A Nice Story - but Is It Truth?

      The book, Tales From the Arabian Nights, weaves stories of ordinary people who stumble into great wealth. In Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Ali is going about his business when he witnesses a band of thieves gain entry to their mountain hideaway by uttering the magic words, "Open Sesame". Ali is able to hide until the thieves leave, then open the door to the hideaway by using the words he overheard. Inside he finds great treasure the thieves have spent years accumulating, and helps himself!

     The story of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, is one that most are familiar with. When a magic lamp comes into Aladdin's possession he finds, by accident, that simply rubbing the side, will cause a genie to appear and grant him what he desires.

     The stories from this book formed some of my earliest ideas about treasure hunting. Finding great wealth was simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time! Some mornings when I'm standing in a long line at an estate sale it seems that everyone has read these tales and come to the same conclusion!

 Vintage Frederick Cooper Lamp Base

(Nothing happens when you rub the sides)

         The ideas in these stories- and others- take root and grow in our minds. The world views they contain, however, clash with Biblical truth. "Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but money that is gathered little by little will grow." (Proverbs 13:11) has little to do with being in the right place at the right time, but rather teaches that treasure grows over time as the result of hard work!
   
    The genie in Aladdin's lamp waited for Aladdin to make his wishes known, and then did what was commanded. Some teach that we have the right to tell God what we want, and He is obligated to give it to us.

    Matthew 7:7-11 reveals the truth; God expects us to ask Him when we have a need, and in turn knows how provide for us even better  than our earthly parents.  He does not grant us every wish or whim, not everything we ask for would be the best for us. Because He is all-knowing and all-seeing, and we can't see beyond the moment we live in, it is best to leave the answers to our prayers in His loving care.

     How much does the information we are constantly gathering effect what we believe about God? If we don't take time to compare it to the truth found in the Bible, we may never know!

     
   

   

   

   

   

What do I Treasure Most?

     Piles of old needlepoint pillows, stacks of well-traveled luggage, old china plates and cups that have shared the confidences of friends during tea, and stacks of vintage books with tried and true happy ending stories - all competing for my attention. Which group of treasures should I peruse first at an estate sale full of treasures?

     Should I look at the items with the most value, or the ones that grab my heart?

     The very real dilemma of prioritizing is one we all face...

     What do we treasure most?
 
     Jesus told us where to look for the answer to that question, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) The key to understanding what we treasure is the priority we've given it in our heart. Because... "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (riches, material wealth).

     And so we must prioritize...

     When I made the choice to follow Jesus Christ - believing that He died, was buried and rose again on the third day, admitting my sin and believing that He alone took away that sin by His death on the Cross - I gave ownership of my life to Him. He is the master I serve, the One deserving my loyalty, the One I love. He is my treasure!

     At the estate sale I referred to earlier, a decision had to be made - which treasure would I pursue? I would not be able to thoroughly examine the items in any one area if I was racing from one to the next. I had to make a choice, knowing the treasure I chose would mean letting go of other things I treasured.

     And so...

              each of us must ask...

                            what do we treasure most?

   
     

   

   

Vintage Vines, Branches...and Gidget!

     Stepping over the threshold that morning I was immediately transported to Italy. 1960's Italy. A "Gidget Goes to Rome" Italy, and I loved it! Cherubs and tapestries covered the walls, gilt sconces with crystal dangles completed the scene - a very Hollywood-glamorous-retro-Roman hotel. The room where Gidget sits, legs propped under her, on a twin bed and sings about the woes of being a teenager in love!

     So it wasn't surprising- I liked Gidget- that I quickly removed this from a wall and placed it in my hold pile!

     This beautiful wall sconce features gilt grapevines holding large clusters of fruit! A strong metal curve on back provides the foundation for the branches, leaves and fruit that connect firmly to it. The two scalloped cups in the design hold candles with the idea that this wall sculpture is also a useful lighting accessory!

     The treasure I'm sharing today is valuable for several reasons; Italian retro pieces are desirable to designers... it reminds me of Gidget...and, it symbolizes the relationship I have with Christ...

     "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5

     Jesus was using the picture of a grape vine to explain how we need to abide in Him. Abiding is remaining stable, continuing in a place, bearing patiently - a state of "being" in Christ rather than "doing". Abiding is a close relationship, one where we experience His presence, and recognize our need for Him. Out of that relationship comes the strength and purpose for the "doing", along with a guaranteed harvest of "much fruit".

     The grapevine sconce has branches coming out of the strong, vine-like, curved foundation. The branches hold the grape clusters. But if one of the branches broke off of the foundation, it would no longer hold the large cluster of fruit in place. The design would have a huge gap, and it would be apparent that something was missing!

     When we attempt to "do" on our own it quickly becomes apparent that something is missing! Works performed for the sake of looking good to others, or because everyone else is doing it, will produce little, if any, fruit - and leave us discouraged when our hard work is without results.

     But, when we realize that our very life flows out of the Vine, and we abide in a close relationship with Christ, He will allow much fruit - great blessing to come from that relationship and the works that flow out of it!

     "By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit..."

     

Treasure Grabbers!

     Early one morning a few week ago I was waiting for an estate sale to open - near the front because I'd shown up an hour before it would start.  Though there are some who will get a place in line before sunrise, I've always found the one hour rule to give me a good spot. It was close to opening when I noticed that the line had grown substantially - going down the drive way and around a corner. There was a reason for the large crowd.  The pictures and description of items to be found at the sale was posted online at http://www.EstateSales.NET , and there were some wonderful furniture pieces, collectibles and jewelry being offered. So wonderful, in fact, that people in the back of the line paced up to the front, gazed through windows for a peek, then reluctantly returned to their spot.

A stunning Accessocraft NYC chain belt from this sale!

     Right on time, the owner of the company organizing the sale walked out to give everyone instructions on where the check out was located and reminded them to be careful - the house was full. As she turned around, impatient buyers in the back of the line stampeded forward.

     The workers were able to restore order quickly, but the excitement over the sale was greatly diminished by the selfish actions of a few.

     Last week I extolled the virtues of treasure hunting - the friends, collaboration, the camaraderie- but the tribulation selfish hunters cause is also a part of our experience.
   

     It's how we react to those tribulations - the wrong behavior of others -  that reveals what's in our own heart:

• Do we become angry - and cause an ugly scene?
• Do we vow to revenge the hurt we've received?
• Do we judge the offender, and filled with pride, declare ourselves better?   

    Or...

• Do we choose to "...guard our mouth and tongue - keeping our soul from troubles..."?  
• Do we remember that God has said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay"?
• Do we see ourselves as one of the "all" who have sinned - and fallen short of God's expectation for us?

     Jesus told His disciples, "...In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." And we can also overcome, "Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?' (1 John 5:5) Jesus Christ is our example of what it means to be "selfless", He cared more about us than He cared for His own life, choosing to give it up as the necessary sacrifice for our sin.

      Our selfishness is a tribulation to those around us. When we stampede through life only thinking of ourselves, someone else may be hurt! 

    "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21.