Family Devotion - Christmas 2011
On this earth there is a place called “good enough.” Have you heard of it?
A peaceful place, named the “Land of Good Enough” (LOGE). It’s not a fairy tale.
There are good enough cars and good enough homes and good enough clothes. It might be a little easier for me to recognize, because God wired me for –good enough.
When I’m building, or sewing, or repairing – it is so easy for me to stop at Good Enough!
Some of you have a built-in streak of perfectionism or some even believe you should take the time and do it right the first time – Not me - I’m a get ur done kinda girl!
Seriously – in the coming year 2012, Dad and I are making a commitment to move to the ‘LOGE’. What are we talking about -
Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
If you look around and see the people who do store up treasure in heaven they know all about good enough. Having good enough on earth, leaves a lot more time and energy for kingdom riches. And that’s the bottom line. And it always has been and always will be a HEART issue.
It is time to stop the insanity!
We have become slaves to our possession
We have an insatiable appetite
We think being rich is being carefree and comfortable – NOT! (wanta hear a few stories!)
We end up serving many ‘Idols’
We believe more and bigger is better
We want to skip over the “woe to the rich” ( WE are the rich! Bo’s sermon)
We live above our means
We like the whole ‘prosperity gospel’ thing. Bless ME Lord, I want it!
We always want what we don’t have
We are stressed and worried about $$$ most of the time and forget the point Dennis Rainey hammers - “Nothing turns the pressure up in a marriage more than money issues.”
We don’t even know when enough is enough! Is it ever??AND What are we doing to the Children of Excess? What are we creating?
Let’s take a glimpse into the ‘Land of Good Enough’. Oh – it is not the Truman show on steroids! It is place where real families live and real families struggle. They still have times, when there are more expenses than income. But, they make choices and set priorities everyday with eternal value.
Want to move there with us – here’s our plan.
1. Accept where God has us today with gratefulness and CONTENTMENT.
Phil 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”
As a wife, I think one of the greatest gifts we can give our husband, is the security of the knowledge that we are so content with what he is providing for us.
2. Know where we are?
In the first weeks of this year we are analyzing our budget. Looking back over last few years and determining spending patterns. Then we are deciding what changes we need to make to get to LOGE. Really look at ‘what am I working for?’
Between Dad & I, this is a hard conversation – it can get heated and accusatory. So I’m praying God will prepare our hearts for honesty and accountability and being able to agree and move forward.
We want to make a commitment to live ‘under our means’in the LOGE.
Make decisions on every future purchases based on living in the LOGE.
Ex. “Isn’t four pair of black shoes – good enough?
3. Prayfully decide our CAP
How much is enough? How much do we need to put away for emergencies and retirement? We don’t want to just build bigger bank accounts (or barns).
Jesus told the parable in Luke 12 -16 “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
4. Bless with the overflow - FOR HIS GLORY
Set up our own benevolent fund –And look for ways everyday to use it.
Remember who is blessed the most when we give?
Ideas: Carry $25 Walmart gift cards to give away, help extended family as needed, Give in secret where the Holy Spirit leads, etc.
Living in the LOGE excites my soul. It leaves so much room for joy!
And living for His Kingdom in the LOGE, keeps me focused on heaven . And the truths that this life is just a vapor and my mansion (with 100 acres) will be enjoyed for an eternity {not just the brief 80+ years down here}
Each of us sitting here has been to the mountaintop. We have had moments in our lives where we felt like we were in the presence of His Kingdom. Whether it was at a Billy Graham crusade, cabin on the river, a fist pump following a baptism, on our knees crying out for a sick child, or devoured in true worship lifting our voices in song. We’ve all been there, but some of us only carry the souvenirs of our visit.
Why can’t we live there?
Would relocating to the LOGE be a start?
Let’s talk about it?
