Apron Strings Devotional for 2/9/98

2/9/98

Good morning....
Jesus loves You!!

+†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+

The greatest treasure a person could hope for, is to know the Father in a real, deep, meaningful way. To know the Father is to know the Son.

+†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+

Good Morning Sweet Brethren!!

Monday! Yea! (Is she nuts?) hehe. Hope this day finds you well. Got your pondering hat on? I have something interesting to share with you today... Please, read on...

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

He was born in Italy but came to the United States as a young man. He studied juggling and became famous throughout the whole world. Finally he decided to retire. He longed to return to his home country and settle down. He took all his wordly possessions, booked a passage on a ship to Italy and invested all the rest of the money in a single diamond. He hid the diamond in his stateroom.

While aboard ship, he was showing a boy how he could juggle a bunch of apples. Soon a crowd gathered. The pride of the moment went to his head. He ran to his stateroom and got the diamond. He explained to the crowd that it represented his entire life savings. He started juggling the diamond. Soon he was taking more and more chances.

At one point he threw the diamond high into the air and the crowd gasped. Knowing what the diamond meant, they begged him not to do it again. Moved by the excitement of the moment, he threw the diamond even higher. Again the crowd gasped and then sighed in relief when he caught the diamond.

Having total confidence in himself and his ability, the juggler told the crowd he would throw it up one more time. This time it would be so high that it would be out of sight for a moment. Again, they begged him not to do it. But with the confidence of all his years of experience, he threw the diamond high into the air. It actually did disappear for a moment. Then the diamond returned into view sparkling in the sunlight. At that moment, the ship lurched and the diamond dropped into the sea and was lost forever. We all feel terrible about the man's loss of all his worldly possessions. But God compares our soul as more valuable than the possessions of the whole world.

Just like the man in the story, some of us are juggling with our souls. We trust in ourselves and our own ability and the fact that we have gotten by before. Oftentimes there are people around us begging us to stop taking the risk because they recognize the value of our soul. But we continue to juggle one more time...never knowing when the ship will lurch and we will have lost our chance forever.

The Juggler
by Billy Graham
submitted by: curler7

<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<>

He is no fool who gives what he can't keep, To gain what he can't lose. ~Jim Elliot

<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<>

"He is no Fool"

"There once was a man,
Born of high circumstance,
Heir to advantage,
He had every chance,
To succeed.

But light from the cross,
Made his dreams appear small,
And to their amazement,
He went far,
From it all.

For the love of His Savior,
For one priceless jewel,
They could not understand,
So they called him a fool.

He is no fool,
If he would choose,
To give the thing he cannot keep,
To gain what he could never lose.

To see the treasure in one soul,
That far outshines the brightest gold...

...He is no fool...He is no fool.

Show me the fool,
Who abandons his life,
To walk in the steps of our Lord,
Jesus Christ!"
~Twila Paris

<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<>

Luke 21:1-4
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Me again, Brethren!

If you would...go back to the above scripture again, and read it slowly.

I was reading this passage yesterday, and something kinda jumped out at me. I was seeing past money, though. I believe Jesus was making a very strong point here....and I want you to stay with me while I try to explain.

This widow, put all of her money into the treasury.....ALL of it. She, more than likely, had no idea where the next "mite" was coming from. And Jesus compares it to the rich ones who gave out of their "abundance."

This is what I was seeing: When we come to the cross, (salvation) and we repent of our sins, and invite Jesus into our heart....we become a "new creation."

2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

We begin walking with Christ....and we trust Him completely. We are, at this point, like the widow. We "cast in all of our mites." We trust Him completely. But somehow, over time...when trouble hits, and the cares of this world seem appealing, we find ourselves in the same position as the rich man. We start "casting in, out of our abundance."

In other words, we don't give it ALL anymore. Now, I told you earlier...I was seeing "past" money. I am referring to our LIVES. I read somewhere recently, that our relationship with God is not a contract...but "Total Surrender."

I thought that pretty well summed it up. If God gave us nothing more than Himself...if we got nothing more than eternal life, would that be enough? If He never did anything more...but simply say: "My Grace is sufficient"...would we rebel? We get to the point sometimes, where we rattle off petitions, and then, leave God in the dust.

Can I say, "Lord, it doesn't matter if I get this or that...More than ANYTHING, I want YOU." I trust YOU with me, and with every single circumstance in my life. Sometimes, we look at the outer circumstances in our lives, and think..."Oh, if I don't get this job, or if I don't marry this person...I just won't make it."

He said..I am the Alpha, and Omega..Beginning and the END. <Rev 1:8> He already know what's in the last chapter..! To really experience Christ in His fullness, Brethren....WE HAVE TO CAST IN ALL OF OUR MITES..!

If I give "select" parts of me, or my circumstances to Him, and handle the rest myself...then I am only casting in, 'out of my abundance.' It comes down to which one of these illustrations we want to identify with:

Matt 13:3-9
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. And then, the interpretation:

Matt 13:18-23
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Brethren, the time is short...and this is something we must consider. Look at that last verse..."He that receiveth seed in the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it.." The Holy Spirit will bring forth understanding...if we take the time to LISTEN.

Whew...Monday, time for a new beginning. Can I begin this week with "Loving the Lord, with all my mind, soul, and strength?" Is He the most important Person in my life?

Do I run to my closet, or to the Word....or has prayer become a chore? Do I stay long enough to sense His Presence...or listen to His voice? Am I so burdened with the cares of the world, that I have lost sight of His ability to take care of me, and my situations?

If we are burdened, and weighed down....it is because, we have hoarded that "abundance" to the degree that it is loading down our pockets. Go on, put all those mites in there. Give Him ALL that is You, and all that is Yours. Feel the load lift.....and then, like the widow, walk away, burden free, and know that Jesus is going to take care of you.

God Bless You Brethren...I love you very much!

In Christ!!

Carol
Justaservn@aol.com

Ps 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Graphics, design & hosting by:

Free Sites for School Bible Clubs