pastor began reading her chosen scripture: John 9:1-41. It was verse 3 that caught my attention. The disciples were questioning Jesus about a tragedy, an unhappy ending in a young man’s life. They wanted to know why he’d been born blind. It’s the kind of question I’ve been asking myself. Maybe you’ve wondered something similar too. They had their own theories but here is what Jesus said:

“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” John 9:3 (NLT)

“So the power of God could be seen.” As these words sunk in, I realized how that changed the young man’s challenging story. Then it hit me, how does MY story change if instead of saying those unhappy, disappointing, devastating endings “just aren’t for me,” I delve into those chapters to discover how God’s power was displayed in each of them? That’s just what I’ve been doing since then and while I didn’t realize it at the time, God’s might is written throughout it all.  It feels as if I can proclaim along with the man God healed, “But this I know, I was blind, and now I can see!” (vs. 9:25) 

There’s no doubt that our life stories will take twists and turns we wish it didn’t and we may  struggle to get through chapter after chapter, but, when we focus on the fact that the circumstances we find ourselves in can be used to show the world the power of God through us, it can change our outlook and the outcome completely. Yep, I DO love a happy ending! Don’t you?

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 (NLT)

“Open my eyes that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hand the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Open My Eyes by Clara H. Scott

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Saver~Day 24~Write 28 Day Challenge~+ #FMF Assume

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Day 24: Saver + #FMF Assume
Singing My Way Through Write 28 Days
http://www.anitaojeda.com

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)

Saver of Treasure

“I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I’d rather be His than have riches untold
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today
~I’d Rather Have Jesus~

I’m a saver. Not so much of “stuff,” but rather of memories…cards, letters, photographs, drawings, newspaper articles…you get the idea. Somewhere along the way, I began tucking my most precious keepsakes into my Bible to preserve them. It seemed like a great place at first. But as time passed, it became so full of treasures that it was impossible to effectively use my Bible anymore. So instead of opening it regularly to study, there it sat, stuffed full, closed on the table. Those cherished bits and pieces slid between the pages of God’s Word now assumed a more important place than, well, God’s Word. 

Isn’t that what can happen in life too? We are savers of what’s important to us…money, status, followers, our appearance, our homes, our skills…or a multitude of other things. We fill our days protecting these things until we become so crammed full of the world, that our hearts are closed off to what’s really important. We’ve placed so much between ourselves and our relationship with God, that we’ve allowed those things to assume a more influential role in our lives than, well, God.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

So, where is my heart? Where’s yours? Clinging tightly to the past? Working hard at all cost? Desiring more money, attention, or possessions? Obsessed with coming in first, keeping up with others, or always being right? Jesus tells us in the verses above that these worldly “treasures” are temporary, here today and gone tomorrow. Filling all the spaces of our lives with them just leaves our hearts ineffective and closed off just like my Bible sitting on a table.

I am glad to say that I finally decided to stop stuffing my treasures into that Bible. I put it away and got a new one so that now, I can be a saver of the wealth of God’s Word. The good news is we can do the same with our hearts.

“Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3: 1-4 (NIV)

When we decide that we’d rather have Jesus and an eternity with Him in glory, all that we’ve been clinging to, the moth chewed, varmint destroyed, thief stolen things the world affords today don’t seem nearly so valuable, and our hearts? They can now assume the most incomparable position of all, “hidden with Christ in God.” Now that’s the perfect place for our treasure!