In Light of Eternity

What really matters? What are the tasks before me that, in the end will really count for something great?

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 destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."  "For where your treasure is there your heart will be also." Mathew 6:19-21

In the midst of my crazy, busy and often stressful day I am bombarded with choices.  How to spend my time.  Where I give my devotion to or for.  I sense a deep pulling a tug-of-war in my soul.  Everything is pulling at me.

• Family
• Friends
• Laundry
• Cooking
• Cleaning
• Animals
• Garden
• Yard work
• Bills
• Email
• Facebook
• Pinetrest
• Netflix

It's the struggle I know Martha was too familar with.  So many tasks to do in a day.  Feeling like know one even cares or notices how many things I have to do.  Yet in the early morning, before dawn, in the silence I make a radical decision.  Yes I said radical.  Jesus was radical.  I begin my day as I listen, I wait, I ponder, I medidatate, I pray.

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

In that quiet moment I hear His voice, above the noise and distractions of my life and long to do list. My sense of direction is restored.  I am now ready for battle.  My mind, body and spirit are prepared for action.  I have laid down all those things that pull at me.  My heart has been changed.  I begin to see things differently.  Things that really don't matter - in light of eternity.

The weeds have overtaken my yard and for that matter the farm itself.  Yes at some point they may come under control, but for now they can wait.  It is far better to sit here at the feet of Jesus.

I have noticed a shift in my thinking.  It doesn't happen all the time.  But, it does happen more often.  I hear a voice and it's the Spirit prompting me to pray - to pray for others and not to focus on self.  All my wants can be surrendered.  I can trade them for the burdens of others in Christ.  This happened to me the other day, so I thought I would share...

We have been working on our sprinkler system and landscaping.  My pump for the grass is non-operational.  So for now I drag hoses around the yard and move a sprinkler to get the grass watered.  Honestly it's not that hard to do, but I have made it hard.  My attitude and heart were jaded, bitter and resentful.  As I sat the other afternoon in the the shade, breeze blowing I heard the Spirit's quiet voice speak loudly.  He said, Anna, Anna why are you so worried about many things?  You're concerned about how much water your grass is getting to stay green -- yet in other places on earth people do not have Water (Living Water) to sustain them.  What about their worries?  What can you do about that?  I was convicted.  Immediately I thought of faces of children in Sudan -- here I am bent over worried about grass.  Grass that is here today gone tomorrow and has no soul. So I close my eyes and pray.  Because that is really all I can do.  It's so much better than worrying about green grass.

Now when I I have these feelings of anxiety and stress floods my earthly tent, I am reminded that this life is short.  I have an opportunity to choose to lay up treasure in heaven or not to.  To choose to continue to seek gratification in the "perfect green lawn."  It really doesn't matter.  What matters is how my heart is.  When I choose to replace my worries with prayers for those in greater need than my self, it keeps me humble.  It takes the pressure  off and lifts the burden of those things pulling for my attention.  Amazingly I am re-energized and able to face the tasks before me with greater strength and a better attitude. Just maybe the grass will stay green.

Prayers to pray:
Lift up our Christian Brothers and sisters in the Middle East and northern Africa whose lives are threatened by Islamic terrorists.  Pray God will use Christian organizations to save lives, strengthen believers, spread the Gospel in the face of persecution.

Missionaries around the world to be encouraged and strengthened in their personal faith and relationship with Jesus.  Pray for opportunities to build relationships with the people and communities they live in.  Pray Christ is glorified in their work.  Pray also for safety for them and their families as they travel and preach the Gospel.

Pray for orphans, widows and the poor.  That God would be merciful and hear their hearts cry and send them food, resources and Hope.

Pray for America. 

Pray for teachers in our local schools.

Pray for your Pastor and his family.

Pray for your family.

Simply pray and store up treasures in heaven, for that is what matters in light of eternity.