So Much Stuff

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust 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

To hoard or not to hoard, that is the question.

I really don't think of myself has a hoarder, I can somewhat easily get rid of things. But sometimes I hold unto it just in case I might need it again, one never knows.

These past three weeks have changed my mind. I have packed over 40 boxes of stuff, thrown out 12 bags of garbage, and donated 7 bags of clothing and another box of old toys. It amazes me how quickly we can gather stuff. It wasn't that long ago when we painted the bedrooms-how in the world did they get so full?

It's hard to think of my stuff as treasures. Isn't a treasure a chest full of gold? Could 200 teddy bears qualify? There were also the kids old school work and projects and lots and lots of photos. Books we might like to read again. Trophies from sports activities. Tons of games because we might have a Family Game Night. All kinds of things that we'd forgotten we even owned. Stuff, stuff, and even more stuff.

So I guess our stuff holds a lot of memories and maybe that is why we still have it.

We're told not to treasure up things here on earth where moth and rust destroy (let's not forget about the dust bunnies that quickly accumulate), and maybe we haven't done such a great job of keeping our treasures to a minimum. Bottom line is if God asked us to get rid of it, I believe we could do it. I may grieve for months about having to sacrifice my teddy bear collection (no husband, I don't think I'm asked to do that. At least not yet.), but I know God has a better plan for me and because of that I would be willing to do it.

Maybe this is what this verse means, are you willing to give up treasures here in order to receive better treasures in heaven? Truthfully, I believe I could. Do you think you could the same?

To Each His Own

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16 NIV

Some of us have brown eyes, others have blue. Some of us have blond hair or maybe red, or even some brown with gray hairs blending in. Some of us have white skin and some of our skins are dark.

Each of us are a little different which makes this world an interesting place to live. If each of us is so different then why do we expect our stories to be the same?

Some of our stories are filled with heart ache and pain. Others are filled with sickness. A few of us have violent stories, those are the parts we may want to forget.

Not all our stories are filled with such tragedy, a remnant of us have experience joy and laughter. Some of us have unexplainable blessings. Sometimes we like to share these stories.

Those of us who have experienced pain, sadness or illness and reached out for help would like others to know where we have found that help.

When someone has back pain and you've also had back pain, and you found a way to help your back pain. The common thing to do is to share what you've discovered because you don't want anyone to have to suffer the way you did.

This is why those of us whose stories now include Jesus as a part of our lives wish to share what we discovered with those who need to know the source of our joy.

You see God has now come in to our lives, we have a personal story with Him. He is our help when unforeseen tragedies or illnesses come our way. Even though the pain maybe high, we still have the joy that only He can give.

Maybe you've talked with God before, and for some reason His plan didn't go along with your plan. Maybe the illness never was cured here on earth, the person we loved so dearly died anyway. The thing is God sometimes has an even better plan than we can ever imagine. The person we lost is now no longer suffering, he/she has been cured. The cure though had to come with his/her death.

It is sad for us who get to stay here, but joyous for those who now get to experience everlasting life in God's presence. If us who are left here would continue to talk with God even if you're mad at Him, we would come to know a peace, joy, and blessing that only He can give.

So maybe soon God, Jesus can become a part of your story, and then you will know why it's so important for Him to be a part of your life. Just like He is a part of mine. His story is true and so majestic.

Behold the Power

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20 NIV

Dirty dishes are a common problem in our house. It's funny, but we enjoy eating and we enjoy the preparation of delicious meals. Though no one in our household enjoys cleaning up the dirty dishes.

In fact, most everyone piles their dishes in the sink hoping the fairy maid (AKA mom) will show up and some how make the dishes clean. Sure enough if they wait long enough she appears and poof their mess disappears.

There have been times when the mess is stuck on so crusty and thick that it has been almost impossible to clean it. An overnight soaking hasn't even done much for it. Maybe if we're lucky a little crust comes free, but a good scrubbing usually makes the dish shiny and clean once again.

About six months ago though something changed for the fairy maid. The time has come to replace the faucet and with that replacement came a spray nozzle. Now since the fairy maid has lived in the house there has been a few other spray nozzles, but they only dribbled. There was no point in trying to rubber band those spray nozzles to surprisingly squirt someone because it wouldn't even fester up enough strength to dribble the sink in front of it yet alone the person standing there wanting to get a drink of water.

The power this new spray nozzle has! Those stuck on crusty messes now have no chance for survival. The fairy maid simply grabs hold of the spray nozzle aiming it for the crust and wallah no more crust. No more soaking of dishes or scrubbing to the arm bulks up three times it's original size.

A lot of us know God, but maybe we don't quite grasp His incredible power. Maybe we just casually address Him, and continue to scrub at our crusty mess only removing a crumb or two on our own. It isn't until we finally grab hold and squeeze into His ever trusting arms that we realize that with one squeeze He can remove all that crusty grim. Isn't time to let Him remove the crusty messes from your life? Behold His power!