Saturday, Feb 23, 2008

February 23, 2008

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February 23, 2008
Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Jeremiah 51: 33-64; 2 Thessalonians 3

Today is Saturday. Today some of the youth will be taking a trip to the snow. If you missed taking your kids, you missed a great time. Today I have a premarital counseling session, music practice, and then Shapen and I are going to go to the fights together. Yesterday I worked all day on the message “7 deadly sins.” A message about the seriousness and reasoning behind why we should avoid a long list of vices. Ken called with news that he’d passed his first interview. Pray for his second one today. Wayne & Cathy came by to work out back! Thanks! I did music practice in the morning. And after work, I worked out. Then Susan and I spent a rare quiet evening together.

This week’s theme verse. Matthew 5:3-4 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

The rewards of those who follow the beatitudes are in contrast to those who do not. The average man and woman want happiness, but differ dramatically on how to get it. The proof is in the puddin’. You can tell what I believe by were I stash my treasure. I put my money where my mouth is. So, it would seem that many of us believe that having economic stability and things like nice homes and nice cars is one of our most important goals (not bad), except that for some it becomes such an obsession that “the kingdom of God” gets squeezed out in the process. We don’t have time for the kingdom because we are too busy making a living, furthering my career, or making some strategic move that will bring me closer to my goal. Many of us believe that “fun” is a most important goal, like camping – concerts – dinner parties – sports – recreation or entertainment (and many of them are “fun.”) The conflict comes in when “fun” gets a higher rating for our lives than does the “comfort” of the kingdom. We prove it when we make choices which leave the kingdom in second place, or third, or… Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and ALL THESE OTHER THINGS will be added unto you.”

Dear Father. I want to seek your kingdom before I seek mine. I know that you deserve the honor of being first place in my life. I want to give you my treasure and my future. I believe the kingdom is my future. I also want to put you first in all my choices, including the times when I must make decisions between fun and time with you and your people in your house. I want to show by my choices that you, Jesus, are my number one choice in life. With all the things that I could choose to do, I choose you first of all.

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