It never ceases to amaze me, when a simple project turns into a thought provoking life lesson. As the picture above shows, this one is about rust removal. I'm finding that even following the very specific instructions, this is not as simple as it seemed. Which in turn gives me plenty of time to think about it.
This scripture keeps coming to mind, so I figured I ought to pause and write this down. I'm prone to forgetting if I just carry on.
Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
This project I'm working on began many months ago, and as winter came, I decided to store it until warmer weather made working outside more pleasant. I'm quite aware that my idea of storing something I treasure, was not well thought out. As the dampness came, so began the rust.
As I think about at this and how I treat things and people that matter to me, I find that the way I treasure them often falls short of my desire for their well-being. My perspective gets skewed by distractions entering in, and I forget how I want to treasure them.
When my thoughts remained fixed on a more firmly planted kingdom perspective. I'm able to see past the immediate moment and respond with a long term intention in my own actions and feelings. My treasures belong to God and I very much desire to treat them with that kind of care and love.
I begin to focus on their treasure in a heavenly places and watch my own heart change. When my treasures are stored in heaven, my desires also shift. It is no longer about me and what I want, but about God's goodness in what He wants for all of us.
Today I no longer want to see the rust and the moths, the thief coming to steal what God freely gives, today I can choose to not invite the thieves in, and all the while thank God for His rust remover that works better than mine.
This scripture keeps coming to mind, so I figured I ought to pause and write this down. I'm prone to forgetting if I just carry on.
Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
This project I'm working on began many months ago, and as winter came, I decided to store it until warmer weather made working outside more pleasant. I'm quite aware that my idea of storing something I treasure, was not well thought out. As the dampness came, so began the rust.
As I think about at this and how I treat things and people that matter to me, I find that the way I treasure them often falls short of my desire for their well-being. My perspective gets skewed by distractions entering in, and I forget how I want to treasure them.
When my thoughts remained fixed on a more firmly planted kingdom perspective. I'm able to see past the immediate moment and respond with a long term intention in my own actions and feelings. My treasures belong to God and I very much desire to treat them with that kind of care and love.
I begin to focus on their treasure in a heavenly places and watch my own heart change. When my treasures are stored in heaven, my desires also shift. It is no longer about me and what I want, but about God's goodness in what He wants for all of us.
Today I no longer want to see the rust and the moths, the thief coming to steal what God freely gives, today I can choose to not invite the thieves in, and all the while thank God for His rust remover that works better than mine.