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Posted on 10/31/2019 8:53:22 PM PDT by JustAmy
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Oh yeah...I heard about them Midwest Winters. Brrrr
Bible in a Year:
Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20
We were on the way home from a visit with family in another state when I found it. I was pumping gas when I noticed a dirty, bulky envelope on the ground. I grabbed it, dirt and all, and looked inside. To my surprise, it contained one hundred dollars.
One hundred dollars that someone had lost and who at that very moment was possibly frantically searching to find. I gave our phone number to the attendants at the gas station in case anyone came back looking for it. But no one ever called.
Someone had that money and lost it. Earthly treasure is often like that. It can be lost, stolen, or even squandered. It can be lost in bad investments or even in a monetary market over which we have no control. But the heavenly treasure we have in Jesus—a restored relationship with God and the promise of eternal life—isn’t like that. We can’t lose it at a gas station or anywhere else.
That’s why Christ told us to store up “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). We do that when we become “rich in good deeds” (1 Timothy 6:18) or “rich in faith” (James 2:5)—lovingly helping others and sharing Jesus with them. As God leads and empowers us, may we store up eternal treasure even as we anticipate our eternal future with Him.
What can you do this week that has eternal implications? How can you better use your earthly treasures as investments for heaven’s good?
Dear God, thank You for everything You’ve given us on this earth—our money, our homes, and more. Help us to hold them loosely while seeking to store up more eternal treasures.
Thank you.
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It certainly has!
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Bible in a Year:
If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts. 1 John 3:20
As a couple drove their trailer through dry Northern California, they felt a tire blow and heard the scrape of metal against pavement. The sparks ignited the 2018 Carr Fire—a wildfire that burned nearly 230,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,000 homes, and resulted in the deaths of several people.
When survivors heard how the couple were overcome with grief, they formed a Facebook page to show “grace and extend kindness . . . for the shame and despair” enveloping them. One woman wrote: “As someone that lost their home to this fire—I need you to know my family [doesn’t blame you], nor [do] any of the other families that lost homes. . . . Accidents happen. I really hope these kind messages ease your burden. We will all get through this together.”
Condemnation, our fear that we’ve done something unredeemable, can cannibalize the human soul. Thankfully, the Scriptures reveal that “if our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts” (1 John 3:20). Whatever our hidden shame, God is greater than all of it. Jesus calls us to the healing act of repentance (if needed) or simply unmasks the shame consuming us. Then, encountering divine redemption, we “set our hearts at rest in his presence” (v. 19).
Whatever our regrets over things we wish we could undo, God draws us near. Jesus smiles at us and says, “Your heart is free.”
How have you experienced shame or condemnation? What does it mean for you to know that Jesus has freed your heart?
God, I have such regret. I wish I could erase this painful situation and do it all over. But thank You for giving me grace to learn and move forward.
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Thank you Meg! Beautiful post
Thank you.
A Happy Warm Fuzzy Wednesday to all.
Winter fun!
No snow here.
I like that.
I used to have a Samoyed that looked just like that.
He came in handy during the Great Blizzard of 1978.
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Wishing you a great Thankful Thursday!
I will be a bit busy, so posting on Wednesday night.
Thursday is horse day in the morning, then work until about 6pm
Pretty much shoots the whole day!
Good weather here, thankful for that.
cheers
A friend of mine has a Samoyed. Sweetest dog in the whole world.
Boxes, otherwise known as cat traps....
They do love boxes.
There was a great meme with boxes in a driveway, and a cat was in every one of them, and the meme called them cat traps.
Cheap cat toys at least.
cheers for kitties!
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