Tuesday, September 17, 2013

His Possessions Were Not His Own

Acts 4:32

Dear Heavenly Father,

I remember when my husband and I were just a few weeks away from being married and we got the keys to what would be our first home together.  It was a less than 1,000 square foot little triplex home that was as cute as a button.  Looking back I remember thinking that there is no way we are gonna be able to fill that place.  We had the bare essentials like a bed, dresser, dinning room table, couch, and TV, but nothing more.  There were definitely no decorations.  I was coming from living with my parents where my mom might as well of been a professional home decorator.  She had the old Americana theme in their house and every room had the perfect decor with even certain decorations that she rotated depending on the season.  I thought for sure that it would take years....decades even to collaborate that much stuff.  I figured we needed to get used to plain walls and lots of wide open spaces, but boy was I wrong.  We only lived in that triplex for three months before buying our first home and when we went to move I was amazed at how much stuff we had accumulated.  Now, four years later in our own home, with two kids, I am constantly trying to find creative ways to organize all of our stuff.  But as I sit here in the quiet of our home and look around to all that we have I am reminded that none of this is mine.

"Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of his possessions were his own, but instead help everything in common."  Acts 4:32

Everything is Yours, Lord.  Everything that sits in our home.  Everything that sits in our yard outside.  Everything that is said to be in my name is Yours.  Although, it is very easy to look at it all as mine, and want to keep it for myself, that is the wrong attitude to have.  So many times I have withheld from someone because I believed I deserved it more than them.  I worked for it, and I took care of it, so I deserve it.  If I would've looked at the money in my pocket as Yours, Lord, instead of mine then maybe I would've been more willing to help someone in need.  I don't know why I cling so tightly to "my things."  There isn't going to be a place for them when I get to heaven, anyway.

I heard a story of a man who was old in age and about to die.  He told his wife to put all his gold into a bag and hang it in the attic.  His thinking was that when he dies his spirit can grab the bag on the way to heaven.  Well, the old man passed away not long after his wife had done what he had asked of her.  After his funeral the wife remembered the bag of gold in the attic and she went to see if it was still there.  As she opened the door to the attic and peaked in she saw the bag of gold still hanging there.

"I knew I should've hung it in the basement," she thought.

All kidding aside, I know that my possessions on earth cannot go to heaven and they mean nothing in heaven.  So then why do I continue to collect more and more things and yet give less and less. 

It seems to be getting increasingly harder, Lord, to give the more kids we get.  I find myself wanting my children to have it all.  I don't want them to miss out on a thing so at times when we don't necessarily have the money I am still out buying them a new outfit, or getting them a new educational toy to do in homeschooling.  But looking back on my childhood it's not the things that I remember, its the memories of the time spent with my family. 

I had no idea if I was dressed to impressed as a kid.  I always had plenty of presents at birthdays and Christmas' even though, looking back, we were quite poor.  But it wasn't the toys that I remember.  No...I remember the days we would go outside and build a snowman in the snow.  I would remember helping mom bake a cake and then getting to lick the bowel when we were done.  I remember eating dinner together every night, and going to church together every Sunday.  I remember dad throwing me into bed at night and singing to me in the morning to wake me up.  I remember playing wiffle ball with my brothers outside and playing balloon ball inside.  I remember mom taking us to the pool in the summer, and cramming into dads small truck to go to school in the winter.  I remember all the wonderful things we did as a family, but I could not tell You what I got for Christmas when I was 10 years old....or 11....or 12.  I have no idea and that's because even as a kid the things didn't matter.  And they aren't going to matter to my kids either.  You have blessed them with so much, Lord.  What I need to remember is to not let the things of the world take place of the memories we are making.  And what better memories for my kids to make than seeing what it's like to give to others.

My husband and I have been helped financially by many people as we deal with the typical struggles of a young family starting out.  Others have been willing to give to us without expecting anything in return and my husband and I have already decided that we want to work hard now so we can have money when we are older to give just like those who have given to us.  We want to be able to help young families in need.  We want to be able to help our children when they need it.  But who's to say we can't start that kind of giving now.  Yes, our budget is tight, especially with two kids, but just like I'm creative in trying to organize all our stuff, I can also be creative in trying to help someone else. 

I ask, Lord, that You help me to be more willing to give to others.  Help me to see that You are the owner of all I have.  Please fill my mind with ideas in helping others and maybe in the process of helping others they will see You and want to learn more about You.  Thank You, Lord, for this reminder today and this scripture.  I pray I make You proud today.  I love You, Lord.  In Jesus name, Amen.

*From Google pictures*

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