Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:
This week's Scripture (Luke 12:13 through 12:34) focuses on finding our true treasure. Specifically, does our joy and treasure primarily rest in the Lord or are our treasures primarily found in the things of this world (exercise, wealth, education, travel, etc). Luke 12:34 says, "For where your treasure is there your heart will be also." A quick barometer of our Faith is to watch how we spend our time and our finances, our God-given resources. Do we spend our resources on the things of God or are we spending our resources on someone or something else to fulfill us? Is the Lord our main focus or has the Lord of the universe become an after-thought, after we satisfy our own selfish desires?
There are several verses about anxiety in the middle of this week's Scripture reading. For example, Luke 12:22-23 says, "Then Jesus said to His disciples: 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothes.' "
Why would the Lord Jesus suddenly bring up anxiety when He was just teaching about finding our treasure? It is because anxiety and worry are anti-God roadblocks that prevent us from finding our true treasure, the Lord Himself. I remember all those pointless hours of worrying about my accounting exams in graduate school. You see, at the very beginning of graduate school I became an epileptic. I lost my ability to concentrate and focus. I was overly worried that the administration would kick me out of the master's program because my grades were below their standard. I was filled with extreme self-pity and anxiety (thank God that I "outgrew" the epilepsy after two years). But, you know what, not a single moment of that anxiety helped me get a better grade. Not a single moment of that anxiety is a fond memory of my grad school experience. All that worry was an utter waste of time and was a distraction from my real treasure in God.
I've come to realize that we can only grow as Christians when we have solid Faith in the Lord in all things. Deep Faith is the direct opposite of anxiety and worry. Faith says, "I trust the Lord in all circumstances." Worry says, "I trust the Lord most of the time, but there are dire times when I need to step in and worry, since I don't believe the Lord will show up to help me." Let's cast aside all those things like worry and anxiety that hinder us from enjoying our amazing treasure in Jesus Christ. May the Lord Jesus always be the solid foundation of all our joy.
Family Fired-Up Fridays
Our second Family Fired-Up Friday will be on Friday, February 15 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Eileen and I will be there serving the families who come to enjoy this event. Family Fired-Up Friday is a wonderful opportunity for MLEPC to show these families our peace, joy, love, and awesome hospitality. I love Family Fired-Up Friday since families can experience joy, first-hand, without technology. Families can play old fashioned games like cards and dodgeball, worship God, and hear a short sermon together and see that this can not only be fun, but also be a wonderful antidote to the stress in today's busy-ness. If you have children, bring your whole family and experience this week's Family Fired-Up Friday. If you don't have children, come too and watch what the Lord is doing through this amazing outreach to our community.
I pray the Lord pours out His abundant blessings over all of you,
Bruce
