The morning was eventful though. Got a call from my older daughter's school after dropping off my older son at his school, stating that she was in the office and needed to be picked up (after being there only 20 minutes at the most) because it looks like she has pink eye. But thankfully she doesn't, she just has a sty in her eye that is causing irritation. She can go back to school tomorrow. WOO HOO!!!
This evening I made dinner, and got the kitchen cleaned up just in time to leave for church service. I do have to say that this time of year in the Christian church is my favorite time. Not a lot of glam and decorating. Just simple verses and sermons that have a deep impact on how I choose to live my life as a Christian. Then after service, the kids got to bring home paper boats filled with cake and brownies and candies. Oh the joys of having little kids in a church. All the older ladies think they are cute, only because the don't live with them, and send home treats. Thanks Susan and Midge. :)
So that was my day in a nutshell.
Now on to today's Scripture readings.....
If you are using the YouVersion website I hope that you found it easy to navigate. If not, and are just looking up the Scriptures, I applaud you for using a good ole fashioned Bible. Also, if you have children maybe try reading the scriptures as a family and ask them what they think of the passages. Get the kids involved.
There are two verses that stuck out for me in tonight's readings. First is Joel 2:16 and the other is Matthew 6:21. I will talk about them individually, because each struck me differently.
Joel 2:16 "Gather the people together; prepare them for a sacred meeting; bring the old people; gather the children and the babies too. Even newly married couples must leave their room and come."
Here God asks for us not to leave anyone out. Tonight at service, my children came upstairs to find me though we weren't finished yet. Not a problem, they waited outside the doors for me but when the doors opened and they saw me the first thing they asked me was, "What is that stuff on your head?" So wanting them to understand the reason behind my cross of ashes on my forehead, I took them up front and showed them the bowl of ashes and explained to them what they were made of.
After a brief discussion as to why we would burn something to then rub it on our heads, I asked my children if they would like a cross of their own to understand why we do it. They all agreed, although Hunter was a little reluctant at first. After theirs crosses had been applied and they were done make fun of each other, the real "joy" of the crosses played out. "Mom, this stuff feels weird." "OH MAN, I touched it." MOM, why are my fingers black now?"
I explained to them that the irritation that they feel is a reminder of the irritation that Jesus must have felt from people not believing that he was the Messiah, the one who came the save. God's son. I also explained that the ashed are as black as sin. When they do something wrong they are taking away their "pure as white" souls and making them black and dirty. The last part was harder for them to understand. Then I told them we put them on our forehead as a visual reminder of Jesus' suffering. So that every time we look at ourselves we are reminded that Jesus loved us so much that He will one day be there to help us change from dirty and black sinners to clean as snow angels.
But how does all that relate to the verse in Joel? I had my kids go to the nursery during the service. Not because I didn't want them to worship with me but I wanted to be able to worship myself and I turned them away from a chance to be able to worship God themselves. Now, do I believe that they would have understood anything that went on tonight, no, do I think they would have listened to Pastor Bill as he spoke, maybe for a little while but they would have been lost in the process. I did what I thought was better for them and not what should have been done according to God's word. I shooed them away instead of gathering them in.
Matthew 6:21 "For your heart will always be where your riches are."
We often here "Home is where the heart is," but what does that really mean? Is it safe to assume that this verse was the inspiration for that saying?
I try to put my heart into everything that I do. That's my mother in me. She cares so much for people that she would do anything for anyone. She had planned, decorated, served, cleaned up and advertised or so many dinners and other church functions that I am positive, she has lost track. She doesn't care about how much money, if any, is being made, because it isn't about the money for her. It's about sharing her heart and the love that comes from being a disciple of Christ. Those are her riches.
And while I think of my mom giving so selflessly, I wonder if I am really doing that myself. Am I giving in a Christ like way? Am I giving freely to others? Am I giving to anyone at all?
I love those wooden signs that say things like "Where family becomes friends and friends become family" or "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Maybe I will have Matthew 6:21 made into a sign for me. It is a good reminder to open up my heart to those that need something more from this life. Maybe they are missing out on something that I can provide as a human being, or as a friend, or mother and wife, or neighbor, or Christian. I need to start taking my riches out into the world a little more and share my heart with others who need it.
Psalms 34
2 Corinthians 2:5-13
