Be careful

““But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful!”

Deuteronomy 8:11-13 NLT -- http://bible.com/116/deu.8.11-13.nlt

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and these verses fit the season. We have plenty of stuff. My home is filled with abundance and our nation is in the exact same position. We are prosperous. You could say we are filthy rich. But when it comes down to it, we don't have it all. Many people miss the entire point of life. We focus so much on our jobs and our stuff that we forget the Lord. We disobey his commands and ignore his plan for our life just to acquire things. I am not exempt from this sinful thinking. Most of us have at least some of those thoughts, yes, even Christians. It's sad but true. We need to be careful that we don't get sucked into the drive for more things, wealth, possessions, and prosperity. I need to drive toward knowing you and your plan for me.

Dear Lord, forgive me for my selfishness. Forgive me for focusing on the wrongs things of life and not focusing on you and your plan. I truly love you lord. I want you to do,I ate my life. I want you to fill me with your spirit. Amen!

Most prized possession?

Some merciless people are trying to trap me, but I never turn my back on your teachings. They will always be my most prized possession and my source of joy. I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what. (Psalms 119:110-112 CEV)

I'm sure you can guess what my most prized possession is. It definitely is my motorcycle, until I read these beautiful verses out of the Contemporary English Version of the Bible. I've never thought of the teachings of Jesus as being a possession. But, I get it. They are definitely prized. They are the joy of my life. In my prayer time last night it just struck me, as it often does, how wonderfully blessed I am. I'm not talking about "thanks God for the motorcycle blessed", I'm talking about blessed that I have found favor in Gods eyes. It just seems like even when things are going bad, I always feel blessed. Even when things seem there darkest, I clearly see hope. Yes, the things of this life are also with me, but my joy goes way beyond stuff. I have a peace, joy, and hope that I just don't deserve. That's being blessed.

It is easy to think this life I have is all because of ME. I know it's not. I have done nothing without the power of Jesus Christ. Pride could well up inside me, but because I do know my sinful nature and that battle going on inside my mind. It is obvious to me who deserve the credit. It may not be that clear to those I see every day. That's why I need to share Christ. I don't want to take credit for my wonderful life when the creator of the universe deserves the credit. 

Thank you Lord for your great love. It's all about you!

I have a lot of stuff!

Psalm 49 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹² People, despite their wealth, do not endure;
   they are like the beasts that perish.
 ¹³ This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
   and of their followers, who approve their sayings.^[d]
14 They are like sheep and are destined to die;
   death will be their shepherd
   (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
   far from their princely mansions.
¹⁵ But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
   he will surely take me to himself.
¹⁶ Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
   when the splendor of their houses increases;
¹⁷ for they will take nothing with them when they die,
   their splendor will not descend with them.
¹⁸ Though while they live they count themselves blessed—
   and people praise you when you prosper—
¹⁹ they will join those who have gone before them,
   who will never again see the light of life.
 ²⁰ People who have wealth but lack understanding
   are like the beasts that perish.

In Garrett, Indiana I am one of the Rich. When it comes to the average person in my town, I have more than most. I have a lot of stuff. It may be hard for you to believe as an Educator I can be considered Rich. There are many people in this world who make more money than I do and have more things. But, all "riches" are relative to what they are compared to.

As a member of the "Garrett Elite" please do not be overawed by my wealth. As with all of us, I can't take a bit of it with me when I leave this Earth. When we die, our options are the same. We are either going to live in eternity at the feet of Jesus or we die a horrible death, sentenced to life apart from God. It doesn't matter what I have on Earth or what I leave behind. We will all be perfectly equal as we worship the King of Kings. If you are going to envy anything I have, envy the eternal life I have been promised. I have nothing in my possession and I have done nothing that will endure except my commitment to Jesus Christ. God doesn't look at the stuff in my house. God looks at the stuff of my Heart!

I have truly been blessed on this Earth. I don't deserve it. I did nothing of myself to acquire this wealth. It is all a gift of God. I praise him for all he has given and I promise not to think to highly of myself lest I forget my savior. It is he who gave the greatest possession I have ever had. He granted me Eternal life as a sacrifice of his own.