Do you ever just need to post but don't want the whole world to know what you are thinking?
Do you ever just have a huge pile of treasures in the midst of horribleness that you are thankful for?
That is where I find myself today.
Somewhere between needing to go to "Wally World", doing laundry and just not moving/thinking. And just needing to express myself.
I have just finished reading Debbie Macomber's book One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity. The last chapter is devoted to her not having the last word but quotes from the Bible. The part I have camped out on this week Matthew 6.
Do you do that? Just camp out on a few verses? Reading them again and again over several weeks or even months. Sometimes it's like I am a slow learner and just take forever to get it, and sometimes I just keep gleening so much out of it that I don't want to leave it for fear of missing some huge nugget of truth that I need right now!
So I have been camping on the 13th verse. Here it is in the Message version:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best-- as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others
Keep us safe from ourselves and the devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Today when I read it again it just spoke to me right where I am.
When I break it down WOW! Every line meets my needs for today.
Then when I read it in context of the whole chapter I found the stockpile treasure in heaven phrase! Debbie in her book even busts the myth that you can't take it with you. You can, those treasures you are storing up, those people you are taking with you.
funny thing is I picked up her book at the library thinking it was her newest work of fiction. I was so excited that our church had it. I curled up ready for my newest find of fiction to find that I had picked up a "real book". I couldn't put it down! I had to go buy my own copy! From me to me for mother's day. :)
I am so thankful for that treasure!
While this week was rough for many reasons I am so thankful for the treasures stockpiled with my praying friends, treasures of praying with a hurting family, treasures of verses being the encouraging word of the day on just the right day (thanks KLOVE!!), treasures of a friend sharing their quiet time learnings with me, treasures of songs and verses skipping through my head. :)
