Rotten Treasure Box

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:6-10)

We are like an old treasure box. Rotten wood, rusty hinges, buried in dirt. But within us lies a great treasure – worth more than gold and rubies. We as Christians have a message. We are broken people, tired, and not the best-looking. But we should not let this keep us from sharing this treasure with others.

Forget what others think about your appearance. You are a rotten treasure box.

Mac / Heaven

I just got a Macbook. It is amazing. Everything looks better, moves faster, is just so much sweeter. I was thinking this morning that Heaven will be like moving from an old Mac (or PC) to an brand new Mac. Before things weren’t as clear, it just moved so slow. Now one the new one, everything is so fresh and newer than before.

It makes me think of the verse that says “..now we see dimly, as in a mirror, but then we shall see in full.” (paraphrased) Right now our life is like we’re living on an old clunker PC. Some things are sort of pixel-ly, the colors aren’t as bright, and it’s not as beautiful. Once we move to Heaven even the air itself will be scrumptious. Oh, to be finally home.

The Way

Easter remembers how Jesus died to open the door to Heaven – for anyone who will believe.

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” – John 14:2-4 (Jesus speaking)

You know the way to the place where I am going. After Jesus said this, Thomas (the doubter?) says “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answers him:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

Jesus has opened the door. He’s swung it wide open and thrown away the key. His love is amazing! When he died on the corss, that act of love broke sin’s bondage and crossed the gap between us and our Father. The curtain seperated the “Holy of Holies” where God came, from the rest of the temple. This made us closer to God. He wasn’t confined in some Temple where you had to go and sacrifice. The curtain between us and God was torn in two.

One thing I love is how the curtain in the temple is torn. The curtain seperated the “Holy of Holies” where a selected priest met with God (was it once a year?), from the rest of the temple. This made us closer to God. He wasn’t confined in some Temple where you had to go and sacrifice. The curtain between us and God was torn in two.

That is one amazing love.  To give your life up for everyone – even some who would later curse your name. In the words of Matt T. “It’s the beauty of Grace that makes life not fair.”

Trashing Temples (True Beauty)

As I’ve been working on my year-end research paper on blogging, I’ve encountered a lot of conflicting information on it. Essentially — is it good or bad? I don’t believe that can be answered as it can be either, depending on how it’s used. A little bit of information I found saddened me though.

“Basically today I went 24 hours without food and then I ate green beans and a little baked ziti. Frankly I’m proud of myself, not to mention the 100 situps on the yoga ball and the 100 I’ll do before sleep Yey for me.” –Ready, Steady, Diet (More)

There’s a difference between dieting and slowly killing your body. These young women are giving into eating disorders that will ruin their body and image even more. How can our society allow this?

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” -1 Corinthians 6:19,20

Somehow I don’t see how hurting yourself is honoring to God and the body He gave you. Frankly, a large part of this problem is caused by pop culture. (Not just the genre, the entire culture.) Do you know that nearly none of those skinny models and singers are truly as beautiful as they appear in the photos? Tons of makeup plus hours of editing on the computer.

You’re made beautiful without your makeup. Don’t cover that beauty.

77

It’s amazing how much God will forgive us. We get down and beg forgiveness, but when we stand up, we’re inevitably going to fall down again. And yet, we still try to justify our unforgiveness. I love how Peter said it..

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. -Matthew 18:21, 22

You know, we all do this. We try to say, “Well, I already forgave them for this and they went and messed with me again, so they’re lucky they didn’t get pounded.” or “He/she doesn’t even deserve my forgiveness!

The funny thing is..none of us deserve anything! We don’t deserve the chance to forgive them. God just keeps forgiving us though, so many more times then 77.

Body Parts

Not all of us are made the same. Our skin colors vary, our talents are different, our accents and everything about us is special. Not one person is like the next.

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body.. -Romans 12:4-5a

We are made different for a reason. If we were all alike, nothing would get done. You may have everyone able to preach, but then there would be no one to listen and learn. If we could all heal, who would be sick?

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. -1 Corinthians 12:4-6

UnContent

Somedays it’s so hard to be content with life. As Americans most of us have everything we need. House, bed, food, family.. We’re not out in the cold somewhere, starving without a single friend. So why are we so discontent with life?

The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
and the good man rewarded for his. -Proverbs 14:14

I admit, it’s hard sometimes to be content with how life is progressing. Sometimes I just want to reach in and totally change it. But there’s a certain point where you have to let go of the rubber and let Jesus take control. I still want things different sometimes, and you may as well — but don’t give into that desire and let it overtake you. That’s when you become discontent.

Thanksgiving

How often do you thank God?

Sure, everyone says “thanks for the food, big man” before filling their gluttonous stomachs. But how often do you thank Him for everything? (when I say “everything”, I mean everything.)

I did it today. I woke up and thanked God for my sheets, and my mattress, and the heat in my house, my socks, my shoes, my shirt, my purse, my car, my keys, my breakfast, my friends, my computer, the internet, my cats, carpeting, mousepads, card tables, air, muscles, organs, sight, sense, smell, touch, taste… the list goes on. i hardly spoke a word all day, my mind occupied with things I’m thankful for.

I went to Panama not to long ago on a return missions trip. I forgot how technologically impaired and anti-luxurious their lives were. I just don’t think about it much. Do you? When you stare down at the breakfast most likely paid for you by your parents or the money you got from your job? Do you imagine the people who don’t have that?

I know I don’t. And it makes me feel guilty.

The Lord says, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Granted, that’s such an “overused” Bible verse… but I think it needs to be. It’s in our nature to think about ourselves. If we don’t have it crammed into our head as a reminder daily… we just won’t think about it.

Stop being selfish, and give thanks.

Facelift

Everyone needs change sometimes. I just gave VitaTips a bit of a facelift today by changing the layout. There comes a point in almost everything where it gets old, broken, dull, or just needs something new.

When does that moment come? Maybe it’s in the middle of a hard time in life, perhaps when the current is getting old. (Now, I’m not encouraging you to follow trends, don’t get me wrong.) What exactly does the Bible say about this?..

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven
-Ecclesiastes 3:1

The chapter goes on to say exactly how there is a time for everything..

a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend

It’s All About Love

The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” –Romans 13:9

Life is all about loving everyone as God would love them..amazing. The whole gospel could probably be summed up in just that — love.