Emptied Treasures

Greetings, my friends.

I’ve wanted to write a post for a few days, but I wasn’t sure what to write about. Then, I came home this afternoon after worshiping with my church family, teaching Kids’ Crew, having lunch with friends, and visiting Mom & her dog. I remembered that I missed the sermon since I was back with kids, so I pulled up Facebook and forwarded to the sermon.

As I listened to Pastor Brynen, my mind often connected my lesson to the kids to his message to the older-than-kids. I thought I’d share those things with you.

Back in Crew, our lesson came from Mark 10. As we talked about it, I shared how Jesus wanted to let the children come to Him and He corrected the disciples. I pointed out that even though the disciples had been with Him as He preached and ministered….that they still had things to learn. Just like their parents, the pastors, and I do. We talked about what it meant to come to Jesus like a child and how children want to spend time with people and get to know them, how they have faith easier and learn easier. That we, as adults, can learn a lot from children. [Side Note: It was quite warm in the Crew Room, so this is a fair illustration. LOL]

Fast forward to the message I listened to from Pastor Brynen. He pointed out how scripture says we are God’s TREASURED POSSESSION even though we mess up a lot…and fail to have the faith we’re called to have. [Seems we still need to learn to have the faith of a child and a desire to build a real relationship.] As teachers (and preachers) do, he had two take-aways from the sermon. The first is that God loves you. All the time. Regardless of how awful we’ve been or how often we choose not to show our love to Him. Ahh, He’s a good and loving Father who love us. The second, He is with you always.

That first one, we hear a lot. I mean, that’s the first song that most of us learn in church. “Jesus love me, this I know…”

But, that second one, I think we lose sight of that truth. I mean, we acknowledge that He’s with us when we gather in our building to worship. He’s with us when we’re alone at home. Pastor Brynen added that He’s with you when you cuss out your co-worker and argue with family. Back in Crew, I would’ve added, “He’s with you when you talk back or disobey your parents.” During those moments of our selfish actions when our relationship with the One who created us has lost our focus, do we acknowledge that He’s there during those not-so-hot moments?

Here’s the truth of the matter. We are His treasures, but we let our life get so full of “stuff” (our ideas, our plans, and our desires) that we don’t have room for all He wants to pour into us. We are His treasured possession, but we need to be open to being emptied. I mean, the One who loves you more than anyone else does is surely going to fill you up with who He has created you to be. Serving Him. Being with Him. Loving Him.

This week, a group of 18 of our church family will be heading to New York to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the poor and homeless. Please pray for them. We’re all called to be His Hands and Feet to others, and even though we all could go on mission trips…we could also pray for avenues locally to be His Hands and Feet to others.

Perhaps, you can find your way to a local nursing home. Visit some friends you know, or…ask someone on staff for the name of a resident who doesn’t get visitors. Go be their reason to smile. It’s not hard. Most are filled with stories. Or would love to simply sing a hymn or two or have someone pray with them.

Perhaps, you can seek out your local Big Brothers & Big Sisters organization and commit to be the stability in the life of someone who may not have that in their life. I’ve had the privilege of being a Big to two girls over the past 20 years. I still interact with both girls on occasion.

Perhaps, you can look around your church or your neighborhood for a stay-at-home mom who could just benefit from conversation with an adult. Or extra hands to hold her baby or play with her son, so she can take a leisurely bath or squeeze in an afternoon nap?

There’s lots of ways to be His hands & feet. For some, that opportunity leads you to New York or Liberia (we have a team of four going there in July), but for others…you can be called to do likewise right next door.

Just be watching. Be open. and BE…in a relationship with the One who died for you & lives again. Be open to wherever He leads you. Because remember…He loves you…and He won’t send you solo. He’ll be with you every step of the way.

My friends, it’s not something we “have to” do, but it’s something we “get to” do. There’s a difference. It changes your whole attitude. it goes along with why I have my daily #gratitudelistofjodilea on my final Facebook post each night. It helps me look at my day and see what the good was. Not what I HAD to do, but what I GOT to do.

So…what will you GET to do tomorrow for the One who loves you, is always with you, and sees you as His treasured possession?