As you may have already noticed I have changed the name, back ground picture and some other things on my blog. It has taken me a while to come up with a theme I like. :) The idea of "Lessons from Life's Playground" comes from what I've learned about teaching children. In school and in children's ministry we use a lot of hands on learning with the kids, because we have learned that children learn by doing-not just listening to a teacher talk. We have also learned that, while limited to our kids these days, the importance of free play and the playground. The playground and in free play is where children's imaginations come to life! I have enjoyed watching and listening to the conversations of my classes over the years as they play and imagine during recess, centers, building, and free draw times. (Those rare moments when kids can be kids.) It is during play that children learn to share, cooperate, get along with others, dream and imagine.
That being said, I like to think of life as a big playground. Life is the place where people learn to share, cooperate, get along with others, dream and imagine. That is why I call my blog "Lessons from Life's Playground." I hope that by sharing some of the things I've learned along the way, I can inspire and encourage you to share, cooperate, dream and imagine.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Becoming a Butterfly
I once
heard a message by Joyce Myers where she was talking about the process of
Sanctification. When we are saved, we
are instantly justified, but we are not instantly sanctified. That is a process that takes years, sometimes
even our whole lives. Joyce talked about this
as kind of like metamorphosis. She
used the illustration of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. The metamorphosis taking place is truly a
miracle, but it still a process, as God turns a dirty crawling bug into a big
beautiful flying butterfly.
This is
not unlike our lives. When we come to
Christ we are like the caterpillar, lowly, crawling, and dirty. But then we accept the gift of Grace and the
Holy Spirit comes into our heart and begins the sanctification process. This is the cocoon. Like, the butterfly the cocoon is where our
transformation takes place. Unlike, the
butterfly we can remain in our cocoon for many many years! Yet, even as the butterfly emerges a new and
beautiful creation; we too will emerge a new and beautiful creation!
Joyce
went on to explain the struggle that the butterfly endures as it changes. And well, I don't know about you, but that
certainly is representative of my Christian life. Life with Christ isn't always easy, but it will always be worth it!
"being confident of this, that he who began a good
work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
Sunday, November 17, 2013
The biggest Family in the Whole World
There is a song we used to do in church which said "we have the best dad in the whole world." Well, that song had two meanings for me. First is obvious, because of Christ's work on the cross I have been adopted as a child of God. Therefore God is my Heavenly Father and he is the best!
The other meaning is the "we" in that song. It says "we have the best dad." It says "we" because everyone who believes in Jesus has been adopted as children of God. This means that we have the biggest family in the whole world. A family which includes people from all nations.
Paul reminds us of this in Romans 12:4-5 when he says "Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other."
We belong to Christ and we belong to each other. It is easy to get caught up in the comings and goings and responsibilities of our own lives that we forget about this great family to which we belong.
I read an article yesterday about Christian persecution in the Middle East. One of the comments after the article (by a reader) said that the Christians there and missionaries who go there know the risk. I found this comment a little distant and harsh. As the brothers and sisters we need to not only be aware of what Christians around the world are facing, but we need also to pray for them. In the west we are able to worship God freely without fear of persecution. Thus, it is easy to distance ourselves from the suffering of our brothers and sisters around the world. However, this is not something we should allow ourselves to do. Those are our brothers and sisters over there, members of our own family that are being tortured, imprisoned, and killed for their faith. We need not distant ourselves from them, but to be aware of what is happening and pray for our family oversees.
Hebrews 13:3 "Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies."
Romans 12:15 "Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep."
The other meaning is the "we" in that song. It says "we have the best dad." It says "we" because everyone who believes in Jesus has been adopted as children of God. This means that we have the biggest family in the whole world. A family which includes people from all nations.
Paul reminds us of this in Romans 12:4-5 when he says "Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other."
We belong to Christ and we belong to each other. It is easy to get caught up in the comings and goings and responsibilities of our own lives that we forget about this great family to which we belong.
I read an article yesterday about Christian persecution in the Middle East. One of the comments after the article (by a reader) said that the Christians there and missionaries who go there know the risk. I found this comment a little distant and harsh. As the brothers and sisters we need to not only be aware of what Christians around the world are facing, but we need also to pray for them. In the west we are able to worship God freely without fear of persecution. Thus, it is easy to distance ourselves from the suffering of our brothers and sisters around the world. However, this is not something we should allow ourselves to do. Those are our brothers and sisters over there, members of our own family that are being tortured, imprisoned, and killed for their faith. We need not distant ourselves from them, but to be aware of what is happening and pray for our family oversees.
Hebrews 13:3 "Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies."
Romans 12:15 "Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep."
Friday, October 18, 2013
Jesus Loves Even Me
My small group is doing a Bible Study about Grace written by Max Lacado. Tonight we talked about receiving and extending grace to others, even those who have caused us hurt. The Bible passage came from John where it talks about Jesus washing the disciples feet. One thing that really stuck out at me that Max said about this story is that Jesus even washed Judas' feet. But the way he said it was that Jesus didn't pass Judas by, and the way I heard it was "Jesus didn't pass you by."
Did you get that? Jesus has not passed you by. In fact his grace extends to everyone who will accept it. You see, even though Jesus knew that Judas would betray him in just a few hours, he still stopped in front of him and washed his feet. So, one thing I take from this story is that no matter who you are or what you've done, your not to far away to receive God's grace!
This is also a message to the one who feels that the world is always passing them by. If you feel invisible or like others don't appreciate you or are just passing you up-take heart. The king of the universe has come to meet you where you are and has not passed you by.
Did you get that? Jesus has not passed you by. In fact his grace extends to everyone who will accept it. You see, even though Jesus knew that Judas would betray him in just a few hours, he still stopped in front of him and washed his feet. So, one thing I take from this story is that no matter who you are or what you've done, your not to far away to receive God's grace!
This is also a message to the one who feels that the world is always passing them by. If you feel invisible or like others don't appreciate you or are just passing you up-take heart. The king of the universe has come to meet you where you are and has not passed you by.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Shine Bright
The other day as I drove in the rain a thought came to my mind. It was 2:00 in the afternoon and yet the sky was dark and gray and rain was pouring from the sky. Yet playing on my radio was the song "Good Morning" by Mandesa. I thought what an odd selection for such a dreary day, but then I realized something. It might have been dark, dreary and rainy outside my car, but as I sang along with the radio and praised the Lord the inside of my car was very bright.
This experience made me realize something. There has been a lot of talk lately (even-or should I say especially-among Christians) about how dark this world is and how it seems to be growing darker each day. It is so easy to get caught up in all the bad and evil things happening in our world and forget that there is light, and that light is inside us!
God did not save us and put his light inside of us so that we can hide from the darkness. He put his light inside of us so that we can shine bright for him and point people to him (the only source of light). Matthew 5:14-16 says “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." So when we find ourselves surrounded by a dark world instead of giving in, hiding from, or complaining about the darkness see it as another opportunity to shine. Shine bright for Jesus and be a reflection of his love!
This experience made me realize something. There has been a lot of talk lately (even-or should I say especially-among Christians) about how dark this world is and how it seems to be growing darker each day. It is so easy to get caught up in all the bad and evil things happening in our world and forget that there is light, and that light is inside us!
God did not save us and put his light inside of us so that we can hide from the darkness. He put his light inside of us so that we can shine bright for him and point people to him (the only source of light). Matthew 5:14-16 says “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." So when we find ourselves surrounded by a dark world instead of giving in, hiding from, or complaining about the darkness see it as another opportunity to shine. Shine bright for Jesus and be a reflection of his love!
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Happy 4th!!!!!
The following post was written by my friend Melinda who has given me permission to share it with you! Please read and take to heart what it says!
Blessings, Brittany Happy 4th of July!
Blessings, Brittany Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July! This week we will celebrate our country's 237th birthday day. We will be proud to be Americans and we will be thankful to God for our great country!
I think if God recorded the history of America today (like He did the history of Israel), it might go like this:
The Pilgrims left the religious tyranny of England that required them to worship a god who was impersonal and distant. ...They came to the new world to worship in freedom in accordance with the way the Holy Spirit of God led them. And God was pleased with the work of their hands and hearts and blessed them because they glorified His name.
About 175 years later their sons and daughters founded a new nation, America whose creed was "One nation under God". They put that creed on their money, which showed God that He was their treasure. At the start of every school day, their children pledged allegiance to their country, one nation under God. And God was pleased with their nation and blessed it among all other nations of the world from sea to shining sea, because they sought His face and blessing. He blessed them with prosperity, technology, medical advances, and abundant comforts in their pleasant homes. They had military victory over all their enemies.
About 235 years later their president declared that America was no longer a Christian nation, and even the remnant of true Christ followers had to agree with Him.
The people of America believed it was good to be "tolerant" of false religions, because Christians love people. They believed a half-truth lie of the Devil. They forgot that the best part of their love was to share the Good News of the gospel of salvation. The people tolerated the glorification of sexual sin because the didn't want to be judgmental. They believed a half-truth lie of the Devil that Christians are not judgmental. The people forgot that they were supposed to be salt and light to protect their nation from the decay of sin. Then because of their tolerance of sexual sin, there were millions of unplanned pregnancies. The people tolerated the sacrifice of aborted babies in the worship of their god Convenience, just as their spiritual ancestors sacrificed their babies in the worship of their god Molech, a detestable practice which caused them to sin deeply against the Lord their God. And because of their tolerance of sexual sin, millions of people contracted horrible diseases that tormented them and killed them slowly and painfully.
Because the people did evil in the eyes of the Lord and forgot that the Lord was their God, He turned the people over to the desires of their heart and allowed the Evil One to torment them to bring them back to Himself. He slowly removed their prosperity. He allowed their enemies to have small victories over them. He used His servants the Taliban and Al-kaida to attack them and terrorize their land just like He used His servant Nebuchadnezzar to discipline His people Israel.
In His mercy He tested the land of America with small judgments hoping they would return to the faith of their fathers and again worship The Lord their God.
Here's what we know...
Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34 NLT)
Blessed is the nation whose God is The Lord. (Psalm 33:12a NIV)
I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. (Psalms 119:45 NLT)
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)
Notice that it is the obedience of **God's people** that causes Him to hear from Heaven and restore their land. Will you join me in the repentance and obedience that God is longing for?
Here's some good ideas to get you started:
1. Talk to God (lots of times) every day and listen to what He has to tell you...things that you know you didn't come up with on your own. I often hear from God as I am waking up in the morning, before I am fully conscious.
2. Read your Bible EVERY day. Listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling you about how to live...and do it!
3. Make it a habit to praise God IN (not necessarily for) all things...good and bad...and to be thankful. I have come to realize that this is (coincidentally? probably not!) a good cure for depression. You can't be full of thanks and gratitude and keep feeling sorry for yourself.
3. Fill up your radio presets, Ipod playlist, and Pandora shuffle with only songs that glorify God.
4. Stop watching TV shows and movies that portray sexual sin as "normal". Tell other people that you are committed to this. Maybe we can create a new normal.
5. Start serving. God uniquely equipped you with innate skills, talents, abilities, preferences, and gifts to do good works that He has planned for you from the foundation of the earth. Don't know where to start? Find out where God is at work and join him.
6. Join in spreading the gospel... here and to the ends of the earth. People need to know they are sinners that need a Savior...and that God loves them so much He gave His Son to take the punishment for their sin.
7. Be generous with your finances. Give back to God (at least) the 10% you owe Him. Help others as God leads you.
8. Be active and faithful to a small group of Christ followers who can share your joys and sorrows and failures and victories, help keep you accountable to righteousness, and do all the other "one another" things with that God desires for us.
9. Attend a worship service every week...not because God needs to be worshipped, but because God created us to worship Him. You will never be truly satisfied or content in life if you are not worshipping God.
10. Confess your sin daily (hourly?) and ask God to empower you for righteousness.
11. Be careful to not let idols sneak into your life. An idol is anything that knocks God out of first place in your life. We can accidentally make idols out of our children and grandchildren, parents, busy-ness, careers, leisure time activities, and hobbies. I think God hates idolatry more than anything...because He knows we NEED for Him to be our priority.
12. Speak up...respectfully and lovingly...when you see others violating God's commands. Let them know it's not OK with you.
Thanks for letting me share my heart with you! Let's be the the kind of people God wants us to be...humble, repentant, and obedient...so He hears from Heaven and heals our Land of the Free and Home of the Brave!
Are you in?
I think if God recorded the history of America today (like He did the history of Israel), it might go like this:
The Pilgrims left the religious tyranny of England that required them to worship a god who was impersonal and distant. ...They came to the new world to worship in freedom in accordance with the way the Holy Spirit of God led them. And God was pleased with the work of their hands and hearts and blessed them because they glorified His name.
About 175 years later their sons and daughters founded a new nation, America whose creed was "One nation under God". They put that creed on their money, which showed God that He was their treasure. At the start of every school day, their children pledged allegiance to their country, one nation under God. And God was pleased with their nation and blessed it among all other nations of the world from sea to shining sea, because they sought His face and blessing. He blessed them with prosperity, technology, medical advances, and abundant comforts in their pleasant homes. They had military victory over all their enemies.
About 235 years later their president declared that America was no longer a Christian nation, and even the remnant of true Christ followers had to agree with Him.
The people of America believed it was good to be "tolerant" of false religions, because Christians love people. They believed a half-truth lie of the Devil. They forgot that the best part of their love was to share the Good News of the gospel of salvation. The people tolerated the glorification of sexual sin because the didn't want to be judgmental. They believed a half-truth lie of the Devil that Christians are not judgmental. The people forgot that they were supposed to be salt and light to protect their nation from the decay of sin. Then because of their tolerance of sexual sin, there were millions of unplanned pregnancies. The people tolerated the sacrifice of aborted babies in the worship of their god Convenience, just as their spiritual ancestors sacrificed their babies in the worship of their god Molech, a detestable practice which caused them to sin deeply against the Lord their God. And because of their tolerance of sexual sin, millions of people contracted horrible diseases that tormented them and killed them slowly and painfully.
Because the people did evil in the eyes of the Lord and forgot that the Lord was their God, He turned the people over to the desires of their heart and allowed the Evil One to torment them to bring them back to Himself. He slowly removed their prosperity. He allowed their enemies to have small victories over them. He used His servants the Taliban and Al-kaida to attack them and terrorize their land just like He used His servant Nebuchadnezzar to discipline His people Israel.
In His mercy He tested the land of America with small judgments hoping they would return to the faith of their fathers and again worship The Lord their God.
Here's what we know...
Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34 NLT)
Blessed is the nation whose God is The Lord. (Psalm 33:12a NIV)
I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. (Psalms 119:45 NLT)
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)
Notice that it is the obedience of **God's people** that causes Him to hear from Heaven and restore their land. Will you join me in the repentance and obedience that God is longing for?
Here's some good ideas to get you started:
1. Talk to God (lots of times) every day and listen to what He has to tell you...things that you know you didn't come up with on your own. I often hear from God as I am waking up in the morning, before I am fully conscious.
2. Read your Bible EVERY day. Listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling you about how to live...and do it!
3. Make it a habit to praise God IN (not necessarily for) all things...good and bad...and to be thankful. I have come to realize that this is (coincidentally? probably not!) a good cure for depression. You can't be full of thanks and gratitude and keep feeling sorry for yourself.
3. Fill up your radio presets, Ipod playlist, and Pandora shuffle with only songs that glorify God.
4. Stop watching TV shows and movies that portray sexual sin as "normal". Tell other people that you are committed to this. Maybe we can create a new normal.
5. Start serving. God uniquely equipped you with innate skills, talents, abilities, preferences, and gifts to do good works that He has planned for you from the foundation of the earth. Don't know where to start? Find out where God is at work and join him.
6. Join in spreading the gospel... here and to the ends of the earth. People need to know they are sinners that need a Savior...and that God loves them so much He gave His Son to take the punishment for their sin.
7. Be generous with your finances. Give back to God (at least) the 10% you owe Him. Help others as God leads you.
8. Be active and faithful to a small group of Christ followers who can share your joys and sorrows and failures and victories, help keep you accountable to righteousness, and do all the other "one another" things with that God desires for us.
9. Attend a worship service every week...not because God needs to be worshipped, but because God created us to worship Him. You will never be truly satisfied or content in life if you are not worshipping God.
10. Confess your sin daily (hourly?) and ask God to empower you for righteousness.
11. Be careful to not let idols sneak into your life. An idol is anything that knocks God out of first place in your life. We can accidentally make idols out of our children and grandchildren, parents, busy-ness, careers, leisure time activities, and hobbies. I think God hates idolatry more than anything...because He knows we NEED for Him to be our priority.
12. Speak up...respectfully and lovingly...when you see others violating God's commands. Let them know it's not OK with you.
Thanks for letting me share my heart with you! Let's be the the kind of people God wants us to be...humble, repentant, and obedient...so He hears from Heaven and heals our Land of the Free and Home of the Brave!
Are you in?
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
The Things You Do
You've heard that worship is more than a song, but the offerings we bring and the lives we lead-as unto the Lord. It is the way we show our love and devotion.
One way my students show me their love is by drawing me pictures and writting me notes. Now I keep alot of them, but there simply isn't space enough to keep everyone from over all my years of working with children.
Today as I looked at a tissue w/ "I love Ms. Brittany" written in red marker it got me thinking. Even though I don't keep every picture my students give me I do treasure each in it's own way. Why, b /c each one has a piece of the artist poured into it. A piece of a little child who pours out a piece of themselves into a picture of love for their teacher.
Now our pieces of art may or may not be a tissue with words of love in red marker or a picture colored just inside the lines. It may be sharing the love of God with someone, caring for a loved one, comforting those who morn, or maybe just doing our best each day and working as unto the Lord. But, just as each of those little pictures has a piece of the child who drew it, and is precious to the children's teacher, so to does your work have a piece of you and is precious to God. And while I may not have the space to file away every picture the kids bring me, our Heavenly Father remembers every thing we do for Him and cherishes them.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Just Be Still
So I have had alot on my plate lately, as I'm sure most of you have. I've also had alot of stuff that I've been worried or concerned about (as we all have from time to time.) Anyhow, the other night after expressing some of these worries to the Lord, for what seemed like the hundredth time, He directed me to two scriptures. The first was Psalm 34, which talks about the Lord's provision and how He is a refuge for us. The second verse was Psalm 46:10 "be still and know that I am God."
Ok so I read it then, but today it hit me. Well, let me explain.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes it takes children a while to sit in a 5 minute time out?
As I try to understand why some kids don't seem to understand that they will get what they want after they've done their time out, I have realized a couple of things. First the kids are worried about not getting to do what they want. Even though they know that the adult has said they can when the 5 minutes is up. The second thing is sometimes I act just like them.
Sometimes when I am worried about something or want something to go my way; I will not just be still and trust God. I insist on worrying and trying to make things go the way I want them to. (That is what kids do when they refuse to sit in time out.) The thing is just like with the kids, my time out might be shorter and less dramatic if I would only do what God has instructed me to do. That is to "be still and know" that He is God and that He cares for me is taking care of me.
The kids know that mom/dad etc... have said that the time out is over in 5 minutes, but if they don't beleive it they are going to have a rough time in time out. I know that God promised to take care of my needs and work everything out for my good, but if I don't believe it (don't trust Him to do it) then I'm going to have a rough time while I wait to see how things turn out.
So I guess I could end this by saying that to be still and know that He is God means more than just sitting still. It means knowing that God is God-that He is powerful, loving and has everything under control. So I guess be still and know that God is God and then trust Him and let God be God.
Ok so I read it then, but today it hit me. Well, let me explain.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes it takes children a while to sit in a 5 minute time out?
As I try to understand why some kids don't seem to understand that they will get what they want after they've done their time out, I have realized a couple of things. First the kids are worried about not getting to do what they want. Even though they know that the adult has said they can when the 5 minutes is up. The second thing is sometimes I act just like them.
Sometimes when I am worried about something or want something to go my way; I will not just be still and trust God. I insist on worrying and trying to make things go the way I want them to. (That is what kids do when they refuse to sit in time out.) The thing is just like with the kids, my time out might be shorter and less dramatic if I would only do what God has instructed me to do. That is to "be still and know" that He is God and that He cares for me is taking care of me.
The kids know that mom/dad etc... have said that the time out is over in 5 minutes, but if they don't beleive it they are going to have a rough time in time out. I know that God promised to take care of my needs and work everything out for my good, but if I don't believe it (don't trust Him to do it) then I'm going to have a rough time while I wait to see how things turn out.
So I guess I could end this by saying that to be still and know that He is God means more than just sitting still. It means knowing that God is God-that He is powerful, loving and has everything under control. So I guess be still and know that God is God and then trust Him and let God be God.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
You've Gone This Far
Today I was reminded of an important lesson when I took my two young cousins to the park. At the park are a series of bars that a child walks on to take them from one platform to another. This was the first thing that my youngest (7 year old) cousin went for. She starts out on the bar. In my overprotective manner, I say "be careful." Well, that's all it took for her to get scared. She was right in the middle of the bar. She had made it half way and she became so afraid that she went back the other way. "But you were half way there!" I said. It was just as dangerous to go back as it was to go forward. Yet I had uttered the words of doubt ("be careful") and she was now to afraid to go forward. She clung to the bar at the top and edged her way back to the first platform (where she had started).
After returning to the house this afternoon I reflected upon my cousin's experience and I realized that so many times I have done the same thing in my walk with God. I start out on a journey, doing well, and then someone says "are you sure" or "be careful" and the words of doubt take me away. It reminds me of the story of Peter walking on the water. He was so enthusiastic about stepping out on the water, until he saw the waves. He began to doubt and thus to sink.
So many times it becomes just as dangerous to go back as it is to go forward. If Peter had not doubted he would have continued on the water, but instead he began to sink. If my young cousin had not doubted she would have made it to the second platform, instead she went back to where she started. In my times of fear if I continue to trust the Lord I will experience His greatness, but if I doubt I will only be safe and never go anywhere.
Once you've started don't turn back. Remember if you've come this far it's just as dangerous to turn back now.
After returning to the house this afternoon I reflected upon my cousin's experience and I realized that so many times I have done the same thing in my walk with God. I start out on a journey, doing well, and then someone says "are you sure" or "be careful" and the words of doubt take me away. It reminds me of the story of Peter walking on the water. He was so enthusiastic about stepping out on the water, until he saw the waves. He began to doubt and thus to sink.
So many times it becomes just as dangerous to go back as it is to go forward. If Peter had not doubted he would have continued on the water, but instead he began to sink. If my young cousin had not doubted she would have made it to the second platform, instead she went back to where she started. In my times of fear if I continue to trust the Lord I will experience His greatness, but if I doubt I will only be safe and never go anywhere.
Once you've started don't turn back. Remember if you've come this far it's just as dangerous to turn back now.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Where are our treasures?
So I've been doing some thinking about the condition of the church in America lately. A few weeks ago my pastor did a sermon about how the Church is America is naked (and we don't even know it-ouch!)
My thoughts are that, we want so much to appeal to everyone that we have watered down our faith and compromised on so many levels. We have failed to let people know that there is cost for following Christ-we have failed to count the cost for ourselves. Instead we tell people to come and God will make them rich. Well, He will, but not in the way that we have insisted. There are many faithful who are blessed financially, but those are not the treasures we need to pursue. Matthew 6:19-20 says not to store up treasures on earth, but instead to store up treasures in Heaven. If we trust Him God gives us what we need in order that His purposes might be fulfilled in us.
If we have embarked on this journey with the Lord, He will provide everything we need for His will to be done. We don't have to worry about all these financial and other things (reputation, success, or even goals and dreams) that so many (including some Christians) are so focused on. Instead our focus should be on Christ-our relationship with Him and sharing His love with those around us. He will give us all we need to do this.
We want so much to cling to all these things and to Jesus. Well, have you tried to hold onto to too many things at once-you end up dropping it all. Let the rest go and cling only to Jesus who will give you all you need. If you continue to hang onto all these other things you will end up with nothing.
Look at Joseph who was enslaved and imprisoned, yet kept his eyes on God, whose plan was more than he had even dreamed.
I leave you now with the verse below and with encouragement to cling only to Jesus and trust Him to bring forth His purposes for you.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
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