Back to School Prayer

By: Jenifer Metzger

All over the world students and faculty will be heading back to school in the coming days. This year my oldest grandchild begins school and I am so excited for him!

I'd like to invite you to join me in praying over children, teens, and young adults students, as well as all those who work in the school system in any capacity and homeschool families.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you for those headed back to school. Our children heading to elementary school, preteens heading to middle school, teens heading to high school, young adults heading off to college, those who work in the school system, and homeschool families. They all matter and we are thankful for each and every one.

We ask You right now for your hedge of protection to be around all of them. Keep Your guardian angels encamped around them and allow no harm to come to them. Stop any plans the enemy has for harm. Protect them physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

I pray, Lord, for students of all ages. As they learn, help them to retain. When things get hard, give them the strength and desire to press on. Let this be a successful year as they learn and grow.

I pray for those who work in the schools. As they prepare lessons, organize events, clean buildings, or whatever they may be called to do, give them wisdom. Help them to be gentle and patient with those they are teaching or guiding. Allow them to get good sleep at night and wake each morning ready for a new day.

Lord, help all those heading into the schools -children and adults alike- to be includers. Help them to reach out to the friendless and be a friend. Help them to stand up for the one who is different. Help them to always have a smile ready to show and a kind word ready to speak.

I pray for the homeschool mamas who work just as hard as those in the brick and mortar buildings. As they care for their families and homes, do the chores, and teach their children, strengthen them. Sustain them. Help them to find their support village and be a support for others.

And last, we pray for the believers heading to school. Help them to boldly stand up for You. Unashamed and ready to share the Gospel of Jesus. Help them not to waiver in their faith but to stand with feet firmly planted in You.

We pray all of this in Jesus name, amen.

Back to School Prayer

By: Jenifer Metzger

All over the world students and faculty will be heading back to school. I've even heard of some who started this week.

I'd like to invite you in praying over children, teens, and young adults students, as well as all those who work in the school system in any capacity and homeschool families.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you for those headed back to school. Our children heading to elementary school, preteens heading to middle school, teens heading to high school, young adults heading off to college, those who work in the school system, and homeschool families. They all matter and we are thankful for each and every one.

We ask You right now for your hedge of protection to be around all of them. Keep Your guardian angels encamped around them and allow no harm to come to them. Stop any plans the enemy has for harm. Protect them physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

I pray, Lord, for students of all ages. As they learn, help them to retain. When things get hard, give them the strength and desire to press on. Let this be a successful year as they learn and grow.

I pray for those who work in the schools. As they prepare lessons, organize events, clean buildings, or whatever they may be called to do, give them wisdom. Help them to be gentle and patient with those they are teaching or guiding. Allow them to get good sleep at night and wake each morning ready for a new day.

Lord, help all those heading into the schools -children and adults alike- to be includers. Help them to reach out to the friendless and be a friend. Help them to stand up for the one who is different. Help them to always have a smile ready to show and a kind word ready to speak.

I pray for the homeschool mamas who work just as hard as those in the brick and mortar buildings. As they care for their families and homes, do the chores, and teach their children, strengthen them. Sustain them. Help them to find their support village and be a support for others.

And last, we pray for the believers heading to school. Help them to boldly stand up for You. Unashamed and ready to share the Gospel of Jesus. Help them not to waiver in their faith but to stand with feet firmly planted in You.

We pray all of this in Jesus name, amen.

A Back to School Prayer for All

By: Jenifer Metzger

All over the world students and faculty are headed back to school. Please join me in praying over children, teens, and young adults students, as well as all those who work in the school system in any capacity.

Father,

We thank you for those headed back to school. Our children heading to elementary school, preteens heading to middle school, teens heading to high school, young adults heading off to college, and those who work in the school system. They all matter and we are thankful for each and every one.

We ask You right now for your hedge of protection to be around all of them. Keep Your guardian angels encamped around them and allow no harm to come to them. Stop any plans the enemy has for harm. Protect them physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

I pray, Lord, for students of all ages. As they learn, help them to retain. When things get hard, give them the strength and desire to press on. Let this be a successful year as they learn and grow.

I pray for those who work in the schools. As they prepare lessons, organize events, clean buildings, or whatever they may be called to do, give them wisdom. Help them to be gentle and patient with those they are teaching or guiding. Allow them to get good sleep at night and wake each morning ready for a new day.

Lord, help all those heading into the schools -children and adults alike- to be includers. Help them to reach out to the friendless and be a friend. Help them to stand up for the one who is different. Help them to always have a smile ready to show and a kind word ready to speak.

I pray for the homeschool mamas who work just as hard as those in the brick and mortar buildings. As they care for their families and homes, do the chores, and teach their children, strengthen them. Sustain them. Help them to find their support village and be a support for others.

And last, we pray for the believers heading to school. Help them to boldly stand up for You. Unashamed and ready to share the Gospel of Jesus. Help them not to waiver in their faith but to stand with feet firmly planted in You.

We pray all of this in Jesus name, amen.

Comparison, FOMO, and Discontentment

 By: Lauren Thomas

What do comparison, FOMO, and discontentment have in common?

 

You’re scrolling on social media, comparing yourself to celebrities and influencers. You have major FOMO when you see posts of friends and their perfect summers. You feel discontentment when you think about what a great [fill in the blank] your friend has.

 

Comparison, FOMO, and discontentment are all socially acceptable names for something that is unacceptable to God.

 

Covetousness.

 

We don’t hear that word often, do we?

 

“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”

Exodus 20:17 ESV

 

The tenth commandment deals with coveting. But this commandment seems to get the least attention.

 

Jesus tells us in Luke 12:5 to guard against covetousness and reminds us that life is more than possessions. Colossians 3:5 goes so far as to call covetousness idolatry, while exhorting us to put it to death!

 

Coveting is a very real temptation, but we can do something about it!

 

Action steps for overcoming covetousness (also known as jealousy or envy):

1. Repent. Confess your sin to Jesus and turn from it. See 1 John 1:9.
2. Practice gratitude. When you begin to feel jealous, list all the things in your life that deserve your gratitude.
3. Celebrate the person or the thing that you are tempted to envy. Romans 13:9 says that the tenth commandment and others are summed up in this one commandment: love your neighbor as yourself. Are we loving our neighbor if we envy her? Compliment her. Express excitement for her blessings. Congratulate her wins.
4. Steward what you have. The grass isn’t greener on the other side, it’s greener where you water it. Do you feel jealous of your friend’s big, new house? Clean yours. Organize yours. Take care of what’s yours and watch it begin to flourish.

Covetousness is a sin acceptable in the world, but let’s not let it be part of our Christian communities. Let’s put it do death as we practice repentance, gratitude, celebration, and stewardship.

 

Reflection:

When was the last time you felt envy/jealousy? How often do you experience these emotions? What can you do to change that? Which of the above action steps will you try next time you are tempted to covet?

Letting Go of Mother's Day Expectations

By: Jenifer Metzger

In the week leading up to Mother's Day, I always see countless memes making rounds on social media that all center around what moms want. Included are things like sleeping all day, breakfast in bed, staying in jammies in the house alone while watching movies, a clean house cleaned by someone other than you, and spa days. Yet the reality is, that probably won't happen for very many of us. After all, Mother's Day is on a Sunday (Seriously! I vote we move Mother's Day and Father's Day to Saturdays! Who's with me?).

Your day will probably go something more like: wake up super early, get ready for church, rush to get the kids ready for church, something will go wrong because it always does on Sunday morning, then run late for church despite your best effort to be on time. Lounging around probably won't happen. Then you'll probably miss your Sunday nap in order to spend time with the family. A clean house? Probably not because really, who's house stays clean through the busyness of Sundays! And the spa day or other expensive gifts? That might not happen either.

Maybe Mother's Day is always hard for you. Gathering with family can sometimes lead to a disagreement with a relative, kids still fight on Mother's Day, and sometimes we feel the disappointment of not getting the gift you hope for or you feel like your husband just doesn't understand Mother's Day.

Your husband and gift giving.

Your husband can't read your mind even one tiny bit. Those hints dropped via memes or ads on Facebook, he probably won't catch. If there is something you really want or need, tell him directly. Be clear.

Sometimes we want extravagant gifts, like jewelry, a new name brand handbag, or a spa day. While he may desire to give that gift to you, maybe it is not in the budget. Don't stress him out worrying how he is going to afford the gift of your dreams. Let him off the hook a bit.

If you receive a gift that leaves you wondering why he thought that was a good Mother's Day gift, think back. Have you ever said you wanted this item? Have you ever expressed any interest? In his mind he possibly thought he was honoring you with a great gift. One year my husband gifted me a large skillet. This thing is huge! People thought it was an odd gift, but the truth is, I had mentioned several times how awesome it would be to have a skillet that size. He remembered that and got one for me. I love it because he remembered something I truly wanted and needed.

Your children and gift giving.

Your precious little ones will probably make you a handmade card full of misspelled words and grade school artistry. You might receive a bouquet of dandelions. And you'll likely receive a hug with an enthusiastic "Happy Mother's Day mommy!" These gifts remind me of the widow's mite in Luke 21. The rich men came to the temple to give their offerings. They put in large sums of money. But the thing is, because they were rich, these large sums of money were nothing to them. They weren't sacrificing anything. Then a widow comes and puts in a few small coins. Nothing compared to the offerings of the rich men. Yet her offering was honored far more because she was very poor and gave everything she had. Your little one is giving you a hug and a smile which might not seem like a lot compared to a gift bag filled with an expensive gift, but she is giving you everything she has, herself.

The gift of family and love.

Literally every single Mother's Day my husband and I go to bed at night and he apologizes that my day wasn't special. Every year. Now here's the thing. Our Mother's Day is always beautiful. When the kids were younger, he would get me a small gift from him and the kids and the kids made me cards. Now that my kids are adults, they normally work together to organize a nice gift for me and we have a family lunch. It's a crazy busy day and there's not always a lot of gift exchanging. But there is a ton of family and love. And that is what makes it special. So every year my answer to my husband is the same, "I loved my Mother's Day. I was with my family and that is all that matters."

If we never get another Mother's Day gift, friends, that would be okay. It's not really about the gifts. It's all about family. It's all about love. I promise if you ask a woman who no longer has her mother here with her or who has lost a child, she would far more want her loved one back than any expensive gift, clean home, or spa day.

Don't be disappointed or let down. Don't be discouraged or feel unappreciated. Cherish what you do have. Enjoy those moments with your loved ones.

Discussion:
1. How do you normally spend Mother's Day?
2. What is a favorite gift you have given or received for Mother's Day?

Fall Bucket List for Christian Families who Don’t Celebrate Halloween

By: Paula Short

" As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night." Genesis 8:22 — NLT

Autumn is a beautiful time of year, full of crisp air, colorful leaves, and cozy sweaters. It's also a time for family traditions and fun activities. But if you're a Christian family who doesn't celebrate Halloween, you may be wondering what to do with your fall bucket list. It can be tough to find fall-themed activities that align with their values. But don't worry, there are plenty of fun and meaningful things you can do as a family during this season.

Here are some ideas for your fall bucket list:

1. Go apple-picking: This is a classic fall activity that the whole family can enjoy. Find an apple orchard near you and spend the afternoon picking apples, playing games, and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
2. Visit a pumpkin patch: Although you may not be carving pumpkins for Halloween, visiting a pumpkin patch is still a fun fall activity. You can use the pumpkins for decoration, baking, or even painting them with uplifting messages and Bible verses.
3. Have a bonfire: Gather around a warm bonfire with your family and friends. You can roast marshmallows, make s'mores, and enjoy each other's company while sharing stories and testimonies.
4. Have a fall festival at home. If you don't want to go out, you can have your own fall festival at home. Invite your friends and family over for food, games, and activities like pumpkin carving, face painting, and apple bobbing.
5. Host a fall-themed game night: Invite some friends over for a fun game night with a fall twist. You can play games like "Fall Bingo" or "Name that Leaf" to get into the fall spirit.
6. Bake fall treats. Fall is a great time to bake all of your favorite treats, like pumpkin pie, apple cider cookies, and cinnamon rolls. Get the whole family involved in the baking process and enjoy your delicious creations together.
7. Visit a corn maze. Corn mazes are a fun fall activity for all ages. Get lost in the maze and try to find your way out. Many corn mazes also have other activities like pumpkin carving and hayrides.
8. Volunteer in your community. There are many ways to volunteer in your community in the fall. You could help out at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or animal shelter. You can also organize a donation drive for items like warm clothes, blankets, or canned food.
9. Watch faith-based movies: Gather your family and watch some faith-based movies that align with the fall season. Some great options are "God's Not Dead," "War Room," or "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood."
10. Go to a football game. Football season is in full swing in the fall. Take the family to a high school, college, or professional football game
11. Attend a fall festival. Many communities have fall festivals with food, games, and activities for all ages. Check your local calendar to find a fall festival near you.

Let's Reflect

There are plenty of fun and meaningful things you can do as a family during the fall season, even if you don't celebrate Halloween. Use this time to connect with your loved ones, appreciate nature, and give thanks to God for all His blessings.

 

A Heart of Wisdom to Manage My Days

By: Lauren Thomas 

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all the choices and opportunities swirling around me asking for my time. There’s obviously the housekeeping, the childrearing, the churchgoing and serving. But which books should I read? What social events do I RSVP to? What hobbies could I take up? How should I allot my time to all the various demands? And in these moments where I feel paralyzed by possibilities, I pray these words:
 

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 (ESV)

 
This verse is from a Psalm by Moses, and in my Bible, it is found beneath the heading, “From Everlasting to Everlasting.” How fitting. God is eternal. I am finite. How do I organize my finite days to get a heart of wisdom? And what would that heart of wisdom teach me about managing my time? 
 

Here are three ideas:

1) Create a mission statement. A mission statement isn’t only for businesses and organizations. A mission statement can help us determine what things are worth our time and energy. It can help us clarify what may or may not help us achieve our goals. 

2) The importance/urgency matrix. Imagine a four-quadrant grid. The lines that separate the four quadrants represent low to high importance, and low to high urgency. You end up with four boxes with these designations: 

• high importance, high urgency
• high importance, low urgency
• low importance, high urgency
• low importance, low urgency

If something is important and urgent, take care of it immediately. If something is important, but not urgent, make a plan for tackling it another time. If something is not important, but is urgent, ask yourself if you can find help with it or delegate it (i.e., could my spouse help with it, or a friend, etc.). And if it is not important and not urgent, are you willing to eliminate it (i.e., scrolling on your phone)?

3) And of course, let prayer cover it all. Sometimes I might think something is important, but once I devote it to prayer, I see that my perspective was wrong. And other times, something that I thought wasn’t urgent suddenly becomes urgent if I allow the Holy Spirit to convict me about it. 

 
Reflection:
How do you effectively manage your time?
Has this post sparked any ideas you would like to try?

 

HALTing for Holiness

By: Lauren Thomas 

Have you ever been so tired that it hurt?  

At a formative age, a mentor taught me two helpful things that went hand-in-hand. First, the acronym HALT, and second, that sometimes the holiest thing you can do is take a nap.

 

What’s so holy about napping? For starters, Jesus napped. And that has significance:

 

²² One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, ²³ and as they sailed he fell asleep.

Luke 8:22-23a (ESV)

 

We see moments throughout the Gospels where Jesus “rested.” This is significant because it demonstrates His humanity. It is human to get tired and need rest. It’s not sinful to need rest; it’s just a fact of being human. A basic human need is sleep, rest.

 

When we aren’t rested, we aren’t at our best. The acronym HALT stands for “hungry, angry, lonely, tired.” We should “halt,” or stop, whenever one or more of these words describe us. Our brains do not function well when we are tired. We can make poor decisions when we are tired. We can be unkind and unpleasant when we are tired. 

 

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah was tired, hungry, depressed, and arguably suicidal. God sent an angel to him with instructions to eat and lay down. God understands our human need for rest. He created us and therefore knows the vital importance of these basic needs being met. 

 

So how is HALTing holy? When our basic human needs are met, it becomes much simpler to serve God and others. We can be better disciples, friends, servants when we are rested. Choosing to HALT is correlated to choosing holiness. HALTing puts us in a position to choose holiness. Read this passage with the idea of HALTing for holiness in mind:

 

¹³ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵ but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:13-16 (ESV)

 

Being “prepared for action,” “sober-minded,” “hopeful,” and “obedient” is just easier when we are rested. 

 

No matter how well we organize our lives, we may still need to nap from time to time. Maybe you had to get up with a baby through the night. Or maybe you had to study late and get up early for an exam. Or perhaps you stayed out late to serve at a church event. So take the nap. Rest up. And become better equipped to do all that God has called you to do.

 

Reflection:

Do you have trouble justifying or validating your human needs?

How could choosing to HALT help you choose holiness?

When the Unexpected Happens

 

By: Donna Bucher

Let's face it, regardless of how well we plan, anticipate, or organize our days, we meet with the unexpected. Some of the unexpected we encounter are mere irritations like waiting longer for a medical appointment, a change in workflow, or having an outdoor event rained out.

But what about those unexpected plot twists that literally knock the wind out of you?

Like a sudden job loss, disconcerting news about a loved one, or a sudden illness?

 

Join me as I share five biblical truths to which you can cling, when the unexpected has you in a tailspin. Know this: God is never shaken by the unexpected because He knows the beginning, middle, and end of your story.

Not even the devil throws Him a curve ball, because He already knows everything concerning you.

 

God knows the best place for you in this hard place.

"He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." Psalm 18:16-19

 

"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." Psalm 27:5

 

God provides grace and strength to bring me through this situation.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

 

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."

Psalm 46:1-3

 

God hears my prayers.

"In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears." Psalm 18:6

 

"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

 

God has done marvelous things in the past and will do it again.

"I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old, Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people." Psalm 77:11,14

 

"Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." Psalm 40:5

 

God has a plan and purpose for everything happening in our lives.

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way." Psalm 37:23

 

"The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands." Psalm 138:8

 

I pray these biblical truths encourage you today or whenever you feel blind-sided by an unexpected turn of events. God is the Divine Author of your story; He wastes nothing and redeems everything, even the unexpected trials and challenges we face every day. And the best part? He never leaves you nor forsakes you, (Joshua 1:5) but remains with you through it all!

 

What is your initial response to the unexpected in your day or life?

 

Which biblical truth brings you the most comfort?

 

Find more encouragement and FREE Resources at Serenity in Suffering!

 

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Spring Cleaning our Hearts

By: Melanie 

It's nearing spring which means it's my favorite time of year! It's time for spring cleaning! I absolutely love organizing -- reaching back into the dark recesses of my messy closet, pulling out all of the forgotten items, carefully selecting which items to keep or donate, and then putting the simplified closet back together in a neat, orderly manner.

When my label-maker comes up, then you know I'm definitely in my happy place.

I'll even make plans for what to clean and a "to do" list for all of the areas I want to make sure to clean out and organize.

As I was thinking about spring cleaning this year, it dawned on me that what I really need to spring clean is my heart. Life has been busy, and in the chaos, my heart has started to resemble the disarray and clutter of my closet. 

How does one go about spring cleaning their heart? I think we tackle it like we would our closets... by following these steps: 

Pull Everything Out of Hiding

Just like reaching back into the dark recesses of our closets, we must reach deep within our hearts to those dark places that we would rather forget. What do we find there? Hidden sin -- check. Old grudges - check. Jealousy and envy -- check, check.

Sometimes we forget about these little sins and think they're no big deal. We think we have them all under control and that our sins are certainly not as bad as "other" people. 

However, after pulling them out of hiding, we remember that all of us have sinned. We are all in need of a Savior.

Let's all take a moment after pulling out these hidden sins to talk with God about them, confess our sins, and believe that He will forgive us.

Which to Keep? Which to Trash?

Next, after examining our hearts, I think we need to take a moment to decide what parts of our lives to keep and which needs to go into the trash. 

Are there any habits that strengthen your relationship with God, like daily Bible reading and prayer? Keep those habits for sure! Place those habits on a high priority shelf in your heart so that you will be reminded to do them each day.

Likewise, are there any habits that weaken your relationship with God? When you find those, simply acknowledge that those habits are not serving you and trash them! Anything separating you from God's love is not worth keeping!

Put it all Together with Joy!

Now that you've separated which habits to keep and which to toss, think of your ideal relationship with God. What does that look like? Perhaps you feel the nudge to get involved in your local church or start singing in the worship choir. I encourage you to take this opportunity to put together a list and pursue it with joy! 

Spring cleaning our hearts can be an exciting time to revitalize our relationships with God and to pursue Him more. What other ideas would you add to the list?

Life Does Not Consist in the Abundance of Possessions

by Elizabeth Stewart

I love beautiful things-I love all of the pretty things for my home and all of the pretty clothes, shoes and purses. When I was a child, I flipped through the glossy pages of the catalogs that came in our mail from Sears and Montgomery Wards and JCPenney's, dreaming about and wishing for all the pretty things. Oh, how simple and innocent those days seem compared to the present. Now, I am bombarded with a constant display of all the pretty things on my Facebook and Instagram feeds, through the way Amazon seems to read my mind with their pop-up ads and through the social media influencers who take me along on their shopping trips and online try-on sessions and tell me that I MUST GET TO TARGET RIGHT NOW OR I'LL MISS OUT ON ALL THE PRETTY THINGS.

On the other hand, on those same social media platforms, I see an opposite trend happening-the opposing trend away from excess toward minimalism. I look at the media feeds of minimalists and I love the peaceful, clean, organized surroundings I see and the clean closets with their simple capsule wardrobes. I begin to long for more simplicity.

The scripture above from Luke chapter twelve is in the context of a parable that Jesus told about a rich man who lived his life on a quest for more and more. He had to build more storehouses in order to house all of his stuff. It reminds me of the numerous new storage facilities springing up in our city. When our houses and garages and backyard storage sheds can no longer store our possessions we can now rent more and more and more storage space for our more and more and more stuff. Jesus brought the parable to a close with a hard dose of reality. Jesus said that the rich man was going to die that very night and then Jesus asked, "...all the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" It reminds me of going through the possessions of my in-laws after they passed away. They had accumulated so much stuff, so many pretty things, but most of it ended up being donated or taken to the garbage dump. Times and tastes change and there were very few of their things that their descendants wanted to hold onto.

The other day I was home all day while waiting for a service visit from the gas company. I used the time at home to do some pre-holiday deep cleaning. As I cleaned, I gathered some things I no longer wanted or needed to donate to the Salvation Army. As I did, I had a bit of epiphany. I got the same feeling of temporary excitement when I got rid of some of those pretty things that I used to love as I get when I find a new pretty thing to buy. What a weirdly vicious cycle that is! I buy some new trinket and am excited about it for a little while until I no longer love it, then I get excited about getting rid of it. Why? Is it so I can make room for more new stuff? The cycle goes on and on....

In The Message Bible version of this parable, Jesus brings the parable to a conclusion saying, “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.” My heart's longing for all the pretty things should be a prompt to ask myself where this longing comes from. Am I trying to fill up some inner lack with more stuff? Am I bored? Am I lonely? Am I trying to compete with others? My longing for more simplicity and less stuff should also be a prompt for some self-evaluation. The truth is that possessions do not equal happiness and in the depths of my innermost being I know that.

We are seven weeks away from Christmas. In truth, more than at any other time of the year we will be bombarded with the temptation to overindulge our appetite for things. It's a good time to remind ourselves of the truth of this verse. "...the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. 2 Corinthians 4:18 AMPC  Temporal things will only give us temporary joy, and may, in fact, become a burden as we have to clean, repair, organize and store our accumulation of stuff. But, focusing on the things of eternal value, focusing on our relationship with God, brings deep and abiding joy-a blessing with no sorrow added to it.

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