Cheap Stuff

This conversation I overheard my wife having with our kids recently…. 

(kid) Can we go to Dollar General?

(mom) Why?

(kid) I have my allowance money and I want to buy some stuff.

(mom) Why don't you save some and get something better?

(kid) Because I love that stuff…

Our kids save up a little of their allowance money and they want to go to, of all places, one of the "dollar" stores. Nothing against the dollar stores or the company or employees, but the stuff my kids want to buy is junk with a capital J. They come home with these toys that last all of 3 seconds before they break leading to immediate pleas for duct tape or glue fixes.

From our (parental - me and my wife) perspective, we see the folly of wasting money on junk. I say this all the time about tech or electronic stuff. As with m,ugh of life, You get what you pay for. Pay for junk and you get, yes you guessed it, JUNK!

Why is it, though, that we waste our personal resources on cheap stuff? Seriously, think about it! God gives us so much - time, money, relationships, spiritual gifts, health, trials, struggles, and so on and so forth. Why do we often waste the special resources that God gives us on cheap stuff that will not last for a day, a season, or especially not eternity?

As a child of the Most High God I am created and given purpose for more than cheap stuff. My life has been radically changed by the grace of God for noble and high purposes. A few verses come to mind about all this:


Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.   * 2 Timothy 2:20-21


He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope eternal.  * Titus 3:6-7

Those are a few random thoughts and insight into my mind today. Don't waste any resources of your life on junk or cheap stuff that will not last or bring you true fulfillment. Be challenged and encouraged to spend all of God's gifts today for His honor and glory - for noble purposes and Spirit lead endeavors.

HIS

I have so many things running through my heart and mind since setting foot back on US soil after an amazing trip visiting some brothers and sisters in India. I'll give you a brief glimpse today…

His.

I am His. 

Simply put, I need the constant reminder that I am His. According to the truth of the Scriptures, I am the faith-child of the Most High God. God gives us the right to become His children - John 1:12-13.

I love all the Toy Story movies. Though on the surface it may seem as if these movies are cute stories of toys and their interaction with each other and a challenging world, these movies are about identity. I love the focus on belonging and the correlation to peace, life, joy and contentment. These toys (it's written on the bottom of their feet) belong to "ANDY" and for each of them that means everything!!! 

We all just want to belong. We want to belong to something greater than ourselves because we all know our true selves fall short ALL the time. So many people are chasing after all the wrong things to bring them contentment and fulfillment - relationships with others, the bling of the world, checking ritualistic and empty religious boxes. 

So much of the person I am TODAY depends on my identity… not just the fact and truth of my identity, but my identity realized and lived out. How many times have I struggled or lost focus each time simply forgetting not who I am, but whose I am.

I have a heavenly Father who sacrificially loves me and offers His daily provisions for me. As a Father, I hope and pray each of my children come to appreciate and truly understand my love for them. How much greater is God's love and watch care for me?

I prayed this morning for God to reinforce in my spirit and life that "I am His." Simple, yet profound! Are you struggling? Discouraged? Hurt? Lost? Run to the only One who can save you! Run away from the things that have failed your whole life to truly satisfy your soul. 

His.

"So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 

2 Timothy 1:8-10