Treasures

"Shoot!! Why didn't I see that crayon?"I was angry and frustrated because a crayon had melted in the dryer again. I wondered what was ruined this time and if I could "Shout" it out. My little boy, 5 years old, was always putting things in his pockets; little pieces of crayon, rocks, sticks , dead bugs, just about anything he thought was interesting. They were his little treasures to look at later and keep forever.

Twenty years have passed, and that 5 year old boy has grown up to be a very fine man, with a wife and baby on the way. Where did the time go? His twin sister lives in another state, 20 hours away by car. She had her treasures too you know. She had babies and stuffed animals tucked away in her "secret" places ~ precious to her ~ things that comforted her and let her drift to a wonderful fantasy land.

At the time I was too busy being a mom to enjoy their treasures. Sometimes I would let myself wonder what was going through Johnny's mind when he was placing that "precious something" in his pockets with his dirty little hands. I would chuckle thinking about the possible scenario that had brought him to the delight he had found. Other times I would sit down with my girlie-girl Katie and brush her dollies' hair or arrange the Barbie house with all the little extras of Barbie's immense wardrobe. When I did, those where memory treasures I would tuck inside my heart to enjoy later.

I store up treasures in my heart, places to travel to in my mind, that will bring me joy later on. They are like love letters read over and over again. I store up treasures today. For instance, like watching my grand-baby grow in my precious daughter-in-law's belly. The other day, Marcy had me and my sister feel her belly because the little one had hiccups. Joy ~ delight ~ treasures stored up in my heart ~ good stuff ~ great stuff ~ all mine for sharing or remembering on my own.

This life is a treasure even when we find the melted crayons that show up and make a mess of things. The question is, how will we react to their waxy greasy mess. Does "IT" become our focus or does the treasure that is found in the mess?

Jesus talks about treasures. He knows exactly what to do with them. And He defines the real ones. Jesus says this, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." (Matthew 6:19-21 NLT)

So what does He mean by treasures? We can't physically place items in our treasure box in heaven. That means, anything physical isn't what matters. What about people? We can touch and see people, does that mean they can't be in the treasure box? The people I love matter don't they?

These are all good questions, so let's examine them. It's easy to understand why things can't be an eternal treasure. The cars we buy we will eventually loose their shine. The clothes we just had to have, wear out and go out of style. The money we make is never enough. The food we eat and the liquid we drink ends up in the toilet ~ literally! We know this, or should know this, but we still pursue them. Jesus agrees and points us toward things eternal ~ treasures that will last forever ~ treasures that touch our hearts and point us towards Him.

Next,let's examine the people who are important in our lives. Why aren't they eternal treasures? Well, of course they are eternal, (their spirit and soul), but their physical bodies aren't. Each person dies and their bodies turn to dust. And yet, our society places great importance on the appearance of the physical body. Every magazine cover shows us what we SHOULD look like. Young is in, old is out. So we grab onto what we look like to others and judge the importance of others by what they look like to us.

Jesus doesn't want any part of that. He wasn't even good-looking. "There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to Him." (Isaiah 53:2 MSG) But, we know people were drawn to Him. They were drawn to the eternal part of Jesus. The eternal part of them was drawn to Him. His love, His care, His Words drew people to Him. That's the treasure He's talking about.

The treasure we find in others, is the spiritual "insides" of people. It's the gifts God has given to them and we have enjoyed. It's the comfort we've received ~ the joy we've shared ~ the delight we've had ~ those things we can store up in our treasure box in heaven.

There are spiritual treasures we have when we hear a good sermon ~ read in the Bible ~ learn in Bible Studies ~ say in prayer ~ playing music that helps us a we clean the house ~ found in the presence of a godly person leaving this earth ~ the miracle of birth ~ the joy of love ~ the hope of tomorrow ~ the music that soothes the broken soul. The list of treasures is as infinite as it is eternal.

"He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God." (Psalm 40:3 MSG)

The eternal treasure we want to store up are the ones that lead us to praise our God. He helps us with this by providing the song we sing. It's ours to sing and the more we sing, the more people will be attracted to what we have. They will, as the scripture says, "enter the mystery and abandon themselves to God."

Seeing and experiencing someone enter the mystery of God's love and abandon themselves to Him, is a wonderfully exciting treasure that sparkles and gives you chills. Oooooo... put that in your treasure box!

I've heard it said, "You can"t take a U-Haul to Heaven." This is so true. We won't need to pack a bag or worry about what we'll be doing when we get to heaven, because we have a King to hug and a treasure box to open. So let's start now storing up the eternal treasures that Jesus told us to store up ~ cause our mansion awaits and we have songs to sing to our Eternal King who loves us as His treasure.

It's time to clean house, to sort through the mess we've saved. Let go of the past, the hurt, the people, the shame, the what-ifs and the never-was. We need to ask Jesus to clean our house and put things in order. We must ask Him to stay and make His home within our hearts, because if we don't, the junk and lies will make their home there instead. It's time ~ store up God's treasures and leave the mess behind.

"Living an Extraordinary Ordinary Life"

No Oscar, Emmy or cover of People magazine can match what God has awarded me. I am living an extraordinary life. And guess what? You can be too, if you aren't already.

The Academy Awards, a.k.a. "The Oscars" was on the T.V. last Sunday evening. Of course I watched the red carpet interviews and the critiques of the gowns and tuxes the stars were wearing for this big event.

The Hollywood elite would step up to the mic and answer questions about their outfit and movie. Some would answer with a upbeat casual response, others would answer aloofly as if they wanted to be elsewhere. (Who knows their spanx, girdles or shoes may have been killing them). I've heard that stars will actually go through bowel cleansing so their stomachs will be flat and their attire will fit. But, I digress, my apologies.

As they vie for the place of honor in their trade, I began to think about how ordinary they all are underneath the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. They have needs and desires just like we do.

Inside the theatre awaits the trophy they all long for; a thin gold image of a faceless man with their name and accomplishment etched on a little plaque fixed below on the wooden base.

Well, what does all that have to do with living and extraordinary ordinary life? It just reminded me that we all have a desire for our "oscars" in life. We long to be appreciated and acknowledged. Somehow this need seems to give us reason to keep on going. Don't fool yourself if you think you don't need accolades. Everyone needs a good pat on the back or "ata boy or ata girl."

I remember when I was changing the diapers of my twins, getting up over and over in the night to feed them and rock them back to sleep so I could sleep. I'd get up the next day to do washing, cleaning and cooking, all the while feeling like I was never going to get back to living. I wondered if anyone was noticing.

Now, at 50, I ponder the "what-ifs." What if I had continued on with my nursing career...what if I had pursued music...what if I had been a better money manager...what if... The pondering just seems to screw me into the ground, each time I ask what if, cementing me in place. What if...one more pondering turn...what if...another haunting turn. Soon I can't move.

I am not alone. Those famous actors have their "what-ifs" too. Young adults are facing their "what-ifs" as they ponder the future. Young teens ponder the "what-ifs" in their budding relationships. Most of us ponder the "what-ifs" of our appearance, wealth, intelligence, or fame. The problem is that if these "what-ifs," if not coupled with a perfect plan and a perfect guide, will immobilize us, as they screw us further into the ground. What if...turn...what if...turn, turn...what if....

There is a plan ~ a perfect plan ~ a perfecting plan ~ a plan that continues throughout life. There is a guide ~ a perfect guide ~ a perfecting guide ~ a guide that continues throughout life and on into the next life. His name is Jesus. He has made a way where there is no way.

There is an award given to those who love Him. He's enamored with everyone who belongs to Him.

Jesus, the Creator of the universe, deemed me extraordinary when I was knitted together deep within my mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-14). So, why do I seek acknowledgement by anyone else? Why do I chase the proverbial "oscar" of life? Why do I think and ask the "what-ifs?"

So here's to the extraordinary ordinary life I have been awarded. Raise your glass with me and let's say thank you to the One who knows us best and loves us most ~ Jesus! Really nothing can compare.

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10


Be blessed my friend ~ be blessed.

"They Say"

"They say..." Who are "they?" They-sayers, always have the stats hidden behind the phrase, "they say." I'm guilty of using the phrase. I use it when I want to interject into a conversation. It makes me feel like I am contributing and kind of smart sounding. Hmmmmm, maybe not so much.

Here are some things I have heard recently from the benign to the ridiculous:

"They say we are going to have sun all week." That's a really good "they say" I think I'll hold on to.

"They say that the economy is slowly bouncing back." Good news which I receive into my noggin with a slight hesitation because I want it to bounce back quickly.

"They say that 40 is the new 30 and 50 is the new 60." If this is true, common logic would continue and they would say 100 is the new 90. Why can't we all just accept our age?

On and on and on the "they sayers" go. Interjecting and citing things that may or may not be true. Rumor upon rumor ~ back and forth ~ chitter-chatter. What is true? What may be true is just really interesting. Why do I listen? Why do I throw my "they say..." into a conversation? Why do I have to make myself look good and have the last say?

As a believer in Jesus, He calls me to listen to "He says" instead of "they say." Because He says it I know it is true. Here are some "He says" that thrill my heart and help me learn to be a better person:

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone (Jesus) in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.
Whoever believes need never be shaken. Isaiah 28:16

Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid!" Matthew 28:10a

There are so many words that came from our Lord's mouth that speak to those who choose to believe and trust Him with their lives. What is amazing is that we have it as close as a mouse click away at BibleGateway.com and other similar sites.

We, here in the U.S.A. are free to have as many bibles as we want. Those is China, Iran and other countries like them, hide as they read the Word of Jesus. These words are life to them and can spell death if they are caught with a Bible. Because we have free access, sometimes I think I take for granted that I can read the Bible whenever I want.

So as for being a "they-sayer," I am choosing now to listen to Him say words of life to me. His Word is my foundation and it is alway true and never failing. What about you? Will you continue to base your life on the "they say" heard daily?

Fun note: What are some "They say..." you have heard? What are some "He says..." that you base your life on?