you can't take it with you

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.

- Matthew 6:19-20

“once there was a rich man” (Luke 16) (Beauty and the Beast)

“if I were a rich man” (Fiddler on the Roof)

Through the ages there has been a general theme, that we must gather all we can and be rich as possible . . . 

But what good does it do, to be rich on earth? 

You can’t take it with you.

Sure it would be nice to have big houses and new cars and a never ending supply of money to buy “stuff”.

But what good is “stuff” if you don’t know God?

People can take every possession that we have, but they cannot take God’s love from us.

I’d rather have God than a mansion on earth.

Have a blessed day!

it's about love

The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

—Romans 13:9-10

Love!

Love is a resounding theme in the Bible.

God loves us, we are made to love Him.

God teaches us how to show our love to others and by doing that, showing our love of Him.

Love is a good thing to have and to share, and the more you give away, the more you have.

Have a blessed day.

It's feeding time

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

—Galatians 5:22-23

The human body requires food and water to survive, we all know this.

But what about the Spirit?

Our spirit needs to be fed and nurtured as well, and the verse tells us exactly what our spirit craves:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

How do we get these things?

By surrounding ourselves with others that share our love for Jesus.

By telling others about how good our God is.

By displaying these fruits every single day.

I don’t know about you, but my spirit hungers for these things, so I am going to go feed it.

Have a blessed day!

What qualities do you look for in a friend?

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

—2 Peter 1:5-8

What qualities do you look for in a friend?

Are certain qualities more important than others?

It seems that the Bible tells us that all of these qualities are important, and that they build upon each other. 

Do you have the same qualities that you expect others to have?

Take a moment to reflect on the qualities that you possess, and the ones that you need to add.

Have a blessed day!

Free

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone.  How can you say that we shall be set free?”  Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

- John 8:31-36

  

Oh, another song reference!     

Through you the blind will see
Through you the mute will sing
Through you the dead will rise
Through you all hearts will praise
Through you the darkness flees
Through you my heart screams
I am free
Yes, I am free
I am free to run
I am free to dance
I am free to live for you
I am free
Yes, I am free
Through you the kingdom comes
Through you the battle's won
Through you I'm not afraid
Through you the price is paid
Through you there's victory
Because of you my heart sings
I am free
Yes, I am free

There are so many kinds of freedom, and every freedom is available to us through Christ Jesus. 

We don’t have to be slaves

We don’t have to wear the chains of bondage

Because of Jesus, we are free.

Have a blessed day!

what is your legacy?

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

- 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Yesterday’s verse talked about having enough.

Today we look at why.

It’s pretty simple, really. 

You can’t take it with you - you really can’t! 

What you want to do instead, is leave a legacy.

Show the people around you that you are content with what you are given.

Stop striving for the bigger house, the nicer car, the designer clothes, purses, pets.

Be happy with what you have, and you will find that the happiness pours out of you, and into others.

That is the legacy I want to leave.

Happiness.

How about you?

Have a blessed day!

enough

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

- Proverbs 30:8-9

Has it ever occurred to anyone that they have too much? 

I am sure at some point everyone thinks that they don’t have enough.

This request is asking God to give enough – not too much, not too little, but enough.

There is a poem attributed to a man named Bob Perks:

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

My friends, I wish you enough.

Have a blessed day.

despised and rejected

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.  Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem.  Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him  punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted.  But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

- Isaiah 53:3-7

Song reference!

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love
Destined to die, poured out for all mankind
God's only Son, perfect and spotless one
He never sinned but suffered as if He did

All authority
Every victory is Yours
Savior, worthy of honor and glory
Worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever
Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame

Power in hand speaking the Father's plan
You're sending us out, light in this broken land

All authority
Every victory is Yours

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

Savior, worthy of honor and glory
Worthy of all our praise, You overcame, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever
Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame

I really cannot say that if I was treated the way that Jesus was treated, that I would meekly go to my punishment.

He didn’t deserve that!!

But He did it.

For me.

For you.

And He overcame death.

For us.

Doesn’t that make Him worthy of praise?

Have a blessed day!

feeling betrayed

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

- Matthew 6:14-15

I have recently come into a situation that has left me feeling quite betrayed.

I have to deal with it.

I have to confront the person that betrayed me, I have to ask that person to forgive me for ever giving them the opportunity to betray me, and most important, I have to forgive that person.

This is hard.

I don’t even know where to start because I truly don’t want to hurt that person or destroy the friendship.

But, I have to talk to the person, I have to get past the hurt, I have to walk in to understanding and I have to forgive.

This is what we are told to do: forgive.

How many times have we betrayed God?

How many times has He forgiven us?

What kind of person are we, if we don’t have the same compassion that God gracefully shows us?

Have a blessed day!

Baaaaaaa!

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

- John 10:3-4

The Bible makes reference to sheep no less than 220 times.

But why?  Why does God refer to us as sheep?

Honestly, sheep are not the brightest animal on the planet, they tend to wander and are prone to getting lost and they have no sense of direction so once they are lost, they are not likely to find their way back.

HUH.

Kind of like people.

Did you know that sheep respond to the shepherd’s voice?

Soooooo, maybe we just need to listen for our Shepherd!

We were made to follow Him, to cast our burdens on Him, He will defend us, and protect us.

Based on that, I am happy to be a sheep.

Have a blessed day!

no longer two, but one

But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female.  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

- Mark 10:6-9

  

Ready for another sappy commentary?

Today is my 21st wedding anniversary, I was so blessed when God gave me my husband.

That means of course, for well over 21 years he has put up with me through a LOT, I believe that we have met and surpassed almost all of our original vows J

A lot of people said we wouldn’t last.

Some people over the years have tried to drive a wedge between us.

His father and mother raised him to believe in the Bible, to honor his word and to put God before everything.

That is part of the secret of a long and healthy marriage – making sure that you praise Him together.

Happy anniversary, my love, may we have decades more together.

Have a blessed day!

awesome power and strength

You, God, are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!

- Psalm 68:35

You know there is a song reference coming!

When He rolls up His sleeves

He ain't just puttin' on the Ritz

our God is an Awesome God

There is thunder in His footsteps

And lightning in His fists

our God is an Awesome God

Well the Lord He wasn't jokin'

when He kicked 'em out of Eden

It wasn't for no reason that He shed His blood

His return is very close and so you better be believin'

That our God is an Awesome God

Our God is an Awesome God

He Reigns from heaven above

With Wisdom pow'r and love

Our God is an Awesome God

When the sky was starless in the void of the night

Our God is an Awesome God

He spoke into the darkness and created the light

Our God is an Awesome God

Judgment and wrath He poured out on Sodom

Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross

I hope that we have not too quickly forgotten that

Our God is an Awesome God

Our God is an Awesome God

He Reigns from heaven above

With Wisdom pow'r and love

Our God is an Awesome God

Once again, I am compelled to say that God has been on our side our entire lives.

In the words of another song reference, How can I keep from singing Your praise?

Have a blessed day.

fact or fiction?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

- 2 Timothy 3:16

I have been hearing a lot about science trying to debunk the Bible.

I have heard many arguments about how events recorded in the Bible are just stories, that there is no way that they are true.

The arguments are lies.

Lies glorify people, truth glorifies God. (another awesome quote from my lead pastor).

As I learn and grow in Christ, I am better able to defend my stance that the Bible is the truth (and the truth shall indeed set you free!)

I hope that you are learning and growing as well.

Have a blessed day!

no disrespect

Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.  These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

- 1 Timothy 6:2-5

This is an interesting verse, I think.

Don’t disrespect me because I am a Christ follower, especially if you are also a follower.

In fact, if we are both followers, should we not be working together toward the same goal, of bringing others to God?

Are we not, in fact supposed to be teaching His word and LIVING His word for others to follow?

Basically, I believe this verse is telling us that the unbelievers gravitate toward the things that are not godly, and it is up to us to teach.

I don’t want the people I care about to think that dropping a few bucks in an offering plate is the means to Heaven, because there is so much more.

Come, let’s learn together.

Have a blessed day!

are you convinced?

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

- Romans 8:38-39

I am really not sure that I need to say more!

If you are not convinced, come talk to me, visit my church, listen to the word of God.

The love of God overflows.

I AM convinced!

Are you? 

Have a blessed day!

perfect love

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

- 1 John 4:18

  

It is time for a song reference!

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

Your perfect love is casting out fear

And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life

I won't turn back

I know you are near

And I will fear no evil

For my God is with me

And if my God is with me

Whom then shall I fear?

Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go

Through the calm and through the storm

Oh no, You never let go

In every high and every low

Oh no, You never let go

Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on

A glorious light beyond all compare

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

We'll live to know You here on the earth

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Perfect love.

What an amazing gift.

I don’t have to be afraid.

I don’t have to be alone.

I am a child of the one true king.

Have a blessed day!

are you an alien?

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

- Colossians 1:21-22

God has been on our side our entire lives.

He has given us a way to be with Him and have everlasting life.

We are no longer bound by chains, we are no longer the enemy – all we have to do is accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Then we begin to grow in Him.

Thirst for His word.

Hunger for His spirit.

God gave us the way through His Son Jesus.

Are you going to take that gift, or remain alienated?

Have a blessed day.

examples

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.

- 1 Peter 2:21

Today would have been my dad’s 91st birthday.

He was a very hard worker and provided for his family.

I’d say that he was a pretty good example of what a dad should be.

Happy birthday in Heaven, Daddy!

As Christ followers, we have the perfect example of how to live right before our eyes.

Because we have this example, we are called to share His ways with others.

Look around you, who is watching what you do, how you respond, the example that you are setting?

If you follow in His steps, you need not worry who is watching.

Have a blessed day!

not here

He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.

- Matthew 28:6

Happy Easter!

He is risen! (He is risen indeed!)

There are so many song references I could make – Hosanna, Alive, Christ is Risen, you get the idea.

What a wonderful gift we were given in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

His death and resurrection brings us life and hope for the future.

I believe that is worthy of celebration.

Have a blessed day!