Money

God tells us to manage what is entrusted to us, not matter how much or how little and to trust Him for the outcome.

How hard is that for you to do?

“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:12-13 ESV

Moon light

I must admit that I am a moon gazer. I love to see a big full moon. I enjoy trying to photograph the moon and I am amazed when I look at professional photos that some people take of the moon in various settings. 

Last week the full moon was so bright that the night time was illuminated and you could see things that you don't normally see at nighttime. It makes my heart happy. 

But in reality the moon has no light in and of itself. It is the light from the daytime sun reflecting off the earth. 

Jesus is the Light and He tells us that we are the light of the world, but what we really are is reflections of Jesus. 

Do you reflect Him enough to help light the darkness? 

Let your light shine. 

“"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Matthew 5:14 ESV

Lights

Christmas lights, do they make you just so happy?  

My dad used to string lights all across his living room ceiling. And when the Christmas tree came down, he left the lights up. He said he enjoyed them and they made him feel warm.

I understand. I enjoy my lights too. 

Apparently most people do. It seems that the stores sell a lot of lights this time of year. 

White lights can be found in homes almost year round.

Do you like them? Do you like white lights or colored?

Lights are attractive.

Jesus is the Light. He wants us to be light. The world needs to see His light in us. 

Does your light attract people? Do you shine your light all throughout the year? 

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16 ESV

PS: the boy in the picture is my grandson, Mason

Time is Short

One of the hardest things to understand is when a life is cut short.

The death of a child or young person seems to be completely unfair to our human minds.

We will never understand the mind of God. His ways are different than our ways. Yet He has all wisdom. 

God has given each of us our days. There is nothing that guarantees us a long, healthy life. 

We must use each day as an opportunity to live for Him, to serve Him and to fulfill His plan. 

Lord, help me to not waste my days in selfish indulgence. Show me an opportunity each day to share You with someone.

“Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.”

Psalms 139:16 NASB

Be Kind

Oh what a hurtful world in which we live.

People get joy from being rude and sarcastic. They seem to compete in their stories of how mean they were to someone. 

"Well you have to get them before they get you." Someone once told me.

Can you imagine Jesus with this attitude? No, neither can I.

He taught kindness and compassion toward others and even to those that many would never think to be kind or compassionate to.

Are you a kind person? Are you compassionate? Do you have a caring heart toward others?

Something to ponder. 

“What is desirable in a man is his kindness Prov. 19:22a

Count the cost

How many of you have a household budget? 

The concept is to help you keep track of your income and your outgo of your finances. And the purpose is to be balanced or spending less than you bring in.

The problem with budgeting is, there is often more month at the end of the money. This comes from lack of proper planning. 

We tend to fall into temptation of buying more than we need. 

Discipleship and stewardship are closely linked. To be a good steward of our money we have to be very disciplined with our spending.

And sadly, many will not tithe or give offerings when they are undisciplined in their spending. Some even make brash promises to God that IF He does ________________, they will give Him ___________.

Why don't they give God first and trust in His care? As a matter of fact the one and only time we are "invited" to put God to the test is with our giving. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:10 ESV)

Stewardship and Discipleship both bring many blessings.

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30 ESV)

Monument to failure

Not far from my home, along interstate 68 in Maryland, a replica of Noah's Ark is being built. It is going to be actual size and house a church and a gymnasium. It should be very impressive when completed. 

However, it was begun in 1976. It is well over 40 years and it is still just the partial framework.

The man building it is confident that he can convince the neighbors to donate the adjacent land that is needed and he is just as sure that all funding will be forthcoming.

However, locally, it is kind of a joke. 

Everyone mocks him just like the biblical Noah was mocked for believing that it would rain and flood the earth.

The steel structure seems to be, a giant monument to his failure to plan.

I do not know the true circumstances of his funding, or lack thereof. I do not know if the land rumors are true or false. But it does seem to me that it may forever just be a shell of what might have been.

Jesus was talking to his disciples and teaching them about, well, discipleship. He used the following verses as part of His teaching:

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30 ESV)

Makes me wonder about all the people that come into the faith without considering the cost. How many people want the faith without being willing to give up the world.

Many want God on Sunday and the world every other day. But God wants all of us. 

We all must "give up" certain things to follow Jesus. Is it worth it to you?

What on this earth could be more valuable and cherish able than our salvation? 

It's up to each of us, we must choose. Have you counted the cost, or are you building a giant monument of failure?