Spent it All

The school "Book Fair" came and went at our elementary school this week.  I never signed up to help.  And surprisingly, no one called begging me to work as cashier again.

Last year, I misunderstood the "check" policy.  The policy says, the book fair will not accept a check written for more than $1 over the amount due.  That way they don't give a wad of cash to an elementary schooler.

(However, they could accept a sighned, totally blank check and let us write in the amount and to whom.  Scary!)

I have no problem with the check policy.  My only mistake, I applied the check policy to cash.
Most children didnt' have a problem with my made up policy.  In fact, the majority of children had a "no change" policy.  They wanted as much merchandise they could get for the money they brought  (even if that meant they bought 3 or 4 cheap erasers).  

After I finished my shift, I realized the absurdity of my policy. My policy sounded unreasonable when a girl brought $20 and only wanted a $5 book.

I called the library to explain my concern.  They said not to worry, they would make everyone happy if anyone complained.

I'm not sure how many children made it home with bookmarks and pencils to keep my policy. (I'm sure we had record sales).  None of them returned with change.

So how does this relate to the Bible?

I imagine (not in the Bible) that when Jesus returned to the Father after He died and rose again, His Father asked for "change."  Jesus didn't have anything to give Him. 

Going to earth, living a perfect life, and lying His life down on the cross cost Jesus EVERYTHING. His life, well spent.

But Jesus had the most amazing receipt.  "Sinful people from all tribes and all nations".

And the Father smiled. 

Matthew 22:37 And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'

God asks us for EVERYTHING.
ALL of Our hearts.  ALL of Our minds.
Our plans.  Our dreams.
Our resources.  Our talents.

For who knows better how to "spend" our lives than our owner/creator?

 My prayer:
God, You know how to spend my life for You and Your kingdom.  I give you my everything.  I trust You to spend well. 

What are you holding back from God?







Linked to:  cornerstoneconfessions
 

Change and China painting

Me and my sweet Grandmother in her new room

My grandmother's china painting

This week has been difficult.  Because my eighty-four year old grandmother has had increased health concerns over the last few months, she has decided to sell her condo to move into to an assisted living.

We have two more days to get ready for the sale.  The last few weeks, we've reviewed every item in her house to decide if family should keep it, or sale it.  Some items we've definitely kept.  My cousin gets the cookie jar, the smell and taste of my grandmother's house, opened every time we walked through her door.  The cuckoo clock, weary from years of winding, the sound of her house, another cousin chose and will be cherished for years to come.  We got the piano, another sound from my grandmother's house.   Even though it needs to be tuned, the girls play it every chance they get.  I have a picture of me and my brother playing the piano when we were probably three and five years old.  Precious memories!  The very used crochet set may have to retire from play, but my sister rescued it from the sale.

As for decorating, my grandmother has good tastes, but decorates very frugally (like everything she buys).  In her living room, she has thirty-year-old couches, tan with brown leaves (selling to a good home).  My grandmother framed her father's violin with a hymn and hung it above her mantle, the focal decor of her living room.  My dad said, "I don't care what I get, but that vioin is already mine.  My grandfather gave it to me."  My grandmother decorated her kitchen with china plates she had painted.  As we dusted them off, each great-grandchild picked a plate and matching cup.  They picked out their china based on their favorite colors.          

Yesterday, I brought more painted china home.  As I explained the process of china painting, the girls realized for the first time that my grandmother (G.G., great-grandmother to them) had painted them.  My girls' perspective about their new plates changed.  They know the creator.  They looked at the plates more carefully.  They admired their G.G.'s talent.  They carefully displayed their dainty, chosen treasures.   

It reminded me of how people can change when they learn about their creator.

By learning about the creator,  the God of the Bible,  people can look more carefully at themselves and realize how far they are from perfect. The Bible calls this sin. 

By learning about the creator, people realize how special God created them.  Like each plate my grandmother painted, God creates each person uniquely.  God thinks each person is so special, special enough to send His only son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. 

By knowing the creator, chosen followers of Jesus desire to please Him because of His greatness and His great care for us.    

Psalm 139:14 says, "I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.  Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well." (Holman Christian Standard Version HCSV) 
Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them". (HCSV)

Do you know your creator?  You can.
Do you act like it?