[WARNING: this is gonna be blunt.]
I don't know about you, but I realize today that our society has become obsessed -- with stuff.
Just a few minutes ago I got back from my 70+ year old neighbors house, who happens to be moving with her Alzheimer's claimed husband this month. Scattered all across her beautiful house are boxes full of photographs, CD's, books, several pair of glasses from high school, old floral outfits from the 80's, wedding gifts from people who now are dead, etc... So many pieces of this world have been collected by her hands over the years, it's overwhelming. Agreeing with her, I find it close to impossible to let go of things; to keep an eternal perspective; to live for my Father & forget the things of this world & the earthly possessions that chain me to this place. So today I want to remind you of what I keep forgetting:
"We brought nothing into the world, & we can take nothing out of it." 1 Timothy 6:7
Woah. Stick with me here for a second while I repeat what I've already said yet haven't taken to heart: I've become obsessed. Things of this world, they've taken me captive. I'm so caught up in comparison. To measuring up. To fitting in. Hopefully, you can relate. Now every holiday I'm hoping to cross everything off my "lists". Summer time means buying cute swimsuits & cool shoes & my favorite brand of clothes so I'll be "up-to-code". I really need a Kendra Scott black drusy necklace (& a Kate Spade purse). I find my worth in stuff instead of the King of kings & His delight in me. & to be super duper trooper honest, I think I'm kinda okay with that. It's all good as long as I have X amount of followers on all my accounts. It's all good as long as I have a lit summer & everyone knows it. It's all good as long as I live in that nice house & own that nice car & wear those nice clothes. I'm not pretty enough, not rich enough. My bedroom isn't cute enough, my shoes not fashionable enough... I've decided for myself to try & be like the world.
It's horrible enough that I'm so in love with this place in which so much evil happens. Like seriously, what does God think about what's on the news these days? But what's worse is that I've fallen for all these little things society says are necessary to have a "good & happy" life. Well let me tell you something, life isn't even "good & happy" with Jesus some days. Actually, it's pretty rough a lot of days. Because He promised that this world is gonna make fun of us. He promised that they'll hate us for being followers of Him (Matthew 10:22). But as a Christian, I live with the hope that this world is not my home. My Father is preparing a glorious place for the people that stand up for Him when it's the absolute hardest (John 14:3; Hebrews 13:14).
Read this, sisters & brothers:
It's horrible enough that I'm so in love with this place in which so much evil happens. Like seriously, what does God think about what's on the news these days? But what's worse is that I've fallen for all these little things society says are necessary to have a "good & happy" life. Well let me tell you something, life isn't even "good & happy" with Jesus some days. Actually, it's pretty rough a lot of days. Because He promised that this world is gonna make fun of us. He promised that they'll hate us for being followers of Him (Matthew 10:22). But as a Christian, I live with the hope that this world is not my home. My Father is preparing a glorious place for the people that stand up for Him when it's the absolute hardest (John 14:3; Hebrews 13:14).
Read this, sisters & brothers:
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21
Not often do I see verse 21 included with the rest of those verses. Probably because it's so dang convicting... If my treasure is in Birkenstocks & apple watches & how many likes I get on an Instagram post, that's where my heart is. & if my heart is in those things, my heart is in the world, & if my heart is in the world, it isn't with my Creator. You see my point. My heart is wandering from its purpose of existence. & that makes me sit here wondering, why is it that my flesh clings so tightly to this dust my selfish heart calls home when I long to be with the One whom my soul loves?
I'm tired of searching for purpose in this wretched world. Everything & everyone is so temporary. Ask my neighbor. She has closets full of clothes that were once so in style getting thrown out this week. Books that were the hot topic when she was a teenager now have pages ripped out. She realizes now there was no lasting joy in their meaningless words that everyone "had" to read. We're in this ongoing cycle of doing what everyone else is doing instead of focusing our attention on our Father. What if just for one moment we take our eyes off of this whole obsession with pleasing the world & put a little more attention on the Guy who literally hung the stars in the sky (Psalm 8:3), knit you & I together in our mothers wombs (Psalm 139:13), & fulfills every promise He ever makes (Deuteronomy 7:9)?
So today I quit trying to please this world. & I quit trying to please myself by pleasing the world. Stuff will not quench my thirst for worth & lasting joy. It only empties my cup. Same for you, beloved. Search for worth & lasting joy found only in our Savior. That's what will set us free from our obsession with stuff & what the world cares. Today I'm re-committing my commitment to love Christ with all my heart, with all my soul & with all my mind. To focus on heavenly things. No matter what the world wants, cares, or says. I'm His. He has chosen me & I choose to please Him. I'm forgetting the world today... & my dear friend in the faith, I beg you to join me.
All of this & all of me is from Him, & through Him, & to Him.
much love to ya'!
abby ❥
I'm tired of searching for purpose in this wretched world. Everything & everyone is so temporary. Ask my neighbor. She has closets full of clothes that were once so in style getting thrown out this week. Books that were the hot topic when she was a teenager now have pages ripped out. She realizes now there was no lasting joy in their meaningless words that everyone "had" to read. We're in this ongoing cycle of doing what everyone else is doing instead of focusing our attention on our Father. What if just for one moment we take our eyes off of this whole obsession with pleasing the world & put a little more attention on the Guy who literally hung the stars in the sky (Psalm 8:3), knit you & I together in our mothers wombs (Psalm 139:13), & fulfills every promise He ever makes (Deuteronomy 7:9)?
So today I quit trying to please this world. & I quit trying to please myself by pleasing the world. Stuff will not quench my thirst for worth & lasting joy. It only empties my cup. Same for you, beloved. Search for worth & lasting joy found only in our Savior. That's what will set us free from our obsession with stuff & what the world cares. Today I'm re-committing my commitment to love Christ with all my heart, with all my soul & with all my mind. To focus on heavenly things. No matter what the world wants, cares, or says. I'm His. He has chosen me & I choose to please Him. I'm forgetting the world today... & my dear friend in the faith, I beg you to join me.
All of this & all of me is from Him, & through Him, & to Him.
much love to ya'!
abby ❥