What's More Important Than Money?

We just received a *FREE* brown leather sectional couch that has a sofa sleeper and recliner. It's been years since I've had a new couch and my old sectional was no longer in the best shape. As my hubby put the old couch out in the garage, my mind started spinning with wonderful ideas. I can list our old couch on Craigs List and we can make some money off of it (it's in better shape than a lot of couches I've seen listed.) Along with the couch I have my kids old bunk beds I can also sell. As I started counting the dollars in my mind, trying to figure out the most money I could get for it, my hubby decided to rain on my parade. "Why do you want to sell everything? I think we should just give it away. We were blessed with a free couch, now we can bless someone else."

Gulp...ahummmm, "Well we don't have a lot of extra money and I figured it would help us get caught up," I quickly replied in my defense. He didn't say much else, but it continued to churn in my mind. I knew that it was the right thing to do. I mean, we'd been totally blessed with this awesome new couch, I now had the means in turn to bless someone else and what was my first natural human thought? MONEY!

How often do we think about money? Is there anything more important than money? If you look at your everyday life, how often are you thinking about money? (I don't have enough, I need more, how can I make more? Why do they have more? They got this and I didn't, I need to win the Lotto, etc...you know, just everyday thoughts.) We all know money is important, but how much importance are you giving it in relationship to your happiness? Do you know that with more money, comes a whole set of new problems (How do I keep my money? Who's trying to take my money? I need to make more money. Where should I invest my money? Am I managing my money right? The stocks are crashing, I'm losing my money! etc.) Do you get the picture? Life becomes an endless battle, pursuit and non-stop focus on MONEY. If we trust in ourselves and our human nature, the most important thing in this world is MONEY. When we live by this rule, we are in a perpetual state of stress, worry and uncertainty. We all need money but when money becomes the most important thing in your life, you are headed down a long, dark road to misery.

JESUS showed us the most important thing we can do is trust in Him and reach out to people; helping, sharing, caring and loving PEOPLE. The Lord is more than capable of supplying all your needs. Your needs do not necessarily mean an over abundance. Sometimes the Lord gives you "just enough." Just enough to be comfortable and then He will highlight people He wants you to share your "just enough," with. Sometimes it may seem like you don't even have "just enough" and yet He still asks you to share and give not only to bless others, but also to bless yourself. This strengthens your trust and faith in Him. Remember...everything you have is from Him.

As I cast aside my original idea and start searching for somewhere to donate my items, I find something strange happening. My focus is no longer on money, but on who will be blessed by this?  A single mom? A woman trying to start over after fleeing an abusive relationship? A family who lost everything? Kids who have been sleeping on the floor? The list is endless. I start to get excited with the possibility of who I can help. I'm someone who has "just enough," and can be a blessing.

What's more important than money? JESUS CHRIST. LOVE. PEOPLE.

"Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless." Ecclesiastes 5:10

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

"The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep." John 21:17

 

 

When Anger Strikes

story by: Lisa Petrarca

 

Yesterday I had an incident happen where I felt my “old” self rising up. The person that I thought I’d finally gotten under control over the years. To feel those old feelings get stirred up…anger, pride and a head full of vicious, hurtful words of attack, were surprising. My “old” ways and methods used to let people know “Don’t even THINK about messing with me or my family! You have no idea what you’re up against!” 

That was years ago...years of perfecting a tool of defense to keep others at a distance. But I’ve grown. I’ve changed. Since allowing Christ into my heart, I realized that I’m not alone. He is with me in all my struggles and battles. He began to soften and change my heart. As I started my day reading the Bible and praying, a noticeable change began to happen. It was slow, but obvious, the more I stayed in God’s word daily. I began to see people through Christ’s eyes and not my own. I actually began to pray each day to see others through HIS eyes. It’s amazing how faithful the Lord is to answer! Bitter, angry people who used to set me off, I started to have compassion for them as I saw their actions as that of a hurt, insecure, lost, broken child. WOW…it was a whole new concept! I actually felt bad for them. Instead of responding to their anger, I started responding with love and kindness. Love conquers all! It diffuses situations, people and the enemy.

Now, imagine my surprise to find myself falling back into my old ways. I was faced with a choice, I could respond with anger and harsh, stabbing words in return or I could pray and ask for God’s wisdom. I had a choice! I could take a moment and make the right decision rather than just react. I decided to ask for prayer from an online friend, who quickly asked me, “What would Jesus do?” At the moment, I wanted to take things into my own hands. I didn’t want to respond in a Christ-like way. I didn’t want to respond with love…I was mad! I had the perfect things all prepared to, “let them have it” right back and then some. But I chose to wait, pray, read some scriptures and listen to praise music. I needed help. I was battling my “old” self and that’s not easy! It’s easier to give in and justify my actions. I can always find reasons why I did, said or acted in a certain way. But God wants to change us, heal us, help us. He wants to give us wisdom, peace, comfort and love. So then we in turn can be an example and blessing to others. Learning to show Jesus through our actions; allowing His love to pour out onto others.

I’m happy to report to you that I was able to do what God wanted me to do. The conversation started out with a little bit of my old self trying to creep in, but as the conversation continued I remained calm and was able to diffuse the situation.  I responded in love, even coming up with an idea to help everyone involved get closer and work towards a common goal. The Lord faithfully stepped in because I took the time to ask for His help. He gave me the peace and wisdom to make things better instead of worse.

Today, if you find yourself in a battle, take a minute before you react. Go spend some time with the Lord alone. He will fill you up with wisdom, strength, and direction. You don’t have to react the way you used to. You have a choice…choose to change. God has BIG plans for you. Allow Him to help you grow!

“Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” Psalm 89:9

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 89:1

“ For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.” Isaiah 54:10

     

Hold On

Have you had times in your life when you feel like giving up? Things seem to just keep getting worse...you feel yourself slowly slipping into despair. The following story might help you realize that help is on the way...

Hold On

Author Unknown

Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His mother in the house was looking out the window saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal, and on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go.'

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic, but the scars of painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and will not - let you go.

"I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand." Isaiah 42:6
NIV

A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
1 Corinthians 7:15
NIV