What is your Treasure?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:21

This has always been taught in my hearing as wherever your money is that is where your heart will be and conversely wherever your heart is that is where you will put your money.  What you spend your money on reveals something about your heart.

Sounds pretty right.  And there is great validity and proof to back that up.  But let me propose another angle.  What is your treasure?

Thinking about this released me from being tied to money as the great definer of who I am and what I love or consider important.  No longer is money to be what judges me and deems my heart worthy.  No, money is a tool and it has no life.  

If I say my treasure is my family, the people that I love, and if this is true then you will find that this is where my heart will be.  If my heart is always with my husband then guess what, He must be my treasure.

Your treasure doesn’t have to be money and money doesn’t define what your heart is after - UNLESS of course your treasure IS money and your heart is after riches or seeks security from it.  Then there is a whole other heart issue that needs to be dealt with.  

So there is truth that money and your use of it can indicate where your heart is at, but let’s not limit our understanding to it just being money.  Otherwise we may not only miss seeing the real treasure in our lives and realizing the state of our heart but we may also be a slave to the money mentality.

But that’s for another blog entirely.....

Let’s look at the context.

This verse is something that Jesus said - about five minutes after he taught us how to pray.  He was talking about how we shouldn’t make big impressive speeches for those around who may hear but to pray directly to God as a Father and even in secret.  He gives instruction that when you fast not to let everybody know in order to gain recognition and impress others. He says people who do this have already received their reward. Then He say to instead, “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...” 

So what does Jesus define as the Treasure?  Well, for certain he is not even talking here about money at all.  He is talking about a personal interaction between you and Father God.  He’s is talking about a relationship.  He is talking about recognition and reward from our Daddy.  He says store it up because if you do this, guess what happens to your heart??!?!?  

Do you mean to tell me that all that striving to keep my mind focused on godly principles wont‘ be what attaches my heart to God?  That all my giving and time spent working is not going to make me fall in love with Him?  That doing miracles and preaching to the world and giving and other good works are not storing up treasure in Heaven?  Do you mean that treasure is not a chest full of gold and a mountain of pearls with large trophy looking chalices of silver encrusted with jewels??

Yup.

So, what is your treasure?  Jesus gave a sweet picture of what true everlasting treasure is - the one thing that we can pursue that will be eternal and beyond earthly value.  It’s our relationship with the Father.  And the more we pursue intimacy and communication with Him, the more we invest our hearts in the eternal.  And a natural result of that , by the way, is that the things of earth won’t seem to have the same hold and control over us that they used to.  Because our home is becoming more there than here.

And that is a beautiful thing.

Feeling Like Cinderella

 “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And if worry cannot accomplish a little thing like that,

what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?”

Luke 12:25-26 NLT

Do you remember that one part in Cinderella when the Step-Mother has told Cinderella that she can go to the ball?  She is so elated and so very thankful until Step-Mother finishes her sentence - IF you finish your chores.  Cinderella being a good manager of her time and knowing well her tasks assures her that she will be able to do all and still attend in “something suitable to wear”.  Of course we know what happens, those few chores suddenly get put by due to the step-sisters and then Step-Mom adds on the Tapestries!!!! (but I just...Do them again!!) 

Ever have a day like that? That was my day today.  I was fixing to go home early because the boss said - if you finish up you can leave early.  I was very excited with the holiday ahead of me and knowing that my husband was at home with the day off, I was “elated and so very thankful”. Even with the IF in place I was sure I could make it to an early train.  I had everything wrapped up with a bow thirty minutes ahead of time and was doing a little extra interruptible work just waiting for the half-hour to fly by when all of a sudden step-sisters came creeping in out of nowhere.  A pile of tasks materialized in my inbox each one screaming for immediate attention and none of them willing to wait until I returned from the holiday.  As my colleague likes to say “TISNF” (That Is So Not Fair)! 

So now what? Cinderella is completely deflated.  She knows there is no way she is going to make that train...ahem...to the ball and even if she could, she has noting to wear. If Cinderella was not a fairy-tale character she probably would have thrown down her broom and declared the injustice of it all.  Or perhaps she would have continued working but all the while grudgingly and muttering distasteful things under her breath.  After all was finally finished, she would find the mice with a new dress for her and perhaps feel a little bad about the foul atmosphere she had created for herself as she sweated away at the tapestries - but what a foul mood she would have been in. I doubt the Prince would have found her very charming or lovely. Oh wait, that would have been MY reaction!  

Yes, I muttered and as much as I wanted to have a good attitude, I found myself getting more and more cranky.  Woah! What are you doing? Stop everything!  I heard that little voice say - you know the one - the Holy Spirit, whose voice sounds like a little voice but when He speaks and we listen is more like a rushing wind tearing through barriers and bindings setting us free.  And that was what he was about to do - set me free.

“Who is the Lord of All Time? Can He not, care for you?” 

Yes. Yes He can.

“Calm down.  Everything will work out. Do it for me.”

How does He do that - He knows just what to say.  Calm Down.  I was getting myself worked up into a tizzy and losing my ability to focus, concentrate and produce with excellence. Everything will work out.  So what if I miss this train.  Theres another in an hour that is still earlier than normal. And isn’t it a blessing and a gift to leave early (not a privilege or a right)?  Yes. Do it for me. That shifted my focus from the unjust creatures who had waited until the last minute to blast me with urgency and place it on my Friend - the One who helps me. The very best Friend.

So, as my sister and I like to say, the mice came.  I worked calmly through each task and a few actually ended up being delayed until after the holiday so it turned out to NOT be as bad as first thought.  Now here I am on a train which is a bit later than originally planned but earlier than usual. The work is done and I am on my way home to see my Prince.

An even deeper truth is this...

 I am clothed not is the rags that my own self efforts made but in a glorious incorruptible robe of righteousness that my Heavenly Father (not little mice or even a fairy Godmother) made for me.  And I am on my way to the Wedding feast to be with the Bridegroom! 

Animal Instincts

Jude 10 “ But these people scoff at things they do not understand.  Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.”

OK so My dog just spent a good part of the day chasing a fly around the house - and loving every minute of it.  He can’t help it.  No matter how we try to help him remain calm when there is a fly in the house, he goes bizerk. The only way to stop him is to either distract him with his first love, food, or throw him in the bathroom and close the door.

If we are honest with ourselves I think most of us can say that when something is driving us crazy, at times it is almost desireable.  Saying that it rained during our vacation isn’t enough, it had to have poured - and if we were lucky, there was a tornado.  We can’t just have a lot to do this weekend before company comes, we must have a thousand things to do and company must not only be coming early but be the difficult kind that are hard to please.  A co-worker may tell a story similar to our own experience but for some reason ours is always worse.  Why is that?  Why do we feel the need sometimes to “out-suffer”?  Do we think it makes us seem stronger than we are?  Is is because we want so much to impress our audience?  Do we do it for the sympathy?

I once very clearly heard this question in my heart, 

“Why do you want sympathy - you already have my Compassion.”

I had been going through a really hard time (not just a hard time - a really hard time) and would not be consoled.  I wanted my anger.  I needed my pain.  I refused to loosen my grip on my sorrow.  If I told you what had happened you would have agreed with me.  I had a right to be angry, a reason for sorrow and of course I should be in pain.

When our loved ones are in these deep dark places.  We want to crawl in with them and console them.  Not because we ourselves want to be in the hole too but because - if we really love them - we want to help them come out of it.  How much more our Wonderful Father.  He loves us deeply and as good as it feels to have someone validate our pain and frustration, He is not about leaving us in the hole.

I am not saying that we shouldn’t validate someone’s feelings.  Feelings are very real.  But friend, I have no desire to heap more mud on you just because your stuck in the mud.  I am about helping you out.  Yes, you are  full of mud and it looks smells and feels horrible!  But all the sympathy in the world will not get you out of the mud.

Sympathy can help the “outsider” relate to the “victim” and connect in a way that can equip the outsider to help the victim.  But that is all.  It says, “I see you and you need help”. Sympathy does not deliver.

Compassion on the other hand is action. It says, “I see you and I am going to help you.” Compassion is harder to swallow sometimes. Compassion reaches a hand out with intent to rescue.  When that hand is God, there is no way rescue will not happen unless the victim refuses to be rescued.  What keeps a victim from receiving help?

Fear. 

The Army of the Lord

Here’s another term I have heard many times that I have to wonder about.  “The Army of the Lord”.  Do you know where this comes from?  The first place I found was in Joel chapter two.  It describes this great and terrible army of horse-like creatures whose very appearance causes even the strongest man to pale in terror. Yikes.  Then in 2 Kings chapter 6 we see the story of Elisha asking the Lord to open the eyes of his servant to see “those who are with us”. This army was a multitude of horses and chariots of fire.  

Many times God is referred to in the old testament as the Lord of Hosts.  I like to think about those hosts as described above and realize how great an army He commands!  Huge, terrifying, powerful, numerous, and kind of freaky looking.  

Let it sink in a little.  The Commander of the Hosts of Heaven is the lover of your soul.  

I think that if I was under some kind of attack the army of the United States would not likely come to my aid.  Of course if the whole country were under attack they would, its what they are there for.  But if it was just me - nope.  But that is because the power of even the US military is limited and they are hindered as well as empowered by their mission and purpose.

The mission and purpose of Heaven is another thing entirely.  If I am under attack and the enemy of His Love is invading, The Commander of Heaven rises to rescue and save me!  He is my defender and look at the arsenal at His disposal!! Wow.  And yes, he will come and rescue even if it is just little ol’ me because I am His beloved!  The Bride of Christ! And His heart is toward me.  

Contemplate this - this is the creator of the universe coming to your aid:

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

Then the earth shook and quaked; and the foundations of the mountains were trembling and were shaken, because He was angry.

Smoke went up out of His nostrils, and fire from His mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it.

He bowed the heavens also and came down with thick darkness under His feet........

From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds, hailstones and coals of fire.

The Lord thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice.

He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, and in flashes in abundance, and routed them.

Then the channels of water appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke Oh Lord, at the breath of your nostrils.

..He took me. He drew me up...He delivered me from my strong enemy.”

Psalm 18

And that’s just Him - didn’t even need the army for that one ;)

I think somewhere along the line we got this crazy idea in our head that we were His army.  I really don’t see it.  I know there is the whole analogy of wearing the armor of God and Paul talks about doing battle with spiritual weapons.  I believe that.  But I don’t want to forget that He has an army that I cannot see that is great and terrible and He is more than willing to wield it in my defense.  

I understand the whole - we have the authority on earth - principle and what He wants to be done here needs to be declared by us as the authority in this world.  but are we the army?  If so, I would imagine we are captains.  Captains are over the troops but under the commander.  Wait, you may say, there are an awful lot of us, how can we all be captains? If you let yourself think about that question for a  while you may begin to feel overwhelmed.

If one of us can put a thousand to flight - you’ve heard this - how many are under our command?  and if two of us increase the number exponentially, again, how many are under our command?  I have never heard of anyone’s battle being delayed because the Host of heaven was busy elsewhere so I am inclined to think that “host” is a bigger number than I can fathom.

So we can command the Host - but wait, we are under the Commander.  This means that we only do what He commands.  So we don’t go dreaming up battle plans and whipping out our epaulettes whenever we feel like it.  No, we submit ourselves to the Master and Commander and seek His directives.  We listen to hear what He is saying - and say that.  We watch and see what He is doing and follow. We wait. 

Who is the Army of the Lord? 

We are - and then there is the rest of the army.....

A City and a Bride?

The Bride of Christ.  Its a phrase we have heard many times - or perhaps very few depending on your circle of friends.  The most well known reference is probably the one in the book of Revelation. But today I read one in the book of Isaiah.  Yes, Isaiah.  I am one of those people who love to read the old prophets.  Don’t get me wrong, I bathe myself in the New Testament frequently but still I dip back into the old.  Its full of rich stuff and lots of promises - all of which Jesus came to fulfill.  Its constantly talking about Him and although the references can be hidden, He reveals Himself and His relationship with us to the seeking ones even in the old prophets.  Such was the case today.

“Never Again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God” for the Lord Delights in you and will claim you as His bride.  .... Then God will rejoice over you as a Bridegroom rejoices over His Bride.” (Isaiah 62:5 NLT)

I love the imagery of the City.  I know this was spoken originally to a people of an actual city but it was also a prophetic word given by the Holy Spirit to the people of God.  As you know, the Word of God is incredibly full and multifaceted. So when David talks about being poured out like water he may be speaking of his own self during a terrible season of his life but prophetically he was speaking of the Messiah Who would pour out His life like a drink offering.  When Kills a lamb to clothe Adam and Eve, it was also a prophetic act which spoke of the Lamb of God who would be sacrificed for us.  So when I see this reference to a city when God is prophetically speaking to HIs people.  Its easy to see He is talking about me, about us, His people.  Because His Words are eternal. 

I love the imagery of the city because it seems a more comprehensive portrayal of us as people.  Imagine if you will, any major city in America with its diverse population - diverse not only in ethnicity but even from person to person. No one is the same, we are all unique.  Given that His City - His people - are the people of God, those who bear His name, it is intriguing to me to think about.  “From every tribe and tongue and people and nation you have made us a kingdom of priests unto our God.”  What an amazing people!  

Then theres the personal level - Its like it includes me in all of my daily context. My weaknesses, my failures, my strengths, my worship, my hidden alleys of filth, my sparkling capital steps, the railway of my mental meandering,  my storage houses of memories and pain, my factory of offense, my soup kitchen of acceptance and my orphanage of random things.  When I say all that I am, I imagine a city. 

And He loves me - all that I am.  He “takes great delight in me”. He calls me His bride - his very own.  I belong to Him. Wow.