On Greed

It's happening again.  I'm reading way too many blogs, which promote buying way too many products.  You need these items for a vignette, just some things you've picked up from spending countless hours scouring flea markets and antique stores.  This color is now in, and this lighting fixture.  You don't want your house to look dated, do you?

What's wrong with being dated, if you like that look?  Save your money.  Give it away.  There's nothing wrong with nice things, or buying things you can afford.  But where's your focus?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  Bu store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV version).

Where is your heart?  If you spend a lot of time looking at beautiful things, and then feeling like you have to have them, beware.  Change your focus. 

The Bible talks about money a lot.  Jesus said that the love of money is the root of all evil.  Envy is classified by Roman Catholics as one of the seven deadly sins.  When I envy I hyper-focus on that particular thing, person or lifestyle.  It takes my attention off of God and all the incredible blessings He has given me.  I forget to be grateful because I'm too busy yearning for what I don't have.

I sometimes think it would be nice to live a life like Martha Stewart.  No worries about money, buying anything she wants.  She has three houses and an apartment in Manhattan.  She had to build a storage building to house some of her many collections.  But with possessions comes responsibility to care for them.  The more you have, the greater the devastation should you lose them.  I wouldn't want those headaches.

Over and over again history shows us that people living beyond their means spells disaster.  The trick is finding that happy medium.

. . . give me neither poverty nor riches!  Give me just enough to satisfy my needs (Proverbs 30:8, NLT version) .

May satisfying our needs be enough.

On Blogging

I love blogs.  I like seeing how people somewhat similar to me, live, what they think and what they do.  I'm not sure how I discovered blogs, but I think it was after I had bought a c. 1875 Victorian workingman's cottage in 2005 and had questions concerning renovations.  Oh, what a wonderful world was opened to me!  I found other people who had old houses they were renovating, and gardens they were creating.  This is when the internet is really working at its best--finding community in the great big blogosphere and people sharing invaluable experience and resources.

I particularly like the fairy-tale, before-and-after, dramatic stories.  Hoarder houses, decrepit, rat-infested dumps restored to their former grandeur.  I like to see how the owners, decorate, entertain, cook and just generally "do life."  Most of them are very different than I, yet there's something I am attracted to in their story--their sense of style, or passion about gardening or cooking.  I just learn so darn much!

What I don't like are the bloggers that seem greedy.  Countless giveaways in order to attract sponsors for their blogs.  How do I then know if they're being honest regarding product reviews and recommendations?  Constant posts about this beautiful pillow or that to-die-for sofa.  All extremely high-priced.  Are there really people who spend $300 on a pillow?  Really?

The constant images give me diahrrea of the eyeballs.  I think it promotes envy, and greed.  I am a sucker for images of beautiful houses and gardens.  But it sometimes leads me to be dissatisfied with what I have.  And jealous of others' possessions.  How can they afford to renovate those bathrooms and kitchens?

It's then that I have to step back and think about how blessed I am.  That I have a 1560-square-foot house, more than I'd ever need.  Two beautiful gardens.  A brand new kitchen!  A peaceful, quiet neighborhood.  And the ability to take care of it and do some renovations myself, as well as the gardening.

I'll never have everything I want. If I keep pursuing what I think I want, it just begets more and more cravings, for things that ultimately cannot satisfy.  Because God has set eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  Eternity is a really long time.  Our true, real, final home is not here.  Why not focus on the important things, instead of $300 pillows. 

The cottage.

The front garden.

The back garden.

 

Unveiled

 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT)

Our church's women's retreat was led this year by Linda Strickland of Christian Healing Ministries.  I wanted to share Linda's challenges.

1. Stay in the Word, find community and get prayer.
2. Set God-sized goals.
3. Don't let fear dictate your decisions.
4. Stop repeating the past, start making a future and start playing to win.
5. Burn your sinful bridges.
6. Let Jesus have your shame.
7. Challenge old assumptions.
8. Become part of the solution.
9. Be yourself.
10. Quit making excuses, stop playing defense and play offense.
11. Quit playing it safe.

Our ultimate goal as Christians is the FINISH THE RACE, no matter how hard or long it is.   It's our own version of the Olympics.



There's quite a bit of athletic imagery in the New Testament (discussed here).

Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. (Phillipians 2:15 NLT)

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection.  But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.  No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing:  Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Phillipians 3:12-14 NLT)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (Hebrews 12:1 NLT)

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize?  So run to win!  All athletes are disciplined in their training.  They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.  So I run with purpose in every step.  I am not just shadowboxing.  I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.  Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT)

 And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. (2 Timothy 2:5 NLT)

I usually don't give up easily.  At least, in most things.  I think it's my stubbornness, which can really come in hand sometimes.  I don't give up on transforming my house and garden into the image I have in my mind.  I don't like to fail at things due to pride.  But I sure can give up easily in trying to change myself--my unhealthy habits, my judging people, being negative, you name it.  I forgot that I CAN'T change myself, only GOD can.  That's why he left us a Comforter (see John 16) who takes up residence INSIDE of us.  When we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the son God, sent to die for our sins so that we can have eternal life.  That's when we receive the Holy Spirit.  Except then we're expected to act like Him, which is the hardest part.  Again, WE can't do that.  The third person of the Trinity enables us to live a life of godliness. 

Comforter.  Helper.  Spirit of Christ.  Counselor.  Spirit of Grace.  Spirit of Truth.  Spirit of Life.  Oil of Joy.  Spirit of Power.  Spirit of Wisdom.  Spirit of Knowledge.

 

“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going.  Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you.  But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come.  If I do go away, then I will send him to you." (John 16:5-7 NLT)


"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.   In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

I'm Injured

The doctor said something about bone spurs on my shoulder.  He prescribed physical therapy.  I am grateful to God that it wasn't arthritis like I feared.  This will heal, I am sure.

It seems I never quite learn the lesson that I am not in control of my schedule.  It's not all about me (see The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren).  "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps" (Proverbs 16:9, NIT).  And I had so many--hosting Easter dinner, spring cleaning, finishing touches on my renovated kitchen, finishing an overhaul of my bathroom, cleaning my gardens.


But here I sit, all projects unfinished and on hold.  It's extremely difficult--the waiting, missing deadlines, wondering when I'll be feeling "normal" again.  And continue on with my busy little plans.  But God maybe had other plans.  I don't think God is mean and inflicts pain, disease and calamity on us for the fun of it.  But ". . . the Lord disciplines those he loves . . ." (Proverbs 3:12, NIV).  He will do whatever He needs to do to make us suitable for eternal life.


And what He needs to do in me is help me relinquish my control, or the belief that I am in control.  It's a hard lesson to learn.  I have my life so programmed that sometimes I feel that it's too much to make a telephone call to stay in touch with a friend.  My priorities need to change.  I need time for God, and people that I love.

It'll all get done--the cleaning, the gardening.  Just not on my timetable.

". . . Thy will be done . . ."  (Matthew 6:10, KJV).

The mess in the kitchen.