The Strangest Times and Places

One of the things I love about living a life taught and guided by the Holy Spirit is that you never know when He is going to teach you something. Sometimes He speaks at the oddest times and in situations where you least expect it. I had one of those moments today in my exercise class.

I was at a body sculpting class (I have lots of body to sculpt away!) and we were about finished and were positioning ourselves face down on the bench to do the last couple of exercises. I was thinking to myself that were people in the class who often don't listen to the helpful comments the instructor makes that causes you to have good form, get the most benefit, and keep yourself safe during the each exercise. I thought to myself that compared to the other people in the class that my form was pretty darn good! Then the thought occurred to me that if I compared myself to the instructor my form was not as stellar. That's when the Holy Spirit did His thing, while He had me face down no less!

He reminded me I often compare my "works", my walk of faith, ect. with other Christians and come away feeling good about myself. He gently reminded me that I should only have Jesus Christ as my role model. Face down is a good place to be in that case. Scripture says my righteousness is as filthy rags in His sight. Humm... I better stop the comparison game.

Unfortunately, I provide the Lord with tons of teachable moments but sometimes they come at the strangest times and places!

Stuff - The Accummulation of.....

For the past 3 days I have been doing an unusual job. I've been helping my mom, my aunt and a cousin pack up and move my 94 year old great aunt. We had to move her from a double room to a single room in an assisted living facility. I was shocked and stunned at the amount of stuff in the room! It has inspired me to want to go through my own stuff and throw away or give away all the things for which I have no use.

As we've been going through all the things this verse kept going through my mind. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth or rust destroys, ans where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is there your heart will be also. (Matt 6:19-21).

Those treasures she has stored up in the top of closets in boxes and drawers were thrown away because of lack of space. And yes, we found the holes the moths had eaten in some of the old sweaters which she had not worn in years. (Side note here - we have had to deal with a infestation of moths this year and trust me I have a new appreciation of the above verse. Those little harmless looking things can do major damage!)

This whole incident has left me feeling very convicted about the amount of "stuff" I've accumulated over the years. There are things that I could give away that someone else could use that are just taking up space (which I don't have). I want my life and my money to count for more than "stuff" when I'm gone. I don't want someone else to have to go through mountains of "stuff" that means nothing to anyone but me.

Hummm... maybe I will get a head start on New Year's resolutions. I am resolved to "de-stuff" my life.