This morning I read Evie’s blog post and then right after I opened my daily devotions…
From Evie’s post:
“The moment I knew we were supposed to move in the little, rundown, ugly 750 sq. foot house, I immediately began a dialogue in my head of all the reasons why we couldn’t, shouldn’t, and why I just plain didn’t want to.”
From my devotions:
“To hoard wealth is foolish, for it is genuine faith, not gold, that will sustain us through trials and result in praise, honor, and glory to God.”
From Jesus:
“You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” – Luke 18:22
God is timely isn’t he? In this blogging/pinterest/facebook world, it is so easy to get caught up with what we HAVE; accumulating more and more, storing up possessions and showing them off. I’m as guilty (or more) as the next person. That doesn’t mean I can’t like and have pretty things but if accumulating becomes the goal in my life, it will prevent me from relying on the Lord. God cares about where my heart is, if my heart with with my earthly treasures, it is not with Him. Such a challenge for me to really look at my heart, my motives, my stuff, and what I spend my time and energy on. I want my treasure to be stored up in heaven by serving God, not money!
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21
“Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” – Luke 12:15
Book recommendation…Seven: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker. It has helped me evaluate my motives and heart toward a lot of things. Plus it’s funny, entertaining to read, and severely challenging.
Thank you so much for this, kelly. This is always a wonderful reminder.
Great reminder. It is easy to become envious or feel like you need “stuff” to show off in this blog world.
Kelly, I love the devotional posts you’ve had lately. They keep me accountable. Please keep them up:)
Do you use a specific devotional book?
lauren
I love this post. You summed this all together beautifully. I feel this way a lot of the time and it’s a conversation my husband and I constantly. ‘How can so and so afford that?’ ‘Why don’t we have those things?’ Thank you for this 🙂
Oh! i love this!!! so beautiful…and your picture too! 🙂
It’s amazing how God is using internet strangers to repeatedly encourage me this week. I’ve been struggling over what I feel he’s calling me to do because it doesn’t make ANY sense at all. I mean…I’m almost 30, I have student loans to pay off, my husband & I just bought a new car, we have a mortgage. Leaving my full-time job in order to be an intern/volunteer is crazy! I’ve been fighting the idea for 2 months and finally shared it with my husband on Sunday night. He didn’t tell me that I’m crazy (even though I know he worries about providing for us the way he thinks he should) he simply prayed about it. The very next day I read this blog (http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2012/08/1232-total-for-all-three.html) and was reminded to have faith. Today I was blessed to read your words and was renewed again. I don’t want my life to be about things. Don’t get me wrong, I love things but what I really want is to love people and show them that they are loved by God.
Kelly, God totally used your blog to speak to me today: http://jbwelzel.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-home.html. So amazing, and thank you!
{Bobbi}
Your post are such a breath of fresh air. They seem to be coinsiding with what is going on with me as well. Thanks for the reminder that “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21. I need it oh too often!