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6/26/2014 0 Comments Where is Your Treasure? Looking for your pot of gold? What do you value most in your life? Is it possessions, relationships, or money? Love and acceptance were big for me, but I also loved to shop. I discovered that the joy of buying something new soon faded. The value of possessions depreciated in a short time. My emptiness led me to seek acceptance instead money or possessions, but my people pleasing efforts failed and left me feeling lonely and depressed.
Jesus has the answer. He said in Matthew 6:19-21, "Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." God rescued me from my hunger for things and acceptance. His amazing love transformed my life and gave me purpose. Today He is my treasure and I want to tell the world what His love means to me. Think About It One Sunday our pastor announced that burial suits have no pockets. To confirm his statement he said he called the funeral home down the street. They told him they actually have suits for those who arrive without burial clothes. "Do the suits have pockets?" he asked. The answer was, "No." That made me think what I carry in my pockets--cash, ATM card, credit card, driver's license. None of these mean anything after death. All that matters is what we did for Christ. That lives on in the lives of those we touch. Pray About It Lord Jesus, You are my treasure. Help me live in a way that others will come to experience your amazing love through something I said or did to honor You. Amen.
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6/15/2014 0 Comments Don't Pray Like Them Jesus' disciples wanted to know how to pray and He taught them, "Don't pray like them." The hypocrites liked to make appearances and show off their eloquent words. Jesus saw through their empty prayers. He said, "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you," (Matthew 6:6 NIV).
I've thought I'm okay because I pray in private and not in public, not for any recognition. Yet, today when I read the Lord's Prayer in the sixth chapter of Matthew, I asked myself if my life matched my prayers. How often have I prayed for the homeless and hungry and done nothing personally to help them? Can I honestly say, "I gave at church," and think it is enough? How often have I prayed for the sick and failed to call or visit or send a card? I've been in the hospital and I know how important those calls, cards and visits are. My prayers are good Christian prayers, I think. "Lord, bless me and help me expand my ministry." But when I looked at the Lord's Prayer, the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, I don't see one single personal pronoun--not one. Check it out: Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Think About It Is it wrong to ask God for help or healing? No, but we must remember that prayer is not about us, but about God and others. Yet, we live in a selfish and self-centered world. God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours. He made each of us in His image and desires more for us. He loves us so much He made a way for us to be with Him forever. We can learn to work and pray and love as He does but only with His power and strength at work in us. Pray About It Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us. You are the awesome and true God. You have life and love everlasting. Empower us to love as you do, to live out our prayers after we say "Amen."  Have your friends told you how much they gave in church or how much they helped someone at school or how much they gave to a homeless person? It's not always about money. Sometimes it's about sharing their talents or abilities. Sometimes it comes across as bragging.
Jesus likes a cheerful giver, but He doesn't want us to flaunt our generosity. He says, "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don't sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They've got their reward? But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:1-4 HCSB). Think About It People get hung up on success, whether it's earning money or in giving. Don't let that be your goal. I like what my author friend, Jerry Jenkins says. "The aim is not about success. It's about obedience." I've applied this not only to my work, but to my giving and helping others. Is God calling you to step out and help someone today? Ask your parents to help you. Remember it's a secret between you and God. Pray About It Father God, show me who you want me to help today. Help me to be generous. And when I am tempted to tell others what good thing I've done, help me to keep a secret. Amen. |
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